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Elizabeth Black has No Restraint, and So Can You

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It’s a pleasure to welcome one of my favourite regulars to A Hopeful Romantic today. Elizabeth Black is here on tour for her fabulous new novel, NO RESTRAINT. I’m especially excited about having her today because Elizabeth asked me to write the forward, an honour for which I am very grateful. Welcome, Elizabeth!

 

no-restraint-largeIn Chapter 9 in my new erotic romance novel No Restraint, Alex Craig and her shiny new lover Jackson Beale head to the beach. The novel is set in Boston but they run to Rockport, Massachusetts for a bit of sun and fun. Rockport is a coastal art colony with lots of kitschy stores and unique restaurants. There are plenty of beaches tucked into the coastline, and this town is a popular tourist destination.

 

I live in Rockport, and I wanted to bring a bit of the town into my book. What better place for my characters to enjoy a little surf and turf? More people are familiar with Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, which are on the South Shore. Rockport and its neighboring city Gloucester are in Cape Ann on the North Shore.

 

I’ve lived in Rockport for over 20 years after moving here from Maryland. I loved Maryland’s Eastern Shore, which is where you’ll find the beaches and small town, rural living. After living in cities my whole life I came to love the small town vibe of Rockport.

 

The beaches here are very important to me and I’ve made them a daily part of my life – at least as long as Nor’easters and blizzards allow. My two favorite beaches are Long Beach and Cape Hedge Beach. Long Beach has beach houses dating back as far as the 1930s and some early 1900s lined up along a concrete pathway overlooking the beach. When it’s high tide and there isn’t much beach to walk on, I walk on that pathway. Walking is my primary form of exercise. The Long Beach Motor Inn is popular with tourists, as are the beach houses. There is a resident’s parking area to one side of the beach, and it’s always accessible. And private. That’s important.

 

Cape Hedge is more secluded and definitely only for residents. You need special parking stickers to park on the street rockport2leading to the beach. Tourists aren’t as welcome. This beach is my favorite because it’s not busy and it’s fairly large. It’s also right next to Long Beach so I may walk to that beach if I wish to.

 

I based my beach in No Restraint on a combination of both of these beaches and the much larger Good Harbor Beach in nearby Gloucester. There is plenty of sand and churning water. The water is also cold! This year was an exception. The water was comfortable enough to swim in, and my husband and I have made a habit of it. We even bought snorkeling gear to check out the ocean floor. We find mostly rocks, shells and occasionally a sand dollar or sea urchin. Sometimes we catch crabs skittering across the sand. The water stays placid so it’s enjoyable for beginners like me to snorkel.

 

So what if you want to head to a restaurant and do the tourist trap shop thing after an afternoon swimming? You head to the Headlands and Bearskin Neck; both of which I describe in the book. The Headlands are cliffs overlooking Rockport harbor, and it is a popular picnic spot. Alex and Jackson enjoy a meal there before heading to the shops in Bearskin Neck, which is a short walk away. You’ll find all kinds of shops in Bearskin Neck – jewelry, beads, coffee and tea, a strudel café, pottery, clothing, paintings and other local art. And then there are the restaurants! Alex and Jackson enjoy breakfast based on a local joint called Hula Moon. I eat there often. The owners are from Hawaii and they’ve brought the aloha spirit with them. I’ve enjoyed the banana macadamia nut pancakes and Kona coffee Alex and Jackson take in for breakfast. The flavors are magnificent. I, like Alex and Jackson, have developed a distinctive palate for fine food and drink.

 

rockport1There are only two hotels in Rockport. They’re more like motor inns – smaller and less intrusive on the quaint landscape. Alex and Jackson stay at the Land’s End Inn, which I based on the numerous inns and bed and breakfasts in the area. These homes away from home are festooned with Victorian decorations and furnishings to relax and impress you. Some have patios and decks where you may go outside, sit in an Adirondack chair or at a table, and enjoy many glasses of champagne while you bask in the ocean view. Catch a lovely sunset on the sea while you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of the big city. Time slows down in places like Rockport, which is one reason I love it here. Crime is so low people leave their doors open 24 hours per day. Even all the cats are related. LOL Like most small towns, everyone knows each other. That can be a good thing as well as a bad thing, but mostly a good thing. People here look after each other.

 

Rockport is a small town with a lovely. beachy feel. The next time I move will either be to another home in town or Hawaii. My husband grew up on Oahu and he’s eager to return. For one thing, the water is much warmer! So I will enjoy Rockport as long as I can, until I move into another paradise. Alex and Jackson appreciate the finer things in life and Rockport gives them the opportunity to experience more of it.

 

—

 Buy Links:

Amazon U. S.: https://www.amazon.com/No-Restraint-Elizabeth-Black-ebook/dp/B01IGHFZI0/r

Amazon U. K.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Restraint-Elizabeth-Black-ebook/dp/B01IGHFZI0/

 

No Restraint Blurb:

Alex Craig accepts a new job at a high-end sex doll company called Babes. Babes’ dolls are high-end, expensive silicone love toys. Working at Babes is like working for a bacchanal. The company’s culture is all about decadence, enjoying the good life, exciting sex, and enticing food and drink. Alex meets Jackson Beale, one of the company’s vice-presidents. Jackson takes Alex on a new and exciting journey of carnal pleasure. He introduces her to new tactile and kinky pleasures, and she relishes her excitement. The world takes on an entirely new meaning and importance to Alex as she learns what she’s been missing in her life.

 

No Restraint Excerpt:

(Intro – Alex Craig is applying for a job at Babes, a company that makes expensive, high-end sex dolls. She lusts after Jackson Beale, one of the VPs she just met during her interview. She is a dead ringer for the latest, state-of-the-art doll, which is both exciting and unsettling. As she inspects the doll to determine how to improve it, she purposefully reveals a bit too much about herself.)

 

‘How is she to fuck?’ Alex’s throat felt dry as she asked the question. She looked at Jackson. She wanted to hear his answer more than anyone else’s. Did she arouse him, in the flesh and in the form of a doll? ‘I throb when I come. You could add a removable vibrating bullet to the vagina. Also, maybe make it a removable pocket pussy so she’s easy to clean and he can take the pussy traveling with him.’ She walked to the doll and slipped in two fingers. ‘Good, she’s very tight. I’ve used Ben Wa balls to strengthen my pelvic floor. My lovers liked that very much.’

‘Lovers?’ Jackson straightened up in his chair. Good. I have his attention. ‘How many lovers do you have?’

‘I had four, but I broke off the relationships. They were very clingy. I don’t like to be tied down.’ I can’t believe I just said that …

‘You don’t?’ It was no wonder Jackson curled up one lip at her. His eyes danced and gleamed in the fluorescent lights. My God, he is easy on the eyes. I wonder what he must think of me with the way he’s teasing me and twisting my words.

‘Not in that way. I’ve never been tied down to a bed, if that’s what you mean. I might like it.’ Feeling warm, she returned to her seat. Badly wanting to remove her jacket but resisting the urge, she wondered if such sexually charged discussions were commonplace at Babes. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it, but the erotic talk shouldn’t have been a surprise since this was a sex dolls company, after all.

elizabeth_black

About Elizabeth Black:

Elizabeth Black lives a dream life in a small home on the Massachusetts coast. She tries to go to the beach every day. When in the Zone, she writes erotic fiction, romance, dark fiction, and horror. She aims for la Dolce Vita and lives every day as if it were a feast. She shared her life with her husband, son, and three cats. She is published by Xcite Books, Cleis Press, Circlet Press, Bold Strokes Books, and other publishers. You may find her on the web in the following locations:

 

SIGN UP FOR ELIZABETH’S MAILING LIST ON MY WEB SITE

 

Find Elizabeth Black Here:

 

Elizabeth Black – Blog and Web Site

http://elizabethablack.blogspot.com

 

Elizabeth Black – Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethablack

 

Elizabeth Black/E. A. Black – Facebook Page (Like me please!)

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethblackwriter

 

Elizabeth Black – Twitter (Follow me please!)

http://twitter.com/ElizabethABlack

 

Elizabeth Black – Erotic Fiction Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/author/elizabethblack

 

One Night in Manchester by Victoria Blisse Now Available!

Blog, Guest Blogger, New Releases, News, , , ,

Internet romance on the page and in real life!

 

OneNightinManchesterbyVictoriaBlisse-500One night in Manchester is essentially the story of how two people who met on the internet get to spend just one day and night together.

The story is entirely made up but I was inspired by part of my own life story.

Back in 1998 I met my now husband in a little chat room on the internet. It was affectionately known as Doug’s and a friend from college had given me the link. I spent a lot of my free time at uni there, chatting to people from all around the world.

When Kev first showed up I apparently ignored him, well, I had my own group of online mates and although I’d heard rumours I didn’t think Kev was anything special.

At the end of my chat I was saying my goodbyes and Kev wrote

*pinches your bottom on the way out*

And I blushed all the way home! From there on we got chatting, rang each other on the phone and after a few weeks met for the first time in the flesh. It was amazing.

And now, we’re king and queen of smut living our happily ever after together. Awww.

I won’t tell you if Jessica and Grant get a happily ever after but they do have a scorching hot day and night together. Here’s how they met.

 

One Night in Manchester Excerpt:

I calm myself while I wait for the door button to flash green. Pressing it, I continue to scan up and down the platform but the only person in sight is the pensioner. Walking through the newly opened doors I step gingerly along the platform, still looking for him. Surely I’ll recognise him. He’s not shy. His Facebook picture is himself – selfies taken on nights out and such. Or at least that’s what he’s told me.

I’m wracking my brain to remember what it’s called when someone pretends to be someone else online for personal gain. Could Grant be a catfish? It doesn’t seem likely—what would be in it for him? I’m not exactly rich and I’m certainly not a celebrity.

Oh, dear God in heaven, it’s not Nigel from Sales, is it?

I’m so caught up in the possible horror of being all pally pally with Nigel the knobhead who hits on me at work in the most skin-crawlingly creepy way, that I walk slap bang into someone.

“Sorry,” I gasp, then realise I’ve walked straight into the supporting pole of a tourist map. I step back and furtively glance around.

“Jess, are you okay?”

Oh great, Grant is here and the first thing he sees is me walking blithely into an inanimate object. Fabulous first impression.

“Grant?” I ask, looking towards the soft, lilting voice.

“The one and only. Are you okay?” His hand is on my arm and I’m looking up into the brightest, bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, surrounded by the face I know from so many party selfies.

“Yeah.” I shrug and giggle, trying to cover my blushes. “Told you I’m clumsy.”

“Yeah, you called it.” He grins and I melt.

Dear God, how can anyone have such a perfect smile? He’s actually hotter than I thought.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” he asks, running a thumb across my forehead and brushing a loose curl off my face.

“Oh, nothing more than my pride.” I chuckle again, my cheeks getting hotter by the second.

“Well in that case, then—hello, Jess, it’s great to finally meet you.”

“And you, Grant,” I reply. Before I catch my breath he’s wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. I cling to him. He’s warm and hard and smells of pine and the great outdoors. I don’t want to let him go. His well-trimmed beard presses against my cheek and his hands rest confidently in the small of my back. Embarrassment and panic melt away and I let myself relax into his embrace.

Standing here all day, just wrapped up in him, listening to his gentle breathing and feeling his strong arms around me would be a dream come true. I could close my eyes and forget the world. I feel safe and secure and content, even if there is a bubbling of something disturbing in the pit of my stomach. It is, in a strange kind of way, quite a pleasant feeling, this one of arousal, but it’s not one I’m allowed to give in to.

He pulls back, leaving his hands resting on my hips, then leans in and kisses my cheek. Now I’m back to full-on flustered, the imprint of his lips burning hot against my skin.

“It’s so very good to see you, Jess. You look amazing.”

“Oh, thanks.” Looking down between us in my shyness, I try to catch my breath, but realise it looks like I’m staring at his crotch so lift my gaze again. He appears decidedly amused at my discomfort. “You’re very handsome yourself.”

“Well, thank you.” He inclines his head graciously like a gentleman of old and I blush even more. My cheeks must look like ripe apples, the heat they’re generating.

“Wanna come see where I’ve been working?” Grant asks, stepping to the side, leaving one hand on me. I’m very aware of its size, its weight, its possessive position on my body.

“S-sure, yeah, why not?”

“Okay then; you’ll need this.” He finally releases me, dipping his right hand into his jeans pocket and pulling it out again, complete with a pass on a lanyard. He pulls it open and slides it over my head, smoothing it down my chest. Anyone else doing something so intimate would creep me out, but it’s Grant. Maybe it’s an indication that he likes me the way I like him. Surely you don’t make an excuse to touch someone’s chest unless you’re attracted to them, or maybe he just doesn’t trust me to do it myself. I did just walk slap bang into a post, after all. That might be a more realistic explanation.

 

One Night in Manchester Blurb:

After a flirty online relationship, Grant meets Jessica in Manchester.

He works in TV and he shows Jessica around the set where he’s filming. Their relationship quickly escalates and they have sex…on one of the sets! As things develop, so does their love play. In public places! And a little spanking never really hurt anyone.

Will Jessica be able to say goodbye to Grant when his work is done?

 

 

Buy One Night in Manchester Here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01I2BS72Q//ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sexy00-21

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I2BS72Q//ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sexy00-21

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/one-night-in-manchester

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/648625

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/one-night-in-manchester/id1131686070?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-night-in-manchester-victoria-blisse/1124074104

 

About Victoria:

Victoria Blisse is a Mother, Wife, Christian, Manchester United Fan and Award Winning Erotica Author and all 11731759_10154039766657786_3868193766871696713_oround Cheeky Wench. She is also the editor of several Bigger Briefs collections, and the co-editor of the fabulous Smut Alfresco, Smut by the Sea (Vol.1), Smut by the Sea (Vol.2), Smut by the Sea (Vol.3), and Smut in the City Anthologies.

She is the mistress of Smut UK putting on Smut Events, Days & Evenings dedicated to erotica, socializing, fun and prizes. Check out Smut Nights, Smut by the Sea: Scarborough, and Smut Manchester for more info.

Born near Manchester, England, her northern English quirkiness shows through in all of her stories along with her own particular brand of humour and romance that bring laughs and warm fuzzies in equal measure.

Passion, love and laughter fill her works, just as they fill her busy life.

You can often find Victoria procrastinating on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest

 

 

A Day in the Life of Christine Blackthorn (@CBlackthorn @sinfulpress)

Guest Blogger, , , , , , , , ,

tourbutton_avarietyofchains

I would love to tell you that it is a calm and quiet day full of contemplation and writing – but I have a toddler. This is notable and worth mentioning for sixteen months ago my day would have been tightly managed with a life alternating between being an academic and a writer. Then a introduced a whirlwind into my world.

My day starts with sunrise and I mean this literally. I can for example tell you that this morning the sun rose at 5.08 not because I am an ardent follower of sun cycles but because my son is solar powered. 5.08 was the first morning twitch. So, I get up as a mother, not a writer. Or it might be more accurate to say that I wake as I go to bed – as a storyteller. Every since I can remember there have been stories in my life, when I sleep, when I exercise, when I cook, there are always stories developing in my head.

So when my little being escapes his cot and comes over, dragging a book behind him with which to hit me over the head and remind me that it is time to tell the first story of the day, this is what I do. Though, contrary to the stories that will have brought you to this blog, the ones he hears contain more skipping dragons and fewer scantily clad vampires.

And this is how my day will progress. Between nappy changes, baby food, whilst we clean the kitchen together (ever read the Pippi Longstocking section where she puts brushes on her feet to clean the floor? No, try it with a one year old – it will be an absolute hit) or hang up the washing we chatter about dragons and fleas, fairies and foes. And the frog. Let’s not forget the frog.

And then there is nap time. Nap time is when my stories come out to play – the vampires and orcs, the aliens and everyday people. All generally running around saving mankind, alien kind, solving murders and conspiracies, whilst having a lot of sex.

But this last sounds a little too simplistic. All my stories have a strong sexual element but more so because sex, and erotic expression, play a huge role in the development of the relationships of my characters. Sex, not the superficial pleasure of merely exchanging touch (though that has its place as well) but sex that shakes your foundations and lets them settle stronger, is one of the few activities where the lessons life has taught us can fall away and we breathe, for a short time, without the constraints we taught ourselves.

All my stories, no matter if the characters try to solve a murder, save civilisation or just themselves, are about relationships and how they challenge us to be the best, or worst, we can be. This is what I am…. And the raptor cage rattles.

No, really. My son naps during the day in a travel cot besides me and to keep it dark in there we cover it with dark, breathable material. It is like a little cave from the inside but from the outside, the first signs of waking, are an ominous rattle and the cloth moving. The raptor cage rattles.

My afternoons are academic in nature. Teaching, counselling sessions, meetings … and here and there the glimpse of a well known figure, in the distance, possibly chasing along the parapets to catch a fleeing thief or who are burning the midnight oil to find that one detail that will save humanity. The characters in my books are always with me (and yes, that is what is happening when I get this glazed over look in meetings).

Early evenings, after bedtime and the obligatory story (not told by me but by my husband) allow me to get lost in my stories again. For a while. And then I close the computer and the evening belongs to my husband. And only to him.

*****

Advert copy 3

A Variety of Chains excerpt

Slowly, he lowered more and more of his weight to rest on her until she could feel his hard and still clothed limbs against her nakedness. His arousal was unmistakable as it rested in the embrace of her body, only separated from her skin by the fabric of his trousers. His hand stroked down, over her hip to her knee, before he hooked a hand underneath it and brought it up to his waist, opening her further to him.

She wanted to blame the hour, so close to the fourteenth, for the wetness soaking his trousers, but knew that would not be entirely honest. Her body was wet with arousal and spasms of pleasure were tightening her womb. He started to roll his hips, stroking the fabric over a part of her that she had not realised could become so sensitive. With each stroke of his body against hers, something tensed in her a little more. His lips started to play with hers again, teasingly stroking over them and then nipping her with lightning speed. She needed something she did not know she needed, and with every second it seemed to come closer. The sound ripped from her throat was between a moan and a sob – and it stopped him in his tracks.

His brow came to rest against hers on a moan. “There is nothing I want more than to continue this so that when I ask you again if you have ever had an orgasm, you are in no doubt at all, but unfortunately now is not the time. Now is too close to midnight, and it would be careless of me to lose control.”

*****

avarietyofchainsBlurb

Kathryn McClusky is an ErGer – a rare and highly prized individual in the supernatural world.

She has spent her life running and hiding, but circumstances have changed and the only way to protect her family is to hand herself over to the Vampire Lord of London to face slavery or death.

Lucian Neben runs his London court with a stern but fair hand, but political pressures are building from both the human and fey worlds, and taking possession of an ErGer would cement his position of power.

Kathryn is vulnerable and broken almost beyond repair, but she holds in her hands the one treasure Lucian desperately wants – the possibility of home and family.

Can he teach her to open herself up; to choose to life, and him, before reality forces him to take her freedom?

Sales links

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aq8Kc8

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2avj1Fd

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/BandNVoC

Google Play: http://bit.ly/GPlayVoC

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboVoC

Apple: http://bit.ly/AppleVoC

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GoodreadsVoC

*****

christineblackthornAuthor Bio

In “real” life, I am an academic with degrees in Political Science, Economics, Philosophy and Law and an insatiable desire to confound, baffle and disconcert my students. Someone once suggested to me the reason for my stories lay in the desire to offset the tedium and rationality of academic life. He wasn’t an academic or he would have known better. It is best to use research against tedium, students to offset the rationality and an unlimited supply of stressballs for the faculty meetings. The stories? Well, they are just for me – like a mental manicure.

I also write a blog on Feminism and Erotica – come talk to me:

Blog: http://christineblackthorn.eu/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnblackthorn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBlackthorn

*****

GIVEAWAY!

Make sure to follow the whole tour—the more posts you visit throughout, the more chances you’ll get to enter the giveaway. The tour dates are here: http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/christine-blackthorn/

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Out Now! Mean Girls – M/F BBW Erotic Romance by Lucy Felthouse (@cw1985)

Guest Blogger, , , , , , , , ,

Mean Girls, a M/F erotic romance by Lucy Felthouse, with Rubenesque and body confidence themes, has been re-released with a stunning new cover and a lower price! Please note, however, if you’ve read it before, that the content hasn’t changed.

*****

Mean GirlsBlurb:

Adele Blackthorne is a big girl, a curvy chick. She knows it, and she’s been picked on all her life because of it. But she’s gotten to the stage where she doesn’t care. She may be Rubenesque, but she’s healthy, too. Much healthier than the mean girls at the leisure center that point and stare and say spiteful things about her. Adele rises above it all, and simply enjoys her secretive glances at the center’s hunky lifeguard, Oliver.

As the bullying of Adele becomes worse, Oliver finds it increasingly difficult not to intervene. He doesn’t want to get into trouble with work, but equally he can’t stand to see Adele treated in such a horrible way. Especially since he doesn’t agree that she’s fat and unattractive. He thinks she’s a seriously sexy woman, and would like to get to know her better. Much better.

Buy links:

Amazon: http://mybook.to/meangirls

All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/29USu5p

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/29NMwE1

iBooks UK: http://apple.co/29TCrpv

iBooks US: http://apple.co/2af9Rga

Kobo: http://bit.ly/29H4e8E

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/29HNIeH

 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18147145-mean-girls

*****

teaser_meangirls

Excerpt:

As usual, Adele Blackthorne felt the weight of gazes on her as she walked from the changing room to the steps to get into the swimming pool. She was used to it by now, and had learned not to react, to just carry on as though she hadn’t noticed people staring and not-so-subtly pointing at her.

With a polite nod to Oliver, the lifeguard, as she passed him, Adele was grateful for his much more favorable reaction. If he thought she resembled a beached whale, he hid it much better than everyone else did. The warmth in his eyes as he nodded back even looked genuine. But she had no illusions, he probably slagged her off the moment he got into the staffroom, or home, talking about the fat woman who went swimming three times a week without fail. But for now, she’d pretend he didn’t. Pretend he thought she was sexy, and wanted to get lost in her abundant curves. God knows she’d like him to.

It was true, she was a big girl and she was most definitely aware of it. Ever since she’d gotten to the age where her excess weight could no longer be called puppy fat, she’d tried to do something about it. Every diet under the sun, ridiculous amounts of exercise… nothing worked. Adele had grown so depressed in her teens that she’d become bulimic. Naturally, she’d lost some weight that way, but she’d also made herself so ill that she’d had to be hospitalized. It had terrified the life out of her, and ever since, she’d resolved that she’d much rather be healthy than skinny.

Which was why she visited her local leisure center three times a week. She used the gym and sauna, and went swimming. And every single time she went, she’d catch someone gawping at her. But because of the years she’d spent—especially at school—being called all the names under the sun, she’d developed an incredibly thick skin. She was happy and healthy—so healthy in fact that she could probably beat all of those skinny bitches at a swimming race. Of course she never offered, never called anyone out on their rudeness and ignorance, but it made her feel better to know that she was fitter and much more polite than them.

Slipping into the fast lane, she settled her goggles carefully into position—she hated getting water in her eyes—then lifted her legs to rest the bottoms of her feet against the end of the pool. Looking at the clock on the wall that counted seconds, she waited until the hand reached the top, then pushed off from the side and launched herself into the lane. It was quiet, so she had this section of the pool to herself. Her arms cut through the water, her legs flapped wildly and she did ten laps without losing any speed. Emerging from the water, she checked the clock again and was pleased to note she’d beaten her previous time.

She was just about to start another ten laps, when she heard voices from the other side of the pool. Voices that clearly forgot how well they carried on water. It was as though they were right next to her.

“God, I’m surprised all the water doesn’t jump out of the pool when she gets in. And the way she swims—she’ll cause a tidal wave one of these days.”

The spiteful words were followed by a trio of sniggers, and Adele gritted her teeth. Part of her wished that she could create a bloody tidal wave, so it would sweep those bitches under water and drown them. The other part of her tsked at the thought. Ideas like that made her just as bad as them, just as unpleasant, just as cowardly.

Because they were cowardly—the way they spoke about her behind her back proved that. If they ever passed her somewhere in the leisure center or its car park, they never said anything, not one word. They’d just scurry away as fast as they could, then titter when they thought she was out of earshot. She hoped that just one time, someone would say something to her face, so she could retaliate, speak up for herself. There was no way she’d start anything—she didn’t want to add confrontational to the list of faults that the mean girls had obviously compiled about her.

Sucking in a deep breath, Adele launched into another ten laps, allowing the chilly water and the exertion of powering through it to burn away her irritation. Because that’s all it was—irritation. She wasn’t angry. Anger was too powerful an emotion, and one that was totally wasted on those ignorant women. She almost felt sorry for them, actually. If they had nothing better to do than to stare at her and slag her off all the time, then they clearly had very dull lives.

The thought cheered her considerably and when she completed her twentieth lap, she lay her forearms on the edge of the pool and hoiked herself up. Her back was pressed against the side, and from here she had a perfect view of the rest of the pool. Tugging her goggles down so they hung around her neck, she had a damn good look at everyone else. The small children and their guardians in the kids’ pool right at the other end of the enormous hall, the old people who swum so slowly as they chatted that she was surprised they stayed afloat, the relentless movement of the man in the medium-speed lane and, of course, the mean girls who were in the same sort of position she was, but at the side of the pool rather than the end. The side which faced the lifeguard station.

Adele narrowed her eyes and watched them—the two waif-like blondes and a brunette—as they chatted and giggled, and it seemed for a change, not about her. They’d clearly changed the subject since their previous spouting of vitriol. Their focus was very firmly on Oliver as he sat on his lofty perch, surveying the pools before him, ready to jump in should anyone get into trouble. She often toyed with the idea of faking a problem, just to get him into the pool and his strong arms around her. However, she knew that although he’d undoubtedly do his duty and help her, he’d never believe such a strong swimmer would need his assistance. Then he’d lose all respect for her, and probably stop hiding his disdain for her so effectively. And the polite nods and smiles she got from him were the only thing—aside from the center’s top-notch facilities—that made the place bearable. She was sure that if the three witches—a nickname she’d secretly come up with for the women—had their way, there would be a sign on the main doors to the building saying ‘No Fat People Allowed.’

*****

About Lucy Felthouse

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller) and Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller). Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 140 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

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Stuck with You: New Erotic Romance from Jillian Boyd

Blog, Guest Blogger, New Releases, , , ,

I’m always happy to promote the latest in new erotica and romance on A Hopeful Romantic, and never more so when the story is one written by a friend and sister writer whose writing journey I’ve had the pleasure to watch blossom and evolve. With that in mind, it’s my pleasure to announce Jillian Boyd’s new release, Stuck with You.


StuckWithYou CoverStuck with You Blurb:

When Bethan’s work sends her and Ivan, her ex, to a conference together, she’s less than impressed. And when their flight home is grounded due to a snowstorm, she thinks it can’t get any worse…

Stuck with You is a short erotic romance, told in Jillian Boyd’s inimitable style with witty dialogue and sharp characterisations.

 

Excerpt from Stuck with You:

He could tell she wasn’t happy about this situation. Every time she got annoyed, her Welsh accent would become sharper than a pinprick. He couldn’t blame her though; it wasn’t exactly fun to be stuck in an airport hotel during a snowstorm. With your colleague. Who’s also your ex.

“Yes, mother, I’m okay. No, I’ve not turned into a snowman yet… hang on, yet?”

Ivan watched Bethan, on the phone to her mother in Swansea. He’d only met Bethan’s mother twice during their relationship, but every time she looked at him, Ivan felt her eyes pierce his very soul. Bethan reasoned that, if looks could kill, her mother would be watching Neighbours from behind bars.

“Yes… yes, I’m not alone. I’m with Ivan.”

The sheer noise that came from the other end was unbelievable. Bethan held the phone away from her ear, letting her mother rant about ‘that no-good piece of London shit’.

“For a 75-year-old woman, she’s got a colourful vocabulary,” whispered Ivan. Bethan rolled her eyes.

“Don’t worry, mother, I’m not going to let him… no, he’s not. Mother!”

“If she’s talking about that thing with the sock…”

Bethan turned his way and shushed him, before turning back to her mother. “I’ve got to go now… sorry. I’ll call you when there’s news. Right. Love you. Bye.”

After hanging up, she practically threw her phone onto the nightstand.

“So… that sounded pleasant,” said Ivan carefully. Bethan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked up to the window, opening the curtains and peeking outside at the deluge of snow coming down from the heavens. One harsh streetlight illuminated the white sidewalks.

She turned around to face Ivan. “Looks like we’re going to be here for a while. If you want to go and do something on your own, be my guest.”

“Right,” Ivan said, feeling a little bit deflated. “What are you going to do then?”

“I don’t know. Go over the notes I took at the conference, I guess. Read a book. Watch TV.”

“Bethan. Really?”

“What?”

“You’re just going to sit here and read notes?”

“And why the hell not? I took plenty of notes, and I need to type them up.”

“The notes from the conference we’ve just attended on synergy in the work place? Are they really that urgent to type up? I distinctly remember you nodding off during the keynote speech.”

“I…” Bethan started, but trailed off. He knew he’d tread onto a dangerous path with what he’d said. Eventually she said the thing he’d been expecting. And dreading. “I just want to be alone, that’s all.”

“Okay. I’m going downstairs to have dinner. I’d love it if you could… but if you don’t, that’s fine.”

The uncomfortable silence that accompanied Ivan on his way out the room was telling of just how much Bethan was still hurting. And actually, he couldn’t blame her. Seven months was in no way enough time to get over how much of a prize dick he’d been.

The truth was that he wasn’t over it either. It was hard going getting over someone who worked for the same company, in the same building as you did.

The moment he’d found out he’d be going to this conference with Bethan, he knew he was fucked. He’d tried everything in his power to avoid any confrontation, since the last one was still painfully fresh in his mind. But now there was no avoiding it. And especially not now that they were stuck in a hotel near O’Hare Airport, miles away from their respective comfort zones and in the middle of a Chicagoan snowstorm.

Sat on his own, in the virtually empty restaurant, he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Which was ridiculous. This was just about Bethan’s rejection of his dinner invitation. It wasn’t like he felt all his hopes of a second chance being dashed as the night ticked along.

Was it?

 

About Jillian Boyd

Jillian Boyd is a blogger, author of erotic short fiction and editor. Currently based in London, she’s been writing sex stories and histories—not to mention weird wonderings—at Lady Laid Bare for five years now.

When she’s not writing filth, she can most likely be found at her day job or in the dark of the cinema. Her stories have been published by the likes of Cleis Press, Ladylit and House of Erotica.

 

Buy Stuck with You here:

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HYN3RR8/?tag=sexylittlepages-21

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1131132377

Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stuck-with-you-jillian-boyd/1124065506;jsessionid=1FBBC59C43C57F14B42D26306F2EF42F.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=2940153392868