Tag Archives: erotic romance

Guest Blogger: Deena Remiel

WMS_blogtourANOTHER BRETHREN NOVEL, ELIXXIR, UNLEASHED!

 

Welcome to the FIRST DAY of Elixxir’s Blog Tour! My name is Deena Remiel, and I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. You’re probably saying, “Who? She writes what?” I live in the US and have friends all over the world who love to read romances that have that extra something special about them we like to call supernatural.

Let me introduce you to my ANGELS. They are not of the fallen variety, rather, they are superheroes. But they are complicated, which makes them all the more appealing. Here’s a bit about who The Brethren Angels are and why they’re here…

As humans we are on a constant mission to discover when IT all began, how we came to be, and why we are here. We must have a purpose to this life, so many of us suggest. Some of us have found grand, solid purposes to our lives, while others continue to ponder, wallowing in the muck and mire of a horrid life thrust upon them without their consent. And so, while many of us live out our days finding love, building families and careers, others not as fortunate become predators, sniffing out any excuse to snuff out another’s purposeful life.

When humans began to segregate themselves this way, into people of goodness and people of evil, the Brethren first appeared on Earth. Their appearance was not one of brilliance, nor was it apocalyptic. There were no meteor showers that day. There was no eclipse of the sun. No major earthquakes or other natural disasters were pointed to, heralding their coming.

They simply manifested.

There was a new awareness of being, of  having hands to touch, a mouth to speak, eyes to see, and ears to hear, all new, independent and tangible features; yet each was dependent on another to absorb information and paint a complete picture of the world around them.

For all Brethren, there was, too, an immediate understanding of their purpose, and an acknowledgement that here was now their home, to protect, to heal, and to fight for.

They had known of each other, the Brethren did. Before manifesting, before becoming individuals here on earth, they had an awareness of each other, working in concert as a collective against Evil. But Evil was still gaining ground and threatening to put a stranglehold on the entire human race. Each one of the Brethren had agreed to this angelic mission and its terms for reasons all their own. And in time, each of their stories shall unfold.

There were nine angels in all, three Protectors, three Warriors, and three Saviors. Each triad had their own powers and orders, and none could cross over without severe penalty, and possible banishment. Protectors were adept at spinning spells, weaving magic, and creating talismans for the safety and protection of the human race. Warriors had brawn and analytical minds for warfare, and used blessed swords as their weapon of choice. And Saviors were meant to heal those with severe injuries and those who held the hand of death far too prematurely. There was just one caveat. They had to be called upon through a desperate plea or a prayer to engage in their angelic duties.

Their mission would span eternity, and it was likely they would see many a war against their foe. Satan had been able to plant his seed deep within the hearts of humans eons ago, and even had time to hijack a wayward Brethren along the way. Evil, it’s a tricky bugger to eradicate, but would be dealt with nonetheless, one demon or possessed human at a time.

 

*TRINITY and RELIC are the first two novels in this series. ELIXXIR is the third. They can be read in any order, so don’t be shy. Even if you haven’t started the series yet, Nathanael’s story is worth the leap.

 

ElixxirHere’s a taste of ELIXXIR:

Callie has secrets, too many to count.

For twenty years she’s been living a lie as Callie Worthington, hiding from the monsters who brutally murdered her parents for possession of the Elixxir of Life. Unsuccessful before, their killers have found her and will stop at nothing to acquire the Elixxir. And see her dead.

Nathanael has a couple of secrets, too. A nasty one in particular blurs the line separating Good from Evil. As an immortal Brethren Warrior, though, he must retrieve the Elixxir before it falls into the wrong hands. Just how he’s going to get it out of Callie’s is the big question.

Tempers flare as Callie and Nathanael reach out to each other with their own hidden agendas. She needs his protection. He needs the Elixxir. Will their fiery passion lead to lasting love, or will their web of intrigue ultimately destroy them both?

Secrets, lies, and love’s loyalties tested. What price for immortality? What price for love?

 

And now for a tasty excerpt from ELIXXIR:

 

The alarm proved to be no friend, come Monday morning. It wouldn’t stop buzzing. Callie picked it up and threw it clear across the room. Before hitting the far wall, it managed to nail a delicate glass figurine, smashing it into a thousand pieces.

“Well, shit.” She got up to get the dustpan and broom, and swept her mess away. She fell back against her bed and ruffled her hair. “All right, sister, you promised yourself you’d change, so here we are at Day One. Get your act together, put some decent clothes on, and paint a smile on your face. Today is the first day of the rest of your life!” She sat up and smiled a cheesy, fake smile at her reflection in the dresser mirror and got ready for work.

She saw things in a whole different light by the time she downed her coffee and ate her English muffin. After tossing her plate and mug in the sink, she did a final check of her face and hair in the foyer mirror, opened the door, and slammed straight into a wall of man.

“Whoa,” said a rich, baritone voice.

“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were….” Her next words were frozen on her tongue as she identified the mammoth creature in front of her.

Kemuel.

Too stunned to move, she looked straight into his jade-colored eyes, momentarily lost in the memory of how they once made her knees turn to jelly. The memory faded quickly, and she smirked as her knees held her steady and strong. Having regained her composure, she saw a huge bouquet of flowers in his hands. Crushed flowers, now.

“Hello, Callie. I—”

Before he could say another word, she backed up and slammed the door in his face.

Leaning against it, she closed her eyes, wishing that she’d simply imagined him, and it was really the guy from the florist down the street. She turned and looked through the peephole. No such luck. Kemuel stood there, all right. What the hell is he doing here? Maybe if I stay in here long enough, he’ll give up and go away. No, be realistic woman. You’re gonna have to throw him out. Just do it.

Slowly, she opened the portal to Hell to find him still standing there in all of his six-foot-four, god-like glory, looking shell-shocked. She hadn’t forgotten how perfection had shined down upon him, kissing his head with pure white strands of hair, and blessed him with a muscular build meant to be scaled by her. She also hadn’t forgotten being left high and dry for nearly six months, either.

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
Decadent Publishing

 

AUTHOR BIO:

It was the mystique of Arizona’s history and landscape that called to Deena and catapulted her career as an author. When she’s not writing romance novels and poetry in the wee, small hours of the morning or in the deep, dark of night, Deena teaches language arts to middle school students. She currently lives in Gilbert with her husband and two children, but New Jersey will always tug at her heartstrings. She loves connecting with her fans, so find her at deenaremiel.com.

http://www.deenaremiel.com
http://www.facebook.com/DeenaRemielAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/deenaremiel
http://paranormalromantics.blogspot.com

CONTEST:

In a comment below, tell me what you’d say to a Brethren angel if he appeared before you right now. BEST TWO RESPONSES receive a cover poster signed by me! Contest ends on April 13!

Gale Stanley: Behind the Hot Sex There’s Always Romance

Gale Stanley 26 margs-tgc-pointofbeginning3Hi everyone! And thank you KD, for letting me visit today.

I write erotic romance – the emphasis is on romance for a reason. My stories may have explicit sexual scenes but at heart, they’re love stories, filled with emotion and conflict.

When I was a kid the closest I came to romance were my mother’s True Story and True Confession magazines and I was forced to read them under the covers with a flashlight. We thought they were pretty risqué at the time, but those tales of sex and sin pale in comparison to today’s romance novels.

If my mother were here today, I’m sure she’d be shocked by my stories of MM romance, but somewhere along the way I discovered I enjoyed writing from the man’s POV much more than the woman’s. I love the emotional and physical connection between two strong male characters and the appeal of the male body.

One thing remains the same in every romance, we all love stories that focus on the relationship between the characters. We want to see the romance develop, the conflicts resolved and the heroes have an emotionally satisfying happily ever after. I’ve tried to put all that into my stories from The Gentlemen’s Club.  Happy Reading!

Note: These books were previously published with another publisher and have been extensively revised and expanded.

http://galestanley.net/

http://galestanley.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/galestanley

https://www.facebook.com/GaleStanleyBooks

*****

Point of Beginning

The Gentlemen’s Club 1

Siren Allure ManLove: Erotic Alternative Romance, M/M, HEA

Geeky CAD technician Jack Monroe is bi-curious, but after he falls head over heels for a certain curly-haired construction surveyor, he’s ready to admit he’s gay. Too bad Alex James is straight and has a girlfriend who keeps him on a short leash.

Jack is determined to meet other gay men, but after a few dates from hell, he’s ready to give up. Then he meets Richard Caldwell, part owner of the exclusive Gentlemen’s Club where wealthy members can make their dreams come true. Richard takes Jack under his wing and offers him a chance to act out his fantasy with an Alex lookalike. Nobody can replace Alex, but knowing the real thing is off-limits, Jack accepts the offer. When the real deal shows up, Jack is convinced that Alex is only there for the money. But sometimes dreams do come true.

Available at Bookstrand:

http://www.bookstrand.com/point-of-beginning

STORY EXCERPT

I hate gyms!

But then, Jack had pretty much hated gym class all through school. Always the smallest kid in the class, and the last picked for any game, he’d shied away from any kind of sports. He preferred to have his nose buried in a book rather than broken on the hockey field, and he couldn’t hit a baseball to save his life. At least no one ever bullied him, but no one wanted to be his friend either.

High school was more of the same. While the other guys tried out for football or screwed as many girls as they could, Jack spent his time studying or on the computer. What made it even worse was his sister had been a top-notch gymnast who’d almost made it to the Olympics. Lucy had gotten the best of the Monroe gene pool. Their parents had avoided comparing them, but sibling rivalry was inevitable. Jack couldn’t help swinging back and forth between admiring and detesting Lucy. To this day, they barely spoke and only saw each other on the holidays. His fault, not hers.

Jack pulled into the parking lot of the Liberty Gym, but he didn’t turn off the ignition.Gale Stanley 26 Margs-tgc-somelikeitrough3

I can still change my mind. I don’t have to go in.

He’d almost turned back twice already on the seven-mile drive from work to the gym. Still undecided, he sat behind the wheel, thinking.

What the fuck am I doing here? Maybe twenty-eight is too damn old to start acting like one of the guys.

On the other hand, Jack was sick of being some kind of bibliosexual freak. All those years spent reading about other people’s lives, and he still had no idea who Jack Monroe was.

Will the real me please stand up?

A knock on the car window interrupted his thoughts, and Jack’s head jerked up.

Alex!

His coworker peered in at him with a furrowed brow and a questioning look. Too late to change his mind now, the decision had been made for him. Jack turned the key and opened the door.

“Jack, you okay?” Alex looked a little worried as Jack got out of the car.

“Course he is. Let’s get a move on, before all the equipment is taken.” Kyle’s tone grated on Jack’s nerves. What the fuck was his hurry? The man already looked like a terminator. It gave Jack a bit of satisfaction that Kyle had to comb his thinning hair over a distractingly shiny scalp.

Jack ran a hand through his own thick, sandy mop and smirked. “Oh yeah. Wouldn’t want to miss a minute of this opportunity.” Bullshit. Kyle, being the only member, acted like they were here on his dime. In reality, Jack and Alex were using free passes that Kyle had scarfed up because the gym was doing a big promotion to get new members.

The three coworkers started walking around to the front entrance, Jack lagging behind. The gym looked like a shiny oasis in the middle of a very ugly strip mall.

“You coming?” Alex called over his shoulder.

Jack took a deep breath and picked up his pace.

Alex turned and grinned at him. “Wouldn’t want to lose you.”

If only it were true

****

Some Like it Rough

The Gentlemen’s Club 2

Siren Allure ManLove: Erotic Alternative Romance, M/M, HEA

Bad boy Julian Decker leaves his old life behind when he gets a job working security at an exclusive club. It’s lust at first sight when he spots wealthy member Richard Caldwell, but the older man is way out of his league and doesn’t even know Julian exists. Julian is used to going after what he wants, and when an opportunity arises he makes his move.

Prominent attorney Richard Caldwell is part owner of the Gentlemen’s Club, where wealthy members can live out their romantic fantasies, but Richard gave up on love when he lost his longtime partner to cancer. Then on one of his rare visits to the club, a seductive new employee catches his eye and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. For the first time in years, Richard is attracted to another man and he can’t deny the strong chemistry between him and Julian. But just as Richard starts to believe in miracles, he’s attacked and all the evidence points to his new lover.

Available at Bookstrand:

http://www.bookstrand.com/some-like-it-rough

Adult Excerpt

“It’s okay. I get it. You want to fuck me.” Richard raised a brow. “Does that line always work for you?”

Julian grinned sheepishly and nodded. “But, Jesus, I can’t believe I said that to you. I was sorry afterward. Afraid you’d blow me off.”

“Interesting choice of words.”

Julian started worrying his lip again.

Watching him, Richard wanted to moan. “Julian?”

His eyes locked on Richard’s.

“I think you better kiss me before you chew your lip off.”

Julian stepped in. The kiss was surprisingly gentle when it landed on Richard’s mouth. Julian’s lips were warm and sweet and slightly rough where he’d been biting on them. They caressed more than kissed. The touch of lips sent shock waves through Richard’s body, and he responded by deepening the kiss—slipping his tongue between Julian’s lips, moaning into his mouth when Julian sucked on it.

Julian’s hands explored Richard’s shoulders and back. They followed every plane and muscle of Richard’s body. Even through his clothes, Julian’s touch sent him spiraling out of control.

If only I could feel those hands on my bare skin.

Richard rubbed his hips against Julian’s. Their fabric-covered cocks made contact, and Julian moaned. He could tell Julian really wanted this. So did he.

What the hell is he doing to me?

Finally they broke for air. Panting, Julian rested his forehead on Richard’s. “Wow.” The word turned into another kiss as he slipped his hands inside Richard’s jacket and pushed him back against the car. At six feet one inch, Richard was tall, but Julian was taller and heavier. The bigger man pinned him with his body, and Richard’s hands came up to tangle in Julian’s dark hair. Julian trailed kisses along his jaw, and then his hot, wet mouth opened on Richard’s neck, licking and sucking. Amazed at how quickly he gave up control to this man, Richard tilted his head to give him better access. It wasn’t enough. Moaning, he tugged on Julian’s hair.

“What do you want, Julian?” Richard whispered.

“You, this, us…” Julian’s voice was husky with need. “Been thinking about it so long.”

“Thinking about what? How did you picture us?”

“Oh, God.” Julian nipped at his neck.

“Tell me.”

“You. On your knees. Your lips wrapped around my cock. Sucking…” The big man shivered.

Suddenly, Richard realized he wanted the same thing. An image of himself in the submissive position with Julian’s cock in his mouth made Richard’s chest tighten with anticipation. He’d never believed submitting to be a sign of weakness. On the contrary it had always been a sign of strength, of being secure enough to allow another man to take control. In the past that other man had been Tony, and Richard had trusted him completely. Together they had explored things that Richard had only dreamed of. Tony had given him the strength to be himself and the courage to make his fantasies a reality. Without Tony there would be no Gentlemen’s Club.

Can I trust Julian?

 

Eight Great Ways to Promote your Books by Lucy Felthouse

Once a book is out there in the big wide world, it’s always a challenge to know how to promote it and make sure people are aware of it.  I’m very happy to welcome the Promo Queen and founder and head of Writer Marketing Services; a fab author in her own right, Lucy Felthouse, to share a few key tips with you.

In no particular order, here are eight great ways to promote your books:

  1. Facebook – as much as I dislike it, a great deal of my website traffic comes from Facebook, so it’s hard to ignore it. I have a fan page, which has all my blog posts automatically fed to it, and I post on there manually, too, with various snippets and updates.
  2. Twitter – a great place to find readers and other writers, this also drives a lot of traffic to my website. My blog posts are fed here automatically, and I engage with people on here frequently, as opposed to just posting links and asking people to buy my books.
  3. Triberr – this is linked in with Twitter. Triberr is a website where people become members of a ‘tribe’ and all their posts are fed into Triberr. When another person logs in, they have the option to approve your post. If they do, it will then be automatically Tweeted on their account. If you times this by the amount of people in your tribe, and the amount of followers they have, this is a great way to increase the reach of your blog posts, and it definitely increases traffic.
  4. Pinterest – add your books to Pinterest using the direct page link on your website. That way, whenever someone clicks on your book cover, they’ll be sent directly to the relevant page on your website. Hopefully they’ll buy it while they’re there!
  5. Goodreads – there are several areas of Goodreads which I am still getting to grips with – lists, for example. But it’s essential to make sure all of your books are on the site so people can add them to their shelves, read and review them. These reviews will then be seen by their friends, and so on, so this is a great way of increasing visibility by letting other people do the work, rather than you.
  6. Guest blogs and interviews – spread the word by guest blogging on someone’s site, or having them interview you. You’ll have the benefit of being in front of that particular site’s audience, who may never have heard of you. It’s great exposure, and a great way to promote your books. Club these together into consecutive days and do a blog tour – increasing your exposure further.
  7. Paid advertising – The Romance Reviews, The Romance Studio and Erotica For All are three examples of high traffic sites that offer free and paid advertising. Take advantage of the free options, and consider spending some money on adverts and track whether you get increased sales as a result.
  8. Hire me! I do all this stuff for a living, so if you just can’t get your head around marketing, can’t be bothered with all the organisation or don’t have the contacts, then consider using my business to help you out – http://www.writermarketing.co.uk. There’s more information and pricing on there, as well as a portfolio and testimonials. If you have any questions, just drop me a line.

*****

The Perfect DomFour kinky and erotic BDSM tales from the smutty pen of Lucy Felthouse.

Balancing the Books

Philip’s a well off man, and doesn’t need a job. But when he sees the gorgeous owner of his local bookshop, he applies for the role that’s being advertised there immediately. He’s totally stricken by the stunning Giovanna, and when it turns out she wants to boss him around in a sexual sense as well as an employment sense, he has no intention of refusing.

Feeling the Heat

Taylor and Maisie’s car has broken down. Luckily, Taylor’s handy with engines and is working hard to get them back on the road. Unfortunately, Maisie is getting annoyed at the amount of time he’s spending in the garage and confronts him. Instead of arguing back, though, Taylor comes up with an ingenious plan to keep Maisie quiet.

The Perfect Dom

Part of Mia’s nightwear is a pair of hotpants with SPANK ME emblazoned across the arse. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but when she forgets that she has a houseguest and heads to the kitchen for a drink, she’s shocked to find Alex in her living room. Immediately spotting what he sees as an invitation written across Mia’s bottom, Alex makes an offer and Mia soon discovers that he is, in fact, the perfect dom.

Meet Me at the Spanish Steps

Darby is working at a holiday camp on the outskirts of Rome and is getting along just fine, with the exception of her sex life. For various reasons, she’s not getting what she wants in the bedroom, and her tastes are very particular. She turns to the Internet to get what she needs, and when she discovers William, it seems that he’s more than willing—and capable—of scratching that particular itch.

More info, excerpt and buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/the-perfect-dom/

*****

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women’s Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Identity Crisis Blog Tour: Join the Fun

IDENTITYThis week, I’m taking off K D Grace’s Kinky Boots, putting on Grace Marshall’s slinky evening gown and settling in, barefoot, behind the wheel of Kendra Davis’s red hot Shelby Mustang for the Identity Crisis blog tour. Identity Crisis is book two in the Executive Decisions Trilogy, following hot on the tail of book one, An Executive Decision. Beginning on Monday, the 25th of March, Kendra Davis and Garrett Thorne will be sharing secrets on some of the sexiest blogs around. I’ll do my best to make them behave themselves, but I really can’t make any promises. I hope you’ll join us for the fun.

You’ll find the red mustang parked outside these fabulous blogs and these dates.

Where to Find Grace and IDENTITY CRISIS

25th March              http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/

26th March              http://beasbooknook.blogspot.com/

27th March              http://www.dirtybirdiesauthors.com

28th March              http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/

29th March              http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

29th March              http://blissekiss.co.uk/  For a Snogalicious Finale!

 

Identity Crisis Blurb:Shelby mustang for Kendra images

PR rep extraordinaire, Kendra Davis, is elated when she gets the chance to work for her hero, reclusive, romance novelist, Tess Delaney. Her elation is short-lived when she discovers that Tess is none other than Garrett Thorne, the bad-boy brother of business tycoon and eco-warrior, Ellison Thorne, who is engaged to her best friend, Dee Henning. Kendra blames Garrett for the comedy of errors that nearly destroyed their relationship. Garrett doesn’t like Kendra either, but he’s desperate. His alter-ego, Tess has been nominated for the prestigious Golden Kiss Award. No one knows who Tess really is, and he needs Kendra to play Tess for the awards.

When Tess is stalked by a rabid fan, the two unite to protect her identity. With Kendra, the body and Garrett the soul of Tess Delaney, is there room in this strange ménage for romance? Can a woman who doesn’t exist understand their hearts even better than they do?

IDENTITYExcerpt:

‘So tell me about Tess Delaney.’      

Garrett jumped. He hadn’t even seen Kendra until she was right on him.

‘Jesus,’ he said. ‘Do you always sneak up on people like that? Were you listening to my conversation?’ The minute he said it he realized his mistake and the phantom burn from her hand to his left cheek flared with a vengeance.

She thrust her hands on her hips and glared at him. ‘I wasn’t sneaking, and why the hell would I be listening to your conversation?’

He thought she was going to turn around and leave, but instead she took a step closer. ‘Ellis just told me that you know Tess Delaney. Is that true?’

‘Why?’ He stepped back dangerously close to the edge of the dock.

‘Well Stacie said she needed some kind of PR help and PR’s my specialty.’

‘She doesn’t need your kind of PR help,’ he said.

‘What the hell’s that supposed to mean? And how would you know anything about PR needs. I’m damn good at what I do, and if anybody could solve her PR problem, I could.’

‘Oh I doubt that,’ he said. Another big mistake.

She took another step closer, folding her arms across her chest, and if looks could kill, he’d have been well dead and buried. ‘Why don’t you let her be the judge of that,’ she said.

‘Trust me on this, you’re not right for the job,’ he said. ‘I know Tess Delaney, and she’s looking for someone way more cooperative than you are.’ Jesus, why the hell couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?

The smile she offered him had no humor in it at all. In fact the curl at the edge of her luscious lips was down-right dangerous. ‘Oh I’m very cooperative with my clients. I promise you Tess Delaney will be very happy my work, and you know why that is, Thorne? It’s because I keep my nose out of other people’s business and do my job, something you wouldn’t know anything about, would you?’

He felt her words like a slap, and yet, even as he was regretting it, he still couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut. ‘So what are you going to do for Tess Delaney, Huh? Slap her around? Throw your drink at her?’

The words were barely out of his mouth before she gave him a hard shove. He waved his arms wildly, teetering on the edge of the dock, then just before he went over, he grabbed her around the waist, and they both went off the end hitting the mirror bright water of the lake with a huge splash while Ellis and Dee and all the rest of the guests looked on.

ExecDecisions Banner1

               

The Pet Shop: Free GIFT Again!

If you missed out the last time around, not to worry, because I’m very pleased to announce that Xcite are once again offering a free taste of my critically acclaimed novel, The Pet Shop! The first part of the limited edition Kindle  trilogy, The Gift is available FREE for the next five days on Amazon beginning Wednesday 20th March.  Xcite are very aware of just how addicting Pets can be, Part Two, The Secret Life of Pets, and Part Three, The Taming, are just £.77 each in the UK and $1.19 in the US. The only thing better than a naughty Pet of your very own is a FREE naughty Pet of your very own.  If you want your Pets in an all-at-once, rough and tumble, you can still get the whole package of lusty, kinky Pet fun with the original.

The Gift Blurb:

In appreciation for a job well done, Stella James’s boss sends her a Pet – a human Pet. The mysterious Tino arrives equipped with a collar a leash and an erection, and Stella quickly learns that keeping Pets, especially this one, is extremely addictive. Will a chance meeting with reclusive philanthropist, Vincent Evanston, who looks an awful lot like Tino, but couldn’t be more different, double Stella’s pleasure or just be double trouble?

About The Pet Shop

The Pet Shop is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In part, the theme of the story is our effort to understand the beast that lives within all of us, to tame it and make it acceptable to polite company. Of course in the taming of anything wild we run the risk of losing that wildness that compelled us to love it in the first place. The Pet Shop explores the effort to find a balance between the two.

I’ve always been fascinated with our animal nature, and I’ve often wondered how much of that nature is ancestral behaviours reasserting themselves and how much of it – especially from the standpoint of the human pet situation I’ve created in The Pet Shop, is simply a need to be loved and adored, and to be able to trust someone enough to give up control to them.

Beauty and the Beast and my retelling of it in The Pet Shop are both about seeing the true nature of a person, with all their flaws and neuroses, and loving them anyway. But ultimately the story is also about trusting enough to allow oneself to be loved, and believing that one is worthy of love, warts, blemishes and all.

Excerpt:

‘I’m sorry, Tino,’ Stella shoved to her feet, tearing her gaze away from the gorgeously horny man sitting on the floor by her chair. ‘But I just can’t do this. If I had known what Anne – what Strigida – had planned for me, I would have never consented, surely Anne knew that. Anyway, I feel really bad that I’ve wasted your time, but this is just not something I can do.’

The pet only looked up at her with adoring and expectant eyes.

‘I’ll gladly give you taxi fare home, of course. I mean that’s the least I can do. None of this is your fault, after all. Anne told me that you were a gift, so I assume you’ve already been paid.’ She raced through the last sentence breathlessly, her face burning at the very thought that the company had paid for a prostitute for her.

Did they really think she was that desperate? And never mind how desperate she was, surely she had worked at Strigida long enough for them to realise this was not the gift for her. And she was bloody well certain Anne knew that. There would definitely be words when she returned from Bath. ‘Is that all right, if we do that? If we just call it even and I get you a cab home?’

Tino made no response. Instead, he rubbed his cheek affectionately against her leg and moved to sit back on his haunches, a position that made his erection look even more enormous, bulging heavily against his thigh. At the sight, her stomach muscles tensed low and tight and her pussy clenched and half convulsed.

‘I forgot,’ she looked down at the manual still gripped in one hand, ‘Pets don’t talk. But since I really don’t want a Pet, couldn’t you break the rules just this once?’

He brushed her leg again with his cheek, then with his lips, making delicious shivers run up her spine.

‘Guess not. OK. Well, I realise this is an awkward situation, Tino, and I’m really sorry about that. I know you’re expected to stay here. I appreciate your position. Really I do. I’m sure we’ll get through this if we work together.’ She nodded down the hall. ‘I have a guestroom. You’re welcome to sleep there. It’s small but comfortable.’ He followed her on silent feet, and looked on as she showed him the guestroom.

‘The closet’s there.’ She pointed. ‘Though I guess you won’t need that. Extra toiletries are on the dressing table there. Those you might need. And the remote for the telly, well it’s a little tetchy. Here let me show you.’ Suddenly she realised he wasn’t paying any attention. His gaze was locked on her – more specifically on her crotch. She blushed hard and forced a smile. ‘Never mind. I imagine you can figure it out if you decide you want to watch telly. Anyway, make yourself at home. Are you hungry? Can I get you something to drink?’

Again, he plopped down on the floor. This time he wrapped his arms around her leg and began to rub his cheek against her thigh.

‘Tino, really. I don’t think I can …’

He made little grunting sounds and shifted his hips forward and back. If anything, his erection seemed still bigger. She suddenly remembered the manual said the Pet Shop kept their Pets horny. Hadn’t Anne said he usually didn’t have to wait this long before he came?

She found herself blushing again at the sight of his heavy hard-on. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think about how … uncomfortable you must be. I know you’re not allowed to touch yourself unless your keeper gives you permission, and, well, since we can’t, since we’re not going to …’ She nodded to his cock. ‘It’s all right with me if you do what you need to do. You know, for some relief.’ She felt like her face would burst into flames.

For a long moment he looked up at her with his bottomless cinnamon eyes, as though he couldn’t quite comprehend what she wanted of him. Then, slowly, carefully, holding her gaze, he laid a hand against his cock and ran a curled palm up the length of it. A shudder ascended his spine. He threw back his head and released a trembling breath that ended in a deep animal groan at the back of his throat.

Almost before she realised it, she replied with a little whimper of her own that slipped between her lips. Her nipples pearled through the thin silk of her blouse, and her pussy felt slick and giddy. She closed her eyes only for a split second, but the next thing she knew, Tino was standing beside her, so close that her hand, resting low against her belly brushed his cock, and they both gasped at the feel of it. Before she could do more than marvel at the velvety softness that felt like it sheathed granite, he pushed in closer, and his large hand engulfed hers easing it gently against his cock with just enough pressure to encourage her fingers to wrap around the girth of him.

She should have stepped back, she should have commanded him to stay in the room and do what he needed to do and not come out until he was done. But she didn’t. Instead she curled her fingers around him and felt his hand tighten over hers. She expected him to hump like a dog, but he only stepped closer, engulfing her in a feral scent not unlike cat fur on a sunny day.

The shifting of his hips was almost invisible but for the tensing of the muscles low in his hard belly, tightening and lifting until his soft pubic curls just grazed the inside of her wrist. Instead of the blatant sexuality she expected, he simply laid his head on her shoulder, his warm breath raising the fine hair along the back of her neck. His heart hammered a heavy drumbeat that matched her own, and her nipples seemed to be pressing ever forward to get nearer to it.

His free arm encircled her, resting just above her hip, where his hand moved in a gentle caress up and down her ribs, almost tickling. The sensation of it all accumulated warm and heavy just below her belly. The heat of his lips rested close to the pulse of her neck. They were slightly parted, his breath coming in fast little puffs.

She knew she should be pushing him away, making him bend over for the spanking a misbehaving Pet deserved. She hadn’t asked him to touch her, and she hadn’t volunteered her services. ‘You’re a very naughty Pet, Tino.’ She barely managed to gasp before he tensed, and a strangled groan escaped his throat just as his cock twitched and she felt the silky slick heat of his come spill over both of their hands and against his bare belly. Then his whole body convulsed, and involuntarily he pulled her tight against him, an act which sent her into her own convulsions. She let out a startled cry. She hadn’t expected to come. She hadn’t intended to come, and yet there she stood quivering out her pleasure against the Pet, who held her in a powerful, sex-stimulated bear-hug.

From Amazon.com

The Gift

The Secret Life of Pets

The Taming

From Amazon.co.uk

The Gift

The Secret Life of Pets

The Taming