Kathy Kulig's The Lusty View: March 2014

Sunday, March 30, 2014

#BDSM and Feminism- Can They Coexist?

In a recent interview, I was asked whether I thought the BDSM lifestyle and feminism conflicted. I thought it would be an interesting topic for discussion. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the BDSM, Discipline and Submissive lifestyle that people might jump to a conclusion that those two—BDSM and Feminism—can’t coexist. But I completely disagree.

The BDSM relationship is about CHOICE. When a woman can choose what they want for themselves whether for work, family, life or sexually they are empowered, they take control. So yes, I see BDSM and feminism does work both ways. Even if the woman is a submissive and choses to give her power to her Dom/master, she has the control to stop the situation at any time. The relationship in this lifestyle has a deep connection due to the intimate element of sex, commitment and emotion involved. And it’s all about making the other person happy, not hurting. There must be complete trust and complete open communication for this to work.

I’ve been asked, if I’m a feminist how can I write this?

That seems like an odd question to me. I never really considered myself a feminist, equality was always understood. So my definition of feminism is equality. Simple. Thanks to my mom, I’ve always been an independent and self-sufficient woman. During my first job after I graduated college, I was working in a research and development laboratory. I was training a new guy and found out he had a two year degree and I had a four year degree. I was also in the middle of a Master’s program for Chemical Engineering. Not that I thought I was smarter, or thought he didn’t deserved to get paid well. But I found out he was making thousands of dollars more than I was in his annual salary. So I brought that up to the boss—in a professional way. I got a big increase in pay.

I was married young, divorced young (my decision), lived on my own for seventeen years, bought my own house and was very happy. I had plenty of friends and boyfriends so I wasn’t lonely and didn’t think I would marry again. But I did. J Sometimes when you aren’t looking…the right guy shows up. Does that make me a feminist, or an independent woman?

So what’s your take on BDSM and feminism? Do they conflict?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Smokin' Hot, with Guest Lynn LaFleur

I'm always excited to have my friend Lynn LaFleur as a guest. Besides being a talented author, she's a wonderful person. Her books are an auto-buy for me. Her heroes are hot, sexy, definitely hero-worthy and the heroines are strong, smart, sometimes willful, with a lot of heart. Expect a steamy and emotional read and an entertaining story that you won't be able to put down.

I graduated from high school in 1974. (You do the math.) All through high school, I listened to The Beatles, The Monkees, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Bread, Bobby Sherman. (I had SUCH a crush on Bobby Sherman!) Yep, I was a pop music junkie. While most of my friends had their radios tuned to country stations, I bebopped around my bedroom to The Partridge Family.

I’ve always loved music. When I started writing, music naturally went along with it. The type of music depends on what I’m writing. Sometimes I want to bebop along with those great 70s tunes. Sometimes a movie soundtrack will put me in the exact mood I need. Classical, rock, soft instrumental… It all depends on the scene and the characters.

Imagine a funky bubblegum song playing instead of the “da dum da dum” you hear when the shark is in the water in the movie Jaws. Doesn’t work at all, does it? It’s the same with writing. The music has to be right or the mood is broken.

I write erotic romance. I have to really concentrate when I write a love scene for I want it to be right. I want the reader to feel everything my characters are feeling. Listening to songs with lyrics distracts me during those crucial scenes, so I turn to New Age instrumentals. The strings, harps, and flutes all go along with the sexy mood I’m trying to convey.

The following scene from my new book, Smokin’ Hot, is one I wrote while listening to Tony O’Connor. I can’t imagine a better composer to listen to while my heroine and hero fall in love.

* * *

Instead of her tears slowing, they flowed even faster. No matter how tightly he held her, he couldn’t keep her body from quivering.

“Rayna, stop crying. Please.”

“I c-c-can’t!”

Afraid she’d make herself sick, he thought about what he could do to help her. He used to be able to stop her tears when they were together. They weren’t together any longer, but perhaps what he used to do would still work.

He fisted a handful of her hair, pulled her head from his shoulder, and covered her lips with his.

Her body jerked as if he’d shocked her. Then, with a soft moan, she relaxed against him. Her arms tightened around his neck, her mouth softened beneath his. What started out as a kiss to halt her crying soon turned into lust.

A jolt passed through his body. He didn’t understand how one kiss with his ex-wife could affect him so strongly, yet it did. Perhaps because it had been much too long since he’d held a woman against him, had her hands run over him in passion. His dick lengthened, thickened, in preparation to take her.

Something that couldn’t happen.

Marcus ended the kiss. He stared into hazel eyes that remained wet from Rayna’s tears. She stared right back at him, her lips parted, her breathing sounding harsh and labored.

He should release her. He should step back and not touch her again.

Apparently, she disagreed with what he should do. She grabbed the back of his head and urged him into another kiss.

Instinct, memories, hormones—whatever—took over for Marcus. The taste he remembered flowed past his lips and over his tongue. He tightened his arms around Rayna until their bodies touched in as many places as possible. Holding her ass with one hand, he urged her closer until her belly cushioned his cock.

When she wrapped one leg around his thigh and hunched her mound against him, Marcus lost all ability to think. Gripping her ass tighter, he backed her the few steps to the front door. He hooked her legs over his arms and lifted her until he could press his hard cock to the warm place between her thighs.

* * *

Smokin’ Hot is available now in print and ebook. More information and direct buy links are available on my website.

http://www.lynnlafleur.com/smokin_hot.htm

Friday, March 14, 2014

How I Got Interviewed By the Chicago Tribune

Top media venues like the Chicago Tribune seem a far reach for the average author. It’s not impossible because I managed to get interviewed by the Tribune on February 18, 2014 titled, “Erotic Author Juggles Career and Marriage.”

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79352339/

I learned a few things during this experience that might help, if not with the Chicago Tribune, then with other newspapers, magazines, online e-zines, and radio.

· The first tip: It’s never about the book. Rarely ever.

If you contact the editor/reporter/writer of a newspaper/magazine or the DJ/manager of a radio station, and tell them you wrote a book. They won’t care. It’s not interesting. They’re looking for a hook, something that will catch their audience’s attention. It could be controversial, relevant to current events, family/children related, point to a problem, something that a large population will be interested it, personal interest. Challenge a myth or "well-known fact". Bring up something funny, heartwarming, shocking, etc. It could have some indirect connection to your book, but what will get you the interview isn’t usually about the book. Unless you’re a New York Times Best Seller and have sold millions of copies, no one cares about your book.

In my situation, I had a book Summer Sins from Ellora's Cave. It's about a woman who writes for a gossip magazine and goes undercover in a BDSM club to write a controversial story, but her heart isn’t in it. Her job depends on writing this revealing article. She’s attracted to a Dom who’s a respected neurosurgeon. His reputation demands confidentiality. Getting ‘outed’ in this lifestyle could be devastating to his career.

I love this book. It’s part of my Dark Odyssey series. (Spring Break, book 1) Sadly, the media has no interest in this book. What they were interested in was the true-life story of a married couple- erotic romance author who goes to BDSM clubs to do research for authenticity and how that affects her 13 year marriage. That’s the hook! A personal interest story. If you read the article, you’ll see there’s a half a line that mentions the book. That’s it.

· When you contact the media, put the hook line in the email subject line. Email a one-page pitch with hook line at top, short couple paragraphs talking about the subject of your interview, give a few bullet points for possible topics for discussion, short bio and contact information.

The media gets tons and tons of pitches. If you want yours to stand out, make it short and catchy.

· Come up with a few other talking points or other topics of interest. So if the initial hook somewhat interests them, another idea might grab them more. These are your bullets points.

Example: My research into alternative lifestyles for my books, how my husband supports me as an erotic romance writer, the importance of open communication between spouses, why nontraditional roles work for our relationship, tips for balancing work, marriage, and household chores.

· Use holiday themes to work into a hook. Valentine’s Day, Christmas, etc. Naughty gift ideas, keeping the spark alive, etc.

· Read the newspapers/magazines and listen to the radio stations that you would like to appear on for ideas. Check online for contact people. For radio listen to the show to get a feel for the type of content they’re looking for.

· Don’t rule out small radio stations like college or public radio. I had a great interview on a Country music station. A couple college stations were wonderful too and asked great questions! Who knew they would want to talk to an erotic romance author. J I’ve even been invited back to some. Here’s a list of public radio stations. Google the ones you’re interested in and look for their website. http://www.npr.org/stations/pdf/nprstations.pdf

· Always be polite and professional and thankful. Does that have to be a tip?

· Have a couple High Resolution photos available. The newspaper will ask you for them. And not just a headshot, something more casual.

· Of course a publicist can do an amazing job connecting you with the media, but if that’s not in your budget, hopefully these few tips will help get your started. Good luck!

Here’s the interview from the Chicago Tribune:

Erotic novelist juggles career and marriage

By Nara Schoenberg, Tribune Newspapers

1:00 am, February 18, 2014

Kathy Kulig was out of town for a business trip when she texted her husband, Joe.

"Don't be worried," she wrote. "I learned to use a flogger tonight and I have a few bruises."

"Why should I be worried?" he replied.

Attending a conference on bondage and sadomasochism is just business as usual for Kathy, whose latest erotic romance is "Summer Sins" (Ellora's Cave).

Her second career — she has a day job in a medical laboratory — has created a few relationship challenges, the Kuligs say, but not because she's writing steamy scenes that don't involve her husband or researching risque sexual practices.

The real issue, both say, is that writing is an absorbing and time-consuming task.

"It takes a special kind of guy to really understand the craziness of an author," Kathy says of Joe, who works in information technology. "He'll say, 'You're not listening to me,' and I'll say, 'What?' because I'm thinking about a scene or plotting a book. ... Sometimes he'll come over and he'll literally take my fingers off the keyboard and say, 'OK, you need a break.'"

The Tribune recently interviewed the Kuligs about balancing an unusual career and a 13-year marriage. The following is an edited transcript.

Q: Joe, what was your reaction when Kathy started writing erotica?

A: I was supportive of it. She's always done writing, and when she decided to get into this genre, I was pretty much all for it.

Q: And did you have questions about bondage, fetishes or S&M?

A: Not really. I'd read bits and parts of her books that she would give me to kind of go over, so there wasn't a question-and-answer period. I pretty much just learned as I went along.

Q: Kathy, how did you end up getting flogged at the bondage and S&M conference?

A: We got lessons on how to swing a flogger, and I wanted to feel what it was like, so this woman, she offered to swing it on me. I'm up on the balcony (of a bondage and S&M club in New York) and observing some of the other scenes and a little distracted. I thought, "Oh, OK, this was interesting," and lo and behold, when I got back to the hotel and looked in the mirror, I had bruises on my shoulder.

I went, "Oh my gosh, how am I going to explain this to my husband?"

Q: Joe, were you OK with that trip?

A: I thought it was great that she went. It was something she wanted to do, and it was a good experience for her.

I was sorry I missed that one. I do go to some of her conferences, but that would have been a fun one to go to.

Q: Kathy, how do you balance the demands of writing with the demands of a relationship?

A: I get wrapped up (in writing). I could easily be a hermit, sitting here writing my stories, and I have to remember that Friday night is date night. I don't get on the computer, even though the story is calling me. I'll write during the day on a weekend, but then I'll spend the evening with him.

Q: Joe, how does that work for you?

A: Every once in a while I have to pull her away from her keyboard. ... It's not a struggle, it's just more of a give and take and balancing things out. She understands that too.

She understands me and knows when I need my time to go get out of the house and do something. I know when she needs her time and I try not to make plans so she can get her things done as well.

Q: I have to ask, what do you guys do on date night?

Joe: We watch "Grimm." During the winter, we'll put a fire in the fireplace, and "Grimm" is one of our favorite shows.

Kathy: Or we'll go out to dinner.

Joe: We'll go out to our little local restaurant around the corner and have something to eat, or we'll order pizza and rent a movie. It just gives us some time together.

Monday, March 10, 2014

STOLEN DESIRE, a new #erotic paranormal by Tina Donahue

Tina Donahue’s newest book is coming out on March 11^th—STOLEN DESIRE, Book four in the Outlawed Realm Series. Erotic paranormal from Samhain Publishing.

Suggested tweet: STOLEN DESIRE - Erotic Paranormal - RELEASE CONTEST - WIN one of 13 erotic romances!!!! http://www.TheLustyView.com

Blurb:

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

Outlawed Realm, Book 4

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grieving a failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room with velvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerful stranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And pray his promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes.

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimes against the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for the guards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fire and ice—if he can somehow forget the way her trembling body melts in his arms.

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated by strange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable need that consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’s plan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take without him.

Warning: Scorching-hot sex and loads of aching tenderness between a drool-worthy hunk who’s determined to do the right thing and a woman who’s not about to give him up.

Excerpt:

Thick gray clouds rolled above them, heavy with more snow. A sliver of bluish-white light poured through a gap in the cloud cover, as though the moon were trying to bleed through. Its rays swept across the land, which shimmered in the frail glow, sparkling like thousands of diamonds. The effect lasted only a moment, and then the light receded, with shadows once again taking over the hostile terrain.

As though that worried him, Zekin increased his already fast pace, pausing only once to shove her clothing into a snowdrift, burying it.

Why?

Paige wasn’t able to ask. She struggled to keep up, gulping air. It should have been icy, hurting her throat, but wasn’t. The transparent mask no doubt heated it. How was that possible? Desperate for answers, she cried out, “Where are we going?”

Zekin looked over. “A colony where you’ll be safe.”

Paige dug her fingers into his hand. “Where are we? What is this place?”

“E5.”

What in the hell was that? A government installation where scientists conducted classified studies and had pleasure slaves on the side? That made absolutely no—

Wait a sec. Suddenly, Paige recalled Zekin mentioning E1 when he’d first come into her room.

“I’ll do all I can to bring you back to E1,” he’d promised her then.

Instinctively, she held back. Just as quickly, Zekin yanked her forward.

“Don’t fight me,” he warned, “or you’ll end up like the others you saw outside the guards’ outpost.”

Paige shivered so badly, her voice shook. “Did those bastards throw the bodies out there after they murdered those people?”

“Only some. The others they pushed out there to die.”

“Why?”

“They weren’t useful any longer.” Again, he glanced over. “When one of the guards found you and brought you here, they got rid of the other woman. That’s what they do when they tire of females from your realm, or the pleasure slaves they haven’t already killed.”

Paige was about to pepper him with more questions. Instead, her mind snagged on one word—realm.

“You mean country?” Maybe she’d been wrong about his nationality. It wasn’t Greek or Middle-Eastern but Russian. Could be this was Siberia. In a weird sort of way, that made sense. “Is that what you meant—my country? The USA? America?”

He regarded the landscape past her. “We have to hurry before the other guards return and see us.”

Paige couldn’t imagine how that was possible. The material covering them was the same tint as their surroundings, making them virtually invisible…unless the guards had some kind of special eyewear, like night-vision goggles, that allowed them to see what the naked eye couldn’t. “How far is the colony?”

“Past that body of water.” He gestured toward what appeared to be an enormous frozen lake ringed by drifts.

As Paige scanned the area beyond it, searching for some sort of building, a flock of birds flew over the lake. At least she thought they were birds. Their thick feathers were an ashy white, their wingspans enormous, like nothing she’d ever seen.

They flew in an odd formation, not the usual V pattern, but in a perfect circle. Paige couldn’t help but stare at the phenomenon. How in the world did they do—

A thunderous crackling sound interrupted her thoughts, and the again screeching wind.

She flinched. Zekin released her hand and moved in front, his body pushing hers back, shielding Paige as something shattered the ice from beneath the center of the lake. Within seconds, a creature pushed through, hurling its milky body upward. The waves that followed it froze instantly in the raw air, the ends of the water curled over like a fine crystal sculpture. As massive as a blue whale, the creature surged from the lake, a horn protruding from its snout, no doubt what pierced the ice. With blinding speed, it penetrated the circle made by the birdlike creatures.

Shrieking wildly, they scattered, but it did no good. The whale-like thing swung its monstrous head back and forth, gulping several of the creatures before gravity pulled it back down to the water. A thin sheet of ice formed instantly, hiding its exit. Harsh winds toppled the frozen waves as easily as if they’d been a house of cards, then pushed them against the snowdrifts, returning the scene to the relative calm of a few minutes before as though none of the carnage had occurred.

Paige continued to hyperventilate. What kind of fucking nightmare had she stumbled into? Was it possible she’d been drugged and was hallucinating? If not… Aw crap, she didn’t want to think about that.

“There’s nothing to fear,” Zekin assured. “The thing has had its fill for the moment. It won’t harm—”

Her embrace stopped him. She clung to Zekin, her face pressed against his back, praying he wouldn’t push her away. “Don’t leave me, please,” she begged.

Her fiancé, Johnny, had done that, calling off their wedding after she’d worked so hard on the plans and getting him to want her. He never apologized. He’d just told her the score, saying they could still live together. As if she’d want that. Before he’d bugged out on her, her mother and then eventually her father had also left. She’d had no one for too long and by God, right now, Paige needed the warmth of Zekin’s body, the security and comfort of his size to preserve her sanity. To give her hope that they’d both get through this.

“Please,” she repeated.

“I won’t,” he murmured. “It’s all right.” With his hands on her wrists, Zekin gently pulled her arms from him but didn’t step away.

If he had, Paige would have followed. Out here, she had no shame, no pride, just an unbearable need to be close.

He turned to face her, then hesitated only a moment before wrapping his arms around her in a sheltering caress. She couldn’t stop shaking. As he ran his hand down her back, he whispered, “You’re safe.”

No, she wasn’t. Neither was he. Not out here in arctic-land. Deep inside, Paige was terrified they weren’t on Earth any longer. It was crazy to even consider that, but how else to explain all of this? How could either of them survive? Why had he even risked his life to rescue her? Who was he? Where had he come from?

She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. The transparent material covering her face was exactly like skin, letting her feel his solid frame, his heat. She snuggled, unable to stop herself, indulging in this small, welcome intimacy as the world went crazy around them.

The wind died for a moment, then picked up again, slamming against her body as it screamed past. Clouds continued to sink, weighted with snow.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

His hand stalled on her back. “For what?”

Being scared and being a burden, asking too many questions, not knowing how to make this better. All her life, Paige had done whatever she could so people wouldn’t leave her. Didn’t work. They always had.

“Getting you into this,” she finally said.

If she hadn’t had those stupid drinks at Rozie’s, if she hadn’t gotten involved with Johnny—a damn fool who couldn’t commit to marriage much less save her ass out here—none of this would have happened.

“You had nothing to do with this,” Zekin said. “It was my choice to come.”

Available for preorder from: Samhain - Amazon - B&N

Release: March 11

Other books in the Outlawed Realm series:

Unending Desire – Book One

Illicit Desire – Book Two

Shameless Desire – Book Three

About Tina:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com

Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/

Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75

FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks

Triberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahue

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue

My page at TRR: http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=tinadonahue

CONTEST DETAILS:

Tina will choose one commenter as her winner. Winner gets her choice of one of Tina’s award-winning, bestselling ebooks from this list:

1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT

2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit

3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award

4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT

5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT

6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller

7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books

8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR

9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR

10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book

11. Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR

12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times

13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures

Monday, March 3, 2014

Seven Sensuous Days, #Eroticromance by Tina Donahue

SEVEN SENSUOUS DAYS by Tina Donahue

BOOK FOUR – APPOINTMENT WITH PLEASURE SERIES

EROTIC CONTEMPORARY

Suggested tweet: SEVEN SENSUOUS DAYS - Erotic Contemporary - RELEASE CONTEST - WIN one of 13 erotic romances!!!! http://TheLustyView.com

Blurb:

At an erotic auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

The night’s sultry, filled with carnal promise as Tessa participates in an agency event to raise money for charity. She’s chained and bared—as women were once displayed for a sultan’s harem—her sweet looks and full figure offered to the wealthy and powerful men.

Among them is Logan. To him, Tessa is so different from his late wife, the seemingly perfect female who cruelly stole his hope and future. Wanting only to forget and have a good time, he wins Tessa, demanding she be his in every way possible, engaging in all wanton acts, though not only for an evening…for seven sensuous days at his secluded Virginia estate.

A provocative proposal with such a dangerously virile man.

A week that changes everything, with Tessa’s exquisite vulnerability and Logan’s suddenly unquenchable desire more than either bargained for.

Excerpt:

Music swelled, drums drowning out what had sounded like flutes and a female voice trilling something. Blood pounded in Tessa’s ears, muting it all. With her face lowered, all she could see was the purplish sheen of her cape. She sensed the panels in front of her parting, the stage displayed. Beyond it were a series of steps descending to a stone walkway flanked with splashing fountains, which eventually led to the crowd…the one man who was supposed to win her for an evening.

A full day was reserved for goddesses like Felicity. With her participation in this event, Ronnie would probably have enough funds to build a community college for young women.

The microphone screeched with brief feedback. Tessa made a face. Ronnie said something Tessa didn’t quite catch.

She bit her bottom lip, and decided to hell with it. She was going to take Felicity’s advice and fantasize.

“He’s dark and dangerous,” Felicity had said.

His features would be masculine, strong, slightly rough, his face shadowed with his coming beard. No, wait. He’d have a mustache and a closely cropped goatee, that hair as dark as his eyebrows. His eyes would be black, piercing, his skin a deep bronze, his lips satiny, his mouth full and rich.

He’d move into her with a right given him by birth, as a ruler. As a male. Looking down at her, he’d smile, shameless lust transforming his features, making him seem even more dangerous. Sex would be on his terms. He’d take her in any manner he chose. Orally, vaginally, anally, his strength precluding escape, his stiffened cock demanding its due, all that she could—

Tessa’s cunt stopped aching with need as her hood fell away. Or rather, Brian had pulled it back. Instinctively, she lifted her head, her attention darting everywhere, much as she suspected a real captive would have behaved, not knowing what to expect. A part of her mind recorded water spraying from the fountains, the again-subdued music, rich and seductive. Ronnie’s voice. The muted conversations of the ladies with their so-called masters.

Those men who hadn’t yet made their selections were quiet. Tessa regarded each. Some were listening to Ronnie. Others glanced at Tessa’s cloak, no doubt wanting it off.

With a flourish, Brian complied and pulled the thing from her, then lifted her arms above her head, securing her shackled wrists to the column.

Tessa stiffened at being exposed in every way possible. There was no hiding her nudity or expression up here, not with the lights trained on her. They weren’t fully intrusive, just enough illumination to exhibit, making her the brightest spot among all the shadows and the torches’ flickering flames. The toasty breeze skimmed the faint moisture on her cunt and licked her nipples, puckering them even more so that the tips appeared that much longer. Areas Felicity’s makeup had accentuated.

Perspiration prickled Tessa’s neck. Her heart beat out of time, the pose she struck both daunting and oddly arousing. There was absolutely nothing to compare to this…being chained and displayed. A sensation of delicious helplessness. Intense vulnerability.

Especially as no one spoke up.

Oh no.

Embarrassment drove heat to Tessa’s throat and cheeks. The music played on and on. Each second crawled by while her mind raced. Would her part in the auction stop when the piece ended even though no one had offered a price? Would Ronnie call for an intermission then, or would she want to continue with the rest of the event as quickly as—

Someone called out a bid.

Tessa’s heart paused. She hadn’t hear the amount. It didn’t matter. One man, at least, craved her.

Who? She studied the audience. A guy, forty or so, smiled with kindness, rather than lust, no doubt sensing and seeing her uncertainty. She offered her own smile in return, liking his sympathetic manner, wondering if he was the one who’d bid on her.

No. He’d already turned to the server and was now pointing at his drink as though he wanted a new one more than anything else.

So who had made the offer?

Another client kept looking from her to Ronnie. Others took a moment to study the program, see who was coming up next.

That would be Felicity. For her, the men would shout over each other, demanding to be heard, letting the money flow freely.

Another bid rang out.

Completely surprised, Tessa continued to regard the crowd, her attention drawn finally, almost irresistibly, to Logan Kincaid.

She forgot to breathe.

Someone had relit the torch nearest his table. Its bobbing light bathed him in a warm golden glow.

Tessa’s body softened.

Young—thirties or so, just as she’d thought—he wore his dark brown hair longish on the top and sides, combed away from his face. His features were rugged, deliciously masculine, especially his shadow of beard. Tessa had no doubt those short bristles would be rough to the touch, a wonderful contradiction to the silkiness of his lips, his generous mouth. A man’s mouth.

Warmth sluiced through her again, the heat soothing this time. Arousing.

He wore a beige blazer that went well with his tan complexion, his white shirt opened at the collar. Decidedly relaxed. The same as his demeanor. He lowered his drink…whiskey or bourbon…from here it was impossible for her to tell. He glanced at his watch, then surveyed the crowd, not her.

Ronnie took another bid.

With a neutral expression, Logan regarded the man who’d made it.

Tessa didn’t bother to look. She focused on Logan.

Another bid followed the last. As if to determine why, Logan finally glanced at the stage.

Tessa’s pulse pounded. Her legs felt watery.

His attention swept upward from the ridiculous shoes she wore to her naked calves and thighs. He studied her exposed cunt and glittering body jewelry for a moment, then continued to her bared breasts, viewing them briefly before he at last reached her eyes.

There, he stopped, as though he hadn’t meant to. There, he lingered.

Available at: Ellora’s Cave

Release: March 5

Other books in the Appointment with Pleasure series: