Excerpts just like I promised...
Behind The Masque...
Put on a mask and live your fantasies. Strip your control, revel in power, let go of truth or live your darkest dreams. For this one night, your wild side shines through. For this one night, this masquerade is you.
Excerpt from Once Bitten by Cyan Bell
Chapter One
Music cascaded through open French doors to the ballroom. Flashes of color and movement caught Anna’s eye as she stood in front of the entrance, in an area just outside the monumental room.
An usher held the doors open, revealing the possibilities of the evening ahead. He nodded cordially toward an approaching couple. The woman’s sapphire blue gown had a form-fitting bodice. Brilliant crystals crusted the slinky material and dripped down the back to the fluted hem.
Her beau touched the twinkling beads at her waist and eased his hand down to slip his fingers inside the gap between the bustier and skirt and caress her ass.
The doors closed behind them. Anna stifled a groan. Her inner beast growled with the impatient urge to have parts of her own body caressed in secret.
Not now! I’m in control. If the time comes when I think it’s all right to let the predator free, then and only then, will I give in and relinquish control.
“Name?” A smooth female voice interrupted her internal struggle.
Anna turned toward the registration table set up outside the Hilton Hotel Ballroom.
Heat flooded her face. This place, this ball, was about as far away from where she came from as she could get. She purposefully avoided these kinds of situations, went out of her way to make sure no one would find out what she was. But she had a burning desire to see where the mystery would lead, to see who her secret man was.
Oh, God, if you can hear me, let him be who I want him to be. Either way, whoever he is, he will be in for one unbelievably unexpected surprise!
Anna dug her invitation from her purse and dropped it on the table for the carefully coiffured blonde. Her heart slammed against her chest with ragged intensity. Surely this woman would see right through her artfully applied make-up, the thin veneer of propriety, and see her for what she was?
The hostess scanned the elaborate inscription on the parchment. A brief smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. She tossed the stiff sheaf of paper into a basket beside a mug draped with confetti-colored ribbons. Inside the mug, Anna noticed several pens as well as several straws. She couldn’t help but wonder what the woman was doing with straws at this desk, curious if she was secretly drinking on the job to have accumulated such a collection.
The hostess searched for Anna’s name on a list in front of her then marked it off with a pink highlighter.
She swiveled to her right, located what she needed, turned back to Anna and nodded. She handed over a pink ribbon pin with a pink sapphire embedded in it. Anna admired the stylish jewelry and pinned it to her dress, but before she could remark how beautiful it was the hostess handed her a black velvet mask with black sequins around the edges.
“Your partner is wearing the same mask,” she said, checking her over. “He’s already in the ballroom.”
The memento was forgotten as curiosity got the better of her. “Um, excuse me. Could you tell me who my partner is?” Anna tried to sound as though the question was perfectly ordinary.
The request must have been strange, because the distracted expression on the other woman’s face changed to one of attention. “What is your name again?”
Anna ignored the fact she hadn’t spoken her name in the first place. “Anna Le Boutillier. I found the note in my letterbox but I don’t know who invited me. Can you tell me who I’m meeting?”
Anna contemplated leaning across the desk to tear the registration book out of the receptionist’s infuriatingly slow moving hands. Visions of security throwing her out of the building gave her pause. Instead, she tried to give her most endearing smile as she fisted her hands. She had to find out who her secret admirer was.
The doors to the ballroom swung open and hit the wall behind Anna with a loud boom. She jumped and whirled around. An older couple, who could barely keep their hands off one another, came through. Their laughter stopped when they noticed everyone staring at them, but then they just shrugged and rushed out of the lobby.
“And another couple bites the dust.”
Anna looked at the hostess. “Pardon?”
“Nothing dear, just a whole lot of loving going on at this event tonight. Now Anna Le Boutillier…” She turned her attention back to the list.
After what seemed like an eternity the sculpted finger nail came to rest on a name. The blonde’s eyes lit up and her mouth turned into a giant Cheshire cat smile. “Oh, but I’d definitely take my chances on this one,” she muttered.
Anna opened and clenched her hands back into fists. “Really?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Boutillier, but we’ve been specifically asked not to let out that information.” She leaned over the table and whispered conspiratorially, “I will tell you, you won’t be sorry you came.” She winked, gathered her composure and sat down.
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Excerpt from By Remote Chance by Taylor Voltaire
Chapter One
Two minutes. Perfect.
Elaine gathered her portfolio then maneuvered her way around her desk with the confidence of a woman sure to win the most coveted account of the year. Only two more minutes and she would achieve the honor of being the youngest partner at Jones Anderson Designs.
And if not… Well, she didn’t dare to think about “if not”.
Determination to shake hands with the most important client of her life was no match for the obstacle course of sample books, jagged stacks of floor tiles and her office palm tree—she snagged her stockings. “Damn,” Elaine whispered then slapped her portfolio on her desk.
One and half minutes. Ninety seconds!
Her office door was barely ajar. Shimmying out of stockings before anyone noticed would be a cinch, right? She slipped off her knock-off Ferragamo pumps.
A soft tap on her door surprised her. “Um, just a—”
Thomas Bradman poked his head inside. “They’re…”
That’s what you deserve for not shutting the door, Einstein! Elaine continued yanking one stocking down her leg.
Thomas’ Adam’s apple bobbed. “Ready and apparently you’re not.” He stepped into her office then shut the door behind him. “Sorry.”
“Though clearly, not enough to have the decency to leave.” Four years ago, nothing would have made Elaine happier than to have him standing at her threshold, watching her undress. What’s the saying…times change, people don’t?
For the last month she’d done her best to avoid him. Shocked couldn’t begin to describe how she’d felt when the vice president introduced him around the office. Recognition slammed into her and dragged her down like the wave that had almost drowned her the summer they’d first met—the summer she’d fallen in love. His sun drenched skin and broad shoulders attracted both straight and gay, then and now.
His “life of the party”, contagious Australian accent always did her in. She’d caught his virus once, and prayed that’s all it took to become immune…sort of like chicken pox. He’d broken her heart that summer and she’d be damned if he took her for a fool again. “Okay. I’ll be there in one minute.”
“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day you’d keep a client waiting.”
“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day you saw me undressing…again.” She tugged off the other stocking, ignoring his sexy chuckle and smile as he watched her every move. “I guess that makes us even.”
God, she could almost feel his gaze caress her thigh. The way his surfer’s body leaned against the wall, carelessly sexy, was enough to make her almost need resuscitation again. He’d had his opportunity. Was it her fault he blew it? No. They were young, naive and lived worlds apart. The chances of them ever seeing each other were remote, at best. Or so she’d thought!
“Okay, now I’m ready and oh, looky here.” She pointed at her watch. “Fifty seconds to go.” The last thing she wanted was to let on how he affected her or how important this opportunity was.
Unlike her, Thomas never took anything seriously. Life for him just…happened. Fate had French-kissed him and only offered her a peck on the cheek. But this project seemed different, like he really needed it. She’d never seen him work so diligently. The decision between her design and his would be hard for the client to make.
Surprisingly, Thomas had been a formidable opponent. He and Elaine were equals, on the cutting edge of great designs. He wanted this job and everyone knew it.
But Elaine needed the opportunity, too. Being a project manager at only twenty-five, when the average age of most students for interior design was thirty-two, she’d always felt she had something to prove. She wanted the good life and if busting her ass was the way to get there, then so be it. Her first multimillion-dollar account would be sweet and she went for it. No one could get in her way…no matter how sexy or… experienced they were.
When she’d worked late, he had as well. When she’d arrived early to the office, he’d already been there. The pace of late nights and early mornings coupled with the stress of the competition had been maddening! Neck and neck had been too close for comfort.
“Fifty seconds?” He shoved off the wall and walked to her desk. “Lanie, are you really that scheduled?” He leaned against her desk with casual confidence, blocking her portfolio.
She reached around him. “I haven’t ever had the luxury of being fed with a silver spoon, so, yes, I am. And for the umpteenth time, it’s Elaine now. I haven’t been Lanie, since…well, for a long time.” Forty seconds.
He blocked her move.
“Do you mind?” Her patience waned. “Some of us take life seriously. This happens to be important to me.”
“As it is to me, but seconds shouldn’t make or break a deal.” He grasped the handle of her portfolio behind him and brought it to his side. His smile, although amusing, grated on her nerves.
“Staying on schedule—” She reached for her case but he snatched it away. “Is one way I assure I’m the one running my life instead of it running me.” Her second attempt came up empty as well. If the twinkle in his eyes wasn’t so sexy, she’d want to deck him right then and there.
“You can’t stand not to be the one giving orders can you?” His soft voice and lilting accent almost made him sound endearing.
“There is nothing wrong with taking control of your life. Now please, hand me my portfolio so we can get to the meeting on time.”
“It won’t make a difference if you’re one minute early, or a minute late. I mean, it’s the design that matters and well, this time, I do believe I’ve got you beat.” He held the case out to her.
The design firm they worked for had asked her and Thomas to each submit plans for a multi-million dollar account. Each of them were being considered for partner, and this was their chance to prove what they were made of—an interview of sorts.
Was she hearing him right? He had the audacity to come into her office and start talkin’ smack, seconds before the biggest meeting of their careers? Pfft! “I don’t think so, mate.” Hoping her mocking accent grated on his nerves, she smiled and snatched back her portfolio.
“Wanna wager then?” he said playfully.
She laughed. “A bet?” Her mind raced. What could they possibly wager?
“Yeah, if you get this account, you can have all the control you want. But, if I win…” An archangel couldn’t have matched Thomas’s smile. “I take charge.”
Control would be easy to assume as a partner. This was a sucker’s bet. But would it hurt to humor him? Her hand was sure and steady as she extended it. “It’s a bet.”
“Great.” Old memories rattled Thomas’ brain and his cock sprang to attention at the firm grasp of Lanie’s hand. Would she hold his cock that way again? He would have to wait and see, wouldn’t he? The wager could make all the difference. “Shall we, then?” He led her out of the office and walked just behind her down the wide hallway to the conference room.
Luck didn’t always fall in his favor. In fact, he was used to hard luck. After his ailing grandmother had found him on a list of orphans and people who had been adopted looking for birth families, he’d moved to America. Australia was his home, but to finally have family meant he would do anything to be with them. Not only had he moved to embark on a new future, but to connect to a piece of his past. His family needed him and he needed to make a new start. Finding Lanie was a coincidence fate rarely bestowed on him. Relationships weren’t something he’d ever had the comfort of affording. Cheap drinks with fast women were all he had ever been able to handle. Anything more would have been too much.
He breathed in her citrus-scented shampoo. Regretting what he couldn’t have was a waste of time, making the best of what he did have was…life.
Lanie cleared her throat. “May the best man win” She reached for the conference room door handle.
Before he could answer, she pushed through with the authority of a senior partner.
Excerpts from Fiona Jayde and Sheri Livingston coming soon...
Please remember that 100% of net proceeds will go directly to breastcancer.org
Todays drink:
In honor of Cyan...who I actually named Thomas after...lol
Beer! Sometimes in life, it's the simple things that make it great!
Cheers!
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