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Nov
30 2010 | ||
To Do List was my very first holiday themed novella and it’s set in Davis, CA with the Bettencourt and Taylor families – it’s a small town romance (a personal favorite) set in the farming side of Davis (which also boasts a very fine UC campus) AND also a friends to lovers/older brother’s best friend story. It’s also the first novella that I went into a print combo with Jaci Burton with. Which I think is pretty cool too as I’m three for three (also with Angela James editing!)
TO DO LIST by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2007, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing
Belle shivered as Rafe’s mouth touched her neck. A sense of total and utter unreality stole over her. Here she stood, in the dark, wrapped around the guy she’d had a major crush on since she’d been twelve years old. Hell, that very morning, she never even imagined he’d thought of her this way.
“You taste good, Belle. Delicious and sweet with just a little spice.” The low vibration of his voice echoed up her spine. The warmth of his hands at her hips, just barely touching the bare skin peeking below the hem of her sweater and above the waist of her trousers sent waves of pleasure through her.
Even as she searched for words, his tongue made its way, slow and sinuous, up her neck and to her ear. His breath stirred tendrils of hair that’d escaped the barrette holding it back from her face.
“I think I’m going to need to kiss you, now. I’ve been wondering all night long if that lip gloss is flavored. Are you old school like that?”
Holy sweet baby Jesus on a skateboard. How on earth was she supposed to answer him when he said stuff like that? When he pressed against her, his body work-hard and strong. His cock a solid, hot weight against her belly.
“Watermelon,” she managed to gasp. “Well now, I definitely need a taste of that.” He angled his head and his mouth moved to hers, his clear, sleepy brown eyes seeing right straight through her.
And when he kissed her, her entire body went boneless as she held on, her fingers digging into the material of his coat. His mouth was softer than she’d imagined, hot, wet, he tasted of coffee, salt and something else she couldn’t identify but wouldn’t ever forget. His kiss was slow and heady. He took his time like a man who knew what he was about. Like a man who knew she wasn’t going to bolt. He explored her mouth, his teeth catching her bottom lip, his hands firming their hold, settling beneath the sweater, fingers played against the sensitive, bare skin of her hips. His thumbs slid slowly back and forth, back and forth in the hollow of her hip bones.
Her nipples throbbed in time with the slide of his thumbs, shooting straight to her clit.
“Belle? Rafe? You guys there?” Brian called from the other room and Rafe stood back, breaking the kiss. At least his chest heaved and he appeared to be as affected by the kiss as she had been.
Cripes, she wasn’t sure when the last time a kiss had nearly made her come, or even if a kiss had ever so aroused her.
“Yeah. I’m just helping Belle bring her suitcases in,” Rafe answered Belle’s oldest brother without moving. He grinned at her slowly and dragged his gaze up above her head. She followed and noted the mistletoe.
“Oh!” She blushed, mortified. Here she’d thought he was on fire for her and it was just the damned mistletoe? “Duh.”
He reached and took her chin in his fingers, shaking his head. “No, Belle. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a very long time, the mistletoe just gave me an excuse. But now that I’ve felt your nipples as you kissed me, now that I know your taste? I’m going to kiss you as often as I can.”
“Oh,” she sighed again. Yeah, it was totally obvious she was a powerful attorney who made her living with her ability to speak coherently.
He chuckled and grabbed her suitcases. “I’m going to put these in the guest room and then we can get on over to your parents’ for dinner.”
Belle heaved a sigh as she leaned against the wall to keep from melting into a puddle of goo. Raphael Bettencourt had just laid the hottest kiss of her entire life on her. Rafe. The object of many a fantasy and he’d…his mouth…it was…oh wow!
Today’s prize is a digital copy of Sweet Charity, the novella that follows To Do List! I’ll choose a winner at random from the answers to this question: What are you reading? No, not the computer screen, but what book are you reading right now?
Winner posted tomorrow morning! Winners have SEVEN days to claim their prize and are responsible for checking back to see if they’ve won anything.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:59 am · Link
I am reading the Blades of the Rose series by Zoe Archer. I just finished Warrior and now I have just started Scoundrel.
I also read last week “Believe” by various authors to get me in the Christmas romance spirit.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:00 am · Link
I just got done with Inside Out. trying to decide whats next 😉
November 30th, 2010 at 8:06 am · Link
Because of you by Rochelle Alers. Thanks!
November 30th, 2010 at 8:15 am · Link
Mm… I haven’t been reading as much lately but the book I started is:”Prince Charming doesn’t live here” by Christine Warren
November 30th, 2010 at 8:35 am · Link
At this moment I’m not reading any books, unless you count my textbooks and I love how this is set in Davis, where I’m now presently studying for finals at UCD! whooo!!!
November 30th, 2010 at 8:37 am · Link
Just finished Hellion in her bed by Sabrina Jeffries.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:28 am · Link
Not reading anything at the moment – anxiously waiting on Believe and Beth Kery’s Explosive next week
November 30th, 2010 at 9:30 am · Link
I’m reading The Mark of the Vampire Queen by Joey W Hill.
“Holy sweet baby Jesus on a skateboard” Love it!! You have such a way with words Lauren 😉
November 30th, 2010 at 9:34 am · Link
Right now I am reading Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. 😀
November 30th, 2010 at 9:36 am · Link
I’m reading THE SERGEANT’S LADY by Susanna Fraser and absolutely loving it!
Don’t enter me for the contest. I’ve already got a copy of SWEET CHARITY.
😀
November 30th, 2010 at 9:37 am · Link
I am reading In Bed With the Devil by Lorraine Heath.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:50 am · Link
I am reading Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dance with the devil. She is new to me and although I am not the biggest fan of Paranormal, this one is pretty good.
Loved your exerpt…thanks for the contest.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:38 pm · Link
I am reading an old series from Lisa Kleypas. The wallflowers Series I am half-way through it happened One Autumn. I also have waiting at home Nadia Aidan’s Twelve Wicked Nights.
November 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm · Link
Hey Lauren.
I’m just about done with Taking Chase, Book 2 in the Chase Brothers series. Then I’ll be reading Chased.
November 30th, 2010 at 1:55 pm · Link
An Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal
November 30th, 2010 at 2:05 pm · Link
I am reading Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan.
November 30th, 2010 at 3:08 pm · Link
I’m reading Jeanne Adams’ “Deadly Little Secrets.”
November 30th, 2010 at 3:39 pm · Link
I just started Jinxed by Inex Kelley. It’s great so far. 🙂
Kelly
kittykelly28 @ hotmail.com
November 30th, 2010 at 5:12 pm · Link
I’m re-reading J D Robb’s Promises in Death and waiting for Elle Jasper’s Afterlight to be delivered.
November 30th, 2010 at 5:22 pm · Link
Wicked Wonderland a holiday anthology by LuAnn McLane, Susanna Carr, and Janice Maynard.
November 30th, 2010 at 5:37 pm · Link
I am reading about Brody right now! What a handsome and caring hottie . . .
November 30th, 2010 at 5:45 pm · Link
I’m reading Beth Kery’s Explosive.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:05 pm · Link
Right now, I’m reading Infinity by Maggie Shayne. I love her Immortal High Witch series. I’ve recently been delving into more of the erotic romance and I can’t wait to get my copy of Naughty&Nice!
November 30th, 2010 at 7:50 pm · Link
I just started My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel. So far, so good.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:54 pm · Link
I’m currently reading On A Snowy Night by Debbie Macomber.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:30 pm · Link
Hello,
I just started Thieves Like Us By Starr Ambrose.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:07 pm · Link
I just ordered The Magical Christmas Cat anthology, and I’m in the middle of Nalini Singh’s wonderful novella.
December 1st, 2010 at 1:51 am · Link
Unfortunately the only books I’ve been reading lately are the textbooks for the classes I’m teaching (math & engineering related). I’m looking forward to the winter break to catch up on some reading for pleasure!
December 1st, 2010 at 2:10 am · Link
Vampire Empire The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:17 am · Link
Breaking Leather by Delilah Devlin
December 1st, 2010 at 7:24 am · Link
Right now, I am reading Sunday’s at Tiffany’s by James Patterson.
December 1st, 2010 at 12:33 pm · Link
Right now?
Well on e reader it’s Cryoburn by Lois Bukold McMaster and in print it’s Sentinels: Lion Heart by Doranna Durgin. 🙂
December 2nd, 2010 at 12:54 pm · Link
The new Apolo Ohno book Zero Regrets and I just finished the Jane Porter book One Christmas Night in Venice.
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm · Link
I am reading Deadly Intent by Kylie Brant
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:22 pm · Link
I’m reading An Improper Holiday by K A Mitchell.