#MWTease

Cupid, Psyche and…Mom #MWTease #Bad Boys Gone Good

December 17, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Happy Hump Day, everyone! It’s time to take a peek behind the covers of books and works in progress of several authors during the Mid Week Tease, hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Raine surprised Melanie by coming to visit her for the weekend. She is thrilled to let him into her home and bed, but not so willing to let him into her family. Her mother , Ellie Gordon, would like nothing more than to see her married. The last thing Mel wants to do is give her a prospect on which to focus. However, when Melanie takes Raine to one of her favorite places in town, the Cleveland Museum of Art, she runs into the last person on earth she wants Raine to meet.

<=====Excerpt from Making the First Move=====>

He holds me closer, our cheeks flushed as we stand in front of Jacques Louis David’s enormous painting of Cupid and Psyche lying naked in an elaborate bed, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

Raine kisses the side of my face and whispers in my ear, “I know how that guy feels.”

Cupid and Psyche by Jacques-Louis David at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of rocor. — Cupid and Psyche by Jacques-Louis David at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Before I can tell him I know how Psyche feels, too, I’m interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Melanie!”

My spine stiffens. There are times when my mother’s voice echoes in my head. It stopped me from going to third base on several occasions in high school. But it’s never quite this vivid.

“Melanie!”

Raine and I both stop to look at the woman quickly approaching.

It’s my mother!

Mimi tries to keep up, laden with her huge purse and the boys’ jackets. Mickey and Dusty are nowhere in sight.

“Mom? Mimi? What are you doing here?”

“We actually came to see the art.” Mom grins and winks at me as she leans in to give me a hug. “Who’s your handsome friend?”

I take a deep breath. I’m not prepared for this, introducing Raine to my mother. Should I call him my boyfriend? “Mom, I’d like you to meet Raine Mason. He’s…a friend of mine.” I give him a look that begs forgiveness in advance for anything inappropriate my mother might say. “Raine, this is my mother, Ellie Gordon.”

She rakes her fingers through her hair and stands a bit straighter.

“Mrs. Gordon, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about your magnificent cooking.” He extends his hand.

A wide grin spreads across her face. She slips her hand into his. “Well, it’s certainly a pleasure to meet you, Raine. Though I’m at a disadvantage. You’re apparently my daughter’s best-kept secret. She hasn’t breathed a word to us about you.”

Mom glances back at Mimi. My sister looks as guilty now as she did when she was seven and she’d denied stealing my mother’s makeup with pink-stained lips and clown-red cheeks.

“Well, she hasn’t breathed a word to me, at least,” Mom continues. “I have no idea why she’d be hiding such a handsome, polite young man from her mother.” She raises an eyebrow at me.

I rub my forehead, wishing it were a genie lamp that would grant my wish to have never left the condo this morning. “I haven’t been hiding him, Mom. Raine lives in San Francisco.”

Her smile widens. “You came here, all the way from San Francisco, to see my Melanie? You two sound like more than just friends.” She pokes me in the side with her elbow.

I cough. Mimi stares, wide-eyed.

“We are more than just friends,” Raine says sheepishly. He seems to feel the need to explain to my mother why he was draped all over me a moment ago. “I’ve been trying my best to convince your beautiful daughter to be my girlfriend.”

“My daughter is a little gun-shy and a bit of a workaholic. But keep working on her.” She speaks to him in a loud whisper behind her open hand, as if only he can hear her.

“Mom!” Mimi says sharply.

Raine is clearly amused.

“Raine, this is my sister, Michele.”

Mimi shifts her purse and the boys’ coats to her left arm and extends her right hand to him. He shakes her hand.

“Good to meet you.” He smiles. “Melanie’s told me so much about you and your boys.”

She smiles approvingly. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“How long will you be in town, Raine?” I can see the plot brewing in my mother’s head.

“Just for the weekend. I flew in on Thursday evening to surprise Melanie. I leave Monday morning.”

“Melanie, you should’ve brought Raine over to the house. I could’ve kept him company on Friday while you were at work, shown him around town.”

“Maybe next time I’m in town.” He beams at her.

Mom smiles then elbows me again. “What a darling!” She looks at me as if I’ve just won the lottery. “Raine, you have to join us for dinner tomorrow. You were going to bring him to dinner, weren’t you?” My mother looks at me accusingly.

I clear my throat. “Actually, I was thinking…since Raine’s only here for a few days…”

“Look, I don’t blame you for wanting to spend the weekend shut in with this one.” She jerks her thumb toward Raine and bares her teeth at him in a flirtatious grin I’ve never seen my mother use before and hope never to see again. “But you’ve gotta come up for air sometime and you two have to eat. I’m guessing there’s only an assortment of condiments in your refrigerator.”

My cheeks flush. My head throbs. I bury my forehead in my hand.

Raine can’t hold back anymore. His entire body convulses in a raspy chuckle as he drapes an arm around me. “I’d love to come to dinner.” Raine flashes that irresistible grin at my mother and I’m pretty sure I see her swoon. “But I know Melanie has a lot planned for me this weekend.” Mom looks at me as if to say, “I’ll bet she does” and it seriously makes me throw up in my mouth a little. “How about if we promise to get back to you with an answer by the end of the day?”

“Fabulous!” Mom can barely contain her excitement at the possibility. She squeezes Raine’s hand and kisses me on the cheek. I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful for the reprieve.

“Are you two just getting here?” Mimi asks. She blushes when she finally notices we’re standing in front of Cupid and Psyche.

“We’ve been here for a while, exploring the original building. We’re about to make our way to the new galleries.” I try to regain my composure. “What about you guys?”

“I took your advice and enrolled Mickey and Dusty in the art classes here. We decided to stay and explore the museum while they’re in class, maybe grab lunch at the café.”

“Lunch! That’s an excellent idea.” My mother claps her hands together. “Why don’t we all go for lunch at the café? That’ll give us a chance to get to know each other.”

I glance at Raine. He seems about as eager as my mother does. “Fine,” I say. “We’ll do lunch.”

“Great,” Mom says, “that’ll give me plenty of time to talk you two into coming to dinner.”

Before I can object, Raine has already extended his free arm to my mother. “I’m starving, Mrs. Gordon. Lead the way.”

Mom grabs Raine’s elbow. “Call me Ellie,” she drawls like a Southern belle, which she is not. She was born, raised and has always lived in the Midwest.

“Yes, ma’am, Ellie.” Raine flashes that damn adorable grin.

I want to protest, to tell her he’s mine. I want to spend the weekend with him. Alone. But there’s no use fighting it. All I can do is prepare myself for an hour of uncomfortable questions. Questions I can’t answer.

<=====END OF EXCERPT=====>

That Ellie is a pistol. She is the caring, wise, no-nonsense matriarch of the Gordon Family, and I had a blast writing her character in both Making the First Move and Love Me Not. Okay, now it’s time to dive into some of the tasty treats prepared for you by my fellow teasers. Please visit them at the links below.

Happy Teasing!

Cupid and Psyche by Jacques-Louis David at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of rocor.

Surprise Visits and Peach Bath Towels #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

December 10, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s that time of the week when we get to take a peek behind the covers of published books and works in progress of various authors, thanks to our fabulous host Sandra Bunino. The past few weeks, I’ve been sharing excerpts from my novel, Making the First Move.

Melanie Gordon and Raine Mason finally acted upon their feelings for each other. Unfortunately, it was after Melanie got a promotion that sends her back to her hometown, which is clear across the country. Initially, she resists the idea of a long-distance relationship. However, a few months after she returns home, Raine finally convinces her to give it a shot. Now, a few months into their long-distance relationship, he surprises her by visiting Cleveland in the dead of winter. In this scene, not long after his arrival, she’s slipped off to her bedroom to shower and tidy up when she hears a knock at her bedroom door.

<=====Excerpt from Making the First Move=====>

I crack the door with one hand, and brace the towel that is struggling to conceal my ample curves with the other.

“Yes?” I try to ignore the fact that his eyes are slowly scanning what he can see above and below the towel. “I’ll be just a few more minutes.”

“And what if I can’t wait a few more minutes?” His hand rests against the door.

“You can’t rush perfection.” I bat my eyes playfully.

“You’re already perfect.” He leans in to kiss me. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a ballroom gown, sweats or a peach bath towel.”

Raine gently traces the skin on my chest, just above the towel, which holds on precariously against the strain of my breasts. He trails his fingers up my neck and kisses me.

“Well, at least let me get—”

Raine cuts me off with a kiss.

He holds my face in his hands. “I know you want everything to be perfect, but all I want is you. Just the way you are. Right now.”

I smile, walking backward slowly until my calves hit the side of the bed. I take a deep breath and let the towel drop.

Raine takes the towel off my head and tosses it on the floor. Wet curls frame my face and cover my eyes. I pull his sweater over his head and unbutton his shirt. He peels off his undershirt and jeans.

We enjoy the warmth of each other’s bodies on this frigid winter night. Each kiss, each touch melts the ice from my heart and body just a little more.

His hands caress my hardened nipples. He nips at them gently with his teeth and circles them slowly with his tongue. Raine trails kisses along my neck, between my breasts, down my stomach. The steady thump of my heart rivals the intensity of the pulsing ache between my thighs.

He talks to me in a low, sensuous tone, demanding to know what I want, what I like, where I want him to touch me. Right now the answer is everywhere. I wish he were able to touch every throbbing, pulsing nerve at once.

He withholds the one thing I want so badly, until I ask for it. Beg for it. Then he peels himself off of me and slides off the briefs that have been trying unsuccessfully to restrain the bulge beneath them. He fumbles through his wallet, pulls out a condom and puts it on. Good. He’s prepared. Right now I’m in a euphoric daze, not thinking straight because all I want is…

Raine slowly guides himself inside of me. My breath is quick and shallow. I press my fingers into his back, pulling him closer. I wrap my legs around him, allowing him to thrust deeper inside. He glides in and out of me slowly, deliberately. All of my senses are heightened. I’m distinctly aware of the heat of his skin, his captivating scent, the hardness of his body in contrast to my soft curves, every sound we make.

Raine rocks us gently into moments of intense pleasure. Moments in which I say things I’ve never said to a man before. I beg him not to stop. I plead for more. I tell him how much I need him and where.

For a moment I forget how convoluted and impossible long-distance relationships can be. I forget all the objections I wrestle with whenever I consider the possibility of taking the relationship further.

My only thought is, I want this man in my bed every night. I want to start my day over coffee with him in the morning and discuss my day with him over dinner at night.

Afterward he holds me in his arms. My body fits perfectly against his like the curved, vintage set of salt and pepper shakers my mother owns. I wish we could stay like this forever.

I try to push all the disquieting thoughts from my mind. The ones that remind me Raine is only here for the weekend and come Monday night, I’ll be sleeping alone, wishing he were beside me.

<=====End of Excerpt=====>

Melanie is finding it difficult enough to navigate a long-distance relationship. Still unsure about where this will all lead, the last thing she wants to do is to get her mother’s hope up, by introducing Raine to her family. But next week we’ll discover that she has very little choice in the matter.

Now, it’s time for more teasing fun. Check out the teases at the links below. That’s where I’ll be. I can’t wait to see what everyone has in store.

This Delicious Feeling of Complete and Utter Ecstasy #MWTease

November 26, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s that time of the week when we get to take a peek behind the covers of currently available novels and novellas and works in progress of several, talented authors–the Mid Week Tease, hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Last week I shared an excerpt from my debut, Making the First Move. Melanie and Raine have had a business relationship and a casual friendship that has included a few “plus one” situations. However, once Raine discovered that Melanie would be relocating to Cleveland, he felt compelled to finally act on his feelings for her. Melanie knows nothing can come of this, but then again, she has nothing to lose. Or does she?

<=====Excerpt of Making the First Move=====>

The twenty or so steps to my bed seem like the longest walk I’ve ever taken. My nipples throb from his sucking and teasing, my heart is beating like a drum and there’s a steady, dull ache emanating from between my thighs. Every erogenous zone on my body is doing a celebration dance, like farmers welcoming the first drops of rain. My body is completely in line with my decision. My head feels the need to interfere.

Why are we doing this? I’m about to leave.

Did I make my bed?

I hope I wore matching underwear today.

What’s going to happen after this?

Maybe we shouldn’t…

We stop at the foot of the bed and look at it for an instant, then at each other.

I place my hands on his chest and lean into him, forcing my eyes to meet his. It’s exceedingly difficult to divert my gaze from his body. The man is sex poured into a glass on ice with a twist of lemon. And I want him.

God, do I want him.

“Is this one of those moments we’re going to seriously regret in the morning?” My voice comes out shaky and for the first time since we started this I’m very conscious of the fact that we’re both half-naked.

He kisses my palm, then my fingertips. “I could never regret this,” he says. “What about you?”

“No,” I say. “No regrets.”

I lean into him and press my mouth on his. He lifts me slightly, puts one knee on the bed and then lowers his body on mine.

He brushes loose curls from my face. “You’re fucking gorgeous. You know that?” He kisses me again before I respond. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to say that? To tell you how much I need you? I should’ve told you a long time ago.”

“Yes, you should have. But perhaps you can make it up to me.” I flash him a naughty smile as I trace his deliciously full lips with my thumb.

The corner of his mouth lifts in a devilish grin. He presses his mouth against mine. His tongue dives in immediately. Mine invites it to a passionate dance. A rehearsal for the union I hope will soon take place.

But Raine has something else in mind.

He rolls off me and slides his hand down my stomach, which I try hard to hold in. He kisses my belly and slides his fingertips back and forth underneath the waistband of my jeans. A difficult task, since there’s very little room to spare. He unfastens the button and slowly unzips them.

Raine peels off the jeans that are practically a second skin and pushes them off onto the floor, an act I’m willing to overlook. He removes his jeans and tosses them next to mine.

He bites his lower lip as he studies me lying, trembling, on the bed in nothing but a pair of red satin panties.

I feel exposed in a way I never have before. Butterflies do a synchronized waltz inside my stomach. My chest rises and falls rapidly. I’m eager, but try not to show it. And a little uneasy, but I try not to show that either.

Raine has been my Taye Diggs. The hot guy you fantasize about but never delude yourself into thinking you can actually have. So while I’ll admit to the fantasy, the realization that he’s actually in my bed is a little unnerving.

He kisses my neck. My breasts. My stomach. Above my waistband, which he is now edging down, taking a peek. I lift my hips to help him remove my panties. I can feel the dampness against my skin as he slides them down my leg.

Raine plants soft, delicate kisses along my belly, pelvic bone and inner thigh. My body responds with a sharp inhalation to his warm lips pressing against my throbbing clit. I grip the bedding and writhe as he teases it with his tongue. I bite my lower lip and practically hold my breath in an attempt to muffle the sounds trying to escape as I’m overcome by a wave of intense pleasure.

It feels as if I’m about to implode from this delicious feeling of complete and utter ecstasy. Is that possible? Death by sex? Because it seems like a very real possibility.

Suddenly he stops. I’ve barely taken a breath before he dives his nimble tongue inside me and works its magic.

Oh…my…God.

I moan and thrust against him, wanting, needing more. He’s only too happy to oblige. He threads his arms through my legs then presses his fingers inside my thighs, splaying them further open and anchoring my bottom to the bed.

My soft whimpering escalates to match the increased speed of his tongue, dipping in and out of my slick core. My lips part and my chin lifts as I ride this intense wave of pleasure. My breath becomes quick and ragged as he sends me spiraling into an orgasm that is like a jolt of electricity delivered to every inch of my body.

<=====END OF EXCERPT=====>

Thus begins what Melanie expects to be a short fling between her and Raine. Then they’ll both go their separate ways and chalk this up to a missed opportunity. Only, things rarely work out exactly as we expect. Stay tuned.

Now, before we all go and stuff our faces with turkey and a yummy variety of carb-loaded sides, it’s time to see what tasty teases my fellow authors have in store. By the way, all teases this week are guaranteed to be carb-free. 😉

Happy teasing!

The Relationship Equivalent of a Mirage #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

November 19, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s time for the Mid Week Tease, hosted by Sandra Bunino. This week I’m shifting gears and sharing a scene from my debut novel, Making the First Move. Melanie Gordon received a promotion earlier today that will send her back to her hometown of Cleveland (and mine). A move she isn’t emotionally prepared for. She goes out to celebrate with Raine Mason, a casual friend with whom she has an standing “plus one” arrangement. However, when Raine learns that she’s relocating, he confesses that he wants more than just friendship. The two were interrupted at dinner, before they could discuss the situation further, and Melanie is now back at her apartment…alone.

<=====Excerpt of Making the First Move=====>

A knock at the door disturbs my thoughts. For a moment I think I dreamed it. A series of short, rapid knocks assures me the sound is real. We have to buzz guests into our building, so it’s probably Debbie or Dawn. Still, as my mother often reminds me, a single girl living alone can never be too careful. I pick up a slender metal vase. Not because I’m afraid. Because I can’t bear the thought of hearing “I told you so” throughout infinity.

I creep quietly to the door, just in case it is some psycho who’s come here to club me to death. I hold my breath and peek through the peephole.

Oh, shit! It isn’t Debbie or Dawn.

Stepping quickly but quietly to face the mirror hanging next to my front door, I run my fingers through my hair. Going for a look of calculated disorder, I give my head a good shake. Not a good idea after three mojitos.

There’s another round of knocks, this time more urgent. I take a deep breath, unlock the door then slowly turn the knob.

Raine stands there, his hand against the door frame, a perturbed look on his face.

“Hey,” I say nonchalantly, “did we forget something?”

He doesn’t respond. Instead he searches my face as if he expects to find the answer to a question he has yet to ask. It’s only a few seconds, but it feels like an eternity.

I open my mouth to speak. Before a single word can escape he steps forward and presses his warm palms on either side of my face. His warm breath smells of cinnamon. His intense gaze locks with mine. The throbbing pulse that emanates from his thumbs reverberates against my cheekbones.

He leans in closer. My breath quickens and I’m keenly aware of the rise and fall of my chest. Body trembling, I close my eyes and lean in, ever so slightly.

He presses his lips, firm and soft, against mine. I take a deep breath, my lips part slightly. He readily accepts the invitation. His tongue slips inside and glides against mine.

I can barely breathe. His kiss is greedy, intense. It sends a chill down my spine yet sets every nerve in my body ablaze with a consuming fire. I’m overwhelmed by the sensation of heat, the increased sensitivity of my skin and the pulsing ache between my thighs. I break free to catch my breath.

“Lock the door.” My words come out ragged, breathy.

He releases me and locks the door. When he turns around I tug on his sweater, pulling him farther inside my apartment, until I’m backed against the wall.

He smiles then leans in to kiss me again. His lips press firmly on mine. His tongue darts in and out of my mouth as he grinds his hips into me, pinning me to the wall. I can feel his growing erection hard against my inner thigh.

There’s an insatiable hunger in our kisses. The kind that comes from an intense craving for something you want so badly, but don’t believe you can ever really have. Each kiss pulls me in deeper, makes me want him more.

This may be the relationship equivalent of a mirage, but it looks, tastes and feels damned good, and I’m going for it. And I’m going to enjoy every goddamned second of it. Starting now.

I slide my hands underneath his shirt. They glide slowly up the muscular ridges of his abs. My thumbs gently graze his nipples. He sucks in a deep breath in response. I grab hold of the edge of his sweater and shirt and inch them over his head. He pulls them off the rest of the way and tosses them on the floor.

Raine has been hiding more than just washboard abs under that sweater. A tattoo of a large sword with a vine wrapped around it and a vibrant red rose on its elaborate hilt decorates his right arm. A tribal tattoo rings his left bicep. I press my fingertips against the tattoo on the left side of his chest. It’s a bloody heart, pierced by a dagger with a skull handle. There’s a ribbon across it that says Forever. The word is barely visible.

Discovering a darker side to Raine, whose demeanor is more choir boy than badass, is unnerving, yet intriguing. What other secrets lie beneath his cool, calm surface?

My gaze meets his penetrating stare, like a panther sizing up his prey. It unravels me. My knees tremble in response and any concerns about what I’m getting myself into quickly shift to the back of my mind. My only concern, at this moment, is the feel of his hands on my skin.

I lift my blouse over my head and toss it onto a chair. Pulse racing, I guide his hands to the front closure of my red satin bra.

He unhooks it in a single motion and trails kisses down my neck and shoulder as he slides the straps down my arms. The gust of cool air against my hypersensitive nipples only heightens my arousal. He palms my breasts as he continues raining kisses down my body toward nipples already taut, begging for attention.

He swirls his firm tongue around my nipple a few times before flicking it across the sensitive flesh. I let out a long sigh in response.

Moaning softly, I grind my hips against him and twist his hair around my trembling fingers. The space between my thighs grows warmer and wetter. I’m floating in a feeling that is intoxicating and torturous all at the same time. But as good as this feels, I’m ready for more.

I press my hands into his chest, creating a sliver of space between us. Then I grab his hand and lead him to my bedroom.

<=====END OF EXCERPT=====>

What happens on the other side of that door? I hope you’ll come back next week to find out. 😉 In the meantime, check out the tasty teases that this week’s authors have in store.

Smooches!

Love in the Tub (and other dangerous sports) #MWTease

November 12, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s time for the Mid Week Tease, hosted by Sandra Bunino, where we get to sample excerpts from a variety of authors. Each week we look forward to the opportunity to share our work with you. But, let’s face it…authors are also voracious readers. So we’re just as eager to sample the yummy wares of our fellow authors.

Miles is in deep and Jamie’s feelings for him have been steadily growing. It’s been quite a journey since they first made love and her feelings for him scared her to death. After breaking her ‘no overnight stays’ rule for Miles, she’s become a staple at his place each weekend. When an old friend, who also has feelings for her, raises doubts about their relationship, it prompts Jamie to question why they never spend the night at her humble attic apartment. This is his first weekend staying at her place and Jamie finds a way to make it as memorable for Miles as he made her first overnight stay at his place.

<===Love Me Not Excerpt===>

“Mind if I take a shower?” Miles unzipped his bag, balanced on a trunk at the foot of her bed.

She’d already climbed into bed. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

He ducked into the bathroom and undressed, surveying the long, narrow clawfoot tub made of solid cast iron, painted black on the outside. He smiled. Of course. She wouldn’t have gone for a traditional color like white.

Miles yanked his sweater over his head and tossed it on top of the hamper. He slipped out of the rest of his clothing, turned on the water and stepped into the shower. While he was lathering himself the curtain was suddenly yanked back. He jumped.

Jamie laughed. “Who’d you think it was? Norman Bates?” She pulled her T-shirt and bra over her head, wriggled out of her shorts and stepped into the shower.

“I thought you were sleepy.” He smiled.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his back. “Suddenly I’m not so sleepy anymore.”

Their attempt to make love in a slippery clawfoot tub that was narrow and too far from any usable wall was comical at best. Sex was not only impossible, but dangerous. Still, she found another way to make their first shower together at her place memorable.

Jamie dropped to her knees in the tub, her hands gripping the base of his cock as she traced the tip with her tongue. He let out a little moan and braced his feet against the sides of the tub. He’d nearly fallen twice already; he didn’t want a concussion to interrupt what she was doing now.

She ran her tongue along the ridge underneath, and he murmured something even he couldn’t understand. When she took the tip into her warm mouth it sent a jolt of electricity up his spine. She swirled her tongue around the head of his shaft, as her hands slid up and down his growing length.

When she opened her mouth and took him in deeper, he let out a strangled moan. He tangled his fingers in her hair, careful not to force her head toward him, despite every muscle in his body screaming for him to do just that.

She was a fucking master at this. His body trembled, pleasure building, as she sucked him, her hand moving over the tight skin of his scrotum. Near his pinnacle, he tried to pull away, but her eyes met his and a wicked grin crinkled the corners of her eyes as she gripped his ass, pulling him in deeper.

He cursed, body trembling, cock convulsing, her eyes never leaving his.

He turned off the water and stepped out of the tub, lifting her in his arms and carrying her to the bed, both of their bodies soaking wet. He was desperate to be inside her, but first, he’d return the favor.

Laying her on the bed, he spread her legs. She’d been as turned on by her performance as he had. The lips of her sex were swollen with desire, her opening slick with her want. His dick twitched as he dove his tongue in, desperate for a taste of her.

“Mmm…” A low, purring sound vibrated through her chest as she dug her heels into the mattress.

He slid his tongue in deeper, savoring her addictive taste—both salty and sweet. Slipping two fingers inside her, he watched the intense satisfaction reflected on her gorgeous face as she gripped the bedding, her legs trembling. She was almost there. He swirled his tongue across her hardened clit as she writhed in ecstasy, bucking her hips toward him.

He licked and fingered her, increasing his speed in response to her commands to “Go faster” or “More, there, right there.” Her walls clenched, gripping his fingers, her body shivering. He smiled with satisfaction. She was sprawled across the bed, hair everywhere, skin dewy, completely spent. She forced her knees together, rolling back and forth slightly as she gasped for breath.

He laid kisses along her shoulder, then cradled her body against his, pulling the cover over them. “Not a bad way to kick things off at your place.”

She opened her eyes and touched his cheek, gazing at him for a moment. “There is one more thing I’d like you to do.” Her voice was quiet, their faces barely an inch apart as she spoke.

“Anything. Just name it.”

She licked her lips and took a deep breath, her hand still on his cheek. “Make love to me.”

<===END OF EXCERPT===>

While Jamie’s relationship struggles aren’t over, I’ve gotta say, “You’ve come a long way, baby!” Knowing about the awful events of her past, which the reappearance of her birth mother is forcing her to deal with, only makes me want to see this girl get her happy ending that much more. Read Miles and Jamie’s story in its entirety here.

Now, let’s discover what goodies the other teasing authors this week have in store.

Happy teasing!

Clawfoot tub photo courtesy of ahhfred. Some rights reserved.

He was addicted to this girl #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

October 29, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Welcome to the Mid Week Halloween Tease!

You’ve been especially good this week, so you deserve a reward. No tricks. Just treats. (If you’ve been naughty, rest assured, one or more of the authors on the list below has a character who is fully prepared to dish out a delicious punishment for you. So you’re in the right place, too.) Here are some mid week goodies that won’t rot your teeth or go directly to your hips, thanks to Sandra Bunino, host of the Mid Week Tease. Last week, Miles and Jamie finally took their relationship behind closed doors with a bit of foreplay. But now Miles is ready to show her exactly how much she means to him.

<===Love Me Not Excerpt===>

Miles gathered her in his arms and they tumbled back on the bed. He crushed his mouth to hers, devouring it with hot, hungry kisses. Gripping his shaft—stretched tight and aching with his need for her—his eyes locked with hers. Body trembling, he shifted his hips forward, slowly entering her. Her soft gasp and the sensation of being surrounded by her wet heat sent his pulse racing. A low rumble vibrated in his chest and his muscles tensed. Her body opened to him, allowing him to penetrate deeper.

She whimpered and gripped the bedding, her eyes wild. Something in her gaze stoked the fire low in his belly, need spiraling through every inch of his body. A shiver ran the length of his spine. He swallowed hard then licked his lips. His biceps bulged as he supported his weight above her and stroked slowly, methodically, bringing her closer.

She felt so fucking good. The erotic dreams he’d succumbed to—imagining what it would feel like to finally be inside her—paled in comparison to the reality. He could get used to having Jamie Charles in his bed. Ravaging her voluptuous body. The woman was as addictive as cocaine and probably twice as dangerous. Still, he couldn’t resist her and had no desire to.

Her walls tightened around his shaft. An intense wave of pleasure snaked its way up through his body, bringing him close to the edge. Her eyes lit up and the corner of her mouth curled. Her fingers digging into his back, she pulled him in deeper. She enjoyed the control she had over him. But he wasn’t done yet. Not until he’d completely satisfied her, until she was begging him to stop. He sucked in a deep breath and focused, despite his trembling limbs and the thumping of his heartbeat.

Without breaking the rhythm of his thrust, he reached his fingers down between them and found the slick bud. She shivered, sputtering something unintelligible as he accelerated the speed and pressure of his stroke.

Now they were both grunting, muttering and exclaiming expletives with the sweetest pleasure. Her entire body shuddered and her walls spasmed, clenching around him. She grabbed his hand, an unspoken plea for mercy. He could finally let go. A few more strokes was all it took. He came hard, with an intensity that rocked his entire body.

Miles collapsed on the bed next to her, kissing the side of her face, their bodies beaded with sweat. It was official. He was addicted to this girl, and he had no plans of letting her go.

<===END OF EXCERPT===>

Miles is falling hard for Jamie. Despite her resistance, Jamie is falling for him, too. But with all of the baggage in her past, there’s no way she’ll go easily.

As you can see, I don’t do scary, but a several of the authors on the list today do. So, get your goody bags and your naughtiest costume. It’s time to make the rounds to see what the other Teasers are offering.

Smooches!

Fat Girl by @LeighCarron Excerpt #MWTease

September 24, 2014 by ReeseRyan

This week I’m excited to host my very first guest for the Mid Week Tease, hosted by Sandra Bunino. This week’s tease is brought to you by Leigh Carron who is treating us to an excerpt from Fat Girl, her debut novel, and the first book in her Perfectly Imperfect series. Before I give you the tease, here’s a summary:

Years after fleeing small-town Springvale, Illinois, Deeana Chase has picked up the pieces of her shattered heart and built a new life for herself as a child advocacy lawyer. Her food addiction is quasi under control, her secrets are buried, and she has even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body. Until…

Micah Peters—the very sexy and now famous man she fled— walks through her office door and sends Dee reeling. His demand that she help a young boy caught in a custody battle will reunite her with the past she left behind. Torn between duty and self-preservation, Dee isn’t easy to convince.

But when obligation wins, the former lovers get more than they bargained for—a searing passion that burns hotter than ever and startling revelations about what really happened the fateful night she left.

Will the truth set Dee free to love again? Or will past hurts and lingering insecurities destine her to walk away from her heart again, this time for good?

Now for the tease where things get…hot…in Dee’s kitchen:

<===Fat Girl Excerpt by Leigh Carron===>

“Mick…”

My hand slides up her neck, testing the rapid beat of her pulse.

“Don’t,” Dee breathes, but the protest sounds as weak as my will to withstand her.

I lower my head and skim my lips along her bare shoulder. The fragrance of her soft, quivering skin seduces my senses.

“I’ve never gotten the smell of you out of my head…or the taste of you.”

Her breath hitches and I pull the sound deep into my mouth. I might regret my weakness later, but the silk of her lips, the sweet flavor I’ve never forgotten, spins my head, and trumps all rational thought or common sense.

I tug the band from her hair and grab two fistfuls of curls. And Dee’s right with me. No token resistance. No pretense. She gives back, just the way I need it. Hot and mindless. Going up on her toes, she winds her arms around my neck and molds her body to mine. Our tongues collide in a rush of longing. Tasting, tangling.

No woman has ever filled me so completely, to the exclusion of everything else. In that moment of frenzy, the past, my anger, and her transgressions are all white noise against the clamor of something louder and more powerful roaring in my blood.

I crush her back into the kitchen counter and muscle my thigh between her legs, leaving no doubt as to how badly I want her. Releasing my grip from the twist of curls I cup her unfettered breasts through the thin material and squeeze their ripe fullness. The nipples harden to bullets beneath my palms, and when I whisk my thumbs across the peaks, Dee’s breathy moans drive me full throttle.

I drag my mouth down her neck and chest, sliding my tongue across the points, dampening her shirt until the little chocolate morsels are visible through the cotton. Alternating between the two, I suck the tips into my mouth, hard enough to entice her to the edge, then lick them softly so that the next sharp pull is all the more acute.

“Oh, God,” she moans and turns away to grip the granite as if it’s too much.

But I’m not nearly done. I haven’t even begun to do all the things to Dee that I fantasized about on those lonely nights when the hurt had receded into the shadows and all I was left with were the bittersweet memories of touching her, and tasting her, of driving inside her hot, wet body.

Her back to me, I slip my hand beneath the elastic waist of her pajama bottoms and splay my palm across her feminine belly. Dee feels even better than I remembered in my dreams. There’s not a single straight line, just soft, luscious curves. The body she never seemed comfortable with I still find sensually opulent.

Her skin scorches me as I slide my hand lower. Without any panties to hinder me, my fingertips encounter silky, damp curls and plump, slick lips. Pure luxury. I press snugly between the globes of her juicy ass and, whispering her name, thrust two fingers into the creamiest heat a man could ever imagine.

“Mick!” Dee cries out and rolls her hips in a tantalizing rhythm against me.

Desire snapping like a whip, I nose her hair aside, exposing her neck, and greedily suck the fragrant flesh into my mouth. I sink my fingers deeper and faster, while circling her swollen clit with my thumb. I’m drowning in the feel of her, in the wispy breaths of her pleasure.

My need raw, I grate against her ear, “Come for me, Dee. Come all over me.”

<===END OF EXCERPT===>

Whew! Very hot, indeed. Looks like things are really heating up between Mick and Dee. To find out what happens next, get your copy of Fat Girl, available here.

Now, let’s keep the #MWTease party rolling. Grab yourself a cold drink and some appetizers, then visit the other teasers for more tasty treats.

The Green-Eyed Beauty Behind the Bar #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

August 13, 2014 by ReeseRyan

After more than a week of feeling miserable, it’s good to be out among the living. This week I’ve been playing catch up, so it’s been crazy busy. Thankfully, it’s Mid Week Tease time. There’s nothing like a few Mid Week Teases to take the edge off an intense week.

For the past two weeks we’ve been in Jamie and Miles’s meet cute, from her point of view. This week, we step into his point of view to see what he’s thinking about the wicked vixen behind the bar who is more than a little determined to keep him at arm’s length.

<==EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT==>

Miles stared at the large, heavy backlit menu. Quite an expense for a bar menu. Tahlia’s had gone all out to impress its high-end customer base.

He looked around the place. It was filled with people presumably like him. People with pockets deep enough that they wouldn’t flinch at paying twenty bucks for a fancy salad or a plate of calamari in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

The concierge at his hotel had highly recommended the place. He reviewed the menu. It all sounded delicious and he’d been starving when he’d walked through those doors fifteen minutes ago. But honestly there wasn’t anything on the menu half as interesting as the green-eyed beauty behind the bar.

The woman was mysterious, yet familiar—bearing a faint resemblance to someone he’d once known. Someone he’d once cared for. He sipped his water slowly, stealing a glance at her. About five foot eight. Lean, athletic body punctuated by sensual curves that made him fully aware of a need to adjust his trousers. Without turning his head, he watched as she sashayed behind the bar, hips swaying, her black pants clinging to her curves in all the right places. Suddenly she threw her head back and laughed, exposing her creamy neck. Her shiny black hair, loosely twisted low at the back of her head, shifted and for a moment he had the visceral sensation of tangling his fingers in it. She laughed again, more quietly this time. Pete was a regular funny guy. With him she seemed comfortable, relaxed.

Returning the glass to the bar, he picked up the menu again. She was apparently immune to his particular brand of charm. He hadn’t been able to solicit so much as a smile from her, let alone any genuine interest.

But then, maybe it was too soon to say.

Jamie stood in front of him, her arms folded tightly across a very impressive rack. Not that he was staring. It was just hard not to notice the strain of her breasts against the tight rayon shirt. The top buttons were open, revealing ample cleavage, a black camisole underneath and glimpses of a colorful tattoo. “Ready to order?”

Was he ever, but what he wanted tonight wasn’t on Tahlia’s menu. “Everything looks delicious.” Miles made sure he’d returned his gaze to the menu before he said it. After all, he didn’t want to come off like a complete sleaze bucket, even if all he could think about was how amazing those breasts probably looked beneath that snug shirt. “It’s impossible to choose. Maybe you can recommend something.”

She studied him for a moment then put down her iPad. She held her hand out, waiting expectantly, and he handed her the menu. Her eyes roamed over the menu quickly before returning it. “You’re not a vegetarian or anything, are you?”

“No.” He smiled. “I’m definitely a carnivore. In fact, the more meat, the better.”

She pursed her lips then returned her gaze to the menu. He responded with an inward grin, reasonably certain she was trying her damnedest not to smile. It gave him hope. Maybe Jamie the Bartender wasn’t a lost cause after all.

“My hands-down favorite meal off the bar menu is the blue-cheese-crusted filet mignon with port wine sauce. It’s seriously a stroke of genius. Like an orgasm for your mouth.” She stared at him for a moment, seemed to enjoy watching him squirm on the bar stool.

He picked up his glass of water and almost missed his own mouth as he attempted to take a quick gulp. Setting the glass back down, he wiped the water from his beard with the back of his hand. “Yeah,” he said, barely able to raise his eyes to hers. “I’ll take that.”

“Perfect.” A full grin crept across her pretty mouth.

Yep. She was definitely fucking with him. And she enjoyed it. This girl was more than he bargained for. Yet there was something about her that made him want to barrel straight through the Danger: Keep the Fuck Out sign she was clearly projecting.

“So, how do you want your potatoes?”

“Potatoes?”

“You know, the brown things that grow out of the ground? We serve them here. Six different ways.”

“Oh yeah, umm…garlic mashed potatoes, please.”

She nodded. “Good choice. Side salad, Caesar salad, broccoli or the vegetable of the day?”

“What’s the vegetable of the day?”

She glanced behind her to look at the chalkboard with the special, soup and vegetable of the day written neatly in white, red and blue chalk. “Brussels sprouts in a white wine reduction.”

“Yeah, I’ll take that.” He folded the heavy menu closed, then handed it to her.

A wicked smile was perched on her dark lips. Did she have the slightest clue how incredibly enticing that smile was? “Great. Will that be all?”

He peered deeply into those bewitching green eyes framed by dark, smoky, cat-eyed makeup. “For now.”

Now it was her turn to squirm a little under his stare. She put the menu back behind the bar and turned to walk away.

Miles tapped his finger lightly on the bar. Maybe his prospects with this girl weren’t looking so bad after all.

<==END OF EXCERPT==>

Thanks for taking the time to visit. Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the list below.

Turning the Tables #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

August 6, 2014 by ReeseRyan

It’s time for the Mid Week Tease ( #MWTease ) hosted by the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. I’ve enjoyed sampling stories from a variety of genres through this fun weekly event, including Sandra’s book, The Colors of Us, which will be available this month. Last week, Jamie met Miles at the restaurant where she works. Miles is intrigued by the beautiful, bad ass bartender. She finds him attractive, but doesn’t believe he’s her type.

Jamie’s dark past has taught her few people can be trusted. She can be a bit gruff, but Miles doesn’t scare that easily.

<==EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT==>

The guy might be goofy and slightly aggravating, but he had the potential to be a good tipper. No matter how irritated she was, she knew better than to fuck that up. Jamie took a deep breath and gave him a dead-eyed smile that skirted civility without encouraging further interaction. “Maybe you’ll feel better if you tell me about it,” she said. “After all, isn’t that why you came here?”

“Hmm…I’ll bet you get that all the time. Rich bozos sitting here whining about their wives, mistresses and tennis elbow.”

She choked back the laugh rising in her chest before it could escape her lips. Covering her mouth, she cleared her throat and managed a straight face. “My customers are not bozos.”

“How politically correct of you to say so.” He tapped the bar lightly with his index finger. “But I have an idea. How about we turn the tables tonight? Tonight, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”

This guy was really beginning to bug her. Since when did a complete stranger give a damn about what was bothering her? Where was this guy from anyway, Mayberry?

A regular came in and sat at the bar. She was glad for the distraction. “I’ll be right with you, Pete,” she told him before turning back to the man who’d managed to get under her skin. “Excuse me—”

“Miles.”

“I’m sorry…?”

“You called him Pete, right? Well, I’m Miles. Miles Copeland. It’s nice to meet you.”

She cleared her throat, her jaw tight. “I’ll be back to check on your order in a few…Miles.”

<==END OF EXCERPT==>

Thanks for stopping by this week. This week I kept it short and sweet. But next week we get inside Miles’s head and see what he is thinking and feeling. Now, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite adult beverage and visit some of the other authors on the list below.

PS: Get yourself a fan. You’ll need it at a few of these stops. 😉

Rough Night #MWTease #BadBoysGoneGood

July 30, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Happy Wednesday, gang! You survived the roughest part of the week. Things should get easier from here. Just in case you could use a little something extra to get you through the day (sorry I can’t refill the liquor flask you keep in your purse), we’ve got just the thing: the Mid Week Tease, hosted by the fabulous Sandra Bunino.

The Mid Week Tease is a fun, multi-author event that gives you, dear reader, the opportunity to sample a morsel of our novels and novellas. My tease this week is from Love Me Not. In this scene my heroine, Jamie Charles, first meets the delectable Miles Copeland. Only Jamie isn’t quite as taken with Miles as he is with her…

<==EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT==>

“Rough night, huh?”

Jamie looked at the man who’d taken a seat at the bar. He wasn’t one of the usuals. She’d never seen him before. But he was the type. Tahlia’s wasn’t a dive bar, like the ones she’d worked at in the past. It was an upscale bar and grille that catered to affluent tastemakers. In fact, the only reason they’d given her a shot, with her jet-black hair, penchant for black leather, tattooed arms and nose piercing was because Tahlia Vega was a friend of a friend of Ellie’s. She’d landed the job because she was good.

The man flashing his brilliant white teeth at her definitely fit the bill. Ridiculously gorgeous—like every line of his face had been precisely chiseled from stone by Michelangelo himself. A nose befitting a Greek god. A faint moustache was perched above his upper lip and a barely there beard crawled its way along a jawline with just enough of a pleasing curve to prevent it from being described as square. His hair—a sandy brown just a shade or two shy of venturing into blondiewood—was slicked down on the sides, with the top longer in a fairly conservative faux hawk. But those eyes…they were the color of pristine Caribbean waters. So blue they made a girl want to get naked and go for a swim in them. He was wearing a navy linen blazer with a crisp white shirt beneath it. The large face of the stainless steel TAG Heuer on his wrist nearly matched the color of those eyes.

Rich, gorgeous and probably spoiled. The only thing missing was the rail-thin model-type hanging on his arm. He was definitely the Tahlia’s type. He just wasn’t hers.

“Everything’s great,” she said to him. “I was just thinking about…I was making sure we had enough lemons, that’s all. Can I get you something?”

“You take your citrus inventory very seriously, I see.” An animated smile spread across his handsome face, and his eyes flickered with amusement as they followed her movement. “Well, I for one appreciate your dedication.”

She bit her lip and wiped the counter with a rag. If she’d still been working at Chuck’s Biker Bar, she’d have told this guy to go fuck himself. But at Tahlia’s, the customers were far more delicate. They didn’t appreciate being cursed out by the help. “If I can get you anything, let me know.” She turned to walk away.

“Wait. Actually, I would like something. I’d love a Satan’s Whiskers. It’s—”

“One ounce gin, one ounce orange juice, half an ounce of dry vermouth, sweet vermouth and Grand Marnier, a dash of bitters and a twist of orange peel. Or would you prefer it curled rather than straight?” Teeth clenched, she pressed her lips into a hard smile. Maybe she didn’t look like the dainty little bartenders he was used to, but she knew her shit.

“I apologize.” He ran his hands through his spiked crown, giving his hair a tousled, just-tumbled-out-of-bed-and-I-wasn’t-alone look. “I didn’t mean to imply that—”

“Forget it. Anything else?”

“You guys serve food, too, right?”

“Absolutely, would you care for a table? I can—”

“Actually, I’d like to eat right here at the bar, if that’s okay—” he leaned in closer and squinted at her name tag, “—Jamie. I think I’d prefer your company to eating alone.”

Don’t do me any favors, buddy. She surveyed the man, struck by how his blue eyes danced when he smiled at her. Her knees wobbled slightly. She was glad he couldn’t see them.

“If that’s what you’d like.” She reached behind her and handed him a bar menu. “Just let me know when you’re ready. Would you like your drink now or with your meal?”

“With my meal, please. Until then, how about a glass of water? I’ll take it with one of those lemons.” His devilish smile widened.

Was he making fun of her, or just trying to piss her off? If it was the latter, it was working. “Coming right up.” She forced the words through a smile so fake it’d give Barbie a run for her money. She grabbed a glass, dumped in a scoop of ice, filled it with water then put a lemon on the side. “Here you go. Just call me when you’re ready.”

“Sure thing.” He pulled out his phone. “But I’ll need your number first.”

The overwhelming desire to punch the dude in the face subsided the moment she saw that big, stupid grin. He was a harmless flirt. She could deal with that, no problem. “Ha-ha.” Her face remained expressionless as she tucked the rag into her apron.

He laughed. “Okay, that was pretty corny. I apologize. I’m usually far more clever than this, but today…I got nothing.”

“Rough day, huh?” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Touché. And yes, it has been a challenging day.” Lifting his chin slightly, he stroked his beard, regarding her with amusement. “But things are beginning to look up.”

<==END OF EXCERPT==>

Thanks for reading this week’s tease and allowing me to introduce you to Jamie and Miles. Want to take a peek at more steamy stories? Check out teases being offered by the fabulous authors listed below: