Bella is a plus-sized librarian, and Marcus is a hot Italian firefighter / paramedic. Bella’s not sure she’s quite Marcus’s type, but she couldn’t be farther from the truth.  He’s not interested in surface beauty alone, and here, Marcus’s thinks about what it is that intrigues him about Bella:

If his mother and nonna had taught him anything, it was that real beauty lived below the skin, in the heart of the woman. When he looked at Bella, he saw strength and kindness and purpose and vulnerability. It shone from her clear blue-green eyes and on her flawless pink cheeks and came out in every word she spoke from her incredibly sensual mouth. She was comfortable in her own skin, and it showed in the way she carried herself. It turned him on and made him want her, in any way she’d take him.

Even on his knees.

Forbidden Desires is available now!

Yup, that’s right. I’m a rebel. I’m not giving you six sentences this Sunday…I’m giving you SEVEN! *nods*  See? I can rule-break with the best of them! This is from a scene where Bella comes face to face with Marcus’s ex-fiancee:

“How about a little self-esteem, Bella?” She muttered the words to herself as she waited on the porch stairs for Marcus to park his bike in the driveway behind her car. She snorted. She usually had it, but who could look at Teresa whatever-her-last-name-was and not feel inadequate? She shoved her insecurities back into the far reaches of her heart and grinned. So what if his ex was gorgeous? Hot, sexy Marcus was here with her, and possession was nine-tenths of the law.

What woman can’t relate with how Bella feels when faced with her man’s ex?

Two more weeks until FORBIDDEN DESIRES releases! Another snippet from it:

For the hundredth time since she’d said yes, Bella wished she’d told Marcus no. What was she thinking? They were so different. She was a librarian, and he was a firefighter and a paramedic. He was an alpha kind of guy and she’d bet he was an adrenaline junkie. She didn’t go for men like that. She should have given him the out he probably wanted, and maybe even needed. He’d sounded so serious when he’d talked about how he’d screwed up at work.

But the truth of the matter was, he was the first man in far too long who’d caught her interest in more than just a physical way. Oh, yes, he was sexy. But damn it, he seemed nice. How long had it been since she’d been with a man who was just…nice? She snorted. Had she ever been with a man who was just…nice? Trent hadn’t been. Not once he knew—

No. Bella forced herself to squelch the memories. She looked around and sighed at the mess in her bedroom that matched the one in her head. She’d changed her clothes about twelve times, and the rejects were piled high on the chair next to her closet. No outfit seemed quite right for a first date with a man she’d already told she was imagining naked.

Except maybe bare skin and a smile.

Hmmmm….what kind of outfit DOES go with that?

This is a continuation of the scene from the last blog post. Forbidden Desires is out November 19th…pretty darn soon! 🙂

He cursed under his breath. He’d have sworn she was as into the kiss as he’d been, but obviously he was wrong. He stepped back, putting a little space between them. “I’m sorry, Bella. I didn’t mean to push so hard. I thought… I’m sorry.”

She stared at him for a long moment, really looked into his eyes as if she were taking his measure. “You didn’t. But I like it when men ask.” She took one step forward, twisting her fingers around the choker he wore, tightening it slightly against his throat. Her eyes gleamed brightly, and her sinfully sexy voice was a low drawl. “Actually, I like it when they beg.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I never remember to do a Six Sentence Sunday post, so I’ll do a version of my own, with more than six sentences.  This is from FORBIDDEN DESIRES, which is out November 19th from Carina Press.

“Ah. Real furniture. Much better than the itty bitty Victorian sofa my sister has.” Marcus shuddered dramatically, but it wasn’t all feigned. “I’m afraid to sit on it. Every time I do, I hear this little creak…”

Her laugh burst free, so open and vibrant he couldn’t help himself. He tugged her into his arms and, before she could protest, he slanted his mouth over hers.

Jesus, the taste of her nearly knocked him to his knees. Her lips felt warm and soft and tasted of the Japanese tea they’d had with dinner, covered by a slight hint of almond from the cookie she’d nibbled after their meal. When she gasped, he deepened the kiss and wound one hand into her hair, tugging her up against his suddenly aching dick. He rubbed rhythmically at the small of her back, urging her closer to him. She shivered, but she wasn’t the only one.

And then Bella slid a hand between them and pushed lightly against his chest, breaking their contact. She was breathing hard, but her words were soft and precise. “Stop. Ask first.”

He jerked in surprise and blinked. That kiss had sucked all the oxygen from his lungs and maybe even his brain. “What?”

“Ask me if you can kiss me.”

I. Have. NEWS!

I’m happy to announce that  FORBIDDEN FIRES, book 3 in my Bondage and Breakfast series, was acquired by Carina Press and will be out in Spring 2013!   And that’s not all…they’ve also acquired FORBIDDEN OBSESSIONS, book 4. No date on that one yet (and I’m not finished writing it, LOL!)   I’m over the moon excited about this!

A little about FORBIDDEN FIRES:

A year ago, Detective Delia Robinson and Fire Marshal Colin Butler worked a bombing case that brought them together, but their explosive relationship didn’t last.  Now, a serial arsonist is on the loose, and it’s up to Delia and Colin to take him down.  When the evidence they find sends them undercover as a married couple, will the things they have to do in the line of duty fan the flames of desire and bring them even closer, or tear them apart forever?

Once I get closer to finished with FORBIDDEN OBSESSIONS, I’ll post a blurb for that.

And don’t forget, FORBIDDEN DESIRES, book 2 in the series, will be out November 19th!

I learned today that FORBIDDEN DESIRES, out November 19th, will also be released as an audiobook. I love audiobooks, and I love the idea that someone vision-impaired can still enjoy an erotic romance.

I also discovered that THE THEORY OF ATTRACTION, including stories by Delphine Dryden (The Theory of Attraction),  Christine d’Abo (A Shot in the Dark) and me (Forbidden Fantasies) is now showing the beautiful cover we were given and is up for presale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble!  Can’t wait for October 16th!

Here’s the beautiful cover:

This 3 novella anthology is the first print title that will be published under the Carina Press imprint.  I’m incredibly honored to be included with these two talented authors!

Received fabulous news from Carina Press, my publisher. Forbidden Fantasies is going to print in a trade-size paperback anthology with stories from two other authors, Christine d’Abo and Delphine Dryden. All three are erotic romances with a bondage theme. I’m tickled pink to be included with these two fabulous writers. I’ve read and loved both these stories.

The book, The Theory of Attraction, will be available at stores like Barnes and Noble (both stores and online) and Amazon. It’s due out November 1st.    (Edited! Currently it shows “Controlled by Desire, which was a working title only.)

I’m so excited I could scream. Might have screamed when I found out. Okay, really DID scream when I found out. Can’t wait to hold it in my hands!

Yay! I got my final cover today for my November 19th, 2012 Carina Press release FORBIDDEN DESIRES. I *love* this cover! It’s playful and sexy and is perfect for their relationship! And I love the series tag, Bondage & Breakfast, the name of the B&B that appears in each of my “Forbidden” stories.

What do you think of Marcus and Bella?

From my WIP, Forbidden Fires. I’m hoping to have this book turned in to my editor for consideration by the end of the month:

Her look and her body language was in no way submissive as she stared him right in the eye, breaking the flimsy tie between the two restraints still binding her wrists. She cupped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down to her level, dropping a searing hot kiss on his mouth, all tongue and teeth and pent up emotion.  He was so stunned he stood there for a long moment before opening to her.  As he fell into the kiss, he clasped her hips tightly, not caring if he left a mark there, the caveman inside him hoping he did.

She groaned, he groaned, and then she stepped back, breathing harshly.  “Be careful. I need you safe, too.”  She fisted his shirt, tugged for emphasis.  “Need, Colin.  Not just want. Need.”

Her hand dropped, and as she started to walk away, she made a brief stop in front of Gabe McConnell, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “You be careful too, Master Gabriel.”

“If you don’t marry her, you’re a fucking idiot,” McConnell said, staring bemusedly after her as she left the room. “And you won’t get a second chance, because I’ll make sure I give her what she wants and keep her so busy she won’t have time to think about you.”

Still stunned by Dee’s fervent declaration, Colin barked a laugh. “Yeah, you could try. But I’d kill you myself.”

“Good luck with that.”