Tag Archives: Identity Crisis

Sex and Creativity

TE new coverI’m working hard on the final rewrite of The Exhibition, the third novel of The Executive Decisions Trilogy, and I can’t immerse myself in a major writing project without being reminded of just how closely linked sexuality and creativity are. Since I’m up to my ears at the moment, I’m sharing an archive post with you today that talks about just that subject, a subject I think is always worth revisiting. I hope you enjoy it.

Sex and creativity are often seen by dictators as subversive activities.  –Erica Jong

My husband knows I’m always looking for interesting articles about sex. He sent me one the other day about masturbation as a treatment for restless leg syndrome (It’s orgasm that actually seems to help. The means is optional.) This led us to an impromptu  discussion of all of the other benefits of sex. Sex is a good sleep aid, sex can help with weight loss, sex can improve skin, hair and nails, just to name a few. There was even a recent article in Psychology Today about semen as an anti-depressant. The jury, however, is still out on whether sex is an aid or a deterrent to creativity.

For the naysayers, abstinence has long been touted as a way to focus sexual energy for creative purposes. On the other hand, a study at the University of Newcastle-on-Tyne and the Open University showed that professional poets and artists had almost twice as many sex partners as other people. The study also showed that the number of sex partners increased as creative output went up. The conclusion drawn was that the more creative you are, the more sex partners you were likely to have.

I’m sure that’s a simplification, but I wonder which came first: the sex or the creativity? Is it the creative force that makes us horny, or is it being horny that makes us creative? My guess is that every writer, poet or artist would answer that question differently. However, I don’t think there’s any denying the close connection between the creative force and sexuality. Nor do I think that’s particularly surprising. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Freud was right. It IS all about sex. But I wonder whether we really understand just what sex is all about.

Yes, the basic biology is obvious, but we humans haven’t had sex simply to procreate in a very long time now. We’ve evolved to want, to expect, even to need more from the sex act than just the next generation. Perhaps that goes hand-in- hand with our cultural evolution, what sets us apart from our animal cousins — at least in our own eyes. For humans, all things seem to have evolved two meanings. First there is the concrete realm in which we’re born, nurtured, thrive, reproduce and die. But we develop another level of meaning when we no longer have to use all of our energy just to survive. When starvation is no longer an issue, food and its preparation and presentation become art. When keeping out the cold is no longer an issue, clothing becomes fashion, and magazines tell us how we can be walking galleries for the art of clothing. When finding shelter from the elements is no longer necessary, our very homes become an artistic expression of ourselves. In a world where all our basic needs have evolved more than one meaning, the artistic expression becomes as important as the function.

But all of these necessities are mundane. Sex is not. For our ancestors, sex was the magic by which two people become three. Today sex is the magic by which two people become one, or by which one person becomes more herself or himself. On one hand procreation has given way to re-creation,  but on the other hand, how can an act that has evolved from the very need to create the next generation be rooted in anything but creativity?

How can the process of creating be anything but sexual? Writing a story is a penetrative act resulting in something larger, something much more alive than the words on the page, than the idea conceived. That’s heady stuff. That’s the writer in full rut. It’s intimate, it’s messy, it’s rough and tumble, it’s voyeurism and exhibitionism and full-on heat. If it isn’t, then there hardly seems to be a point.

That being said, anyone who has had good sex, lingering sex in which time seemed no longer to exist, will recall that what mattered was the wonder of the act itself, the amazing intimacy with the other. Any writer or artist knows that experience up close and personal. At some point the creative act itself becomes the sum total of existence. The writer’s world shrinks to and expands out from that act, and the end no longer matters.

So how did I get from masturbation for restless leg syndrome to once more worshiping at the altar of the Divine Creative Sexual Force? Well I suppose it’s all just a part of the journey isn’t it? And besides, where else would I go with it?

And here’s a little excerpt from Identity Crisis, book two of the Executive Decisions Trilogy, to make your weekend sizzle.

Blurb:

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?

IC new coverExcerpt from Identity Crisis:

Garrett had just pulled out his cell phone to call again, when he looked up to find Kendra standing at the bar with a drink in her hand, and his knees nearly gave from relief. One of the designer fashion boys was chatting her up. And immediately the relief was replaced with something a lot more tetchy. He shoved past a knot of Goths who mumbled and gave him a few nasty looks, but he was way past being polite at the moment.

‘The Porsche outside, it’s mine,’ Fashion Boy was telling Kendra, preening with one hand while he held a beer in the other. ‘Bought it with my bonus from last year. It’s one helluva ride.’ He moved in closer. ‘If you’re interested.’

‘I’m not.’

‘She’s not.’

Both he and Kendra spoke at the same time.

The man raised his hands and backed away, and Garrett grabbed her by the arm, none-too gently and marched her toward the door. ‘Where the hell have you been?’ He said, half shoving her out into the warm summer air, past the curious gaze of the bouncers.

‘What do you mean where have I been?’ She yanked her arm away. ‘I was dancing. I looked around and you were nowhere to be found. So I went to the bar to wait. I figured that would be the first place you’d look for me, and why are you so angry?’

‘Why am I so angry? You scared the shit out of me, that’s why I’m so angry.’ He jerked her closer to him. ‘One minute you’re dancing with me and the next minute the incredible hulk steps in between us and then you’re gone.’

‘Where are we going?’ she said, pulling back.

He jerked her forward. ‘Home, damn it. We’re going home where it’s safe.’ He half marched, half dragged her through the parking lot across the road and to the edge of the park before she gave him a shove, pulled away from him altogether and turned on him.

‘Fuck you, Garrett! I haven’t done anything wrong and even if I had, you’re not my father. I’ll go home when I’m damn good and ready.’

‘So what? You want to go back and ride banker boy’s Porsche, do you? Is that it? He buys you a drink and you let him give you a ride.’

That she didn’t slap him was the first shock, the second was that she didn’t turn back to the Boiling Point, but that she headed on into the park at a pace that a race horse would have struggled to keep up with.

‘I bought my own drink, you asshole. And I came with you. You’re the only one who gets to give me a ride.’

‘Kendra. Kendra, I’m sorry. Kendra wait!’ He struggled to catch up with her. ‘I just panicked when I couldn’t find you. I’m sorry, okay. I panicked.’

‘And you just assumed that I was on the make. Fuck you, Garrett! Fuck you!’

It was then that he realized she was leading him off the main path into the darkened edge of the park. ‘Kendra, where are you going?’

She didn’t respond, so he kept following her up a winding path deeper into the center of the park.

At the top of the hill in a grove of hawthorn trees and rose bushes in fragrant full-bloom, there was a bench. The leaves of the trees admitted a tiny pool of light from the street lamps just above it. ‘Kendra, where the hell are you going?’ He grabbed her hand, and she turned on him so quickly that he thought for sure this was when she would slap him, certainly he couldn’t blame her, but instead she fisted both hands in the front of his hoodie and pulled him to her in an angry kiss, then one hand migrated into the front of his track bottoms, and inside his boxer.

‘God, Kendra, what the –’ she swallowed up his words, biting his lip, sucking his tongue, licking at the back of his teeth and his hard pallet until he couldn’t breathe. Her fist around his cock was a strangle hold and even in its discomfort it felt like he was in heaven. ‘Kendra, I can’t …’ He tried to push her hand away, but the other hand snaked in and jerked his bottoms and boxers down over his ass until he could feel the night air on bare flesh. He wriggled and squirmed his heart racing in his chest. ‘Jesus, Kendra, you can’t be serious. This is a public place. What if someone –’

She bit his lip hard enough that he wondered if she’d drawn blood, and his cock surged so strongly in her hand that he feared he’d come right there. ‘Shut up, Garrett,’ she growled against his mouth. ‘I need you to fuck me, so just shut up.’

He heard the crackle of foil and with a slight of hand that nearly took his breath away she sheathed him in the condom, then with hands that seemed as full of anger and need as the rest of her, she ripped open the fly of her shredded jeans and shoved them down. Christ! There were no panties! ‘I need you, Garrett.’ She struggled to breath. ‘I need you to fuck me right now. I can’t wait. Right now. Right now!’ She turned her back to him still shoving and pushing at the jeans until they were down around her thighs and the rounded heart shape of her bottom shown in the pale light. Then she bent over and rested a palm onto the seat of the park bench. With the other hand, she reached behind her, grabbed his hip and pulled him up close until his cock pressed into the valley between her buttocks. ‘Do it, Garrett. I can’t stand it any longer. Do it now!’ She wasn’t trying to be quiet. She wasn’t trying to be subtle. She didn’t care that there were other people still using the park, that they might get caught, and Garrett felt like he’d burst at the very thought of what they were doing – and where. She opened herself to him and shifted her hips, while he, with one hand low on her back and the other on his cock fumbled and maneuvered until he slid home. She grunted a curse and pushed back onto him hard, and they both cried out as they began to thrust.

Her beret tumbled off behind the park bench and he grabbed at her ponytail as it fell free reining her in with it. He yanked her back toward him like it might help him control her somehow. He yanked her back until he could bury his mouth against her neck, rake her pulse point with his teeth, suckle and nip until the sounds coming from both their throats were feral groans and grunts.

With a quick movement, she unhooked her bra, grabbed his free hand and guided it to the bounce and the fullness of her breasts, nipples tight and puckered against the rake of his thumb. Then she grabbed his hand from her hair and guided his fingers to her mouth, licking and nibbling before she shoved them down between her legs, down to the heavy strain of her clit.

They were both too far gone to hold back much longer, and it took little more than a stroke between her legs before she came, growling and straining and nearly collapsing onto the bench as he came juddering in hard waves inside her.

It was only as their breathing began to return to normal that he could hear her sniffles. As he pulled out, she stood and wiped her nose on the back of her hand, then jerked her jeans up as though they had made her angry somehow.

She stuffed her bra into the pocket of his hoodie with a hard shove, bent to retrieve her beret, and was already heading down the path before he could deal with the condom and get settled back into his track bottoms.

Blrub for The Exhibition:

(Out soon!)

Successful NYC gallery owner, Stacie Emerson, is ex-fiancée to one Thorne brother and ex-wife to the other. Though the three have made peace, Ellison Thorne’s friend, wildlife photographer, Harris Walker, still doesn’t like her. When Stacie convinces Harris to exhibit his work for the opening of her new gallery she never intended to include him in her other more hazardous plans. But when those plans draw the attention of dangerous business tycoon, Terrance Jamison, Harris comes to her aid. In the shadow of a threat only Stacie understands, can she dare let Harris into her life and make room for love?

Double Whammy Launch Party and Kinky World Book Night: So much Smut, So Little Time!

It’s been a wild and exciting week, and I’ve struggled to figure how to share the most with all of you without repeating what’s already been said and without making extra work for myself. Not that I’m lazy, and not that I don’t love chatting with you lot, but I’m hard at it writing The Exhibition, Book three of Grace Marshall’s Executive Decision trilogy, and I’m so excited about how it’s coming along that I’m anxious to keep working.

But at the same time, I definitely wanted to share the adventures of the last week, starting last Saturday with the Double Whammy Launch Party at Sh! Women’s Store and continuing on through Tuesday night with the Kinky Workd Book Night hosted by Xcite and arranged and put together by Xcite’s fabulous new PR staff members, Lauren Thomas, Claire Travers, and the mysterious Greg.

There were hot, sexy readings, there were giveaways, there was burlesque, there was an open mic, there were Q&As and there was loads of fun. I decided the very best way to share that fun was to give you a few smuttymini excerpts from the events along with an excerpt from Moorita Encantada’s fabulous performance from the play we’re collaborating on, The Eye of the Beholder. So enjoy the piccies and the naughty excerptlets.

Double Whammy Book Launch Party

At the Double Whammy Book Launch Party there was so much going on it was hard to know where to look. And it all began with one of my favourite Sh! Ladiez, Jo Wierzbicka, reminding all of us naughty folks that only one person is allowed into the bathroom at a time. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Though Kay Jaybee read from her fabulously naughty book, The Perfect Submissive, she also gave us a sneak preview of her sequel, book two in the trilogy, The Retreat.

Kay Jaybee’s reading from The Perfect Submissive.

‘It’s fascinating, isn’t it?’ Mrs Peters seemed to be reading her mind.

Jess felt goose pimples sprinkle her flesh as her employer continued to speak in whispers, her warm breath tickling Jess’s ear, ‘He’s a strong young man. He is good looking. He could dominate any girl he chose, and yet here he is, getting his rocks off by crouching in obedience before a powerful woman.’

*****

Hastened into position by his mistress, Paul’s shirt was torn from his back, his smooth torso bent over the desk’s leather inlay, and his outstretched muscular arms grasped each side of the desktop. Jess gasped at the sight of his arse. It was truly gorgeous. She was so close to him, only two metres away. She could smell his desire and almost taste the frisson of fear that ran down his spine; prone and vulnerable, as he anticipated the first strike. The Perfect Submissive

Most of you already know that I’ve been scheming and plotting with the multi-talented Moorita Encantada to write and put together a burlesque play. Saturday night was the first ever sneak peek at The Eye of the Beholder, the story of Medusa and Perseus with a twist, and a  stunning performance by Moorita in the staring role as Medusa.

Moorita Encantada performing as Medusa from our play, The Eye of the Beholder

Arrogance can be sexy. Not his though, his was simply stupid. No woman is going to defeat him, he said. He was a warrior, he said, strong and quick on his feet. He’d finish me off and be home in time for dinner with my head as a trophy.

Humility is such a hard lesson to learn. A very hard lesson.

This one, yuk, this one should have never come..! What was it that inspired such a coward to face my wrath? A bet? A few too many pints down the pub? Honestly, trembling before a woman is only arousing if it’s because her beauty takes a man’s breath away, if it’s because he loves her and adores her and wants her more than life itself. Not because he’s so afraid he’s about to piss himself. He should have stayed in his room playing World of War Craft.

This one was just mean, lacking in human kindness, no goodness in his heart. He didn’t just want my head for a trophy, he wanted to hurt me, he wanted to make me suffer, wanted to make my Graea suffer, though we’d done nothing to him. Oh believe me, he’s better this way. Now there’s nothing at all in his heart, and no more harm to be done.

Medusa’s monologue from The Eye of the Beholder

We’ll be sharing more news about The Eye of the Beholder as it unfolds, and there are lots of exciting things on the horizon. Moorita will be performing more of The Eye of the Beholder at Smut By The Sea in Scarborough on the 22nd of June, and we hope to see you there.

Because I had two new releases very close together, I read from both of my latest, Grace Marshall’s Identity Crisis, and book three of K D Grace’s Lakeland Heatwave Trilogy, Elemental Fire. I could hardly remember from one minute to the next just exactly who I was.

My reading from Elemental Fire

She took him into her arms and kissed him hard, and when he feared he would disgrace himself again with his cock pressed up tight against the top of her belly, she pulled away. ‘However,’ she said. ‘If I grant your request, then I will possess you. All of you. You will belong to me, your life will mine.’ She gaze was painfully bright. ‘And if you earnestly wish to be rid of Deacon, then you will do as I say for as long as it takes us to accomplish our task, and it will take time. I know him. You don’t. I’m his equal. You’re not. And one more very important thing, Kennet Birch.’ She stroked his hair gently and whispered against his lips. ‘Never, never forget how badly I can hurt you if you defy me.’ Then she guided his hand down over her pubic curls. ‘If my terms are not acceptable to you, then you must return to your body and face your fate.’ Elemental Fire

Kinky World Book Night

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We barely had time to recover from the weekend before we were off to Cardiff for the exciting Kinky World Book Night, an event we’d all been excitedly waiting for. Lauren, Claire and Greg were fabulous hosts for the event, held at the Fire Island Bar, and we were especially lucky to be joined by smutty author extraordinaire,  Lily Harlem, who didn’t read, but cheered us on, and of course the unstopable Lucy Felthouse. After a really insightful and fun Q&A, there was an open mic with some fabulous new unpublished (thought I have no doubt that will be changing soon) talent, in addition to the delicious and talented Black Silk. I think it’s safe to say a naughty time was had by all.

Kay Jaybee’s reading at Kinky World Book Night from The Voyeur

Taking a step forward, Mark pulled hard on the lead so that Anya’s neck jerked toward his legs. ‘My bitch here is guilty of questioning my requests.’ P1000687Abruptly the room fell completely silent, and everyone turned to see what was happening as Mark’s voice boomed out. Keeping her voice lowered, Anya stared at the dusty floor.

Opening the lid of his box, Mark pulled out a large piece of folded white card. As he unfolded it, he dragged Anya to one of the unoccupied rings on the wall before securing the lead to it, ensuring she couldn’t stray. Then he stuck the rectangle of card upon the wall next to her tethered body.

In bold black type it said, “Do what you want to me, but I must not be satisfied. I have been very bad and I do not deserve it.”  The Voyeur

P1000704Lucy Felthouse’s reading from Off the Shelf

Dropping onto her back, Annalise lifted her bottom, hooked her thumbs into the sides of her thong and shimmied out of it. She flicked one foot and sent it sailing across the room, then sat up, unhooked her bra and sent it in the same direction. She was just about to grab the top of one of her hold-up stockings to roll it off when Damian got back onto the bed and crawled over to her.

‘Don’t,’ he said quietly, pushing her onto her back once more. ‘leave them on.’

‘Ooh,’ she replied, shuffling backwards up the bed so her head was on the pillow, ‘like them, do we?’ Off the Shelf

Kd and Lauren- Cardiff 2013Grace Marshall’s reading from Identity Crisis

She turned on him. ‘Oh pa-lease. You deserved it. You’ve deserved everything you got so far, and last night, well if you’d have just let me handle it, then this,’ she stabbed a finger at the door, ‘this wouldn’t be happening.’ She jerked off the robe and stood naked in front of him tugging her panties up over her hips and then shoving into the green dress. And fuck it was hard to stay focused with her doing that. Did she do that on purpose – get his cock’s full attention so his brain wouldn’t work? She probably did. She was a bitch, he reminded himself. How the hell could he forget the number one fact about Kendra Davis? The woman was a bitch. Interact with her at your own risk. He watched her stuff her stockings and garter belt into her bag like they were the enemy, and he was sympathetic.

‘Where’s the back door,’ she said.

‘Through the kitchen,’ he replied, his brain still half-occupied by her angry reverse strip-tease that had left him in a bad way. ‘Wait a minute. Where Breakfast at the Harley!are you going? What are you doing?’ He followed her into the kitchen with her stumbling into her killer heels as she went.

‘Fixing it,’ she huffed.     Identity Crisis

We all came home exhausted, but happy. What a fabulous experience and another happy reminder of some of the really cool perks of writing erotica, including lunch with our fearless leader, Hazel Cushion, dinner at Pika Pika with Lauren, Claire and Greg, and breakfast with Kay Jaybee, where else but the Harley Coffee Shop! How could such a week not inspire me to write more naughty, sexy, romantic stuff, and that’s how I hope to be spending the next few weeks, hard at work on The Exhibition.

 

 

Double Whammy Launch Party, Kinky World Book Night & All the Latest

Double Whammy Launch Party

kd-ef2-buttonIt’s my pleasure to invite you all to a very special launch party. Four Novembers ago when I began a project then entitled Love Spells for National Novel Writing Month, I never imagined that experiment in writing a novel, an erotic novel, in one month would lead to the completed Lakeland Heatwave Trilogy in Spring of 2013. And this coming Saturday, the 20th of April, in London at Sh! Women’s store, is the launch party for that final book of the trilogy, Elemental Fire.

And you’re all invited!

This launch party is special in a lot of ways. First of all, I’ll be sharing it with my dear friend and fabulous writer, Kay Jaybee, who will be giving you a sneak preview of her new novel, The Retreat, which is book two in her Perfect Submissive Trilogy.

There’ll be sexy readings from both Elemental Fire and The Retreat, and I have it on fairly good authority that Grace Marshall will be making her first appearance at Sh! to join in the fun and give you a naughty little taster from her latest novel, Identity Crisis.

Besides the usual sexy readings, there’ll be fizz, food fun and fabulous giveaways. And the company will be of the highest and naughtiest calibre.

If all of that’s not enough to entice you, how can you resist anything happening at Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium with all the fabulous toys, corsets, lingerie, books and everything you could possibly want to take the sexy evening home with you afterward.

If you’re in the London area next Saturday evening, come party with us at Sh! as we celebrate the many guises of erotica and romance. Of course the evening is FREE of charge. You’re our guests! Here’s the link with details: Sh! Women’s store And be sure to either call Sh! and let them know you’re coming or email. Space is limited.

BookOfTheMonthElemental Fire, Sh!’s Book of the Month

And to celebrate the launch, Sh! has made Elemental Fire the Sh! Book of the Month! Sh! has always been a dear friend and a great promoter of my work. I’m very pleased that my novel has this place of honour for the month of April. Check out what the very discerning Sh! Babe, Jo, has to say about Elemental Fire!

Xcite Kinky World Book Night

By the time all the fun ends with dancing in the street Saturday night, Kay Jaybee, Lucy Felthouse and myself will be in such a fantastically naughty mood that we won’t be ready to stop partying. Fortunately for us, we won’t have to! We’ll be headed off to Cardiff on Monday for Xcite’s Kinky World Book Night, and I’ve been hearing through the grapevine that Xcite’s newest member, Lauren Thomas, really knows how to throw a party.

Kinky World Book Night will be on 23rd April at Fire Island in Cardiff. Xcite have booked out the whole top floor, which is three rooms. The party begins at 5 PM with drinks. Then at 6:00, doors open. Entry is FREE along  with a complimentary book.

image003At 6:30 the Ann Summers room opens – open until 8:30pm.  Kay Jaybee, Lucy Felthouse and I will all be reading and following up with a short Q&A, then there’ll be an open mic with five minute slots for anyone who would like to read. I have it on good authority that anyone who runs over their five minutes will be paddled.

If you’re in the Cardiff area Monday night the 23rd, come and join us for more fun and filth with a chance to meet the writers and some of the behind-the-scenes folks at Xcite who get our naughty stories out there for the world to see.

Party in London or party in Cardiff, or both! I promise a filthy time will be had by all.

Grace Marshall, Xcite’s Author of the Month

Grace-Marshall-websiteI’m very pleased to announce that Grace Marshall is Xcite’s Author of the Month for April. This means Xcite will soon be posting an interview in which Grace tells all, which will be great for catching up on all her latest gossip. But it also means a whopping 25% savings on all Grace Marshall books for readers, so the fun is shared with everyone. I’ll keep you posted about the naughty interview, but you can take advantage of the fabulous discount on Grace’s books any time during the month of April.

 

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.

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