Welcome to Marketing for Romance Writer's Firsts Blog Hop!!!

I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing event that I'm offering two prizes: 1-a copy of my latest release, Lucien, and 2-a $10 Amazon gift certificate. 
So be sure to read all the way through to the end to be entered in to the drawings... and now on with the show...

Anyone else besides me a sucker for a good Regency rake? Suave, debonair, charismatic to a distraction, and a master in the craft of seduction. A true rake of worth knows his trade well and, even better, wields the tools of his trade with confidence and controlled patience. His intelligent eyes beckon to that primal part of us which aches for something extraordinary, yet so simple words cannot describe it. That elusive essence of something that's just out of reach in our normal, every day lives. It's a yearning that society, our morals, virtue, and better judgement tells us would be folly to touch, impossible to ignore. 

Our rake is a man, simple but with depth. He knows his power and wields it in that magical way which pushes us into a world of pleasurable sensation that leaves us breathless, weak at the knees, and... firing up the search engine to Google: Working, slightly used, QA tested, time machine for sale--$9.99 or best offer.

Okay, so yeah, I Googled for a time machine. I'm weak, but who could blame me? I'm in need of a contemporary rake. A man whose voice is lethal on so many levels it should be outlawed. His words reflect his actions and slide over us, wrapping around us, making us feel special, cherished, warm, and wanted. He watches us watch him. Then he smiles, taking a step closer... and in the depths of our soul we know... we'd gladly toss aside our morals, virtue, and better judgement to play prey to his seductive predator.  

*see me fanning myself and beating back a horde of butterflies converging on my nervous system*

And now, without further adieu and to celebrate MFRW's Firsts Blog Hop, here's an excerpt from one of my favorite scenes--the first kiss--in my latest release... 

***EXCERPT***

Elise stifled a giggle and practically skipped behind Luc as he stalked a path through the cubicle farm towards his office. Raven and Moonbeam were now convinced that Luc was madly in love with her and they’d reluctantly given their blessings. All that was left was to tell her father, which wouldn’t be a problem. Her father’s motto was: If it’s what you want to do, princess, then nothing I say will change your mind. At least that’s what it would be if she got to her father before Raven did.

Luc marched into his office and Elise followed, closing the door behind her. He hadn’t said a word since leaving the restaurant. He tossed his jacket onto the sofa and pinned her with a fierce look. “What tale do you plan on weaving for your father? Will we become star crossed lovers brought together over the flames of your computer? With me rescuing you from the billowing flames of the desktop?”

Elise beamed at him. “Daddy doesn’t need a tale. He’ll stare at you for a while and probably tell you fifty ways he can kill a man with a tie, but he’ll give his blessing.”

“Forgive me, darlin’, if I don’t believe you.”

“You’re just mad because you had to tell a little white lie.”

“A little white lie? Elise, you have Raven and Moonbeam believing that our marriage is a fairy tale romance.” He cursed under his breath, ran a hand through his hair, and started to turn away. “No dammit, this is not okay,” he ground out and advanced on her.

Elise flattened her back against the door as Luc trapped her, pressing his palms against the cool wood on either side of her head. She’d never seen him like this. He was seething. “Um, Luc, I, uh—”

He lowered his head until they were nose to nose. “I don’t like little white lies, Elise. I don’t like hearing them and I especially don’t like delivering them.”

“But it was—”

“There will be no more scenes like today, Elise.”

She’d never noticed until now, but there was a hint of gold in his gray-ish eyes. “It was more of an embellishment and—”

“Elise,” he warned and the gold in his eyes flickered like an unholy flame. “No more.”

“I only did it because Moonbeam would do anything in her power to stop me from committing, what in her opinion would be, relationship suicide. And if Raven knew why, he’d kill me.”

“After he killed me.” Luc groaned and rested his forehead against his arm. “Damn, Elise, all I want to do is marry you. Why does your family have to question my motives? And my feelings,” he said derisively.

She relaxed somewhat, which was hard considered that he was invading her personal space and she was enjoying it more than she should be. “They love me and they want to make sure I’m making the right decision. Your family would do the same thing.”

He gave a short bark of laughter. “You don’t know my family. When I told my mother, she was more concerned with throwing the social event of the season and changing the names on the programs.” He turned his head to tell her, “By the way, you’re supposed to have dinner with Mom and the sisters tonight.”

“Tonight? What time?”

“Whatever time they get here. You’ll be on your own until seven. Mom said she needs your measurements.”

“What? Alone?” Her body tingled from the heat and proximity of his chest. “Why,” she asked breathlessly. She made the mistake of turning her head and found herself scant centimeters from his mouth.

“For the dress,” he replied softly. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

Her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. “What dress?”

“The wedding dress,” he whispered. “Do that again.”

“Do what?” A slow ache of tension built in the pit of her stomach. Her arms grew heavy and her knees threatened to buckle. Her breathing quickened and her fingers twitched to touch him.

“Lick your lips.” His voice turned husky, rasping deliciously against her skin.

She complied and he moved closer.

“Touch me,” he ordered raggedly.

“Luc, I—”

“Touch me.”

Her hands lifted and she cautiously slid her fingers up his chest to wide, powerful shoulders. She was trembling with excitement, fear, and anticipation.

“No more scenes, Elise.” One hand skimmed down then up her side while the other moved across her shoulder, sifting through her hair and caressing her neck. His hand, strong and warm, cupped her face and his attention flickered to her mouth then back to her eyes. “No more scenes.”

Her hands flexed on his shoulders, her nails digging into the cotton fabric of his shirt. “It was just an embellishment,” she breathed as he drew closer.

Her lashes drifted shut and she shivered as his lips tentatively touched hers. Lights exploded in her mind as his tongue danced across her bottom lip, tasting and teasing her into opening for him. She sighed and leaned in towards him. His fingers dug into her hair, tilting her head to the side, and he kissed her. His lips moved against hers, his tongue dueled with hers. He devoured her, demanding everything she had and she gave him all.

She felt him groan and his hand moved down to catch her waist, pulling her up hard against him. Her insides turned to liquid and poured into the center of her body. Her body was awake and tingling. Everywhere. Her breasts were crushed against his hard chest and they ached. She gripped the shoulders of his shirt, wanting nothing more than to rip the crisp, white cotton off him.

Never in her life had anyone kissed her like this. Kissed her with such hunger and need and… urgency. She was starving and couldn’t get enough. Blood roared in her ears and her heart felt as if it would pound out of her chest. Her palms grew sweaty, her knees buckled, and Luc was there to catch her. His arm came around her waist, pulling her harder against him until she could feel his body’s response pressing into her stomach.

Thunder echoed in the distance and muffled whistles shrilled in the background. She whimpered and moved her hands around his neck, threading her fingers through the soft hair brushing the collar of his shirt. All too soon she felt Luc draw back, ending the kiss as breathless as her. His eyes burned and she knew the heat in his gaze was reflected in hers. She’d never wanted any man the way she wanted him at this very moment.

“Luc,” she whispered, slightly confused and disoriented.

He pressed her cheek to his chest and rested his chin on the crown of her head. “The next time you start to seduce me make sure the blinds are closed. The whole damn office saw us.”

Elise groaned and tried to burrow closer. “I did not start to seduce you, Lucien. You’re always trying to seduce me.”

“Darlin’, if I’d started to seduce you, I’d have made damn sure the blinds were closed.”

* * * 

I hope you enjoyed that excerpt and today's blog hop extravaganza! Don't forget to enter into the drawing by commenting, tweeting, liking me on Facebook, or following me on Twitter. The MFRW hop runs from Feb 10-13, so pass the word on and until next time... happy reading!

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