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Teaser Thursday
Teaser Thursday – Wicked Ties
Welcome back to my Secrets!
This year, I’ll be celebrating 20 years in publishing! It’s been both a lifetime ago and the blink of an eye. When I sold my first book in 1998, I wasn’t even thinking this far into the future, and I certainly had no expectations of spending my career as a published author. I wanted to! But in my mind (and before indie publishing), that only happened for a lucky, exalted few. I NEVER thought it would be me. I launched with some names I’m sure you’ll recognize: Lara Adrian (w/a Tina St. John), Carly Phillips, Julie Kenner, Terri Brisbin—just to name a few. I’m happy and thrilled to be celebrating this milestone with them. I’ll be talking more about that through the year. For now…I’m going to toss out a teaser.
I'm excited to kick off Teaser Thursday with Wicked Ties. Why this book? Well, it debuted in January…of 2007. 11 years ago! Second, it’s the first Shayla Black book released. And, of course, it’s first in the Wicked Lovers series.
Things you may not know about this book? Jack’s Cajun heritage was based on a dear friend of mine who was tragically killed and I miss him all the time. The song that played over and over in my car (and my head) as I imagined this book is Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence”. Not even sure why. It just seemed like a very “Jack” song to me. Lastly, I’m often asked for my inspirations. Here are Jack and Morgan and I always imagined them.
Scroll down to peek at the excerpt featuring Jack Cole and Morgan O’Malley. When I typed the first sentence of this book—Have you ever wanted to put yourself in the hands of a man whose sole purpose is to give you pleasure?—I knew this story would be a crazy ride. Discover “What would it be like to surrender” by reading for yourself below!
Share this Teaser Thursday with your reader friends. I've included a giveaway! For a signed copy of Wicked Ties, read below and find out how to enter. Enjoy!
I'll see you again this coming Monday, January 8th for Wine Wednesday Rewind.
What would it be like to surrender? To give in to that voice?
Dangerous. Bad. Giving into everything Jack represented and everything she shouldn’t want. If she did, she’d only be forging a new path to hell.
“How about jackass, then? That’s appropriate.” She dug up her bravado and turned to face him. “Don’t bully me.”
She waited for his angry comeback, for a growled command of frustration. It didn’t come.
Instead, he shuffled a heartbeat closer, until a mere whisper separated her from the raging heat of his body. “There is no reason to be embarrassed about your desires.”
“I’m not. Call me repressed, but I am embarrassed about having an audience during orgasm,” she snapped.
“That’s not true,” he said softly.
Swallowing, Morgan tried to tear her gaze from his knowing, sexual stare. His scent assailed her next, full of man and mystery, spicy as Cajun food and as hard to fathom as the swamp itself.
She inched back. “Do you think you know me now?”
“I know things about you. I know you’re uneasy about your sexuality. You have desires you don’t like to admit to. I see them all in your eyes. A craving to be bound and dominated—”
“You don’t see a damn thing! I’m not depraved.”
“No, you’re not. Anyone who thinks you are is an idiot.”
Jack reached for her again, determination all over the fierce masculine angles of his strong face. She didn’t want to know exactly what he was determined to do. Panic flared, and she batted his hand away and leapt out of his reach. Her back hit the door.
And Jack kept coming for her with soft, slow steps. The pace of a hunter. She had to get away. Had to. Now.
Morgan lunged to her left to evade him. He blocked her way with a strong arm, then anchored it on the door, sealing off that avenue of escape. He used the same tactic on the right before she could make a move in that direction.
Then Jack leaned in, placing one hand on the door, just next to her head. She couldn’t look at him, refused to. As if to get her attention, his body brushed hers, detonating ruthless sparks of
desire that burned through her body. Still, that brief contact was enough to light her up like a firecracker.
“Look at me.” He leaned back to put a breath of air between them.
Something inside her wanted to obey. That smooth, rich voice with the hint of French lilt and explicit command tugged at her. The thought of surrendering made her stomach clench with anxiety…and desire gnaw at her clit. The man was a giant contradiction. An aggressive protector. A man who bound women was going out of his way to keep her safe.
It was confusing her. He was confusing her.
Finally, she raised her stormy gaze to clash with his. “What the hell do you want from me?”
“Honesty.”
“No, you don’t. You want me to give in, to spread my legs like a spineless airhead and give you…whatever it is you want.”
A half smile curled up the side of his mouth. “You’re half right. I do want you to give in, cher. I want you to spread your legs when I tell you to. Not because you’re spineless, but because you’re not.” He moved in closer, brushing his body against hers again, all hint of a smile gone. “I want you to burn for me. I want all your fire and independence and sass underneath me. I want to show you what you secretly yearn for and try not to—and how good it can be.”
Morgan swallowed, then opened her mouth to speak. How was she supposed to reply to that? What did a woman say to the man trying to spoon-feed her every sexual fantasy she’d ever denied?
“I don’t think—”
“You think too much. Of all the reasons you shouldn’t. Of all the reasons I scare you. Try thinking of the ways I could please you.”
Oh, she’d thought of those.
One of his hands eased away from the door. He brushed the back of his fingers down her neck, over her collarbones…and kept delving down. He caressed down the terrycloth-covered slope of her breast, then brushed down over the erect nipple begging for his touch.
Even through the towel, she felt that touch all the way to her toes. A hot tingle sizzled her insides like bacon in hot grease.
She gasped, felt her gaze locked in place by his dark stare.
He repeated the process again, then once more. Pleasure assailed Morgan from the aching points of her tight nipples, streaking through her tightly coiled body, straight to her vagina.
She dropped her head back against the door, unable to hold in her moan.
eBOOK
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Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past nine years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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I have to say Wicked Ties is probably my favorite! Though I love them all, it was the first Shayla Black book I read.
I like a lot of the Wicked Series but my favorite of them all is Theirs To Cherish! It was such an epic read with Callie and her two heroes. I loved how bratty she could be but her men took her in hand. Love the series and it’s hard to believe it’s been so long since they were first published! Congrats Ms. Black!
Theirs to cherish is my favorite wicked ties book. Javier, Xander and London stole my heart.
I can’t wait to read Wicked Ties! Over the last few years I have looked at them many many times on the shelves at work and said “That looks interesting.” I hope to start the series on my upcoming vacation.
More Than Words series, I love the characters, they are vulnerable and tortured, but so capable of love if they find the right person to share it with…..
Mine to hold will always be my favorite Wicked Lovers book. Love that Tyler Murphy.
Probably Wicked Ties. It was the book that introduces me to you. I’m from Lafayette,LA and am married to an actual Cajun so I was excited to see a link in the story.
Wicked Ties has always been my favourite book, I even have the original red cover. We were introduced to Jack and Morgan to very opposite people, and watched them grow together too become one great couple.
I havent read any yet but would lobe to read wicked ties.
There is no way I can choose a favorite. They are all wonderful.
Currently it’s Smoke and Sin. I just recently did a re-read and I love Gus and Roman’s relationship.
Belong to Me
I fell in love with Tara and Logan first. It will always be special it was the book that introduced me to you amazing talent.
Shayla I have read MANY of your books and there is no way for me to say which one was fav as I have loved everything that I have read.
Wicked ties was my first shayla book, so I have to go with it even tho my fave list is long.
Love the Wicked Lovers series – Ours To Love is my favorite!
It’s so hard to choose because I love all of your books! I can’t wait for them to come out. Delicious stands out in my mind. I could picture all of it while I was reading it. Congrats on 20 years! Thank you for writing great books for us to get lost in:)
I have most of your series and am trying to get my daughter hook to your series so that I have someone to talk to about them.
I think my favorite is Wicked Ties but I love all your books. It introduced me to this great series. I’ve reread it many times.
Wicked ties is how I found you so it has to be the fav…but..Doms series is da bomb!!
Congrats!!!! 20 years!! 1998 was the beginning of my freshman year of High school. I only say that because I think it’s amazing and assume that you’ve been writing for so long and have captured multiple generations attention!!
Wicked ties has been one I’ve been wanting just never being able too get my hands on.
CONGRATS again!! ?
*Awesome!!!! Not assume!!! :/
Misadventures of a backup Bride , Scandal Never sleeps, and More than want you.
Have not read any books yet but Wicked Ties would be a perfect start ?
I loved the whole Wicked Lovers series. My favorite book is Belong to Me. The love and passion between Tara and Logan. Swoon worthy!
Congratulations on 20 years and still going STRONG! I love your books but if I have to pick a favorite, it will be “Decadent” cause it was the first book I read in this series and got me hooked to your books! Thank you for sharing your stories!
I always think I have a favorite but then you write the next book, honestly I can’t choose just one! I started with wicked ties and was hooked! Congrats and here’s to many many more books!
The Doomsday Brethren series is my favorite. Altough I love all of your books!!
I love all of your books! I hope I get a chance to meet you someday. You are definitely one of my all time favorites.
Totally impossible to pick a favorite from the Wicked Ties series. They were all amazingly emotional, smokin’ hot books. I loved them all.
I love your books, I have read the whole Wicked lovers series, and the Masters of Menage, but my favourite is Holding on Tighter. Thank You for the chance.
Ooops! I meant the Wicked Lovers series. Guess I had Wicked Ties on the brain after reading that excerpt.
Asking for my favorite is impossible. I’ll pick one from the Wicked Lovers series for now. Mine to Hold, I loved Tyler before you paired him with Delaney, but the two of them together. WOW
How hard is it to pick a favorite book of yours? There are too many to choose from it’s not fair. Wicked Ties was one of the first books of yours I read, but in this series I think Mine To Hold is my favorite. In Masters of Mènage my favorite was Their Virgin Captive, Perfect Gentlemen favorite hands down (right now that is) is Smoke and Sin, and Doms it was just one big story that was so full of emotions that all 4 of them were great
Picking just one book as a favorite is pretty much impossible. If I have to choose, it would be Hunter and Kata’s story – Surrender to Love. Congratulations on 20 years!
I love your wicked series but my favorite is Smoke & Sin the perfect gentleman. The story between Gus and Roman sparkled
Congratulations on 20 Years! Wicked ties was the first book of yours I ever read and I freaking devoured it! Thank you for sharing your stories! You never disappoint!
Oh Shayla that’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. They are all favorites, but I guess one must start with the first, so I say Wicked Ties.
Congrats on 20 years. I will only ever be a reader. But I am in love with any story by you Mrs. Shayla Black. My favorite in this series is Theirs to Cherish because London’s back story what heartbreaking and the fight to get where she currently is and the strength she possesses to help Javier and Xander.
While not my first WL’s book, Surrender to Me was one that I connected with very easily. I think it was the second or third one I read, and BDSM and the idea of Doms and Subs were still relatively new to me (I think I can safely say Shayla has given me my education on that topic lol) and I had many questions similar to the ones Kata had. I consider myself very independent and strong and wasn’t sure how women could be both a sub and independent at the same time. So a lot of connections with Hunter and Kata for me!
Congratulations on 20 years!!! It’s amazing and awesome how much time flies by! I love how authors are known from drawing inspiration to create their characters from the people who matter most in their lives. Keep doing what you’re doing that so many of us love!
Love all of your books. Picking a favorite would be like trying to pick a favorite child. I love them all for the varying stories and backgrounds and how they develop as you share them with us.
Wicked Ties was my first book that MY daughter put on the kindle she gave me,books 1-5 she had downloaded for me. I now have the whole series and must of read them 5 or more times. I love Jack and Morgan the way he commands her, loves her and protects her. The way you put words to paper amazing!! So congrats on 20 yrs, of writing. I’m going to started ordering the series as I want to have the paperbacks for me as well love the feel of a book in my hand. I have the Perfect Gentlemen series and working on The More Than Want series. Thank you giving me so many book boyfriends.
Hi Shayla!! While I do looove Wicked Ties and it’s how I discovered you my darling woman…I have fallen in love with the Doms of Her Life books. Macen and Liam kill me!!
Congratulations for 20 years you r an amazing author. I love it books I can’t never put them down. Thank you
Please don’t enter me in the contest. I always have to give a shout out about my boyfriend Luc from Delicious! My all time favorite book boyfriend and book of yours!
Love the wicked series. I re-read them a lot especially when a new one comes out.
I have to Saying next to wicked ties is decadent I love the relationship between Luc Yet the burgeoning romance with Deke and Kimber. It’s above that makes you laugh and I make you cry and make me want to pull your hair out at times But it’s the wild ride that it takes you on the makes it all worthwhile in the end. I read this three times already and I’m reading it again now
While some may run a very, very close second, Wicked Ties will always be my favorite book of yours. When I picked it up and started reading it all of those years ago, little did I know that Jack Cole would be the utmost uber Alpha male for me. The first sentence of the book grabbed me by the collar, gave me one helluva shake, and the ride was on!
Congratulations on your 20 years in publishing and the continued success of fabulous writing!
First off, congrats on 20 yrs! You’re my favorite author! ❤️ My all time FAVORITE book is Decadent! Kimber, Deke and Luc were the best everything….especially the sex scenes which were totally HOT! I was a little bummed that Luc didn’t stay in the relationship with them, but he got his own story so it’s all good! Here’s to a great 20 more years of writing the books we all love to read!! ???
I can’t pick one favorite
I love Wicked Ties because it was the first book of yours that I read and it kicked off many more amazing reads!
WICKED TIES for me too, but so hard to choose.
Congratulations on 20 Years. Thank you Barnes and Noble for putting Wicked Ties in my books you might like email. If it wasn’t for that email, I would never have found the Wicked Lovers series. I’ve got them all, some are even the sexy covers. My favorite of them all is Hunter and Kata’s story, Surrender to Me. Thank You for writing this series.
Congratulations on 20 years!!! My 2 favorite books are Arresting Desire and Surrender to Me, they are the first books that I read by you and got me hooked!
Congratulations on 20 years Shayla. Your books and characters are awesome. I started reading your books with The Doomsday Brethern. Marrok is still one of my all time favorite men. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway chance.
Carol Luciano
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Theirs to Cherish is probably my favorite written just by SB. But the Doms of Her Life series is my FAVORITE SB is involved in. They are kind of similar stories too!
OMG. Of course Jack & Morgan are my absolute favorite. The book that inspired and awesome series. Have re-read, and re-read it many times. I have the audible version too, which is on “repeat” . LOL
While I love all your books and choosing a favorite is almost impossible but if I had to choose a favorite I would say that my favorite would be Surrender to Me, Hunter and Kata’s story. That being said I love all your books that I’ve read and can’t wait for your next book to come out. Congratulations on 20 years of being published.
Decadent has always been my favorite. Not that the rest aren’t as wonderful.
Your books have brought me great joy over the years and I look forward to more
of your fantastic stories.
Congratulations on 20 yrs! Absolutely love anything you write but Wicked Ties is my favorite!!!
If only you had written one book then the answer would be obvious. I enjoy everything your thoughts and hand put to paper. Congrats and thank you for 20!! I eagerly look forward to your future writings. I believe your BEST is yet to come!!!
Mine to Hold is my favorite.
So many to choose from! Right now More than Need You! Or Mine to Hold!
I love all the books in this series. It is hard to pick a favorite. Any plans for more books in the series. Like the Wicked christmas novella.
I would like to see more stories in the series that would report on how the relationships are developing. Paying note to how the dom/sub relationships develop and continue as marriage progresses and children are added to the mix.
Congrats on 20 years! What an accomplishment! My favorite books are The Perfect Gentlemen series. Can’t wait for the next book.
Congratulations for these 20 years!
I really really want to win this giveaway because actually Wicked Ties is my favourite book. I remember reading it when I was still in high school (oops?) and was just discovering all this beautiful BDSM world. Now, lots of years later still embodies what I truly desire in a man. Jack will forever be the reason I have so high expectations of men hahahaha.
Besides that, Morgan is the kind of female character I really love. I think mostly because I like strong, empowered women, and how I think she was the first female character I read that it wasn’t inside this “oh poor inexperienced pure virgin” cliché, so I could easily identify myself in her.
Once again, congratulations! Hope you keep continuing giving us these amazing books to lose ourselves in.
I’ve not yet read this series so I’d have to go with Wicked Ties!
I’d have to say Wicked Ties. It was my first book of yours that I read.
Congratulations on 20 years! I hate to say it but I’ve only read Scandal Never Sleeps. I loved it though!
Too many to choose from.
Hard to pick…but I love your co-authored series a lot! Can’t wait for more of the doms. The Choice sounds great! ?❤?
I LOVE the Wicked Lovers series. It is what got me reading again on a regular basis. I think Belong to Me and Decadent were my favorites!!! Congrats on 20 years.
Hi All, thanks so much for participating. Our winner is Stephanie Erickson! Keep tuned to Shayla’s Secrets…lots more soon!
Thank you for the opportunity. I a new to you, introduced by the Doms of her Life series. I would love to read this book.