Vixenwriter

Today’s theme is holidays! I generally don’t write holiday themed books but when I do, I always enjoy it. I’ve written about The Day of The Dead (Celebration for the Dead), Christmas and New Years – To Do List and Sweet Charity (and the upcoming Believe), Samhain (Reading Between the Lines) and in next year’s Goddess With a Blade, Imbolc. In the end, I decided to do one of my Chase books, as Christmas day is more than just a holiday, but the anniversary of several proposals.

CHASE BROTHERS: TAKING CHASE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2006, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

Even being used to the Chases for a year and a half did not prepare her for the insanity of Christmas morning in their household. Last year they’d driven over in the morning but waking up there was a whole different story. While they’d had a bedroom to themselves along with Maggie and Kyle, relatives slept everywhere. The pleasing picture of people young and old in pajamas around the eight foot high Christmas tree did her heart good. This was family. This was wonderful and normal and special all at once.

Brian smiled at her as she came and sat on the floor, resting her arms on Shane’s thighs.

Shane’s paternal grandfather handed out presents and the process took several hours as everyone ooohed and aaahed over each present from mundane to fabulous. The diamond bracelet Kyle gave Maggie was positively gorgeous and Cassie was proud that her jewelry was thoroughly loved by all recipients.

Still, she had to admit that her favorite moment was when Edward unwrapped the first edition Black’s Law dictionary she’d found in an old bookstore in downtown Los Angeles when she’d visited Brian the month before.

“Holy cow! Girl, you’re too good to be true. Shane, boy, you’d better keep this one around.” Edward stroked the leather spine and beamed.

“She grabbed it before I could, Edward. Even with a broken arm and a bum shoulder she beat me to it.” Brian laughed.

“That’s my girl.” Edward winked.

“Oops, I didn’t see this last one. It’s for you, Cassie.” Pop handed the long, flat box to Cassie.

“From Shane, oooh!” Cassie set to unwrapping it. It was a card with a key attached. Use me. was written on it. She pulled the key off. The key to Shane’s truck.

Everyone followed her out to the driveway, standing back as she opened the truck. “You giving me this monster, Shane?”

“My truck?” he sounded horrified. “No! Follow the clues, darlin’.” She saw a bow on the glove box and another note stuck there. I need
a key.

Sliding the key into the lock she opened it and saw the light blue box. “Oh lordy! A blue box.” Delighted, she pulled it out and opened it up. It wasn’t until she saw the black velvet box inside the blue box that she realized what it was.

With trembling hands she cracked it open and a pear shaped sapphire sat nestled in the velvet, diamonds on either side of the deep blue stone. She turned to face Shane but he was on one knee. Tears began to run down her face.

“Cassie, will you marry me?”

“Holy cripes! Hell yes, I’ll marry you.” She jumped into his arms and they toppled onto the cold, wet grass, laughing.

Reaching around her, he grabbed the box and slid the ring on her finger. “Perfect. I knew you’d look better in something other than a diamond. I saw it and had to get it for you.”

“You rock.”

He laughed again. “Thanks, darlin’, you do too. How about a Valentine’s Day wedding? In that little chapel just outside town? You seem to really like it.”

“Oh the one with the pretty stained glass? Do you think it would be available on such short notice?”

“Probably not but I booked it last year this time.”

She stopped. “You did? Oh my. Awfully sure of yourself.”

“We all know I’m an arrogant man, we established that early on. I wanted to ask you to marry me last Christmas but I knew you wouldn’t be ready. But I wanted that little chapel for you when you were ready. Just in case.”

“You’re a giant marshmallow, you know that?” “Don’t tell anyone.”

Be sure to visit today’s other snippeters!

Lauren Dane
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels
Jody Wallace
Lacey Savage

I love to write food scenes. Making food, sharing it with your loved ones is part of how we create family and community. It’s how Tate reaches out to Matt after he helps her the first time they sort of met (she’s hit by a car and he’s on scene and gets it called in, etc). It’s how Polly takes care of Maggie when she’s down, or how Minx takes care of her friends in Celebration for the Dead. I decided to go with Matt and Tate, because it’s very much part of who she is and how she takes care of her people…

MAKING CHASE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2008, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

Matt saw her everywhere once he’d actually noticed her the first time. That bright shock of white-blonde hair was a beacon along with the vivid, colorful clothes she always wore.

Somehow, it fit and he loved the retro vibe it lent her. Quite often, she wore dresses that made him think of the fifties. Flared skirts and tight bodices in bright red or blue. Always shoes to match. The woman could probably give Cassie a run for her money in the shoe department.

Two weeks after he’d gone into her shop that first time, he saw her sitting on a bench at city hall. It was early May and the day was clear and warm. Her hair gleamed in the sunshine.

He plopped down on the bench next to her and began to unpack his lunch. “Hey there. This seat taken?”

Her surprised jump made him glad she wasn’t eating or drinking anything after the first choking incident. “Hi. No. No, sit down. I was just having my lunch.”

Looking between his sandwich and whatever the heaven in a bowl she was eating, made his stomach growl. “What is that? Looks way better than a turkey sandwich.”

She held out a forkful to him and without thinking he took it. Instantly, his taste buds lit as the flavor rushed into his mouth.

“It’s green curry with tofu.”

“That’s tofu? No way. Tofu tastes like, well, nothing.”

She laughed, that sweet, musical laugh. “Tofu will soak up the flavor of whatever you cook it with. This has garlic, basil, eggplant and tofu in it and I like to add mushrooms just because. The green curry is spicy and the coconut milk is sweet. All together it just works doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’ll never wrinkle my nose at tofu again.”

She curled her lip at his sandwich. “Is that pressed turkey?” Her tone made it seem like he’d been eating dog poop.

“Um, I don’t know?” He shrugged. “I get it at the market, in those baggies where the cheese is. Is it bad?”

“Tell me something, Matt Chase, does your mother ever serve turkey that tastes like that?”

He recoiled in horror. “Never!”

She handed him the curry. “Good Lord, eat this. And go to the deli to get your turkey there next time. You know what a tomato is right?”

Obediently he ate and nodded. “But it makes the sandwich soggy.”

“Keep the slices in a separate baggie until you’re ready to eat the sandwich.” She peeled the bread and looked at him accusingly. “Is this processed cheese? The kind that comes in little individual plastic sleeves?”

“Yeah. Hey, I like that stuff!”

“No you don’t.”

She sounded so sure of it, he started to doubt himself. Instead, he ate the food she’d given him. “What are you going to eat?”

She pulled out another container and two small containers. “I have marinated tomatoes and mozzarella with crostini.”

“Huh?” He leaned over and nearly drooled when she pulled the lid off the container and the scent of olive oil and basil hit him along with the sweet acid of the tomatoes. “No way.”

Grinning, she popped a tiny ball of cheese into his mouth and he groaned. “You can’t have it all but I’ll share some of it. I usually give my leftovers to Beth. If she hunts you down later, don’t blame me.”
She pulled several little toasts out of a paper sack. “This is crostini. Just little pieces of toasted bread with olive oil or even plain. You put things on it, olive spread, tomatoes, cheeses, that sort of thing. My brother William works at The Honey Bear. He bakes the bread and tempts me with it even though fresh sourdough bread is the last thing I need every day.”

“I go in there all the time. I can’t believe I haven’t recognized him. Does he look like you?”

“He starts work at four in the morning and he’s off by two most days. You wouldn’t see him, he bakes in the basement. All of my brothers and sisters are redheads with green eyes except me and Nathan. Nate’s got brown hair. William looks like a younger version of Tim, my older brother.”

He’d started to chide her about the bread thing until she spoke about her coloring. He remembered back to his momma’s comments about Tate’s mother’s behavior.

Tate cocked her head and he actually saw her openness evaporate. “Yes, I’m aware of my mother’s reputation, it’s well-deserved but you won’t catch poor white trash by sharing a fork with me.”

“Whoa!” The hurt in her words nearly made his eyes water. Putting the bowl down, he reached for her hand. “I would never think such a thing. Tate, I don’t think that about you.”

“I saw your face change when I described my coloring to you.” She tried to remove her hand but he wouldn’t let go.

“Yes. Yes, okay, I did think about what I’d heard about your mother. But that has nothing to do with you. I don’t even know your mother. For all I know, your dad has blond hair and blue eyes.”

“Both my parents are redheads with green eyes, Matt. Don’t think everyone in the world didn’t notice me and Nathan and that we don’t look a damned thing like my father. Don’t think my father failed to notice and make us pay.”

He stilled. “What do you mean?”

She began to pack her things up. “I need to get back to work.”

Reaching out, he touched her arm and she stopped, looking into his eyes. “Wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. If you leave I have to give your food back.” He grinned tentatively and she snorted.

“Ugh, another man after my food. I have to beat you all off with a stick. Really, it’s difficult to be objectified that way.”

He laughed but he saw her humor as a way to deflect the conversation away from her comment about her father.

They stayed for another twenty minutes or so before she had to get back to the salon.

“I’ll walk back with you. I need to get to work too. I can’t believe we work across the street and I’ve never really hung out with you before.” He helped her pack up. “Wow, what is this little lunchbox thing?”

“Cool isn’t it? It’s a Mr. Bento. I got it at this cookware store in Atlanta a few months back.”

They walked companionably through the early May afternoon toward their end of town.

“I take it you like to cook?”

She nodded. “It’s a great stress reducer. It’s a way I can do something for my family.”

“So you cut their hair and make them curry?” He grinned, liking that a lot.

“I do. Although Anne is really good with hair too. We’re all pretty handy in the kitchen but it sort of turned into my place to be the house everyone comes to for dinner.” And they all knew her cupboards would never be bare, ever. Once she’d moved out, that was her promise to herself and she’d kept it. No one she loved would ever be hungry if she could help it.

“Do you do men’s hair? I think I need a cut.” Absently, he ruffled a hand through his hair and a surge of giddiness rushed through her. Thirty-one years old with a crush, wasn’t that special.

“We don’t get a lot of men in the shop. Men in Petal tend toward the barber shop on First. But we get a few and I’d be happy to do you. Um, do your hair that is.” She blazed bright red.
He laughed. “You blush easily don’t you?”

“It’s a curse of very pale skin I suppose.” They stopped just outside the salon. “Give a call to check the schedule, I’ll be glad to fit you in and trim you up.” She brushed the hair away from his neck and tsked. “And I’ll get your neck too.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.” He paused before waving and crossing. On the other side of the street he called out, “Thanks for the curry. I’ll talk to you soon, Tate.”

“Hoo boy,” she mumbled, watching him as he went back into the stationhouse.

Be Sure to Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!
Lauren Dane
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels
Jody Wallace

I thought I’d put up a snippet from SENSUAL MAGIC – my novella in last year’s WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS…AFTER DARK (also to give you a peek at the world in my upcoming Bound By Magic paranormal romance series from Berkley Sensation – yes, I’m efficient that way, LOL). Most of the humor I write into my books tends to come out in the form of bitchy heroine snark, I know you’re all surprised by that – so meet Nell Hunter…

SENSUAL MAGIC by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Harlequin Enterprises

William looked around the lounge area. The dancers were between sets so the lights were up a bit and slow, throbbing electronica filled the air.

He’d missed a woman he’d met two days before and had been with a grand total of perhaps half-an-hour.

His vision snagged on a pair of long-as-sin legs and his gaze traveled up lean thighs to the hem of a very short black dress. He took his time when he arrived at some stellar breasts, up the long line of exposed neck and to a lovely face punctuated by glossy lips and big eyes. Looking right back at him.

One of her brows rose and he realized it was her. “Excuse me, everyone. I’ve got some business to attend to.” He stood and made his way toward Nell with every intention of killing anyone who got in his way.

Taking advantage of the noise, he leaned in close, placing his arm around her waist. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

“I’m sorry to bother you at work but I found out some things about Leah and I needed to see if you could help.”

Even though she was speaking about Leah, William’s body, his brain all thrilled to see Nell, hear her velvet voice.

“Come on back.” He kept a hand at her back to guide her through the crowd and down the back hall where his office was located.

Once he’d closed the door after them, his hearing took a moment to adjust. He motioned her to the chairs bracketing a small table in the corner.

“Would you like a drink?” He sure needed one. Seeing her dressed up this way discomfited. She was beautiful sitting there, poised but humming with energy. Still, oddly enough, while he couldn’t object to the amount of bare skin she showed, he apparently preferred her the way she’d been in his office before. Go figure.

“I’ve already had a few but thanks. I’m not good with a lot of alcohol in me.”

He looked at her as he sat, sipping his scotch and taking her measure. Bright green eyes met his, shooting right through him.

“Really now? Good for whom? Do you get wild and dance topless?” William really had no idea why he teased her, she was off his to do list and everything.

She blushed, which, god help him, just made it worse. He hadn’t been around women who genuinely blushed in a long time. Unless you counted his sister-in-law who was one tough woman, despite those blushes she occasionally gave when Nash said something particularly racy.

“Stop that,” she said without any real heat. “You said before you didn’t know of any family Leah might have in the area. But how about friends named Jonah Cutler or Randy Bane?”

Right to the point. He sighed and thought. “I really don’t think so. Randy sounds sort of familiar but not the last name and we’ve got a distributor here named Randy Johaness so I may be thinking about him. Why are you all dressed up?”

Her eyes widened a moment. “Is that like your totally random question for the day or does it have a purpose?”

“I’m not trying to start a fight.” Although if she was mad she wouldn’t be so appealing maybe. Or at least she probably wouldn’t want to get naked with him. Which was a good thing. Absolutely. “It’s just you look so different today than you did the other day when you were here. Just curious. You look lovely.”

“So is patronizing your fallback personality? Can’t a woman dress up? The other day I was in the field, it would have been silly to wear something like this then. But tonight I went out. It’s Las Vegas. I see women out there, including the one who was practically kissing your zipper, dressed in far less.”

“Patronizing? Because I complimented you? Is bitchy your fall back personality? And she wasn’t kissing my zipper.”

Nell stood. “Sure she wasn’t. I’m sure she was looking for her encyclopedia in your pants. Your cock must be taking a class or something. Oh! I know, she’s the cock whisperer, right?”

Be sure to visit today’s other Snippeters!
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens

I thought I’d put up a snippet from my second Federation Chronicles book, RELENTLESS for today’s theme of dark moment – Roman and Abbie are not meant for one another. They both know it, knew it going in and now they have to face it for real.

FEDERATION CHRONICLES: RELENTLESS by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

He reached up to cup her neck, her eyes locked with his and she tried not to cry. Tears wouldn’t make a bit of difference.

When she came it was deep, rolling muscle contractions that made her limbs warm and heavy. His lips opened and he exhaled softly as she felt his cock jerk inside her.

Roman kissed the top of her head as she rolled from atop him and to the side. All he ever wanted was right there in his arms.

“You’re going to need to keep an eye on Saul. I’ve got people on him now to try and protect you but I can’t stop all of it. I can’t stop the gossip and I can’t stop the speculation. I wish I could.”
She sniffed her tears away though her eyes shone with them and he wanted to howl his misery.

“I know. I’ll talk to Daniel tomorrow. Today I guess. My father…I’m afraid he’s going to try to use this. I’ll do what I can to rein him in. I’ll have Tasha keep all communication between her and Marcus or Deimos’ assistant. I know we can’t associate.”

She sat up and he looked at her, beautiful and tousled from sex. He swallowed hard. “Abbie, my Family is talking marriage negotiations. Things are so bad in inter-Family relations, infighting, lesser Families fighting to try and shove Walker and Pela out of the way to take over. A marriage would stabilize things a bit. I, I’m sorry and I want you to know I wish to gods it wasn’t happening but it will be. I love you. I want you and if the ‘Verse were different…”

A tear slid down her cheek, her bottom lip trembled and the cold, sweet splash of the tear fell on his belly. “But they aren’t. I knew you’d marry again. I’m not ready for it. I’m not ready to see you love anyone else. But I know it will happen.”

“Abbie,” he sat up and took her chin in his grasp, “I will never love anyone else. You mean everything to me. And if it was just me, I would walk away from it all. But it’s not. It’s my children and the entire Federated ‘Verses in such an unstable time. I’ve made mistakes and we’re already on the verge of war. There will never be anyone else in my heart. You own it. Always.”

She licked her lips, the tears flowing now. “Go. It’s very late. I know you have to go and people will be watching you. I love you. Just know that, all right? Do what you have to.”

He got up and pulled his clothes back on. “Stay here. I don’t…I can’t take it if you walk me to the door.”

His last look at the woman he loved, the way he’d loved her most, was at that last moment before he turned and left the room. Her soft sobbing echoed in his ears all the way home.

Be Sure to Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!
Lauren Dane
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels

Today’s theme is Friendship. I love to write frienship and family so it was a hard choice to find a snippet! I decided to toss up a quick sneaky peek at INSIDE OUT. INSIDE OUT is a friends to lovers book, one of my favorites to write. So Ella is not only friends with Elise, but with Cope as well…

INSIDE OUT by LAUREN DANE
copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Berkley Publishing Group
Releasing November 2

Damn. He caught her staring. Ella knew she blushed furiously, but the slow, sexy smile he sent her took the edge off her embarrassment, warming it into pleasure. She was emotional enough after Rennie’s speech, and she’d not-so-casually looked for him, only to find him with Raven and her friend again.

She watched, her insides warming up as he shook his head to whatever
they offered and looked to her, at first with surprise and then, when he’d caught her looking, sly pleasure.

“I say this because I love you. You need to bang that drum, Ella. Bang it like there’s no tomorrow,” Elise whispered into her ear.

“So romantic,” she murmured back, trying not to laugh.

“Don’t judge, El. Don’t judge. I’m gonna play rock band on my soon-to-
be-husband’s body all night long.”

At this, she lost her battle and giggled, right as Cope reached her, taking her hand.

“What’s this all about?” He kissed her knuckles again, casually but sparking heat.

“Elise is giving me her secret recipe for biscuits.” She smiled widely, and he raised his brows at her.

“Must be some kind of biscuits then by the look on your face.”

“Biscuits are serious business, Andrew. They’re irresistible, and you can never only have one.”

He drew her away from the crowd, back toward the house where it was quieter. “I really must try these biscuits. You’re clearly eating different ones than me, and while I’ve enjoyed them, I’m apparently missing out on something.”

Oh, how she wanted to be bold and say something suggestive just then. She didn’t really know how. It wasn’t that she was ashamed or anything, but she didn’t have much experience with this stuff.

Be sure to visit today’s other snippeters!

Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Emma Petersen
HelenKay Dimon
Shelley Munro
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Eliza Gayle
Lauren Dane

Today’s theme is music and as I’ve said more than a few times, I love music. It’s a huge part of my creative process and my every day life. My contemporary series with Berkley Heat (some call it the Brown Family series) is very much inspired by music. This series is heavily influenced by chunky rock like Kings of Leon (I always think of them as Brody’s favorite band), Foo Fighters and Them Crooked Vultures, along with the singer songwriter vibe of Ani Difranco (who is always Erin in my head) and Patty Griffin (who is Ella to me, her voice, the sadness in her voice, the strength).

So in November’s INSIDE OUT – Ella and Cope start to send each other letters and packages back and forth. In the book, Ella makes her own special Cope Playlist and sends it to him in her own version of a mixtape. When I wrote Ella, especially her POV when she thought about Cope, these are the songs that kept coming back to me.

To give you a taste of a few:

Patty Griffin’s When It Don’t Come Easy – this song is wholly Ella to me. Her strength and her commitment to those she loves

Stone Temple Pilots – Still Remains (a personal favorite)

Ani Difranco – Little Plastic Castle

Kate Nash – Birds

Robin Thicke – Lost Without U

Kings of Leon – Manhattan

Be sure to Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!

Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Emma Petersen
Shelley Munro
Eliza Gayle
Ashley Ladd
Lauren Dane

How about a sneak peek of this November’s INSIDE OUT?

INSIDE OUT by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group
Releasing November 2

“I’m gonna dance,” she said, waving to one of the other women in their group who was motioning at the dance floor.

As it happened, one of her favorite dance songs came on, Whitney Houston’s, It’s Not Right. Smiling, she headed out, people all around her, the music throbbing, the crowd bobbing. There was no fear, only the joy of moving and enjoying the music.

A man sidled up behind her and she moved away, hating that aspect of going out dancing. But he followed, so she spun and found herself facing the aforementioned game-haver, Andrew Copeland.
Well, all right then, that was a totally different thing than some stranger trying to rub his dick all over her in the dark. Her heart jumped and did a cheer with the rest of her body, all for him. Damn he was ridiculously hot.

She smiled and he gave her one in return, easing back into the space he’d ceded when she thought he was just some dude trying to cop a feel in the dark.

Women seemed to be drawn to him like he was a magnet. They crowded in, trying to get his attention, but he never took his gaze from her, as if no one else in the world existed for him. If he’d acted any other way, she’d have been uncomfortable on a different level. But those other women didn’t matter to him at all and that made her feel ten feet tall.

Even hotter, he knew how to dance. He didn’t crowd her, but lured her instead until she found herself very close. His gaze was locked on hers, drawing her in. She couldn’t deal with how exposed she felt so she spun again, facing away and breathing deep.

Until he was right against her, his body like a magnet as she arched her back to get closer.

Two martinis would be her alibi the next day when she realized what she’d done. Right then, though? Well, she closed her eyes and let the music pulse through her, let go of her fear and just danced.

With him, against him, their bodies sliding against each other. His palm slid around her waist, cupping her hip bone a moment before moving around to her belly. The shirt hem had risen and the heat of his bare skin burned against her stomach.

Every part of her was electrified as pleasure like she’d never felt rushed through her veins. The freedom of the moment, the lack of fear, the delicious sexual tension, the chemistry of music, vibration and movement putting her under their spell.

And she went willingly for the first time in years.

His forearm pressed against her belly and side, so hard and muscled. Whitney’s voice rose into the last chorus and Ella turned, laughing as it ended.

He leaned in quick and kissed her before stepping back and leading her to the table where the men had joined them. It was just a peck, she told herself, but she didn’t stop smiling because she was happy either way.

Be Sure to Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!

Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Emma Petersen
HelenKay Dimon
Shelley Munro
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Lauren Dane

Today’s theme is apologies. Apology scenes are a lot of fun to write – so much emotion, especially if a big, bad, pushy alpha male makes one. I’ve written tearful, on his knees apologies, I’ve written sarcastic apologies, angry apologies, happy ones too. They’re rich with emotional content no matter how they’re done.

Today’s excerpt from INSATIABLE is from the beginning of the book when Daniel has first extracted Carina. They’re making their way toward the Portal to escape and she’s realizing he is nothing like the man he’d faked being only hours before. He gives an apology here, but he only halfway means it. Don’t worry, Carina can handle him.

PHANTOM CORPS: INSATIABLE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group
Releasing July 6!

Gaze glued to his body, her hands fumbled, but she managed to change into the simple gown he’d provided. It fit fine, and the fabric had been softened by age. Her skin had darkened, and from what she could see, her hair was now the same shade as her eyes. No one would expect to see her in the first place, but now she felt even better about their ability to remain undetected.

His muscles flexed and bunched as he moved. As he slid weapon after weapon onto his body. He was so taut and dangerous. Beautifully lethal and it stole her ability to think. His clothes fit his body well and even though she’d watched him strapping on all that gear, she couldn’t tell by looking at him.

“I never thought to carry a weapon there,” she said, and then he looked up. Their gazes locked, and she felt it all the way to her toes. This was how she wanted to look at a man. There was something there between them. It wasn’t the same sort of depth of want she’d witnessed in the loft, but it was not the calculating greed she’d seen on Hartley’s face either.

It had been less than a day, not even half a day since he’d been some fop bowing and scraping to her father. It seemed as if weeks had passed, as if worlds had slid between her and the woman she’d been before the first moonrise. Instead of Mortimer, or even the man who’d introduced himself as Daniel in her bedchamber, he was some-thing else again. Capable. Aggressive. Hard. This Daniel was posing as a boot maker, he’d told her. Ha!

She’d had boots made for her over her lifetime, and none of the men who’d crafted them ever looked like Daniel. She might have worn boots more if they had.

“Ready?” Daniel, broke his gaze away from her face as he looked her up and down. He made a sound and stepped into her space, fussing with her hair. She tried to pull back, but he held on, yanking just a bit harder than he needed to, and she slapped at his hands.

“I don’t appreciate being manhandled.”

“Too bad. Look, you’re sheltered obviously, but common people don’t have that sort of hair, not the way you have it styled. What woman who had to work all day long would have the time to do something so ornate?” He took down the updo she’d created and began to braid it in the back.

It felt . . . intimate to have his hands in her hair that way. Even as she wanted to be angry at him for handling her as if she were a doll or a thing, he was gentle once she held still. She didn’t get touched very often. Other than her mother and YaYa, no one hugged her tight or touched her with absent affection.

She slammed the door on that. If she went that way, she’d only end up more upset.

“There.” He stood back, and she patted his work, finding it more than satisfactory.

“Do you braid your wife’s hair?” Well, that was very obvious. She fought a blush and thanked the low light of the room.

He took a few more steps away and the distance yawned between them and then she felt like a fool, wondering if he’d misinterpreted what she’d said. Or interpreted it correctly.

“No. My sister has very long hair though, like yours only dark as obsidian.” He shouldered his gear and motioned to hers. “Grab your pack. I can’t carry it for you.”

“I don’t expect you to!” That bag held what little she could safely take with her. She’d hold it and keep it safe herself.

He rolled his eyes. “Stop being so offended all the time. You’re a workingwoman; you’d be expected to carry your personal pack. If it were heavy, I’d take it for you. But you have to remember your role here.”

It was right at that very moment when she promised herself that she would never again live a lie or use masks with people unless it was absolutely necessary. She had a big job ahead of her, and she’d be alone. She owed it to herself to be a real person, the Carina Fardelle she was when she was alone in the passageways.

“In the first place, do you have another complaint to make? I’m bored with this one now.” She glared. “I’m not offended! You keep going out of your way to think I’m someone I’m not. It’s vexing. It’s like you want me to be offended. If I mess up, then do correct me, but you have no right to prejudge me. You don’t know me enough to think me spoiled and lazy.”

“Deal with it.” He turned and fussed with something in his pack, so she was content to make a face at his back.

She tested the weight of her bag; it wasn’t too bad. Offended! The only thing she was offended by was his assumption that she was offended in the first place. She hated that he thought she was a spoiled princess. Yes, she had grown up with things many others didn’t have, but she wasn’t so sheltered she didn’t know how to carry her own bags.

“Carina.” He kept his back to her.

“Yes?” she asked with mocking sweetness. He may have snorted; she wasn’t sure.

“You’re right. I apologize.”

Ugh! He was so infuriatingly unexpected. Before she could reply, Andrei came back into the room, and the moment had ended.

This time he faced her. “We’re going now. Follow my lead and remember, you’re not Carina, you’re Rina, and you’re my sister. I’m hoping they don’t find you missing for a while yet. At least until after we get checked in. But if they do, if we encounter anything dangerous, you have to trust me and follow my lead. Have your papers within easy reach; you’ll need to show them multiple times.”

She clenched her fists so her nails dug into her palms, just needing that sharp edge of pain to keep it together. Carina needed to remember that it was still some time until she’d be expected. There was no reason to go searching for trouble. They had enough already.

“Fine. I’m not stupid, you know. I’m educated and capable. And”—she arched a brow at him, reminding him she was more than some half-witted twit who couldn’t find her way from a wet bag— “I’ve been to other ’Verses many times throughout my life. I’ve been on transports before. I’m also a qualified pilot.”

He stopped so close to her she felt the heat from his skin. So close she could scent him. That male whatever he seemed to exude—and it made her heart beat faster, her breath catch and all sorts of wonderful things happened to her nipples and her clit. She might have been embarrassed by that even just days before, but right then, she reveled in it.

He leaned his head down, just inches from touching her. She could almost feel his lips against her temple. How could his nearness make her so befuddled? It was as if the closer she stood to him, the more fluff-headed she felt.

“I don’t believe you’re stupid. I do believe I know more about this sort of thing than you do. In fact, let’s get this clear right now. You will give me your complete obedience in all things. Once this is over and you’re safely on the other side, you can do whatever you want. But until then, our lives are on the line, and all my concentration will be necessary to get us out of here. If you can’t do that, tell me now.”

She had a few things to tell him all right. “You’re such an ass.”

He grinned, and it infuriated her. Both that he was so arrogant and pushy and that her body seemed to find those things attractive.

“I’ve been told this a time or two. I may not have the best manners of any man you’ll meet. Then again, I’m not a torturer either. In any case, I’m the best hope you have of escaping, so let’s just get to the point where you agree, and we can get going.”

With a barely restrained growl, she clamped her lips and nodded. “Fine.”

“Then let’s move.”

And they went from the quiet little room out into the city again, surrounded by noise and people. Andrei touched his forehead with a slight bow and then turned to Daniel.

“Travel safe, friend.”

Before she could say another word, Andrei had melted into the crowd and she lost sight of him. She swallowed hard at the unex- pected swell of emotion at the loss of someone she’d only known for a short time.

Daniel squeezed her hand a moment and tipped his chin toward the departure decks, and she took the big, scary step into her future.

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Ashley Ladd

This is another hard one for me. I love secondary characters and my books often center on family and/or friend groupings so I get to write them often. Some of my personal favorites: Polly Chase – she’s the heart of every single Chase book. Her children are a reflection of her character, they’re connected to her and to each other by the things they adore – and the things that drive everyone else crazy too. I love her no-nonsense way of dealing with upset and drama. She’s the one character I always find easy to write. She’s bold and decisive. I love that about her.

I love writing scenes with Nina Warden from my Cascadia Wolves series. She, like Polly, totally pushes into a book or a scene. When I write her, she’s so totally three dimensional and vivid to me. She makes me laugh when I write her. She’s also bold and decisive, protective of her people, loyal. Her scenes with Lex are an all time favorite to write.

Of my male secondary characters, I really love writing Marcus, who is Roman’s assistant in my Federation Chronicles. He’s got a great sense of humor and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s a connected, loving father and I loved writing the way he fell in love with Abbie’s sister, Nyna.

I decided to go with Polly

CHASE BROTHERS: TAKING CHASE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2007, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

Polly Chase parked her car on Main and got out for the short walk to Paperbacks and More. “Damn kids. I tell you, if you want something done…” she mumbled as she patted her hair into place and absentmindedly waved at someone who’d called out a hello.

She walked into the store and zeroed in on Cassie. Her heart ached for the girl her son loved so much. Men!

“Hello, Polly.” Cassie smiled wanly.

Polly pulled Cassie into a hug and held her upper arms as she gave her a long up and down. “Honey, you look like hell. When you gonna forgive Shane so you can both get some sleep?”

“Polly, I appreciate you checking in on me, I really do. But this thing between your son and I is not only private but complicated.”

“Oh that’s a pretty way to tell an old woman to mind her business. I like you, honey.” Polly chuckled as she sat in the chair behind the counter. “But I’m a nosy old woman, it’s a perk of getting old. You can be annoying and people just call you eccentric.” Polly laughed at that. “Anyway, I know Shane messed up. I know what he did and how he reacted must have made you wonder if he’d be like your wretched sonabitch ex. But you and I both know after a day or two, that’s not the case. My son is a good man and that bitch gave him, how do you kids say, issues or baggage. I’m not excusing his actions, you best believe I tore a strip off him a mile wide and his father has too. But no one is punishing him harder than he is himself.”

Polly leaned in, peering intently at Cassie. “You’ve made mistakes before in your life. I know part of that is what makes you hesitate now. But also, can’t you see your way to giving my boy another chance? Let’s face it, you two are going to fight. A lot. There’s enough chemistry between the two of you to make an old woman sweat.”

Cassie blushed crimson and looked at the paperback in her hands to keep from looking at Polly.

“You two have chemistry and heat but you’re both stubborn, headstrong people. Lord knows this won’t be your last fight. But you can fight with your man and know it’s going to be all right the next day. Edward is the kind of man that butter wouldn’t melt. I like that. It suits me. But Shane isn’t that man. He’s got my disposition. We’re a tad hot headed. We love fierce. Shane loves you and I know you love him.”

Polly hopped down from the chair, grabbing the bag she’d put near the register stand. “Two things. This has a cherry and a peach cobbler. Eat them both, you look pale. The second thing is I already think of you as my daughter-in-law so I love you too. Please give Shane another chance, for both your sakes. Oh, okay a third thing. You call Matty or Marc or me and Edward if you feel spooked, all right? We worry.”

With that she thrust the bag at Cassie, hugged her again and click- clacked out of the store.

From there she headed over to the police station.

“Shane Edward Chase! You hold up right there, boy.” Polly thundered as she stormed down the hall toward where he stood with the county prosecutor.

“Mrs. Chase, ma’am.” The prosecutor, a boy she babysat many a time, bowed and got the hell out of there.

“Coward,” Shane muttered and then waved his mother into his office. “Have a seat, let me get some soda because I can see from the look of you this will be a long lecture.”

With narrowed eyes, Polly sat as she glared at her eldest’s impertinence. “You look here, boy, I brought you into this world, I will not hesitate to take your dumb ass right out of it.”

Shane laughed as he handed her a soda. “Of course, Momma, I’m sorry. I imagine this is about Cassie and I know, it’s my fault and I’m trying to get her to talk to me. I told you that yesterday and the day before and before that too.”

“I just went to see her, girl looks like she hasn’t slept in a week. She’s on the fence about you. But she loves you. She must ‘cause I didn’t let her get a word in edgewise.” Pleased with herself, Polly chuckled again. “I made a good case for you, I hope. You know you and her are gonna butt heads a lot, right? Makes it more interesting in the bedroom I imagine.”

Shane winced and got a sour look. “I don’t want to have that line of conversation with you, Momma.”

Polly waved him away. “Pshaw. Boy, you’ll have any line of conversation with me I tell you to. Your daddy and I have four children, you think we don’t have some chemistry ourselves? Now listen here, you’ve got to let her know that you love her and won’t hurt her, even though you’ll be fighting with her regular-like. And don’t deny it, you two are just that way. But Maggie and I made her some cobbler and you know how your sweetie loves cobbler. Sweeten her up a bit hopefully.”

Standing she raised the soda. “Thank you, Shane. You’ve turned out to be quite a decent man. I’m pretty proud of myself for not tossing your butt in the lake all the times I wanted to when you were a kid.”

Shane grinned and kissed her cheek. “You’re the best, Momma.”

“Yeah, yeah. Boy, you better work on this girl harder because if she’s not at dinner on Sunday you’re eating a tuna sandwich.”

With a last wave, she headed out while he chuckled.

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Ashley Ladd

I love office sex scenes! So, as it happens I’ve got several so I had to pick one randomly. I’m going with a scene from Brody’s tattoo shop from COMING UNDONE

COMING UNDONE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

“This is my office.” He flipped on the light and showed her the small space where he slept many a night. Luckily now he just did his weekly scheduling and the books in there.

She walked ahead of him. “Look at you guys!” She homed in on a picture of Adrian and Erin when they’d signed their first record contract. Brody stood between them, grinning like a fool. He loved that picture. How much youthful hope they’d all displayed then.

“Seems like only yesterday.” He shut and locked the door. “On the desk, legs wide. I need to fuck you right now.”

“I knew I should have worn a skirt,” she said, toeing her shoes off and stripping from her jeans and panties quickly. Damn, how disarming was it that she’d just moved to obey like that? That she wanted him as much as he wanted her? “But I’m not wearing a bra.”

As if he wasn’t already hard enough.

One-handed, he reached for her, his hand palming the back of her neck to hold her the way he wanted, the way he needed to, to taste her lips. The other hand unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, freeing his cock.

“Are you wet, baby?” He kissed her pretty nipples after shoving the sweater up.

“Yes. Please, inside me, please.”

He drew his knuckles through her cunt, so wet and hot he had to close his eyes to get control. Control that slipped from him like sand every time she got near. “Christ, you’re on fire.”

“Since you called me earlier. I . . .” She grabbed his cock and guided it to her gate, letting that finish her sentence.

One movement of his hips and he slipped into her body as he exhaled. So good. Her body around his was so good. They’d taken the appropriate steps and he never wanted to fuck her with a condom again.

He braced his hands next to her on the desktop and she braced her feet on the chair arms as he began to fuck her in earnest. The sounds on the other side of the door floated away; the scent of his shop, so familiar after so long, floated away. All he heard was flesh slapping flesh, sighs and gasps, all he smelled was the sweetness of her shampoo and the tang of her arousal.

She arched her back, wanting more, wanting him deeper. She was having sex at his job. On his desk while anyone could hear.

“What’s that smile for?” He nipped her neck.

“What’s not to smile about? I’m here with you, you’re doing that thing you do when you hit that spot inside me and everything feels electric. Of course I’m smiling.”

“You deserve to come for that compliment.” “I totally agree.” He laughed. “Lean back a bit.” She did and realized how clean the top of his desk was. “Did you clear off your desk or is it always this way?”

His fingertips squeezed her clit and her whole system came toattention. “Busted. I cleared it off after I spoke to you. I’ve imagined this since the first time we were together. No, since before that. I’m going to like doing my books when I can have this memory in my head. We’ll probably need to do it a lot so I can keep the memory fresh. It’s for my business after all.”

Surprised laughter danced from her lips. “I’m so easy you knew you’d have me on my back with my legs open ten minutes after I walked through the door? Oh crap, that’s nice.” She moved to get more friction against his hand, his cock filling her.

Above her, he loomed, impressively male. Big and ferocious as he took what he wanted and gave it to her too.

He knew just what she liked and orgasm was lightning-quick and hard as it flashed through her. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out.

“Should have made you wait, that felt so good around me.” He licked his fingers and she moaned quietly, licking her lips in antici- pation before he swooped down to kiss her. Her taste lay on his mouth, mixed with his as he kissed her as hard as he fucked her.

She drowned in him, but she no longer tried to swim against it. She let herself go, trusting him to keep her anchored.

“So good. So hot and wet and made for me,” he panted as his thrusts increased in speed and intensity.

She was helpless against it when he said stuff like that. It wasn’t something that could go in a greeting card, but it was so sexy and raw it always struck deep.

He groaned as his muscles froze under her hands. His cock moved within her, filling her as he came.

And then his lips were on hers and it was . . . different than it had been. So intense and tender she felt it in her toes, and in her heart. She tumbled like a rock in a fast-moving river, disoriented, owned by the intensity of the current, of the moment when he rushed into her heart and soul.

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