Monday, February 29, 2016

Story Potpourri ~ Writing in Sub-genres #Romance #Craft #Humor

Happy Leap Year day, everyone! While you're enjoying this extra day in our 2016, I want to spend this bonus time giving a shout out to The Naughty Literati... I really do, yes, and a loud shout, at that.

Here's why:

At the end of 2014, while endeavoring to have my story rights returned to me by my former publisher, I was in the same leaky boat as a lot of authors I know - fairly bursting with ideas of all sorts but under contractual agreement to give right of first refusal of the next story to the very publisher from whom I was in the throes of separating. I couldn't see waiting, lingering, standing by, delaying - you get the idea - proceeding with my stories until my contractual release deigned to arrive. There was a real chance it would never come. Then what? 
Dire Wolf at the Door accepts CASH only!

The good news was that the Writer's Block from which I'd been suffering for ages suddenly vanished. The bad news: I was in Writer's Limbo, located just around the corner from Writer's Block and maybe even in a little worse neighborhood. You see, with Writer's Block you WANT to write and are ABLE to publish, but you CAN'T write for the life of you. When you're in the Seventh Circle of Writer's Limbo, you're DYING to write and you CAN write, but you CAN'T show it to anyone you want to. At least not for money. And the mercenary dire wolf that scratches perpetually at my door demands that writing be a cash-on-the-barrelhead kind of endeavor rather than something non-lucrative, like knitting (seriously, you should see the sweater I've been trying to make for the past five years; NO one is going to pay me one thin farthing for that cashmere piece of crap.)

Meantime, while I was dawdling, lollygagging, meandering, and loitering in Writer's Limbo, my pen was practically leaking heroes with bulging, er, muscles, and lurid, hot-as-Dante's-hell sex scenes all over the place. I was scribbling down hawt plot ideas wherever they struck me and on whatever surface I could find. I have an insatiable need to hand write all my stories in their germinal phases, the computer won't do. I'm a tactile writer and I love hearing the soft scratch-scratch-scratch of quill tip on parchment (or Bic to spiral notebook paper, gum wrapper, whatever's handy) and watching my fingers manipulating the bleeding pen to form the letters of each word using my muddled Southpaw clawmanship that rivals a doctor's handwriting. Seriously everyone besides Mom and me needs an Enigma machine to decrypt the eccentric flow of my cursive.

To stop my thumbs from twiddling whilst haunting my inbox for Ye Olde Reversion of Rights Letter to pop up in my email queue, I filled up all my notebooks with outlines and ideas. When I ran out of blank pads of paper, nary a Post-it note or damp cocktail napkin was safe in my proximity. I was sullying the inside leafs of telephone directories with my hero's slaked sexual thirst. I was doodling post-coital dialogue on the insides of both my forearms (I'm ambidextrous in a pinch).


The problem was growing inconvenient. I had to hide my forearms and the telephone directory from my mother when she'd visit. I was running out of random, available writing materials to the point where rolls of toilet paper were on the line. 










Show me the Fancy Feast and no one gets hurt, see?

Evil Feral Cat was not amused by my preoccupation since it often meant I was scribbling on the back of a barroom coaster while plumb forgetting it was Fancy Feast o'clock already. Do we see the issue here? I was getting worried.

I knew I wanted to indie publish in order to have more control over my own intellectual property without anyone telling me what I could and could not write. I wanted to write in any and all genres that I love to read myself. But for the time being back then, I was contractually able to write only stories under 10k words. My publisher didn't care about seeing any of my work under 10k. It's not very lucrative to publish those, so what was the point? My dire wolf at the door howled in agreement.

Remember those other authors in the same leaky boat I made mention of before? Well, this is where they enter stage right and we all decide to start bailing and paddling together. The Naughty Literati was formed in a romance writers' Yahoo Group and suddenly I found myself roosting in a new literary nest where I could write anything I wanted... as long as it was no longer than 9,999 words in length. The plan was we'd all publish our high heat level short stories together in a few bundled box sets per year.  It would keep us writing and keep our fan bases stoked until our other contractual obligations were resolved.

And just like that, I was released from Writer's Limbo. The only thing left to decide was which of the many stories I'd squandered a mountain of Post-its, napkins, and TP on would be first story up.

"Shifter!" The dire wolf at my door howled. Yes, I had a shifter tale outlined but it wasn't really a winter holiday themed story, which was the only loose perimeter for our first boxed set, Naughty List. The title How the Alien Stole Christmas took up residence in my head and refused to be evicted. It was seasonal and featured a sexy-as-hell alien hero who realizes the Earth woman of his dreams with whom he's lustily engaged in cybersex for months is in trouble alone on a deep space station. He's determined to be the intergalactic calvary and, while he's at it, steal her for his own. Before you could say, "Close encounters of the hot kind," I'd written not only my first sci-fi/futuristic romance but my first romance short story, to boot. I created a Naughty List book trailer if you wanna peek!





Next, I always loved Somewhere in Time and The Lakehouse and wanted to write a period time travel romance set around Valentine's Day. Valentime, about a contemporary woman who finds a Valentine addressed to her from over 150 years in the past sealed up inside the antebellum plantation house she's renovating fit the bill for our Valentine's boxed set, Naughty Hearts. Voila! I'd written my first time travel romance.


Since everyone knows in the spring a vampire's fancy turns to finding his blood mate I wrote How to Blackmail a Vampire for Naughty Flings, our spring antho. When your cousin has been brainwashed by a sleaze-bucket vampire, what do you do? You find the richest, most powerful (and drop undead gorgeous!) vampire around who also happens to be your boss, and blackmail his sexy ass into helping you! Before you could say "Vlad the Impaler" I'd written my first vampire romance.














"Shifter!" my dire wolf reminded me. To appease him, I wrote not one but two (2!) sexy twin shifters vying for the passionate love of an amnesiac she-shifter stranded together on a deserted island in The Bermuda Love Triangle for our summer boxed set, Naughty Escapes. This wasn't my first shifter romance, but it won't be my last. There's a follow up to this one coming soon, because my readers tell me in insistent tones that BOTH of these sexy shifter brothers deserve to find the hot she-wolf of their dreams!

And there you have it, how I came to write whatever the hell I wanted in multiple romance sub-genres while lifting myself out of Writer's Block and Writer's Limbo whilst appeasing the grumpy dire wolf at the door. All in a rather large, picturesque nutshell. I have The Naughty Literati to thank for that. Big time.

For my one year anniversary with The Naughty Literati, I compiled all of my NL stories into one handy collection, ABSOLUTELY ALPHA  ~ now .99 on Amazon!

"If you are a paranormal romance lover then this is a must read collection! ...Each story is a masterpiece!" ~ Roxie's Romance Reviews 



Four magical romances from Belle Scarlett's enchanted quill. 

Alien Seductions: How the Alien Stole Christmas EXCERPT
On board a deep space station Capt. Christmas Trent learns her sexy cyber lover, who may not be human, wants to steal her for his own. 

“Our heroine is a willing submissive engaged in cybersex with an alien. Beautiful imagery, fascinating premise. I’ve always wondered why there isn’t more good science fiction romance. This story is good.” ~ Lizabeth S. Tucker, Geneflections 


Timeless Lovers: Valentime EXCERPT
Valerie buys a South Carolina plantation and discovers a Valentine addressed to her from a previous owner who bids her to return to him in 1865. 

“I loved this hot and romantic time slip tale and with not just time but danger threatening I was willing the couple to find their HEA. Super read.” ~ Tina Williams, A Reader’s Review 


Blood Mates: How to Blackmail a Vampire EXCERPT
In the spring, a powerful vampire’s fancy turns to the blood lust mating hunt. A pretty, human blackmailer becomes the object of his thirst, but she’s not into vampires. Yet. 

“Hot and steamy. Couldn't put it down.” ~ Kristi Cisneros, Amazon reader 


Pack Masters: The Bermuda Love Triangle EXCERPT
Castaway in the Bermuda Triangle, Trista finds herself torn between two (2!) sexy shifters. Neither will share her so she must choose between them. Decisions, decisions… 
Note to reader: This story is not a ménage tale. 

“Quite the steamy read.” ~ MAustin, Amazon reader 

Note: All stories were previously published in The Naughty Literati anthologies ~ Naughty ListNaughty HeartsNaughty Flings, and Naughty Escapes


***



PLUS! I'm thrilled my former publisher did eventually revert my rights back to my very first romance! My dire wolf howled in delight...

WHAT IF THE BIG BAD WOLF... WAS THE GOOD GUY?
Red Riding Hood never had it soooooo good...


Get THE WOODSMAN for only .99!

Watch the book trailer



Ciao, bellas! Please don't forget to leave reviews on Amazon for any book you enjoy ~ it's the nicest thing you can do for any author!

Happy reading, 
Belle




Connect with Belle Scarlett:
Belle is also a proud member of The Naughty Literati ~ www.naughtyliterati.com 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Sometimes a Fantasy #romance #LoveIsInTheAirAntho #NaughtyLovers

Fantasies make the world go round!

I don’t mean sexual fantasies, not really, though those are fun, too!

But regular old garden-variety daydreams can be just as much fun, in their own way.

I’ve always been drawn to the entertainment industry and have worked both with actors and musicians in various capacities over the last several decades. As a very shy person, I wasn’t always as drawn to the stage as I was drawn to behind the stage.

But there is a little part of me that always dreamed of performing. I got a very cool chance to sing backup for Meat Loaf (alongside some other fans) for his Storytellers appearance in the ‘90s, but my clip didn’t make it to the performance, though I can hear myself on the DVD.

So when I first heard about Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, I was fascinated. Regular people like you and me can play music with rock icons in a camp setting, and then perform live at the end of the camp. Sounds like a pretty incredible experience, doesn’t it? I haven’t done it yet, but it is on my wishes and dreams list.

As I pondered plot ideas for Naughty Lovers, I started to get intrigued by the idea of a musician and a camper meeting up at one of these, their chemistry undeniable. And that was where Renaissance began.

Kira McGrath fronts a tribute band, and while she enjoys it immensely, she wants more from her music career. Her bandmates don’t take her songwriting seriously, and she’s at a crossroads. Should she continue on her current course, or should she try to break out and do some solo work, performing her own songs.

Kira’s especially excited to attend the camp because she’ll be working with Novell Vinge, who is a hugely successful writer in her world. At the last minute, though, Novell has an accident and has to drop out of the camp. There’s been no news of his replacement as of the start of camp, and Kira is very unsettled.

It just gets worse--or better!--when she learns that Sage Daniels will be the replacement counselor. See, Kira’s tribute band is called Cats by Day, and they’re a tribute band that plays the many hits of Nocturnal Lions, Sage’s band.

And to complicate things even further, the sexual chemistry between Kira and Sage is off the charts.

Uh oh!

Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Will Sage look at Kira as an equal? Will Kira look at Sage as an equal?

How will they make beautiful music together?

You don’t have long to find out!  

As for me, I still haven’t done a fantasy camp, but I’m hopeful that I'll do one some day!


Sunday, February 21, 2016

Dating just doesn’t come easy… #romance #LoveIsInTheAirAntho #NaughtyLovers

I’ve yet to meet a woman who’s come out of a long-term relationship and is squealing ecstatically because she has to start dating again. Think of it: Instead of snuggling with the man of her dreams, she gets to worry about her every bulge, zit, wrinkle (you pick the imperfection) so she can wow a new guy who may turn out to be Prince Alarming rather than Charming.

Dating is highly overrated. As far as I’m concerned, it’s for masochists.

With that in mind, I wrote The Ride of Her Life, my erotic romantic comedy and contribution to the Naughty Lovers: Love is in the Air spring anthology for Naughty Literati.

In my story, Maddy’s a young professional who’s been too busy working to date. Hooking up with a guy at her office is out of the question since they’re all married and cheating. In other words, they’re turds. Since she’s not into bar hopping (a whole other story), she decides to try speed dating. IMO, that’s worse than signing up at an online dating site where rejection is at least impersonal.

Granted, I might be prejudiced about this because I’ve never been a guy magnet and I’m also horribly shy. When I was a freshmen in high school—all girl Catholic—boys were nonexistent in my life. An equally shy friend suggested we go to a dance at a boys’ school to get some action. LOL. That dance was pure awful, even worse for me than being the last one reluctantly chosen for the volleyball team. At the dance, I kept praying a guy would at least talk to me. Even if he was my idea of Freddy Krueger, I didn’t want to be the only one passed over like a moldy donut. Being shy, there was no way in hell I was going to approach anyone. I swear that night stretched for what seemed like decades. Never again, I told myself.



AMAZON

In The Ride of Her Life, Maddy gets cold feet too and debates whether she should cancel. Before she can, her Uber-like driver Ben shows up to take her to the hotel. Talk about the earth shifting and angels singing. Of all the ways to meet Mr. Right.

I had a blast writing The Ride of Her Life. Here’s the blurb:

He was only supposed to give her a simple ride…

Maddy’s so desperate for fun, she’s signed up for speed dating. Ew. The only thing worse than a cattle call for romance is if none of the men is interested in her.

She’s ready to ditch the event when Ben, her ride, shows up. Tall, dark, dangerously sexy, he’s an adjunct professor by day, driver by night, needing to haul in those extra bucks.


Maddy’s not complaining. Verbal foreplay and a traffic jam put the ride on ice, giving them a chance to heat things up. Soon, they’re ditching her original plan for a soft spring night of wicked romance where they’ll break all the rules and then some.


About Tina:

Tina is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, Luminosity, Decadent, and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic novels (Freeing the Beast, Come and Get Your Love, and Wicked Takeover) were Readers' Choice Award winners. Another three (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the EPIC competition. Sensual Stranger, her erotic contemporary romance, was chosen Book of the Year at the French review site Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for her erotic romance Lush Velvet Nights. Two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/1ChWFkO
My page at TRR: http://bit.ly/1vb7eEc
EC Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Dh9wor
Samhain Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Bvw6mL
Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K
Romance Books 4 US: http://bit.ly/1JPtfeS




Thursday, February 18, 2016

Writing "Love in the Air" by Suz deMello (@naughtyliterati @goodreads #romance)

I'm lucky. The Naughty Literati is full of great writers who are fountains of creativity. But when one of us--Nic Austin, I think--proposed deciding upon our themes well in advance, I had my doubts. I had previously stressed avoiding anything that could stifle creativity.

Well, I was wrong, and the stories show it.

The Victor Hugo House 
For example, my story, One Hot Havana Night, was stimulated by the idea for last summer's anthology, Naughty Escapes, when it was our happy task to write a romance set in various parts of the world. I had wanted to visit Cuba for a long time, and with the President relaxing the rules on Americans' access to Cuba, I planned my trip and wrote a story set in Old Havana. I loved the place and think the story really benefited from seeing it firsthand. For example, the Victor Hugo House in Havana is the setting for my story, and I would never have been able to write it with such attention to setting and detail had I not visited.

And so it is with my latest story for the Naughty Literati, which is in our upcoming set, Naughty Lovers: Love is in the Air. For me, the leap from the subtitle to the initial scene, aboard a balloon above the Napa Valley wasn't really much of a leap at all--more like a saunter. I had been on such a balloon ride before, many years ago, and it seemed like a natural, obvious place to start. 

In many ways, it was a very easy story to write because it drew on a number of experiences I have had. The story centers around the romance between Jill, a woman who's curious about BDSM, and her new partner, Zack, a firefighter who's eager to slake that curiosity. 

I've been in that position before, but I invented new experiences for Jill. After all, I write fiction, which entails making stuff up. 

But I didn't really invent Terry and Ada, minor characters in the tale. Here's my description of them in the balloon, seen from Jill's POV:

An older couple, they stood gazing outward, side by side and close enough to each other that they probably shared body heat. The man, who deserved the label “silver fox,” had his hand resting possessively just north of his woman’s shapely derriere. Her honey-colored hair was piled high and bristled with hairpins, no doubt to keep the wind from tangling it into a rats’ nest. 

That's me and my boyfriend :)

And Zack's home resembles my boyfriend's south Davis townhouse so much so that he laughed a little ruefully when he read:

A wood stove like Zack's
Zack led her past the kitchen into a living room carpeted in ivory pile. In one corner, a wood stove sat in the center of a brick hearth, with a messy pile of men’s boots and shoes in front of it and a neat little stack of split firewood to its left. A small dinette was tucked in an alcove near the kitchen; a brown faux suede couch and chair completed the stark, bachelor decor.

Yes, as a fiction writer, making stuff up is my superpower. However, it's helpful to take some of what we write from our lives. So Love in the Air reflects my life as much as my imagination. Hope you love it as much as I enjoyed writing it! It will be available on March first, in the Naughty Literati's newest boxed set: Naughty Lovers.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Victorian erotic romance re-release sale! by Regina Kammer

Good news! The rights for two of the books in my Victorian erotic romance series, The Harwell Heirs, reverted back to me this month. I went ahead and re-published them with gorgeous new covers. Plus, for the first time, these titles are available in paperback!

To celebrate, I'm having a sale! All ebook editions -- epub and Kindle -- are available for only 99¢! So grab your copies now!

Below are blurbs and buy links. I am so excited!

The Pleasure Device (Harwell Heirs Book 1)

The Pleasure Device cover

In Victorian London of 1879, a new device for the treatment of hysteria has just arrived from France. Dr. Julius Christopher plans to use the invention for his own salacious scheme. Can Dr. Nicholas Ramsay prevent his beloved, the virginal debutante Helena Phillips, from being the next patient?

The Doctor and The Debutante
Nicholas Ramsay, renouncing his aristocratic heritage and dark past, has chosen a career as a doctor. He arrives in London ready to embark upon his practice and find a suitable wife. Helena Phillips, born into scandal and disgrace, is making her London debut. To atone for the circumstances of her birth, she must find a titled husband—no less than an earl will do.

A Dangerous Passion
Nicholas and Helena’s chance encounter during the Season leads to a dangerous attraction—and forbidden explorations. A taste of passion leaves Helena longing for more, and her lovesick wretchedness is confused for hysteria, a mysterious ailment afflicting many Victorian women.

A Devious Scheme
Dr. Julius Christopher’s new electro-mechanical vibrating machine for the treatment of hysteria is the perfect device to test his radical theory of female sexuality. To fully explore his hypothesis, he requires a virgin and seeks to ensnare Helena for his experiment.

Can He Save Her?
Nicholas is determined to rescue Helena from the clutches of Dr. Christopher. But to prove he is worthy of Helena’s hand, Nicholas must reconcile with his past, embrace his future, and show her pleasure is more profound when coupled with love.

Purchase ebook: Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, iBooks, All Romance eBooks (has an excerpt!), Inktera/Page Foundry
Purchase paperback: CreateSpace, Amazon USA, Barnes & Noble

Disobedience By Design (Harwell Heirs Book 2)

Disobedience By Design cover

In 1860, the railways of Victorian England transport American stevedore Joseph Phillips to the lush countryside of Lincolnshire…and into the arms of Lady Sophia Harwell. But Sophia is betrothed to a violent villain who wants only two things: her virginity and her dowry. Can Joseph save his beloved without scandalizing upper-class British society?

The Lady…
Lady Sophia Harwell has just been presented to Society—and its eligible bachelors—and is quite unimpressed. Her parents are encouraging the suit of the Duke of Royston, a man older than her father! Yet free-spirited Sophia is smitten with Joseph, her brother’s handsome American business partner, a man who introduces her to sensual delights beyond the bounds of propriety and the dictates of her social standing.

…And The Laborer
Joseph Phillips is out of his depth amongst the British aristocracy trying to secure investors for his American railroad enterprise. To make matters worse, he can’t keep his hands off his business partner’s sister. Sophia is far out of his league and expected to marry a duke. But when the duke reveals his villainy, Joseph decides some risks are worth taking, and, to protect Sophia, he embarks upon a partnership of an entirely unexpected nature.

Purchase ebook: Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, iBooks, All Romance eBooks (has an excerpt!), Inktera/Page Foundry
Purchase paperback: CreateSpace, Amazon USA, Barnes & Noble

The Harwell Heirs
Victorian aristocracy has very strict rules concerning marital connections and familial obligations. But the Harwell heirs—Helena, Sophia, and Arthur—discover love doesn’t always follow the rules. Scandalous affairs force these scions of society to choose between duty and desire, deference and destiny.
Book 1: The Pleasure Device
Book 2: Disobedience By Design
Book 3: Where Destiny Plays


About the Author

Regina Kammer is a librarian, an art historian, and an award-nominated, best-selling, multi-published writer of erotica and historical erotic romance. Her short stories and novels make history sexier, whether the era is Roman, Byzantine, Viking, American Revolution, or Victorian. She’s even sexed up contemporary settings, Steampunk, and Greco-Roman mythology. She has been published by Cleis Press, Go Deeper Press, Ellora’s Cave, House of Erotica, Story Ink, The Naughty Literati, and her own imprint, Viridium Press. She began writing historical fiction with romantic elements during National Novel Writing Month 2006, switching to erotica when all her characters suddenly demanded to have sex.

Keep up with Regina on her website
Follow her on Twitter @Kammerotica
Like her on Facebook
Connect with her on Goodreads
See what’s new on her Amazon Author Page

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Romantic Dom: Strength and Tenderness


When I first started reading electronic books, one of my first reads was a BDSM romance. I had to work myself up to ordering it…but once I did, it captured my imagination and so did the hero. BDSM was new to me then but the lifestyle spoke to me as a reader. My favorite part was the male dominant.

His appeal was his intensity. His complete focus on the heroine. The way that even though she was the submissive, he wanted to please her. To make her feel safe. Cherished. Protected. Yes, this is coming from a woman (me) who is a feminist and is perfectly capable of looking after herself, yet the thought that a man could take care of me and I could let him was a real eye opener. It seized my interest and teased my libido.

The idea of being protected and cherished appeals to me as a reader. Even better is the fact that in order for a relationship between a Dom and a sub to flourish, complete honesty and trust is absolutely necessary. No need to lie about what you think or fake an orgasm you didn’t have. Nope. He gets the unvarnished truth from you and you get the truth from him. I’m not completely sure I like the second part as much as the first, but hey, I can deal.

So, when I began writing erotic romance, I knew I wanted my heroes to be alpha males. In control and competent. My favorite archetype is the warrior and that definitely fits a dominant man. All of the heroes I’ve written have been dominant and their ladies like them that way. Like me, my heroines are talented women, but they enjoy letting the hero lead in the bedroom. It’s a turn-on for them and for the hero.

However, a vital fact here is that what I read and write is erotic ROMANCE. So that means that any alpha hero I write about must not only be dominant, but he must also be romantic. He must fall in love with the heroine and ache for her and with her. Writing an edgy, dominant man without turning him into a jerk requires some practice and a great character. I’ve been really fortunate to have some strong yet romantic dominant males seduce me into writing their stories.

The latest is Torin Stuart. A businessman with a sense of humor and a strong desire to make his Controlling Interest in the club was at the center of their intimate tug-of-war. Tor and Mouse have carried torches for each other for years and only now can they explore it. Tor, for all his tough practical nature, is actually a bit of a hopeless romantic. He wants to share his life with someone but when Mouse tells him a lie, he’s really hurt by it which turns him into a grumpy bear. Will Tor and Mouse their differences? Will they be able to cooperate so the club can succeed? Read Controlling Interest to find out!

* * * * *


Controlling Interest by Francesca Hawley


It's hard to keep things strictly business when the naturally submissive Mozelle “Mouse” Vincent challenges Torin Stuart at every turn and he finds there's more at stake than a controlling interest in the exclusive BDSM club they now share. Because love is the ultimate prize in their power exchange.

Note: This title was previously published.


BUY: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo


Excerpt

 

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.
If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

An Excerpt From:
CONTROLLING INTEREST
Copyright © FRANCESCA HAWLEY, 2011, 2016

She looked beyond Mouse and smiled. “Perfect. He’s right on time for once.”
“He who?”
“Torin.”
“Oh my God…” Mouse shivered and ducked her head, adjusting her mask to make sure her face was completely covered.
Mistress Zarah surveyed her. “Oh, now that’s just not fair. I bet you creamed your panties, didn’t you?”
“Mistress, could you please keep your voice down?” Mouse hissed, heat filling her cheeks.
Zarah chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so. But for your sake, I suggest you don’t speak much when he comes over here or he might recognize your voice.” She turned her head to look behind Mouse. “Ah, Torin. How are you, dear?”
He came around Mouse and gave Zarah a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Well enough, considering.”
“It’s such a loss. We’ll miss Regine terribly, you know that, don’t you?”
“I do. Thank you.” Torin turned and looked Mouse over from head to toe. “Very nice. Is she yours?”
“No, darling. A guest who wants to explore the dark side.”
“As a submissive or is she a Domme in training?”
“Submissive.”
Tor turned the full force of his gaze on her. Their eyes met briefly before she dropped her gaze to his shoes. Please let him not recognize her. Please.
“Yes, definitely a submissive,” he purred. He lifted his hand and paused, glancing at Zarah. “May I?”
“The choice is hers.”
“Do you have a name?” He asked, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. Normally, she kept her bushy hair pinned severely back, but the letter that arrived with the clothes ordered her to let it fall around her face naturally.
She glanced at Mistress Zarah, begging for help. Zarah smiled. “Her name is Minnie.”
“Minnie? Unusual.”
“That’s her name tonight. Who knows? Her name tomorrow might be Mickey.”
Mouse glared at Zarah, who just laughed.
“Do you want to play with me, Minnie?”
Mouse’s eyes flew to Tor’s. Did he know? Surely not. And what the hell did he mean by play?
“Play?” she squeaked. Damn it. Why did she always have to squeak like a mouse when she was anxious? At least Tor was unfamiliar with her nervous habit because by the time they’d met, Regine had worked the squeak right out of her.
He chuckled, his fingers trailed along the bare skin of her arm from her shoulder to her wrist. Gently, he encircled her wrist and rubbed the vulnerable skin there with his forefinger.
“Yes, Miss Squeak. Play. That means you and I go someplace private and I give you a spanking you’ll never forget. A spanking that will have you begging for more.”
Mouse couldn’t catch her breath as he lightly ran his fingertips up to her elbow. He leaned close and brushed his lips along the edge of her ear. She jerked when his tongue flicked against her lobe.
“Sensitive, aren’t you?” he murmured.
“Yes.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Oh sorry. Yes, Sir.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He chuckled in her ear. His hand moved from her elbow to her waist while he tormented her by trailing the fingers of his other hand from her wrist to her shoulder. Then he brushed a finger along her shoulder and up along her neck. Mouse couldn’t stop the shiver that coursed through her at his touch.
“You haven’t answered my question. Would you like to play with me?”
She closed her eyes at his purr. God, she wanted him. But what was she letting herself in for if she agreed to this? She opened her eyes and she saw Mistress Zarah grinning at her.
“The choice is yours. What do you want?”