Friday, October 5, 2012

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

9780778313533_smp.inddTitle: The Siren
The Original Sinners #1
Author: Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Pages: 400
Rating: 5 Hearts
Buy Here: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Kobo
Find Tiffany Reisz Here: Twitter

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

Click on the cover above to add this book to your Goodreads TBR list.


Review

Why the fuck didn't I read this sooner? I mean Raquel from Book Barbies and I were going to read it together, only she was the one to follow through. I wish I would have read this sooner because I was filled with so much emotion while reading this book! So much that it has in fact became my favorite book of this year. Reisz is brilliant, her writing flows so well and when you start it you just can't put it down.

Nora is a writer as well as a female Dominatrix and an ex submissive. Yeah that is a lot to say about her in one sentence and that doesn't even cover the description of her character. Nora is a kick ass character, she is super feisty, and blunt... I simply adore her. In addition to being all of those things her writing is fabulous. In order to get her book published she has to get through to hard ass publicist Zach, who is super hot and reserved.

When Zach is faced with the likes of Nora, he doesn't stand a chance. Nora is bold and this takes Zach for a loop or five. While Zach didn't think an erotic romance author could be good he can't deny that Nora is as I say "the shit". Only Zach doesn't know Nora's whole story.

Wesley, aww I love him so much. He is another one of my favorite characters. Wesley is a college student living with Nora because he needed a place to stay and Nora wanted to look after him. Wesley is indeed a virgin living in a house with a female Dominatrix, which sounds crazy right?

Then there is Soren. I just get the chills typing his name, he is a man who screams dangerous. In addition to that is is beautiful and intimidating with a soft spot for Nora. There isn't anything about Soren that I didn't like, I loved it all!
Ladies and gents The Siren is something you have to read! If you love erotic romance, pick this up. The pages are like fire every time you touch one you turn it super fast because you are so eager to get to the next page. Reisz thank you for such an amazing reading experience. This is a book that will stay with me.

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Excerpt+Giveaway: Night Thief by Lisa Kessler


Title: Night Thief
Series: Night Series Prequel (Novella)
Author: Lisa Kessler
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Buy Link: Amazon (Kindle)

Blurb:

After the fall of the Mayan civilization, Kane, an immortal Night Walker, has taken refuge in France for over 800 years. The modern world holds little interest for him until the night he meets the Golden Thief and is robbed of much more than his pocket watch.

Marguerite Rousseau is living a double life. By day she is the assistant to an eccentric French artist, Antoine Berjon, and by night she dons elegant evening gowns to woo French dignitaries before lifting their wallets.

Sparks ignite when Kane captures the thief, but Marguerite harbors a dark secret that could ruin them both.

EXCERPT

This scene takes place after Marguerite has stolen Kane’s pocket watch and he tracks her…

She wore her golden hair up in a loose knot, with stray curls falling down her neck and framing her large round eyes and high cheekbones. Nothing about her was subtle or forgettable like a thief should be.

When he took the watch from her hand, he noticed a flush of color rising from beneath the velvet choker on her neck. Enticing. “You are a flamboyant thief.”

He never saw the slap coming.

“How dare you!” Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

Kane smiled and reached for her hand, drawing her soft fingers to his lips. Her struggles were nothing against his inhuman strength. Pressing a cool kiss to her knuckles, he stared into her eyes.

“Forgive me for being so rude,” he murmured. “You are the most lovely, delicate, and beautiful thief I have ever seen.”

This time, he caught her other wrist before her slap made contact with his cheek. Her bright blue eyes widened. “Let me go.”

“Not yet.” He tipped his head slightly. “I have a confession to make.”

“You?”

He released her. “I have been watching you, waiting to make your acquaintance. I wore my watch tonight hoping you might take it from me.”

A crease marred her brow. “Why?”

“Because you intrigue me. I have never met a thief quite like you.”

Her eyes searched his, and for a moment, he thought she might apologize for taking his property.

“I did not steal your watch.” She set her chin. “I found it.”

Marguerite placed the watch in his palm, and she closed his fingers around it. Glancing at his hand, she frowned.

“Your skin is cold.” She released him. “Are you sick?”

He shook his head. “I am well.”

She went back to the table and gathered her other treasures. “It is good fortune that our paths crossed again so that I could return your watch. Sadly, I will still need to find the other owners.”

“We could give the items you found to the police.”

“No!” She snatched up the satchel and hid it behind her skirt. He watched her clear her throat and her composure returned with her charm. “I could not trust another person with these valuables. Tomorrow, I will go back and inquire with the host to see which guests might be missing their belongings. It is the only way to ease my mind and know they will be returned to their rightful owners.”

“How thoughtful of you. With Le Voleur D’or stalking the streets of Paris, they probably fear their belongings are lost forever.”

Her back straightened and her lips pressed together as if she were a royal princess. It was all he could do not to kiss her. What was wrong with him? He should be angered, or in the least, willing to turn her over to the police.

His shoulders tensed at the thought of an officer touching her.
She cleared her throat. “What do you know of Le Voleur D’or?”

He stepped in closer to her and kept his voice low. “I have been told she has golden hair and her beauty is so blinding that no one notices her pluck their wallets from their pockets. I also understand that she charms her victims until they no longer care that she has lightened their coin purses.”

He tipped his head down. The scent of her hair and the sound of her heartbeat enticed him. Kane ached to taste her. Such an unusual woman. He bit back his desire and whispered near her ear. “Is my description far from the truth?”

She met his gaze. The candlelight flickered in the clear sea-blue of her eyes. “Perhaps you were not charmed enough, Monsieur Bordeaux.”

“In my rush to find you, I was nearly run down by a coach.”

She glanced down at the watch in his hand, then met his gaze again. “You do cherish that watch.”

He bent closer to her, until his lips nearly brushed hers. “It was not the watch that I was after.” 

Thanks again for letting me visit, and I hope you were charmed enough to want more of Night Thief! J

Also available at Barnes and Noble

Giveaway

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Lisa Kessler
Don't be a stranger...

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Take This Man by Nona Raines (Promo+Review)


Take This Man (The Man Series, #1)Title: Take This Man
Author: Nona Raines
Series: The Man, #2
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: October 12, 2011
Pages: 143
Buy LinksBarnes and Noble / Amazon / The Wild Rose Press / All Romance ebooks
Genre: Contemporary erotic m/f

Blurb:

The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.

The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised, and pushed her away—into another man's arms…and bed.

When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he’s worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him but one look from those smoldering eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system.

Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?


Excerpt

They got as far as the parking lot before Adam dragged her into his arms for a kiss. Crushing her against the passenger's door of the truck, he nudged her belly with his rock-hard erection. Elyse dug her fingers into his shoulders to keep her wobbly legs from sliding out from under her.

His velvety tongue stroked hers—he tasted sweet and minty. Her own tongue played inside his mouth to catch more of the flavor. In a fog of lust, she rocked her body against his cock, teasing him. The heat in her belly was now a bonfire showering her with sparks. Her lips, breasts, and pussy were all aflame.

Someone cleared his throat nearby, and Elyse fell back to reality with a thump. An older couple passed nearby, the man glaring at them with disapproval, the woman trying to hide a smile. She flashed Elyse a wink over Adam's shoulder.

Adam pulled away with a groan. He opened her door and practically tossed her inside. In a blink, he was in his seat, giving her a searing look. Then his shoulders shook with laughter. “You're always getting me in trouble in public.”

“It's your fault,” she told him, her hand creeping to his thigh.

“Oh, right. My fault.” His large hand mimicked hers, resting on her thigh and gliding under her dress. She purred and adjusted her legs, opening to give him better access. His fingers skimmed lightly along her skin—now prickling with goosebumps. Meanwhile, Elyse stroked the bulge in his pants lightly, teasing him with her thumb.

Her breath slowed as he played at the juncture of her thighs, toying with the elastic of her panties. Her clit tingled, she was so close. She grasped Adam's fullness in her hand and he hissed. Then he snatched his hand away and removed hers, placing it safely on her seat.

Elyse moaned in frustration. “No fair.”

“Too many people here.” He spoke through gritted teeth. He turned the key, started the ignition. “My place.”

She pouted, even though she knew he was right. Shifting on her seat, she suppressed a groan. Her pussy was so wet and her clit so tender, it was agony to move.

He glanced at her as they pulled out of the lot. “You all right?”

“No,” she muttered. “I'm dying. Hurry, get us there.” She pressed her thighs together, but that just made her more aware of the throbbing.

“Just hang on.”

Pulling her dress to her the tops of her thighs, she gave him a sultry look. She needed to torture him a little. “I could play with myself, take the edge off.”

“Don't you dare.” His voice was thick. “I'm the only one who's gonna make you come tonight.”


Review

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as One Good Man with Adam's brother, Matthew. This book had a lot of good sex scenes and scarred characters.

Adam was afraid to love someone because he was afraid that he wasn't going to meet a standard and end up hurting the person he actually cared about. So, what he did was pushed them away. His brother, on one hand, was already used to him so he was tolerant of it. Elyse, however, felt betrayed.

Elyse was Adam's girlfriend, until that one fateful night where they had a threesome. They liked to play a game, but Adam took it too far that night and pushed Elyse to "do" Jason, a guy they met at the bar.

Long story short, Elyse was heart broken and ended up leaving town...with Jason. I won't reveal their real relationship as to not spoil the story. Let's just say they're best friends.
"I've got a room at the Hotel Excelsior. You can stay with me there. Don't give me that look. You're utterly safe with me. We can share the bed. I promise I won't touch you."

"No."

"Fine, then." He rolled his eyes, the gesture of a man using up his last reserve of patience. "You can sleep in a chair. I'm not giving up the bed--that much of a gentleman I'm not."
Elyse bristled at the way he brushed aside the inconvenience of her poverty with just a wave of his hand. "I'm not your charity case, Jason."

"Calm down," he answered in a languid voice. "If it makes you feel any better, you can go steerage. While I'm in first class, you can ride underneath the bus with the luggage."
When Elyse came back to town, she saw Adam and they fought in public. The second time they saw each other was at Elyse's hotel room. Needless to say, they never made it out the door. One thing led to the other and they had a lot of good lustful moments.
"You didn't have to come here for that. You already apologized."

His shoulders twitched uneasily, and then straightened. He met her stare dead on. "I wanted to do it right this time."

Elyse gazed at him. He no longer had on the work boots, jeans, and company-logo-emblazoned T-shirt he wore this morning. He had gone home, showered and shaved, and changed into black dress pants and a long-sleeved button-down shirt. Elyse caught the whiff of something woodsy, some kind of after-shave or cologne. His hair was still a bit damp.

"Are you on your way somewhere?" she asked.

He blinked at her. "No."

So he'd done all that, just to come over to apologize. Elyse felt something soften inside her.
This time, however, Adam was through running away. Over and over, he tried to tell Elyse how he felt, but somehow, she kept on distracting him from it. Towards the end, they had another fight, as expected. They almost didn't make it if it weren't for Adam's brother, Matthew. He was an awesome brother.

One thing I was curious about was their stepfather. I felt like I was left hanging on what it was that he wanted Adam to hear from him. I thought there was something big to reveal and that Adam would finally forgive him. In the end, their issues weren't resolved. Another thing that was also unresolved was Elyse's financial situation. I didn't expect her to be a stay-at-home lover, so I was curious what kind of job she ended up with after she reconciled with Adam.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It was really entertaining to read, and steamy!

ABSOLUTELY STEAMY

About the Author:

Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she's not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She's been writing off and on for years, but it was only when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association that she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript.

Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. A former librarian, she enjoys reading books of all genres and discussing them with others. She is thrilled to finally be able to call herself an author and looks forward to hearing from readers.



Arianne

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Massive Random House Giveaway (US ONLY)

Hey guys! Hope all is well with everyone. I have a huge treat for you guys! Random House has been gracious enough to offer five different books to be given away here at Reading On The Wild Side. All of the Giveaways are US Only and will run until October 30th! So spread the word and enter to win. All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter forms. Thanks so much to Random House for allowing us to giveaway these awesome books here at Reading on the Wild Side.

neverseduceascotTitle: Never Seduce a Scot
The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Pages: 372

This sinfully sexy new romance from Maya Banks features a remarkable woman whose rare gift teaches a gruff Scottish warrior how to listen with his heart.

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft.
But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her dutyunprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

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untiltherewasyouTitle: Until There Was You
Coming Home #2
Author: Jessica Scott
Publisher: A Loveswept Contemporary Military Romance
Release Date: October 8, 2012
Pages: 230

He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .

A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye.
He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott, Excerpt

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therecruitTitle: The Recruit
Highland Guard #6
Author: Monica McCarty
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Pages: 416

Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce is retaking his kingdom from the invading English. To win, he’ll need all the grit and courage of his elite band of warriors, the Highland Guard, men who fight without fear and love without limits.

Fiery, aggressive, and bold, Kenneth Sutherland is a true champion—skilled with any weapon and driven to win. Now Kenneth is ready for his greatest challenge: joining Robert the Bruce’s secret army to fight among the elite. Kenneth’s best chance to attain that honor is by winning the Highland Games. Focused and prepared for victory, he is caught off guard by a lovely wisp of a woman—and a stolen moment of wicked seduction. Her innocent arousal and her shameless hunger fire his blood. He will win his place in the guard—and in Mary of Mar’s bed.
The ruggedly handsome hero-in-the-making stirs a heart that should know better. Mary vows that her surrender will be sport only—no promises, no heartbreak, just one night of incredible passion. Nothing, she swears, will persuade her to give up her hard-wrought independence and put her fate in the hands of another powerful man. But with every gentle touch and heart-pounding kiss, Kenneth makes her want more. Now Mary wants his heart. But is this determined champion willing to surrender everything for love?

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icedTitle: Iced
Fever World #1
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Pages: 352

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning comes the first book in her hotly anticipated new urban paranormal trilogy, set in the world of her blockbuster Fever series.

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

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thedevilsthiefTitle: The Devil’s Thief
The Saint’s Devils #1
Author: Samantha Kane
Publisher: Random House Digital
Release Date: November 12, 2012
Pages: 283

In Samantha Kane’s sensual tale of wicked passion, a desperate woman must resort to burglary—but the beautiful thief ends up stealing the heart of a rogue.

The daughter of a reformed jewel thief, Julianna Harte knows a thing or two about stealth. When the foundling home she provides for finds itself in dire financial straits, Julianna is forced to do the unthinkable. In a bit of misguided Robin Hood derring-do, she slips through the window of a wealthy rake to search for a treasure she knows is there: an invaluable pearl. But when the towering and very naked occupant of the moonlit bedroom ambushes her with a bargain—a night in his bed in exchange for the pearl—Julianna doesn’t know if it’s masculine heat or sheer desperation that makes his terms so tempting.

Alasdair Sharpe had no intention of keeping his end of the bargain. Planning to offer his little cat burglar carte blanche instead, he promptly loses himself in the delights of unexpected pleasure. But when he awakes the next morning to find his family heirloom gone, fury quickly replaces sensual languor. Of course, Alasdair is more than willing to use seduction to reclaim his stolen pearl—and find the key to Julianna’s heart.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: About Last Night, Blaze of Winter, and Lana’s Lawman.

The Devil's Thief by Samantha Kane, Excerpt

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Sharp Change by Milly Taiden (Promo)


Sharp Change
By Milly Taiden
Black Meadows Pack – Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Etopia Press

Thoughts of Chase, the Alpha of the Black Meadows pack, made her heart torpedo in her chest and rockets go off in her stomach. The better-than-a-sundae delicious-looking man with golden brown skin, enough muscles he could share them with his friends and still have left over, turned her to a puddle of goo.

The man had so much sex appeal her girl parts were ready to lift a white flag in surrender just by looking at him, even thinking of him made her tongue wag. Looking at him was like viewing a shot of your favorite dessert and knowing you couldn’t get your hands on it.

Amazon     All Romance Ebooks



About the Author: 

Milly Taiden was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.

She began writing when she learned to put words together and her first book consisted of two homeless dogs living in a park for her second grade English class. She didn’t win a prize, but she acquired a love for writing that never went away.

When she’s not working full-time, texting with her best friend Heidi in England, chastising her son for pulling the dog’s ears, shopping with her sister Jewel or watching scary movies with her husband, she can be found writing on her laptop. She’s addicted to shoe shopping, chocolate and Dunkin Donuts coffee. 
A major reader when she can get her hands on a good book, she loves reading all Mina Carter, Cynthia Eden, Cynthia Sax among others


Twitter: @millytaiden

Facebook: Milly Taiden

Arianne

Monday, October 1, 2012

An Executive Decision by Grace Marshall (Release Blitz)

Title: An Executive Decision
Series: Executive Trilogy, #1
Author: Grace Marshall
Publisher: Xcite Books
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Pages: 274
Buy Links: Amazon (Kindle)Amazon UK

Blurb:


Overworked CEO Ellison Thorne has no time for sex, let alone romance. The only answer, at least where his retiring business partner Beverly is concerned, is a no-strings sex clause in her replacement’s contract, designed to make Ellis’ busy life easier – and hotter. But she’s joking, right?

When Dee Henning takes over Beverly’s job, sparks fly between her and Ellis, but work takes priority in driven Dee’s life too. Can one night of passion in a Paris hotel room prove Beverly’s Sex Clause is their secret to success in the boardroom and the bedroom, and what will happen if that private clause becomes public knowledge?


Excerpt

At last Ellis pushed his chair back and looked up at her. ‘Marston refused the proposal.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Dee said again.

‘Not that it was a huge surprise, but I could have done nicely without him berating me for hiring someone incompetent and irresponsible to take Beverly’s place. That didn’t exactly make my day. What the hell happened?’

She felt the heat rising up her spine and onto her ears. ‘I overslept.’ She forced the words out into the chilled room.

‘You overslept?’

‘Yes.’ She nodded imperceptibly, feeling the scrutiny of his glare.

For a long moment he just stared at her. She forced herself to meet his gaze and held her tongue, afraid if she tried to say anything she’d burst into tears, and she despised women who cried.

‘That’s it, then? You overslept.’

She nodded again, swallowing hard.

‘Well that’s a relief.’ He leaned forward in his chair and rose almost as though he were going to leap over the desk and pounce. The tension in his body was palpable. ‘I was afraid you were lying on the freeway somewhere in a pool of blood. I’m so relieved that it was nothing so dire, and that you simply overslept.’ With each word, his voice grew louder until he wasn’t exactly yelling, but neither was there any way she could miss his message as each word drove her deeper into her chair until she felt as trapped as if she had been tied there.

‘I’m sorry,’ she forced a whisper through the roadblock in her throat, but the stinging behind her eyes warned that a swift exit would be necessary if she were to avoid the flood.

‘Sorry? You’re sorry? Tally had to pick up the slack. Do you have any idea how that looked? Just when I was starting to make progress with Marston, just when the man was beginning to listen to reason, you oversleep. You made Jamison’s deal seem all the sweeter, that’s what you did. Now, tell me what the hell’s going on.’

‘Pardon?’

He moved from behind his desk and paced the carpet in front of her like a bull ready to charge. ‘You’re supposed to be working to shore up the situation with Scribal. I told you up front that’s your major concern at the moment, then not only do you oversleep and miss an important meeting, but I find out you’ve been working on something else behind my back.’ Before she could respond, he turned on her. ‘Is Trouvères what you’ve been staying up half the night and missing meetings for? When I hired you, I never thought you, of all people, would neglect your responsibilities.’

‘I’m not neglecting anything. If you would just –’

He interrupted her. ‘Don’t think just because I gave you this job, you suddenly know it all. I took a big risk hiring you.’ He stopped pacing and rooted himself in front of her, close enough that she had to strain her neck to look up at him. ‘You want to do something; you bring it to me first. You’re not ready to make that kind of decision on your own. You don’t have the experience it takes to…to… You’re not Beverly.’

His words were a hard slap, felt more than heard above the roar in her ears. She wasn’t sure the ragged breathing her brain finally registered in the chasm of silence that followed his tirade was his or her own.

The phone rang into the charged atmosphere and Ellis jerked it from its cradle in a strangle hold. ‘This had better be good, Lynn. Wade? What the hell does he want? Can’t it wait? We’re not finished yet. I can what?’ He heaved a sigh of resignation and slammed the receiver back down. ‘Wade wants to see you right now. He says I can get back to you on this, and believe me, I intend to.’ He nodded toward the door. ‘Well, go on, at least don’t keep him waiting. Pick up the notes on the meeting from Sandra.’

She stood on trembling legs and turned to go. As she reached for the door, he called to her. ‘Dee, I strongly suggest you make no more attempts to prove Marston right about you.’

Sandra joined her in the hall. ‘I have the meeting notes for you.’

‘Just put them on my desk. Wade wants to see me.’

Sandra nodded. ‘Yes, I know. I told him he did. And I told him to give you a few minutes in the ladies to freshen up first.’ She offered a reassuring smile and turned on her heels.

*****

Still breathing like a freight train, Ellis watched Dee disappear shutting the door behind her. He grabbed up the phone and called his secretary. ‘Lynn, hold all my calls. I don’t want to be disturbed. How long? Until I say otherwise, that’s how long.’ He slammed the receiver down, snapped his laptop shut and stormed down the hall to the lounge.

He shoved his way out of his jacket and tossed it across the wingback chair, then practically strangled himself in his efforts to loosen his tie. From the coffee table he grabbed up the remote and plunged the room into the wild raucous ride of the third movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. Then he dropped onto the sofa struggling to breath, struggling to regain control, struggling to figure out what the hell had just happened. All through the meeting, when Dee didn’t show up, he was terrified that something horrible had happened, terrified that he would lose Dee the same way he had lost Beverly. And the relief he felt at seeing her. Jesus, the relief was like nothing he’s ever felt before.

If Lynn hadn’t called, if Wade hadn’t demanded Dee’s presence … If Ellis had had one more second with her, he would have yanked her up from the chair and fucked her senseless right there in the middle of the day with all of Pneuma Inc just outside his door, fucked her as though he might never get another chance, fucked her as though his life depended on it, and that’s exactly how it felt. He wiped cold sweat from his forehead and struggled to breathe. If he’d lost her, Jesus! He couldn’t even bear the thought.

Christ, he couldn’t go on like this. It felt like he was always either avoiding her or jerking off thinking about her. And damn if he wasn’t thinking about her all the time; the shape of her, the feel of her, the sass of her. He’d never wanted anything so badly. And then … and then she screws up so royally that all he wanted to do was punish her, to turn her over his knee for giving him such a scare, to … to … to fuck her until she couldn’t walk.


About the Author:


Grace Marshall lives in South England with her husband and the growing gang of hooligan birds who frequent their feeders. When Grace isn’t busy writing something sexy and romantic, she’s busy digging in her ever-expanding veg garden or walking across the British countryside. She finds inspiration outdoors in nature, and most of her best story ideas come to her while she’s walking or gardening.

Grace is the author of the fast paced, quirky Executive Decisions Trilogy published by Xcite Romance. An Executive Decision, the first novel in the trilogy, will be available soon at all your favourite book sellers with lots more romance served hot to follow in the near future.

Grace Marshall’s alter-ego, K D Grace, writes critically acclaimed, best-selling erotic romance. Whether it’s sexy romance or romantic sex, between The Graces, there’s a story for you.

Find Grace here:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GM_Romance



Arianne