He Watches Me… And Anna Loves It

Anna, the not-so-innocent-yet-virginal heroine of He Watches Me, is an unlikely exhibitionist.

Exhibitionism is the act or the thought of exposing in public or in a public place parts of our bodies that are normally concealed. Taking off our clothes and streaking across a college campus is exhibitionism. Flashing our breasts during Mardi Gras is exhibitionism. Participating in a scene at a BDSM club can be exhibitionism. Putting on a private strip tease for our lovers is exhibitionism. The stages of exhibitionism range from fantasy (yes, thinking of being tied to the mast of a pirate ship is exhibitionism) to criminal.

As with many exhibitionists, Anna starts her sexual exploration with mere fantasy. She thinks about being watched. She fantasizes about the office hunk watching her as she strips. She imagines being ravished in an elevator.

One scorching hot L.A. night, she spots the neighbor’s gorgeously cool swimming pool and impulsively acts upon her exhibitionistic tendencies. Anna hasn’t seen Blaine, her billionaire neighbor, in weeks. His mansion is dark, his backyard unused. Unable to resist temptation, she hops the fence, strips naked (she doesn’t own a swimsuit), and skinny dips, swimming au natural in Blaine’s pool.

She does this every night. Soon, Anna becomes more and more brazen, pleasuring herself in and out of the pool. Being naked while outside with the slim but very real possibility of being caught excites her. She imagines Blaine is watching her, his brilliant green eyes sparkling with appreciation.

She doesn’t know this isn’t pure fantasy. Blaine has been watching her through his security cameras. Now that he has returned to L.A., he plans to continue watching her… from his poolside seat. She shouldn’t allow him to watch her. She certainly shouldn’t like it.

There are safe, low risk ways to add the thrill of exhibitionism to relationships. We can perform strip teases in the privacy of bedrooms, have sex in our cars while they are parked in our garages, wear long skirts while going panty-free. No one has to know we’re exhibitionists… unless we want them to know, to watch.

Have you ever engaged in exhibitionism?

She desires to be seen. He wants to watch.

Anna Sampson has a naughty secret. Every night, she slips into her neighbor’s yard and swims naked in his pool. She fantasizes that the dynamic young billionaire watches her nightly nude aquatics, his brilliant green eyes gleaming with lust.

She discovers this isn’t pure fantasy. Gabriel Blaine has been watching her via his security cameras, and now that he has returned to L.A., he doesn’t plan to stop. That’s all he wants—to watch. Anna knows she shouldn’t allow him and she certainly shouldn’t want more, but she craves Blaine’s attention, needing his gaze fixed on her body.

Part One of The Seen Trilogy

Buy it at Amazon

Cynthia Sax
Author Website: https://cynthiasax.com/
Blog: https://tasteofcyn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.sax
Twitter: @CynthiaSax

Thanks for hosting me today, Delilah. Today I’m sharing a bit about the idea that started my story, Whirlwind. Several years ago I was living in San Antonio, and I saw a huge article in the newspaper on a national tattoo convention being held downtown in the Convention Center. I became intrigued by the idea of these artists who are normally situated in small shops, probably working with a specific clientele, all coming together in a large forum to display their artistic abilities. Like with other gatherings of professionals, there were instructional opportunities as well as chances to see lots of exquisite work. This was years before the television reality shows featuring such artists. About the same time, I’d visited a museum and saw photos of Native Americans with various tattoos. Those two components meshed and I had my heroine, Senna Whitefeather. Read further to learn a bit more about the erotic short story, Whirlwind.

Unveiling tattoos with a stranger has never been so dangerous…or so sexy.

Hosting her first booth at a national tattoo convention is nerve-racking enough for artist Senna Whitefeather. But then she runs into another Native American—one with a smoking hot and firm body—a man she soon realizes is following her. Appreciation for art takes on a new meaning when a challenge to unveil their tattoos escalates into a passionate encounter in the back of her booth. But will Senna’s brazen attitude of going after what she wants backfire?

Senna lifted the plastic badge, angled it toward the security guard then turned toward her designated booth. And bumped smack into a male—solid muscle from chest to knees—and she stumbled.

Firm hands grasped her upper arms and steadied her. “What’s your hurry?”

The deep voice rumbling near her ear resonated through her bones, kicking up her heart rate, and set her further off-balance. Both hands tangled with the supple cotton of his T-shirt and held tight. All she saw before her was a broad expanse of black cloth. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking—” She glanced up—straight into midnight black eyes that seemed to look deep into her soul. Her gaze clung for a long moment then she forced herself to blink.

The stranger smiled and the bronze-toned skin around his eyes crinkled. “Good thing I was, or we’d both have gone down.”

With a quick look, Senna registered the slash of his dark brows, high cheekbones, and long, black hair pulled back along his neck. Another Native American. Strong features balanced by an open smile. Why did she have the sudden urge to sway forward against his broad chest? A chest that appeared capable enough to harbor a woman tied in nervous knots over today’s exhibit.

Spirit of Life, she was late.

“Again, I’m sorry.” She stepped back, away from his broad hands and fought against acknowledging the immediate loss of warmth. No time for distractions, even tall, dark and sexy ones. “I’ve got to get to my booth.”

With a dip of his chin, he swept a hand in the direction she headed. “The right-of-way is yours.”

Senna hustled down the side aisle but couldn’t resist a quick backward glance over her shoulder. The tall stranger dressed all in black had disappeared into the crowd.

AMAZON:           https://amzn.to/13sXmUu
B&N:                     https://bit.ly/19plihI
TWRP:                   https://bit.ly/11DBnaT

Those who leave a comment here will be included in a drawing for a dream catcher key chain. Be sure to include your email address. (US and Canada only)

BIO:   On a dare from a close friend, Layla Chase challenged herself to explore the steamier side of romance and discovered all sorts of characters whose stories needed sharing. She writes contemporary and historical stories from her mountain home in California that she shares with long-time husband and two dogs.

For more information about future releases:

www.laylachase.com

https://www.facebook.com/layla.chase.52

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/229815.Layla_Chase

Story Ideas From Real Life

Hello all you fabulous Delilah Devlin fans. I’m so excited to be here. Many thanks to Delilah for sharing the mike.

Have you ever wondered where an author got the idea for her book? It’s a common question.

Not such an easy answer, at least for me. Ideas come to me in the shower, while driving (especially while driving on the highway), when I read something and sometimes just by wondering “what if.”

But in the case of my latest release (ASK FOR IT) real life inspired the original idea. Actually, I should say real life inspired two ideas.

First, if you read my free read (INSTRUCTING ADAM) you’ll remember that Cindy is an author who has trouble keeping her website online and she’s at her wit’s end. And let’s just say that the tech support guy is less than helpful…until she shows up on his doorstep demanding he make good on his hosting companies promises.

At one point I was having dreadful issues keeping my website “up and online” and the tech support guy was pretty snarky. He even pointed me to a clause in their terms of use about “porn.” Because, you know, I write erotic romance and that’s practically porn! (Hope you detected the sarcasm dripping from my fingertips.) That’s as far as the real life goes, I’m afraid. I decided to write out my frustrations and punish the unhelpful tech support guy. But I’m too big of a love bug evidently. Cindy shows up with a whip, bondage tape and a few demands but I don’t think Adam would consider her form of “discipline” as punishment, especially when he turns the tables on her. I would never have the guts to do what she does, which makes for perfect fiction!

ASK FOR IT follows Cindy’s best friend JJ as she also takes things into her own hands… sorta.

Again, real life inspired the idea for this book. My bank card number was stolen and used to buy shoes at a Footlocker six states away. Luckily my bank was on top of it and it was a painless problem for me. They called me immediately, verified I hadn’t dropped serious change on sneakers, and put the money back.

But I didn’t want things to be quite that easy for my heroine so her bank isn’t as wonderful as mine was. Add to that the fact that she’s a little extra protective over her cash flow due to early childhood homelessness and you get an interesting beginning of a story.

Whereas Cindy sought out a solution to her problem, serendipity drops JJ in New York city a week after her money was stolen and she decides to drop by the scene of the crime. She never expected to come face to face with the one man she’s lusted after for years and fears she’ll forever compare all men to.

And no, I didn’t go to the shoe store where my money was used. But I did utter a line that I let JJ borrow in my book. “Who the hell buys nine hundred dollars’ worth of sneakers? I mean, if you’re going to steal my money, at least buy something awesome…like Prada. Or Minolos. Or Jimmy Choos.”

If $900 dropped into your lap, what would you buy? Me? Two words. Christian Louboutins!

ABOUT SELENA BLAKE
Selena Blake writes erotic paranormal and contemporary romance. First published in 2008, her series Stormy Weather has been on bestseller lists and nominated for awards.  She’s a fan of action movies, Diet Coke, Milky Way bars and thunderstorms, not necessarily in that order. Learn more about her online at https://www.selena-blake.com or catch her at facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorSelenaBlake

MAKING A WRITER’S LIFE EASIER – REALLY?

I admire writers who produce novels while working a full-time job. I have no idea how they work their time management, but they clearly have a level of self-discipline I have never even dreamed is available to tap into. Then they come home to take care of little children, do homework, make dinner, put on a wash, participate in their marriage… and write a novel or two.

I do not work outside the home, but wear many hats from bookkeeping to overseeing a homeschool teen, to being a new grandma, to making jewelry, to providing astrology sessions. I’ve left out a few of my regular gigs but you get the idea.

I should be producing three times more finished books than I am. Although I don’t believe we are all born equal, we each have just 24 hours in a day to do with as we choose. I’m on a mission to find out what works for other authors when it comes to increasing productivity.

The latest story in my Sheikhs of the Golden Triangle series, The Sheikh’s Crowning, should be available on Amazon and other e-platforms right now. But it isn’t, and won’t be for another six weeks. It’s not the characters giving me a hard time, although Rick is a tough undercover agent who likes doing things his way, not mine. And Yasmine lets me write a scene and then tells me she’s a widow, not a virgin. Or is it the other way around? I can take things like that in my stride. My problem is time management.

For months I saw incessant ads on television that made me drool for a particular voice activation software. There was this fellow, laboring at an ironing board with kids running circles around him, oblivious to everything as he dictated his hot romance into headphones. I was convinced that if I got hold of that incredible wizard’s tool that worked like a magic wand, I could pump out a book a week. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but surely a book a month?

Lo and behold, my son called and told me I could get that very software discounted to half price, but only for twenty-four hours. So I punched in my credit card info as fast as my fingers would fly over the keys, and within about three days the coveted green and white box arrived.

My first go round with the software, I stayed up until 4am trying to teach it to recognize my accent. I am not from Transylvania, although I have a slightly unusual accent. I was ready to throw the thing across the room when it occurred to me that maybe the headphone that came with the software wasn’t working. I plugged in my old headphones to see if that would work. It did. I went to bed, still bristling.

My laptop melted and I had to buy another. I uploaded the software onto the new one but have still – one year later – not successfully used it. When I whisper sweet nothings into the mic, my words and the words that show up on the page are galaxies apart.

Noise is a big factor. With a stay at home retired husband and homeschooled teen in a small house, there is only so much concentration time available. I’ve tried coffee shops and the library, but can’t ‘get into it’ the same way with strangers surrounding me.

I don’t recall having had quite such a problem when I wrote The Sheikh’s Spy, The Amulet, or Christmas Spirits, all novellas in the same series. I didn’t use the magic software, either.

Back to The Sheikh’s Crowning… Rick and Yasmine are becoming impatient, as are my readers. They want their story written. I’m even considering renting a room in a sleazy motel, and taking just my laptop and enough food and drink to survive a week of nothing but writing, editing and sleeping… no car outside the door for a joy ride!

That’s an extreme measure to take, so I hope you’ll leave a comment and share some tips that work for you. If you use voice activation software, have you got a tip that might make using it feel like a natural thing to do? Is there a way to bribe it to actually display the words you said?

Please don’t tell me to just put my butt in the chair and stay there. I am in the chair probably twelve hours a day… hence I’ve got a lot of butt to park in the chair! Much of that time is spent looking for promo for the books I have finished writing. Now there’s a time suck… but that’s another blog post for another day.

Enjoy the blue sky of summer, and I’d be thrilled if you decide to read any of my spicy sheikh novellas while you take some time out to smell the roses… and chase dragons.

If you enjoy sizzling desert princes and passionate heroines in exotic settings, check out my website.

Delilah, thanks again for having me!

Gemma’s books on Amazon. Visit GemmaJuliana.com for direct links to other platforms.
Follow Gemma as her literary journey unfolds!   Twitter   |   Facebook   |   Pinterest    |    Instagram   |   Blog

The winner of the grab bag is Elizabeth H! Congrats, Elizabeth!
My sister will be in contact with you shortly! ~DD

* * * * *

Deja Vu

How many times do you see something, meet someone, witness an event you feel you’ve done this before? Maybe you have in another life. Maybe you’ve seen or witnessed something similar. I find myself thinking of quotes from favorite poems, lines from movies or pictures from movies or stories or mental images of  past experiences recurring in much of what I do or where I go.

While in Paris the week before last, touring Notre Dame Cathedral, I was Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre Dame, crying out Sanctuary! At the Louvre, I was Molly Brown when she went to Europe studying all the paintings to get cultured Walking the streets of Paris I saw a vendor selling pink cotton candy and I was back in the pages of DEJA VOODOO with Molly B Boyette at the festival buying pink cotton candy. So much of our experiences in literature or movies repeats itself or has a close match and it’s fun to reference those times. It’s like coming home. I’m including (just because) some pictures from my trip to Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral, a photo of the Mona Lisa which doesn’t begin to describe how beautiful she is in person and a picture of the Sacre Coeur chapel on the only hill in Paris.

Leave a comment telling me about your Deja Vu moment for a chance to win
the prize package.

Elle’s Bio:

Elle James spent twenty years in South Central Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, retired Army and Air Force Reservist, she’s proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats or laughing out loud. Now, living in northwest Arkansas, she’s given up wrangling cattle and exotic birds to wrangle her muses, a malti-poo and a yorkie. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, out snow skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellejamesauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MylaJacksonAuth
Website: https://www.ellejames.com/
Blog: https://ellejames.blogspot.com/

Deja Voodoo Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Itunes

A little magic goes a long way…

Alexandra Belle Boyette is closing in on the big 3-0 and her mama has made it her mission to marry her off. In the tiny parish of Bayou Miste, deep in the Louisiana swamps, finding suitable hubby material can be a challenge—and Alex would rather not rely on magical spells to do the trick. But there is a sexy new man in town who might fit the bill…

Ed Marceaux is in Bayou Miste to safeguard a key witness to a Louisiana Mafia murder. He must keep an eye out for suspicious characters—but the place seems to be full of them! What could be stranger than a woman dressed in a sexy nightgown chasing a naked man down the street? The enchantingly gorgeous Alex Boyette certainly makes it worth his while to find out…

Add a Voodoo spell gone wrong, and voila! madness—and love—ensues.

THE PERFECT GIFT

Thanks, Delilah.  Since millions of blogs now exist, I found coming up with a topic for this blog a challenge.  I wanted something to do with reading.  Summers are often a bit more laid back and we’re often able to catch a few extra moments to read.  Reading is a gift we give ourselves, right?  Then I thought about sharing that gift with the love interest in our lives.   Somehow, somewhere, lightning struck.

Looking for the perfect gift for the love interest in your life?

Here’s a suggestion that never fails:  a romance novel you read together.

Whether the book is by one of your favorite authors or is a new author doesn’t matter.  What matters is setting the scene and reading the book aloud together.

Here are a few suggestions for creating the setting:

• Put any/all kids who are part of your life to bed before giving your love interest the book.  (Some kids don’t go to sleep right away so make sure they’re down for the night).
• Choose a comfortable place (one you both like, one conducive to reading so the hot tub may not be the best first choice).
• Play mood music (preferably soft since you are going to read aloud).
• Turn the lights low.  (Not so low you can’t see the words on the printed page).
• Wear something that requires little effort to remove.
• Add a little perfume in strategic places.
• Tease out the presentation moment (“I have a gift guaranteed to blow you away.”  “I bet you’ll never guess what I want to do tonight.”  “Here’s a fantasy I’ve had for a long time.”).
• Wrap the book provocatively.  (How about inside a thong under the paper wrapping?  How about with a sex toy on the paper wrapping?  How a promissory note for a good time?  How about a card you make with several suggestive ideas?).
• Pour a couple of glasses of wine—or your favorite libation.
• Snuggle up when each of you reads.
• Read with feeling.  (One or the other of you may be better at this, but set the tone if you can).
• Read slowly . . . especially those scenes with sexual tension or explicit sex).
• Forget going to the bed.  When the mood strikes you both, go with it—wherever you are.
• Continue reading throughout the week.

HINT #1:  Ask your love interest for a date on a specific day/night and at an agreed-upon time.  Agree to no interruptions (Unplug the telephone.  Put the cell phones in another room.  Turn off the TV.  Shut the door to the computer room).

HINT #2:  If a book you choose isn’t working, find another one.

HINT #3:  Have fun.

If you’re reading this and you know the “perfect” book for the “perfect” gift for a love interest, leave the title and author.  It’s impossible to have too many alternatives, right?

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What if one loose thread could unravel your life?

Three years ago, Quinn Alexander put Pierce Jordan’s betrayal behind her. Now her brother needs a favor that forces her to confront her former lover. For her brother, guardian of her devastating childhood secret, Quinn will do anything—even risk falling for Pierce again.

Pierce admits he broke Quinn’s heart out of fear he’d never measure up to her ideal. He also admits Quinn’s savvy mind and generous spirit drive their successful, ongoing business relationship.  Now, realizing how much he wants her, he risks losing her forever by questioning her brother’s character.

When Quinn and Pierce uncover embezzlement, drug deals and murder, she fears for her brother, even as her attraction to Pierce grows. Which is stronger—a love renewed or loyalty unchallenged?

Commonsense told Pierce to take his time.  “You’re going to enjoy this, aren’t you?” Read the rest of this entry »

The Rules of Medieval Sex

The title Medieval Sex means sex in the Middle Ages, nothing kinkier than that, though there was plenty going on back then! I’m an author of historical romance set in Charlemagne’s Empire, specifically during the reign of Charlemagne’s son, Louis. (We should remember Louis today because his date of death happens to be June 20, 840.)

Yes, you read that right. The year 840. People have asked me why in the world I picked 9^th century Europe for my romance series. The answer is that, like most romance readers, I love stories that combine aristocracy, wealth, and rules that are made to be broken, but I really wanted my characters to live somewhere other than England or Scotland, and not be quite as rustic as the Vikings.

Charlemagne’s Empire has everything a historical romance needs, including rules, especially regarding sex. There was one Christian church back then and it was steadfast in its stance that the only purpose of sexual activity was procreation. Anything done to prevent conception was considered equal to abortion. Confessors were even expected to ask whether any sort of potion to avoid children had been drunk or given to anyone else.

The only sanctioned way to avoid pregnancy was abstinence, and the church was pretty helpful with that by providing a handy calendar of the days married couples were allowed to have sex. The following is quoted directly from Daily Life in the World of Charlemagne by Pierre Riché.

…the church forbade relations between spouses during certain periods: forty days before Christmas, forty days before and eight days after Easter and eight days after Pentecost; the eve of great feasts, Sundays, Wednesday, and Fridays; during the wife’s pregnancy and until thirty days after she has given birth if it was a boy and forty days if it was a girl; during the menstrual period; five days before taking communion.

I figure that adds up to at least 200 abstinence days IF you weren’t pregnant. Husbands who broke the rule were supposed to do penance.

Wow.

Evidence suggests that the reality of sexual relationships was not quite so strict, especially for the wealthy. Emperor Louis had eight children with two different wives but also had two children with a woman off to the side. He actually showed great restraint compared to his father, Charlemagne, who had seven children from five known concubines. His first marriage really began as a concubinage too, and he had a total of thirteen legitimate children from a total of five wives, including nine babies in twelve years from the exceptionally fertile empress named Hildegard who must have died from sheer exhaustion. Two of his illegitimate children were born during this marriage also. If you aren’t supposed to have sex with your pregnant wife, what does the church think about having sex with someone who isn’t your wife and ending up with both of them pregnant at the same time? What is an emperor to do?

Here in the 21^st century, all this really proves is that nothing has changed much. 1,200 years later there are still rules that are followed by some, bent by some, and absolutely ignored by those who can get away with it, and I mean this on both a societal level and a religious one.

I have to admit that I’ve skirted around the sex calendar in my books. I decided that the likelihood was pretty much zero of most men — especially men of wealth and power — consulting their datebook when succumbing to the passion of first love. Can you imagine that scene, with the hero and heroine getting busy, when the heroine says “We shouldn’t. We mustn’t. It is only twenty-eight days until Easter.”

Jill Hughey writes the Evolution Series, so far consisting of three novels and one short story, listed here in chronological order.

Unbidden
Second Love: A Short Historical Romance Story
Redeemed
Vain

Unbidden is currently only 99 cents so treat yourself to 5-star trip
to an exciting new setting for historical romance!
Find it at these links: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo

If you’d like to follow Jill, she has a blog at https://jillhughey.blogspot.com, she is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jillhugheyromance, and she tweets @jillhughey.