Awesome Excerpt Thursday ~ The Merry Widow ~ Adriana Kraft

The millennium arrived with such promise—will it deliver for recently widowed Merry Delaney?

So much for all the anticipation about the new millennium. Merry Delaney’s life is still in a rut and shows no signs of changing. Sex? A fading memory, gone long before her husband actually died. Excitement? Hardly the hallmark of an accountant’s life. At forty-two, what can she look forward to?

Until her best friend takes Merry’s predicament into her practiced hands. One passionate kiss unleashes possibilities Merry never dreamed of—and she wants to sample them all. Men? Women? Young? Old? Ménage? Toys? Yes, to all, to pleasure, to making up for lost time.

Enter Chicago Detective Jim Barnes, who solicits Merry’s help with a mob funds-skimming case. Can the scorching passion that soon smolders between Merry and Jim survive the escalating mob threats of exposure? Having discovered a zest for sex, will Merry ever again be satisfied with one man?

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Excerpt ~ 

The lips pressing against hers were soft and pliant. They tasted of peaches. The tip of a tongue slipped out to trace the contour of her mouth, wetting her lips. Merry Delaney leaned in toward that kiss.

It had been far too long. With eyes shut tight, she parted her lips slightly, responding in kind. A gentle sweep of passion filled her with warmth.

The peachy lips became more eager, more insistent. A hand settled over Merry’s breast, and she focused her entire awareness on the nearly forgotten tingling sensation of her pebbling nipple. Good God, she’d missed that so.

Practiced fingers wove their way underneath her top and inside her bra until they cupped a breast. Merry frowned. The kiss intensified, and she redirected her attention to tasting those lips.

An arm gathered her close. Breasts crushed against breasts.

Merry’s eyes blinked and then opened wide. She jerked out of the embrace and moved a foot or so down the length of the couch, away from her lifelong friend, Camille St. Jermaine. “What are you doing?” Merry felt her face flush with embarrassment.

Camille patted her thigh.

Merry shrank away.

“Come on, Merry. It wasn’t just me. You were reveling in that kiss. I could feel it. So why did you stop?”

Merry shook her head. Her shoulder length hair failed to provide an adequate screen for hiding. “You’re right. I was enjoying it. But we’ve known each other since grade school.”

“And for over thirty years I haven’t hit on you. I figured it was about time.” Camille blew raven bangs off her forehead. “Damn it, Merry, you can’t stay wrapped up in your self-made cocoon forever. Dan’s been gone for over a year. I know for a fact you didn’t have sex for five years before that. M.S. killed Dan, Merry. Don’t let it kill you, too. You stood by your husband. You sacrificed. You put your life on hold. Now it’s time to let go—try some new things. Take some risks. Live the life you’ve got left.”

“You’ve said all of that to me ad nauseum since before Dan died.” Merry licked her lips. “But you’ve never kissed me—never tried to seduce me before.”

“Maybe I got tired of talking.” Camille traced a pattern on the couch between her thigh and Merry’s. “You’ve known I’m bi for years. You never seemed to have a problem with that.”

“Of course not. You’re my best friend.” Merry’s voice caught in her throat. “That’ll never change. But—” Her eyes widened.

“But you never thought of me in that way.”

Merry shook her head.

“You never thought of yourself with another woman.”

“Not really.”

“But you’re not repulsed by the thought of it?”

Merry shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

Camille chuckled and placed a hand on Merry’s thigh.

Merry did not move.

“I know you pretty well, girl. Sometimes maybe better than you do. You need to take that pretty blonde accountant head of yours and go and figure things out. That’s fine with me. You know where I am.”

Camille rose to her feet and reached back toward Merry, who let Camille pull her up from the couch. Camille kept both of Merry’s hands in hers. “You need to know I’ve wanted you for years. I’m not just coming after you to get you to open up, although I hope that happens. I’m coming after you because I love you and always will.” She shook her head. “I’m not seeking a permanent relationship—we already have that. I want to taste you and let you taste me. I want to show you how a woman can love a woman—totally and completely. I even want to help you find a man.”

Merry scowled.

“Don’t look so horrified. I’m not trying to keep you for myself. I’m just trying to coax you out of that cocoon of yours, and maybe have a little fun along the way.” Camille’s dark eyes lit up. “I don’t know if I ever recall you speechless. Come. Let’s send you on your way.”

Camille led Merry to the front door, hand in hand.

Merry turned to face her friend, struggling with what to say. How could she make an exit that wouldn’t insult her best friend?

Camille leaned forward, brushing her lips across Merry’s.

Marshalling all of her strength, Merry resisted returning that kiss.

“Go, girl,” Camille insisted, “before I do something I’ll regret. Let me know when you’re ready or want to talk.”

Merry nodded and opened the door.

Camille patted her on the rear as she stepped outside.

~

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Teaser Tuesday - Stupid Car!

Reese watched Jess’s tight naked ass strolling out of the bathroom and realized she couldn’t look away. Wow. He is completely naked, and it doesn’t even phase him. Maybe she did overreact a tad. She was honestly afraid she’d given the poor elderly man a heart attack. He honestly startled her, and it didn’t have anything to do with him being naked. More of her being naked and a strange man in the shower. What a mess. She was starting to get a headache and rubbed her forehead. Hopefully, Jess would find them some clothes, and they could get out of there, go to the police station and get some freaking sleep. Where the hell was she going to sleep? A couch at the police station? Looking around, she wondered if Sun Meadows had any rooms available. The nakedness was optional. Right?

Good lord, how did I even get here? The events of the night are my punishment for what? Flirting with an attractive, intelligent, funny, guy wasn’t a karma crime, was it? Any romantic notion whatsoever seemed a distant possibility until tonight and while the circumstances are less than ideal, she had as her Mom would say the warm fuzzies. 

It would be at most a one-night stand, maybe two nights depending on how long to took to get a new car.

Oh my god, my car! What the hell am I going to do? I need to call my insurance company—crap where is my phone? Shit, my stuff is in my purse or my car under five feet of water. What if I can’t get a replacement car and I miss work? What day is it? Is my rent due this week? I don’t have insurance on my cellphone, and I am going to have to replace it. I don’t have the money for that! If I don’t have a cell phone, Ethan can’t reach me, and I’ll lose my job. What if Ethan tries to call and needs me for something before, I get a replacement phone? 

“Reese, what’s going on?” She heard Jess ask in the middle of her swirling panic. “Talk to me.”

Reese blinked, focusing on the crease in Jess’s forehead realizing just how handsome he was. Chiseled cheekbones, a strong jawline with a hint of scruff, a distinctive narrow nose, and beautiful brown eyes. She swears she saw specks of gold mixed in the multiple hues of brown. Tousled short brown hair that fell over his forehead when he wasn’t brushing it back. “Reese.” He said her name again, she felt his hand covering her cheek, and she leaned into it closing her eyes. “I found us some clothes. Here are a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. Do you want to change in the bathroom?” 

Reese didn’t have the energy to respond. She took the clothes and moved on autopilot into the bathroom. Mind numb, she tugged on the clothing and didn’t even bother to look in the mirror. Walking out to the central area, Jess waited. His neon pink t-shirt said relax in big black letters, and his pants were shiny blue spandex. The outfit was made complete with a pair of brown work boots. Reese burst into laughter. “Yeah, I know, but it’s all they had in my size.” She continued her hysterical amusement, tears forming in her eyes. “Seriously, Reese?”



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Awesome Excerpt Thursday ~ American Honey ~ Caitlin Ricci

All Dillon wants to do is flirt with his crush. Too bad his family keeps getting in the way.

It’s Saturday night and nineteen-year-old beekeeper Dillon should be at home enjoying game night with his big family, but he can’t resist another trip to the strip club. It’s the only night he gets to see Cal, who stars in all Dillon’s fantasies and has no idea he’s been using a fake ID to get in to see him.


But making fantasy a reality? That’s difficult, especially when Dillon’s family can’t see him as an adult, let alone someone capable of dating a man twice his age. And that’s only the beginning of the complications that seem determined to keep Dillon and Cal apart.


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Excerpt ~ 

Dillon


There were probably a million things I should have been doing instead of going back to Gents to watch the guys dance. It was a Saturday night. In my family that meant game night. We’d get together at my cousin Gavin’s house and sit around and play Risk or Clue or Ticket to Ride or something. They were probably wondering where I was now, though no one had started texting me yet. My two older brothers would be there, along with my three cousins and Gavin’s ex-wife, Cindy, and his kid, Kyle.

But I’d be missing game night this Saturday, just as I’d missed it last Saturday too. I couldn’t play it off like I’d forgotten what day it was or anything like that either. We all had the reminders on our phones. I should have been there with my family.

Instead I was at Gents, because Saturday nights were the only night, as far as I could tell anyway, that Callum worked. He was probably at least thirty and his reddish blond hair was curly and hopefully naturally that color. I’d seen him almost completely naked over my last few months of coming here so I was pretty sure he didn’t do a thing to change the color of his hair. I was really glad about that.

In my fantasies, of which I’d had plenty featuring him already, he spoke with a deep Irish accent. He also wore a kilt though, and a sash, and sometimes even a dagger. He never took any of it off. I hadn’t gotten that far in my daydreams of him yet, but I’d been undressed by him plenty.

Callum came on the stage, accompanied by some song I didn’t know. It had a fast beat with a high-pitched female voice screaming out. I tuned the song out as much as possible. I wasn’t next to the stage, two tables away from it actually. I didn’t want to be caught staring, even though I was. I looked at my hands on top of the table often. Pretty much every time Callum looked at me, I glanced down at my hands. I couldn’t handle his smile that seemed like it was only meant for me. I couldn’t look at him and find him looking back at me. I was trying to be invisible, while still being there. I didn’t want to be off in a corner somewhere where I couldn’t see him at all. I’d paid the cover and I’d already ordered my two beers for the two-drink minimum. I’d probably only have one of them. That’s what I did most of the time at least.

My phone vibrated and as much as I didn’t want to see it, I pulled it out anyway. I wasn’t surprised to see a text from my cousin’s ex-wife. Cindy was Kyle’s mom and she and Gavin got along most of the time. Better than I did with any of my exes anyway, but then again, I didn’t have kids with my exes and Gavin was over a decade older than me.

You’re not here. Are you sick?

I sighed. If I said I was sick, someone would have driven by my house to check on me. If I said I was busy, someone would have offered to help so that I could get done faster and get to game night. I didn’t know what to say but I knew I had to lie.

Had something else to do tonight.

Liar.

I pursed my lips and put my phone away. I wasn’t lying. I did have something else to do. Staring at Callum’s ass was at the top of that list. He had on a green thong and black chaps. I didn’t know if they were real leather or fake from here but I wanted to know. He’d worn them last week, too, and I’d wanted to know then as well.

Trying not to stare at him was getting me nowhere. I simply wanted him too much. A man I didn’t know anything about, or even if Callum was his real name. I couldn’t stop tipping him either. It was a good thing that my honey harvest had been so good last fall because I wasn’t used to blowing through money like I was.

I was going to do even more tonight. I’d turned him down for a private dance before, but tonight I was ready. I’d paid off my bills for the month and I knew how much I could afford. I wasn’t cheap, but I wasn’t rich either and I didn’t want him to think that I didn’t know what he was worth. I wanted him. Badly.

When his set ended and he came around this time, he stopped at my table just as before.

“Having fun?” he asked me.

I nodded. His accent was there, though only slight, and it could have been completely my imagination. “Can I have a dance tonight?” My voice wasn’t nearly as strong as his was, but I was just glad that I’d managed to get the words out at all really. I was nervous, and maybe even a little worried that he’d reject me, but I was mostly excited, especially when he smiled at me and offered me his hand.

“I was going to ask you if you wanted one,” he said when I slipped my fingers over his palm.


His skin was softer than mine. I used long gloves whenever I worked with the hives, but I still had callouses. I loved the work though. Even down to the sanding of the hives when I finished building them. I didn’t use an electric sander. I liked the feel of the paper under my fingers.

~

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