Once again, it’s time for my husband to pontificate about whatever is on his mind. There’s never any telling what’s going to come out of his mouth. Could be anything from his favorite Andy Griffith episode to the best sniper position at 400 yards. Buckle your seatbelt and hang on…!

Now, I know the centerfold is supposed to be in the MIDDLE of the month, but RAH (Romance Author Husband) gets busy with his MANY RAH-related duties, along with normal life. Read below for the perils of SuperRAH’s latest adventure.

Hello all! Greetings from RAH (Romance Author Husband). This month, I was SuperRAH, saving the day in yet another fantasitc and dangerous adventure. As you’ve no doubt gleaned from my previous posts, the assignments I receive from Shelley can be perilous and/or somewhat sinful. This month was no exception. It was late Monday evening and Shelley was busy printing pages for her latest manuscript due and then…the unthinkable happened. LOW TONER…LOW TONER…LOW TONER…LOW TONER.

I quickly sprang into action and jumped at the opportunity to leave Monday Night Football , get dressed and race to the store. Thankfully, I had cash, encountered a minimal line and was back watching my game in no time. I even got to leave the SuperRAH tights and cape at home. Whew! Now, I eagerly await my next exciting adventure. It will, I’m sure, come sooner than (wanted or) expected. Life with Shelley is many things…but rarely dull!

Love,
RAH

Isn’t he special? Yeah… Personally, I voted for the tights and cape, but I was overruled. Somehow, he didn’t think they’d go over well at Office Depot. Go figure!

Anyway, no voting for this week’s Feature Friday. I’ve got a surprise I hope you enjoy! More on Friday…

Another week down. Whew! Can’t say I accomplished as much as I wanted, but I did manage to do a few things, both writing and leisure-related. Here’s a quick recap into the (not) exciting life of a hectic romance writer.

Sunday – My Mother-In-Law was still visiting, so we decided to hit the mall. It was our only shopping day together (since my in-laws flew out on Black Friday), and she wanted to shop for my munchkin before returning home. And we had a very pleasant day at the mall. Gymboree was having a sale. I partook. As usual. I swear, I’m addicted, much to RAH’s irritation. I worked a bit more on a new writing project until dinnertime. The Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives provided the evening’s entertainment. Oh, and the Dallas Cowboys. They beat the formerly undefeated Colts. Someone pinch me!

Monday and Tuesday – I’ll lump these together because they were a blur of activity. Getting ready to host Thanksgiving, finishing up odds and ends I’d been putting off, etc. Of course, life stopped for Heroes on Monday night. Damn, that show is awesome. I’m not sure I understand “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” any better yet, but it’s catchy, nonetheless. Tuesday seemed weird without Dancing with the Stars, but I managed to find other things of occupy my time. Like obsess over the fact NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET came out in print. Yipee! Except…I still haven’t seen a copy yet.

Wednesday – Shopping and more shopping. The bakery, the grocery store, the wine shop. Oh, and baking. Yummy chocolate chip/caramel cookies. I’m assured by friends and family they were the bomb. Again, I took a few opportunities to work a bit on my new secret project *shh!* But it’s not done. Not even close. Japanese food for dinner really capped off the night. How come when I grill shrimp at home, it never tastes like it’s just come off the hibachi?

Thursday – We had a lovely holiday with the in-laws and some close friends. We wound up with 10 total at the table–and even with that many I had a TON of dessert leftover! Guess we overplanned on the sugar… But we finished dinner in time to watch the Cowboys steamroll over the Tampa Bay Buccs. Woohoo! Football aside, I feel as if I have so much to be thankful for: My loving family (even if I don’t spend as much quality time with them as I’d like), my good friends, those of you who swing by here and support me… I didn’t have a lot of moments on that day to think about all my good fortune, but as the night crept in and we all headed for bed, I took the time to close my eyes and count my blessings. I have so many.

Friday – Usually I brave the malls and go in search of THE BARGAIN. Not today. Instead, I slept in. For someone who suffers regularly from insomnia, the extra sleep is a big blessing! I took it. I knew when I woke up and the sun was completely up, that I’d slept later than I had in years. I worked a bit on my project, then dressed to have breakfast with the family and in-laws at a local diner. It’s a dive, but everyone loves it. Then we had the teary send-off for my in-laws at the airport. The rest of the day we just hung around. Didn’t go anywhere, didn’t do anything. It was lovely.

Saturday – College football! Yes, I should be writing, or hanging my Christmas decorations or addressing my cards…or any number of productive things. But after Texas lost to A&M unexpectedly, that puts my dad’s team, the Sooners, in the driver’s seat in the Big 12 South. All they had to do is win 1 more game. Thankfully, they did. As an added bonus, my hubby’s alma mater, University of South Florida, knocked off West Virginia. An unranked team being #7? He was thrilled. Didn’t know I was so into football, did you? We capped off the night by having Italian food with friends, then heading to their place for more football. We didn’t stay long when it became clear that USC was going to clobber Notre Dame and our host was going to cry.

That was my week. Not much happening now, but this time of the year is typically slow in terms of publishing. More soon, I hope.

Tune in again next week to get the scoop on exciting events that could have you saying, “You’re still doing that at your age??” or hear me say, “It’s going to be how cold on Thursday?”

It’s unanimous! Everyone voted for WICKED TIES.

Hmm, I’m guessing that means a few folks are looking forward to the book and doing the countdown with me. About 5 weeks to go before you can read the book about which Romantic Times said:

“This aptly titled, excellent story has wonderful characters whose growth you can watch throughout the book. The story is also filled with many surprises. It’s fast paced, and you won’t want to put it down. But have a fan handy – you’ll need it for this steamy read.”

Had to get that in. I’m just so dang happy about that review.

On with business… Here’s a new little snippet for you. Enjoy!

WICKED TIES
by Shayla Black
copyright 2006 (Shelley Bradley)
This excerpt contains adult material. If you are not 18 or older, please navigate elsewhere.

“But if you were mine, what’s under that skirt would be mine, not yours, to show or conceal as I saw fit.”

His words burned her with shock—and terrible, unmistakable desire. She gasped.

“Shocked, cher? That’s what submission is all about. Surrendering control utterly to someone else. Your privacy, your body, your pleasure.”

He said nothing for long minutes, and Morgan lost herself in imagining. Would a dominant man really insist his partner show any—or all—of her body to anyone of his choosing? Anywhere? At any time? She squirmed in her seat at the thought. It was disturbing and exploitative. But some little part of her found his words reluctantly provocative. Forbidden. God, she’d gone insane.

But curiosity followed close behind. That, she allowed free rein. She was interviewing him about this very subject, after all. Journalistic integrity and all that.

“What you’re saying…it sounds selfish and mean-spirited, to expose someone without regard for their feelings.”

“It might look that way on the surface.”

“What do you mean, on the surface?”

“Like I told you online, one of the jobs of a good dominant is to see inside the soul of his submissive and grant her every pleasure she desires. Many submissives aren’t aware of their most secret desires.” He turned to face her, his chocolate eyes piercing, direct. “Or find them shameful, so they refuse to admit to them.”

He was talking to her. About her. With a hot glance, he made that clear. Her breathing shallowed, her heart beat accelerated. She couldn’t ignore the fact that her stomach—and her nipples—went achy and tight.

“And you force a woman to engage in acts you believe she secretly desires, even though she may not want to acknowledge them.”

“She has to accept them to find true satisfaction. My role is to help her.”

“What’s in it for you? I mean, if you’re always trying to read her mind and persuade her to do new, unusual things…?”

“New things that make her so hot, she’s giving me total control and is begging me to fuck her however and wherever I want. I’m sure you see the obvious benefits.”

Yeah, hard to miss that point. Was it possible to be so aroused that she would beg in such a way? A mental picture of Jack tying her down, feeling her up, as she writhed under his hand exploded across her brain. A blast of heat sizzled her belly…and lower. God knew his aggressive touch earlier today had flooded her with arousal so fast, she’d nearly been dizzy with it. And his kiss had obliterated most thoughts of fear and hesitation, the crowd, and her stalker.

She didn’t doubt he could make a woman beg for anything, everything. If she wasn’t careful, didn’t keep her distance, she could quickly become another notch on his bedpost. Worse, he could open her psyche and expose all the hidden fantasies better left to the dark corners of her mind.

Time for a change of subject. “Thank you for getting me out of Lafayette. I would have panicked and run when the bullets started flying. On my own, I would never have been able to concoct this disguise and…distract him.”

“That’s my job, Morgan.”

“You didn’t have to do it.” Then, recalling the way his hands roamed her body in Alyssa’s bedroom, she shot him a suspicious look. “In fact, I think you did more than your job required.”

“Think what you want.” Jack’s smile told Morgan that her assertion amused him.

“I usually do.” She gritted her teeth, wishing she knew how to wipe that smile off his face. “Where are we going?”

“I’ve got a place. It’s safe. We can hide you there until we figure something out.”

The thought of being anywhere near Jack, even for just a few days rattled her. “Maybe I should rent a car and drive back to Houston. I’ve already imposed—”

“He’ll catch on quick and follow you, Morgan. This guy isn’t stupid. Psycho, but not stupid. You want to be safe or dead? Besides, it’ll be a good opportunity for you to learn about Dominance and submission. I can ensure you’ll sound like an expert on your show.”

“I think I get the picture.”

“Cher, you haven’t even scratched the surface.”

“I don’t need you touching me anymore.”

His smile could have melted butter. “You may not think you need it, but I know better. You need it every bit as much as you want it.”

*****
For the first 5 to leave a comment about the excerpt and send me a comment form with your address, I’ll mail you a WICKED TIES bookmark. Have a great weekend!!

When I finish one project and have several others to choose from, there’s always that fight for supremacy in my head. Multiple characters talk to me. Predictably, the heroes’ voices are the loudest. And right now, it’s a testosterone fest bubbling in my brain as two in particular are demanding my immediate and undivided attention. I’ve had fantasies of putting the two of them together in the ring for an old-fashioned smackdown to see who wins.

If I did, the fight would probably go something like this:

Shelley: In one corner, we have Alejandro, 6 feet 2 inches of Latin-infused sex club co-owner, looking for a sassy woman to appreciate his particular kink. In the other corner, we have Marrok, 6 feet 5 inches of immortal warrior leftover from the Dark Ages. He enjoys spending time alone and is obsessive about an old book. He’s not looking for any woman unless she’s able to end his curse or willing to get naked. Come to the center of the ring and shake hands. *Watching carefully.* NO! Shake hands, not crush them. Play nice!

Alejandro: *Crosses arms over his chest.* I’ve played a lot of games in my time, but never with other boys. Why the hell am I here?

Marrok: Because you are in need of an ass-kicking. Lucky for us all, that has been my specialty for over a thousand years.

Alejandro: You think you’re going to kick my ass? *Snort.* Try, pretty boy. I’m a second-degree black belt. You’re going to need more than a glower to scare me.

Marrok: My sword was forged beside Excalibur. I could slice off your testicles and feed them to you before you knew you were bleeding.

Alejandro: I’d have your belly button saying howdy to your spine before you could get anywhere near me with your…sword. Pretty damn proud of that hunk of metal, too. Compensating for other inadequacies?

Marrok: The only boys who talk as much as you, do so to avoid fighting.

Alejandro: You saying I’m all talk and no action?

Marrok: *Smiles darkly.* Exactly. Afraid?

Alejandro: Of you? I’ve seen scarier bathtub scum.

Marrok: I will enjoy slicing you into tiny pieces so that our queen and author no longer has a need to tell your story. *Grabs for sword.*

Shelley: *Stands in the middle—and has to suppress a shiver of lust.* Now, gentlemen…

Marrok: I would not give him such a title.

Alejandro: Whatever. I wouldn’t want it.

Marrok: Only a blackguard needs an audience in order to pleasure a woman.

Alejandro: At least I know how. It’s been so long for you, I’ll bet your pecker has rusted and fallen off.

Marrok: *Scowls, lifts sword and looks so over the conversation part of this smackdown.*

Shelley: Put the sword down! I realize I’m only 5’4”, and inbetween you two hunks of male, I’m not going to bodily keep you from brawling. However, if either of you want my attention, you’ll shut up and start listening.

Men: *Wear identical frowns but pay attention.*

Shelley: Glad to see we understand each other. Finally.

Alejandro: I think it’s fair to point out that my story is due next. Now that you’ve finished with those Texas boys, Deke and Luc, it’s time you threw more than a scrap or two of your attention in my direction. I’m not above telling your editor that you’re mentally running around on me with this reject from a Renaissance Faire.

Marrok: Reject from… *Ears turning red with fury.* Enough! I’m going to skewer and slow roast you, though you are so nasty, I doubt even the dogs would eat you.

Shelley: Stop it. Both of you!! And people wonder why I’m insane??? *Rolls eyes*

Marrok: *Completely ignoring Shelley.* If our queen and author finds herself lured in my direction these days, it’s because I know the meaning of chivalry. My story is compelling, even epic. And I have 5 warrior brothers behind me, all ready to fight you and any other bastard for her attention.

Alejandro: Good. Let’s throw down now. I’m ready!

Shelley: There won’t be any throwing down. Period. Now, you know I love you both. Separated from one other, you’re great guys, each in your own way. Alejandro, I know all about your woman, and you’ll get to meet her soon. I promise. Give me a week to get my act together, okay? Marrok, yes, your story is compelling and epic. I’ve met your fellow warriors, so I know they’re eager for my attention, too. I know you’ve waited an eternity—literally—for me end to your suffering. I have to ask you to be patient a little longer. Then I hope to give you my undivided attention for a good, long while. I won’t ask if you two can live with that, because that’s the end of this conversation. Are we clear?

Alejandro: I guess. *Sighs.*

Marrok: As you wish. *Looks displeased and steely eyed.*

Men! Do you see what, or should I say who, I live with in my head day after day after day? Prozac is starting to sound better and better… Geez!

So, let’s talk Feature Friday. You pick! BOUND AND DETERMINED, STRIP SEARCH, NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET or WICKED TIES. Soon, I’ll have more to add to the list. Promise!! VOTE! I’ll tally the answers early Friday morning and post something appropriately juicy then.

Yes, I know I’m a day late. It’s just been that kind of week lately. But now that I’m here, I’ll catch you up on all the happenings in my little world this week. The week was a blur, so it’ll be a quick 60-second tour.

Sunday (11/12) – Beautiful day! I completely finished, DECADENT, I emailed it off to my editor. I’m free!! Well, for the moment. After that, we played out a little bit, had general fun. Capped off the night with The Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives…and RAH (Romance Author Hubby) packing for a quick trip to Tampa. Hate it when he goes out of town. I don’t sleep much…

Monday – Another long blur of a day. Seems like little loose ends everywhere! Heroes tonight! Gosh, it’s getting good. Really good. Can we fast-forward a few weeks so I can see what’s going to happen next? Pretty please?

Tuesday – A little working, a little relaxing, a little reading. I inhaled a book, since it had been so long since I read for pleasure. Then, yes, Dancing with the Stars! Both Emmit and Mario were very good, but my man with the dimples… *sigh* And he’s a great dancer, too. Makes you wonder what else he might be good at… Oh, and RAH came home. Late. Very late. But he’s in 1 piece.

Wednesday – I inhaled another book. I dabbled a little with my current proposal and the plot I need to shore up before I start my next WIP. I mailed a printed copy of DECADENT to my editor, making my delivery official. Now, we just wait for her to read it and hope she likes it. *Insert nail biting here* The Dancing with the Stars results show was tonight. Boo hoo! Why weren’t all the women who like dimples voting? I can’t possibly be the only one!! Since I have my own reality, I’ll have a dimpled hero soon who will win…something. I’ll think of it. Quiet vindication for poor Mario. Emmit might be a great guy, but he’s not a better dancer, dang it!

Thursday – Another blur of work, odds & ends, etc. Went to happy hour with some friends. Had a great time and a few margaritas too many. But the friendship and Mexican food were nice. It was great to get out for a bit. Came home to Survivor. Can Raro get any more self-destructive? In the dictionary under dysfunctional… You get where I’m going with this. Jeez!

Friday – Low key and casual. I ended the week with family and more great Mexican food. (It’s my favorite–what can I say?) I spent a little more time on stories still brewing in my head. Not always a rapid process… But I’ve promised my Samhain editor a whole novella soon, not a collection of interesting ideas that don’t quite go together, so I’d better figure it out quick.

Saturday – Always 1 exciting day a week, right? That was Saturday for me. My in-laws flew in late in the day, but we had a mountain of housework to do first. And grocery shopping. And errands. Not fun, but gotta get done. I was pooped by the time we went to the airport to pick up the in-laws, but we enjoyed a lovely dinner together after they arrived. I’m looking forward to a great holiday with them. Oh, and a little birdie told me that Romantic Times reviewed WICKED TIES quite nicely. I’ll post more shortly, but that sure helped me to end my week with a smile.

So, that’s it. Not too much in the writing department, but I’ll be back into it, deep into it, soon. Promise!! For those in the US, what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Love to hear them! The first 10 people from the US who post me their plans will win a little something from me, just so I can show you that I appreciate you! Ready…set…go!

Yes, I’m running behind today. It’s a theme for me. I overslept. I’m behind on 2 projects I need to finish. I’m behind on certain TV episodes on my DVR. But I’m dedicated. I’m posting you a never-before-seen excerpt for my blog before attending to any of that. See, I try… Some days, I’m more successful than others. But on to the important stuff: an excerpt of NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET.

For the many of you who asked me, NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET will now be in a print version, to be released on Tuesday, November 21. Just in time for the release, here’s a little something to whet your appetite (in case the turkey next Thursday is too far away).

NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET
by Shelley Bradley
copyright 2006
This excerpt contains adult material. If you are under 18, please navigate elsewhere.

He covered her lips with his own, penetrating her mouth as he pushed his way inside her body, inch by torturous inch. Under him, Lauren moaned, her sex clamping down on his cock, her heels in the small of his back.

Slick. A smooth glide. Down, down. He tunneled into her in a seemingly endless stroke until he was finally seated to the hilt. God, she was tight. Silken. Better than any woman in memory. Better than any fantasy.

He groaned, throwing his head back as she took him completely, the head of his cock pushing against her womb.

“Oh, that feels good.” Her voice fluttered.

Understatement of a fucking lifetime. Especially when she tilted her hips up to him and he slid in another half inch. Even his testicles rested tight against her now. He’d never felt anything like the electric pleasure pulsing through him.

Noah took a deep breath. “Hang on.”

She sent him a shaky nod. And he pulled back, back until just a fraction of his head remained inside her, then he drove deep again. Lauren cried out. The sharp note echoed through the room, throwing a shiver down his spine. And she closed around him, her body sucking him back in, clinging.

Jesus, two strokes into this, and she was already blowing his mind. He had no doubt a third would feel every bit as good.

Better, Noah soon found out. Pleasure shot up his cock, coiling heat low in his belly, curling his toes.

On the fourth stroke, he invaded her mouth again, mimicking the action of their bodies with their tongues. Lauren melted around him, opening, accepting, smelling so damn good. And meeting him with every downward stroke, tipping up to him, ripping through his control.

But he couldn’t stop, even though he felt like he was driving a hundred miles an hour down a twisting road while blindfolded. He was destined to crash. Hard. But in this case, it would be so damn worth it.

Not until Lauren crashed with him, however.

Bracing his hands against her hips, Noah forced himself to slow down. Deliver each thrust with deliberate impact and maximum friction. Gritting his teeth, he growled as he filled her to the hilt again. Beneath him, Lauren’s little pants as she tried to catch her breath were driving him out of his mind.

As he found her magic little spot, the one guaranteed to fast forward her into orgasm, she writhed.

With short digs of his cock, he worked the spot, dragging the head, which felt as if it had ballooned ten times its normal size, right where she needed it. She rewarded him quickly, breath catching, flush spreading across her fair skin, thighs latching on, pussy tightening.

“I—oh! Help. I need…”

“I know what you need,” he rasped into her ear. “I’m going to give it to you.”

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving is coming up, and I’m going to be hosting the in-laws and some friends this year, so I’ve been busy preparing for company, as well as working hard on some new stories I hope to be able to share details about soon.

But that means I’m really focused on totally yummy things, blog posts included. Nothing like the pseudy-philosophical or newsy dribble I usually share. So poor me spent tireless hours finding some yummy stuff to share with you. And poor you, you have to look at this stunning specimen of manhood, rather than shimmering words of wisdom from this seasoned author of steamy and erotic romances. *snort*

Without further ado, here’s your latest dose of man-cake. Isn’t he delish?

Oh, and usually we vote for the Feature Friday about this time each week, but unless there are real objections, I want to share something from NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET. 5 days until the print release, y’all!!

Unlike last Sunday’s very long-winded news, this will be shorter. Sweeter? We’ll see… Not really my forte, but here it goes:

Last Sunday I was working really hard to give DECADENT one final read-through. Since Sunday is laundry day, I also had other projects I’m working on printed downstairs and would read on those a bit while folding. Multi-tasking! Late in the afternoon, I drove to a great little Mexican food dive to meet my aunt for dinner. She was in town from New Jersey, and we had a great time catching up over margaritas. She was flying out the next day (and lamenting that she missed the nice weather), but still a fun treat. I capped off the night with a very interesting Desperate Housewives. Just when I was beginning to wonder if the whole season was going to be full of Lynette/Tom/Nora triangle and Carlos and Gabi bickering, they blew it all away. Good for them!

Monday and Tuesday were blurs of activity. I focused as much as possible on finishing my final read-through of DECADENT, but didn’t quite finish… I confess, however, to making time for Heroes and Dancing with the Stars. What can I say? I need a little recreation now and then, too.

Wednesday I finally finished reading DECADENT and making my little adjustments. It’s really funny to read the book as a finished product, rather than a snippet here and there. I’m always amazed at the end of the process that it’s actually cohesive and coherent, given the fact I write in bits and pieces over a period of months. It’s not like anything I’ve written. The talanted Jaci Burton and Rhyannon Byrd both gave me a thumbs up, so I’m feeling good. Now if I could just get my printer to print the dang thing so I could mail it… Oh, and since your here, I’ll share a juicy little bit:

“Kimber.” His voice sounded like ground-up gravel. He resisted the urge to wince.

“Deke.”

His name fell from her glossy, rosy lips. The husky sound only made him harder. Then she bit her cushy lower lip, and all he could think about was watching his dick slide over that lip, then deep inside the wet silk of her mouth while she looked up at him with those innocent eyes.

If he didn’t stop thinking like this, he was going to have to go into the bathroom and jack off before he could have a decent conversation with the girl so he could send her on her way.

“Hi,” she breathed into the awkward silence.

“It’s been a while.”

She nodded. It was jerky, nervous. He hadn’t heard much of Luc’s conversation with Kimber, just enough to know his cousin had some whacked-out imagining that he’d been keeping the beauty to himself. And that Kimber thought she had an urgent reason to be here.

Since they only had one acquaintance in common, this had to be about the Colonel.

“Is everything all right with your dad?”

“He—he’s fine. Thanks.” She pasted on a smile. “He says some psycho ex-convict he helped bring in for a client is out now and threatening him, but that’s nothing new.”

In their line of work? “No, it’s not.”

Finally, his erection abated enough to cross the room and plant himself at the fussy Italian table. A smile still tugged at the corner of his cousin’s mouth, and Deke sent him a warning glare.

“I heard you tell Luc you had something urgent to talk to me about. It’s not about the Colonel?”

“No. It’s…” Kimber lashes swept toward her cheeks as she looked down, bit her lip again.

Damn it, her unconscious, innocent flirtations were making him hard all over.

Her gaze bounced back up, and he saw fortitude there. Interesting…

“It’s personal.”

Personal? Deke had no idea what to say. She’d come to him for something personal? He’d done his best to be an ass to her when she’d worked for her father. Not too difficult when he’d been knotted up by sexual frustration on a daily basis.

A moment passed in silence. A pause. Then…

Luc rose and approached Kimber. “I’ll give you kids a few minutes alone. I have to make a phone call, anyway. There’s more raspberry tea in the fridge. Don’t let Mr. Glower scare you off.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “And don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

Deke watched the exchange, and realized after Luc strolled out of the room that he was grinding his teeth. Bastard. Kimber was everything his cousin pursued with single-minded vigor: the promise of sweetness, white lace, and innocent sighs. The fact she had a healthy hint of red in her hair was just a bonus.

Not this woman. Not this time. If Kimber was off limits to him, Luc wasn’t getting a piece of her ass, either.

The muted slam of a door down the hall let Deke know his cousin was safely ensconced in his office. He turned his attention back to Kimber.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I came to ask you for a favor. I realize this is odd but…” She drew in a shaky sigh, then raised her chin, seeming to take her nerves in hand. A moment later, she sent him a direct stare. “Would you teach me about sex, the way you like it?”

On Thursday, I focused on some of the projects I’d like to do next, but again, I had to fit it in around other responsibilities and Survivor. I’m divided between doing more contemporaries and dipping my toes in the paranormal waters, so what do I do? Both. *shrug* I also awoke to a new review for WICKED TIES from Two Lips Reviews that says,

“Wicked Ties grabbed me from the very start. Shayla Black wrote a story that was riveting on many levels. The emotion and characterization were incredible and her plotting made this a book I read in one sitting. The romantic tension built wonderfully and the BDSM scenes added another layer to characterization and the relationship between Morgan and Jack. Wicked Ties is wickedly satisfying!” Wow, I’ll totally take that!!

Friday was gorgeous! I played hookey all day with my hubby. We had breakfast, ran a few errands, then just hung out. We haven’t done that in forever, and it was great! Had lunch at a new little pizza place that’s awesome and topped off the evening by watching Cars on DVD with the whole family.

So Saturday, it was back to work. LOTS of it. I spent a lot of time on the paranormal stuff while printing off DECADENT for mailing. Hubby did update my iPod with lots of new songs to keep me company while I buried myself in a whole new world. We ended the night by taking in a local production of The Chronicles of Narnia and a chocolate lava cake.

All in all, a productive if uneventful week. Until next week…

The Dekes have it! I got enough votes for one of Deke’s appearances in WICKED TIES that I’m digging deep into the book and giving you a hunky glimpse right out of the middle. I chose this interaction between Deke and Jack because, dang it, who can resist that much testosterone in the same scene?

Excerpt DECADENT
by Shayla Black
copyright 2006
Excerpt contains adult material. If you are under 18, please navigate elsewhere.

“I’d say it’s a huge coincidence that you wound up with your enemy’s woman under your protection and under your roof—and unless I’m totally off-base here—in your bed. But I know you too well to believe in a coincidence that big.”

“I planned it,” Jack confirmed. “Everything to the last detail. I was going to seduce her, then fuck her, and rub that fact in Brandon’s face, the way he rubbed it in mine.”

Deke whistled. “Ballsy, man. Crappy but ballsy. So what happened?”

Jack stood, paced the small windowless room. When had it gotten so damn small in here? It had never bothered him before.

He turned his back on Deke. Sighed. Fisted his hands. Merde, he felt jumpy.

No, it was more than that. Anger—at Brandon for starting this shit, at himself for feeling the desire to get back at his former pal being dangerously usurped by the desire to have Morgan under him again. Anger that Morgan had, all night long, cheated with perfect bliss on her fiancé and appeared not to care a single bit. Yet she’d still managed to hold back that…something inside her. Damn it, her body, her face, told him she still hadn’t fully fucking submitted.

Then he had to endure Deke’s teasing and flirtation with her. That just equaled wanting to rip the big blond giant’s head off.

To top it all off, there was his desire… Jack swallowed against the need bubbling in his gut. He’d been inside Morgan less than four hours ago, and already he was like a starving man, panting, salivating. Ready to fight to taste her again. The need raged, like he had no control. It was unacceptable…and undeniable.

“I don’t know,” Jack said finally. “It just… It’s not as simple as I thought.”

“Did you become her stalker to get her where you wanted her?”

“You know me better than that. I wouldn’t have called you to profile a pretend stalker. I’d just planned to lure Morgan to Lafayette for an afternoon. Nail her enough to persuade her that Brandon wasn’t her one and only, then let her go. There’s a real stalker, and when he shot at her in a crowd in broad daylight, she was fucking terrified. I brought her here.”

“That makes sense, except this possessive thing. It’s not like you. In the past, we’ve shared—”

“Don’t even think it,” Jack growled. “Morgan is very reserved. Besides, this is a woman running for her life, not some kitten one of us picked up in a sex club.”

“None of that has stopped you from fucking her, though, has it?”

“Drop it, damn it. Now!”

“Okey dokey.” Deke heeded his warning growl with a tilted smile and held up his hands in a show of surrender. “All lascivious thoughts of the luscious redhead in the next room are gone.”

Jack rolled his shoulders, trying to release his tension. Damn, a night with Morgan had him completely tied up in knots and his head screwed on wrong. He wished he could banish his lascivious thought of her half as easily as Deke supposedly had. It wasn’t happening. He wanted more of Morgan. And he wanted her now.

“My question is, why the jealous lover routine?” Deke skewered him with a piercing stare, as if he knew every damn thought screaming through his head. “Unless, of course, you really are jealous.”

Damn! The sad reality was that the green gremlin was feasting on his gut. No question about it. He had shared a few women with Deke before. Good times were had by all. Repeating that with Morgan… the thought conflicted him. An instinct told him that she would love a ménage—if she could wrap her mind around it. But he felt oddly proprietary about her. Allowing his buddy/business partner to get in on the action made him want to spit nails.

There was something about Morgan that hit him squarely in the chest, so hard he couldn’t breathe. Jack was too experienced to play the denial game. His burning want for Brandon’s fiancée simply was, had little to do with revenge, and wishing otherwise wasn’t going to change it.

It went deeper, though. Fucking Morgan for a whole night hadn’t satisfied his libido or his desire to betray Brandon. Rather, something about her had been so perfect. Jack didn’t remember ever…connecting with a woman so completely, as if he could see inside her, read her every desire. And he’d been physically inside her to the hilt, but that wasn’t enough. He wanted more from Morgan: the right to give her whatever she needed, the freedom to hear everything she felt or yearned for.

Instead, she was holding back on him.

Happy Friday!

Yes, I know I’ve been absent from the blogosphere the last few days. I do have an excuse, however. (Don’t I always??) I’ve been reading DECADENT from start to finish before I turn it in, all 115,000 words of it! And making little tweaks here and there. The point of the exercise is to read it in one fluid sitting, if possible, and make sure the timeline is correct, there are no jumps in logic, that something I wrote late in the book doesn’t contradict something I wrote earlier in the book, etc.

Like anytime I’m rushing to meet a deadline (6 days and counting!), I don’t have time to stop and read the book during the actual writing process. So while, in theory, I know what the book is about, I don’t know exactly what it says in the fluid storyline sense. It’s always an eye-opener to read the finished product and see if I actually told a coherent story. Thankfully, I did. But there have been a ton of moments during this final reading where I thought, Hmmm. I actually wrote that? Really?

Writing a ménage book was VERY complicated. For those of you getting tangled mental pictures of arms and legs and anything else protruding, tsk tsk. I meant emotionally. Deke and Luc and Kimber all have their issues, which is what made me run long again. But I’m hoping that fans of erotic romance, and particularly ménage books, will enjoy this big, sexy, hugely intense and still romantic take on the topic.

Okay, excuses aside, yes, it’s time to vote for this week’s Feature Friday. I know I’m not leaving you a lot of time. A thousand apologies. I’ll get better once this book is out the door. (Think Saturday here!) So for those of you waiting to vote, here are two choices:

1. An introduction to Deke in WICKED TIES. I picked this selection because it seems fitting with DECADENT, which is really Deke’s story, about to go out the door.

2. Anything from NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET. The print version of the book will be available on November 21, I found out this week. It’s on Amazon for pre-order (click here) and Barnes & Noble online (click here). So I could celebrate this release with a new Feature Friday. Your call.

Please vote!!