About a year ago

It was about a year ago when I received a contract for my first short story. It was in the Once Upon a Time anthology, entitled Inamorata.

I was thrilled with both the story and the fact that it sold! Now I'm working hard on my second full-length Regency menage, Seduction of a Proper Lady: A Regency Menage Tale. And I'm still thrilled that I'm writing and these stories are selling!

What I'm reading this week

Since writing has fallen to the back burner, I'm taking some time to relax and read. Life's been more than a little hectic lately, and my writing has suffered for it. Instead of ploughing through with words I'll probably delete later, I'm taking a small break to relax and read. Or maybe just sleep. I haven't decided yet.

So what am I reading?
Finishing up Stephanie Burkhart's Budapest Moon: The Hungarian
Going to start Debra Glass' Having Patience
Still trying to figure out how to download an audio I won from Allie Boniface's Lost in Paradise onto my MP3. I may give up and start listening to it on my laptop while I (God forbid) clean. I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe I'll just buy the e-book. Why is it I'll sit before my computer to read a book but not listen? Humph.
In between crazy work schedules and family drama, I also have a stack of steamy threesomes to get through, and I have to find and return a book a friend lent to me about first time lesbian encounters.

My first story, Inamorata, can be found in the anthology Once Upon a Threesome!

Edit my photo

I'm doing something wrong but can't for the life of me figure out what that is! I wanted to wait until I got the cover for Once Upon a Threesome to make that my photo. So I waited and I did and yet even though I uploaded it an clicked all the appropiate boxes, it's not showing up AS my photo.

What am I doing wrong????? Anyone?

Menages

Or more for that matter- 3, 4, 5. It does get a little complicated with this but still sexy fun! So what's the draw? Why do you read them? Why are they so popular?

I read them because, yes, they're fun but there's also (usually) a deeper meaning. Love between 2 women or 2 men then, separately, the man and woman (in any mix) is sexy. And often the love has different degrees, with m/f/f maybe the women are really in love with strong, deep affection for the man. They don't want to lose him.

What do you think? Why are menages so popular?

Once Upon a Threesome, available now!

Historicals and sex

With the release (yesterday) of my first short story, I wondered why I drifted to the historical menage. OK, there was no drifting, I did it on purpose because historical menages are few and far between. At least in my limited experience so don't shoot me for not knowing about X, Y, or Z-tell me about them instead! I need to read them. :)

All that aside, it's not like menages are new. I mean look at Ancient Rome and Greece. The movie Troy notwithstanding, Achilles had both a male and female lover though, granted, probably not at the same time. Patroclus (portrayed as his cousin in that god-awful movie) and Briseis whom he refers to as his wife/bride:

Are the Atreidae of all mortal men
the only ones who love their wives? I think not.
Every sane decent fellow loves his own
as in my heart I loved
Briseis though I won her by the spear.

Hmm, not a great example of a true menage but my point is that sleeping with both a woman and man is not new. And often, after the fall of Rome, considered an affront punishable by death. No wonder all this was done in such secrecy! I would, too, if it meant death-or even scandal, prison, and outing as some kind of freak.

It's all well and good to say it doesn't matter, but I live in today's society with 21st century morals and outlooks. If I lived in, say, 1770 France...no not France everything went on there. How about 1770 so many other places. Yes, better. So, I'm living in 1770 America or Spain or China (and wasn't the emperor) and want two lovers at the same time. I'd keep it a secret, too!

Once Upon a Threesome, available now!

Once Upon a Threesome

My first story, Inamorata, is out today in the anthology Once Upon a Threesome! I'm so excited! (Ha, can you tell?)

Explicit excerpt: 

He was selfish and knew it—he wanted only Elisabeta, not this prim slip of a wife. However, with too many bad years in trading, and the wars with the Ottoman Empire, this marriage was the only saving grace of his family.

“You are a beautiful woman,” Antonio allowed, “but we are in a unique position. Unlike many others, with simply a word we could dispense with the agreement between our families.”

“Do you not mean with a word from me?” she asked, her reserved manner slipping. “Since it is my family who holds the advantage over yours.”

Where had this come from? Taking a moment, he wondered at the sudden change in her behavior. Before he could comment, Bianca continued.

“Why would I care to dispense with our marriage contract?” Bianca stepped closer, unclasping her hands and squaring her shoulders. “There are certain freedoms afforded a married woman.”

“You will have no freedom as my wife,” he snapped, making sure she understood. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Her dark eyes acknowledged that, but continued to hold a hint of delight. “I’ll keep you cloistered in a room where your only task will be to produce an heir for me. Should,” he sneered, “I choose to visit you. You’ll not find this marriage between us a pleasant one.”

Bianca’s fingers skimmed down his chest, cupping his cock. He remained flaccid in her hand. “Pleasure,” she purred, “is exactly what I desire.” She stroked him, dark eyes gazing up with interest.

“I don’t want to join our families in war, I’d rather we create something different. Your threats are hollow, Conte di Brindisi. My family will not allow you to imprison me like a nun in a cloister. A single word from me will ruin all you have and all you know.”

Antonio admired her manipulation of the situation, but that was all. Once married, interference from her family would be negligible. And, too, she could always die in childbirth.

“I do not react well,” he said, removing her hand and flinging it from him, “to such threats.”

“There is no threat,” she said, amusement in her voice, “simply fact. I don’t want contention between us. But I don’t want to be tortured by a neglectful husband.”

Gripping her shoulders, he picked her up and pushed her several steps until her back hit the wall. Holding her there, Antonio once more forced her head up, ensuring her complete attention.

“I’ll be whatever kind of husband I choose. As my wife,” he continued, unsurprised to see the stirrings of desire in her eyes, “you will obey and keep silent.”

The back of her fingers grazed his cheek, slid down to rest over his heart. “There’s only one reason for such ardor in a man, for I am comely and willing.” Her hand slipped lower, but didn’t take his cock again. “There is another desire in your life. Either another man…or another woman.”

Antonio released her chin, stepping back. He didn’t care that she knew he had a mistress, only what she would do to Elisabeta should she ever learn her name. The d’Artusio’s were powerful, and if Bianca made true with her threat on him, that anger easily could transfer to Elisabeta should she desire.

“Ah.” There was satisfaction in that one word, but she didn’t move. “As I’d hoped.”

Jerking his head back to look at her, he saw lust mixing with triumph in her dark eyes. Shock stiffened him, but only for a moment. Arousal and intrigue came hard on its heels, hardening his cock with interest.

“And why,” he asked, lazily crossing the space between them, “is that a hope of yours? Most wives detest the mistresses their husbands keep.”

“I shall not be most wives,” Bianca whispered, standing still as he circled her. “I would be happy if you would share her.”

He could admit to being stunned, but not repulsed by the idea. “She is mine.”

“I will also be yours,” she reminded him. “Think of it, Antonio. The three of us enjoying each other’s flesh. But, if that thought—the thought of seeing your wife enjoying the most intimate parts of your mistress—does not tantalize, then I would hope you allow me my own mistress.”

The thought tantalized. And Antonio was tempted. Loath as he was to share Elisabeta with anyone—man or woman—this suggestion captivated him. Elisabeta’s beautiful long limbs wrapped around Bianca’s…

“My wife and my lover?” He’d never before given this thought, but hardened at her proposal.

“We would all be lovers,” Bianca said, and he saw she’d given this considerable thought. “We would be there to please you…and you can watch as we please each other.”

“What do you want with her?” he demanded, eyes narrowed.

“I want to kiss and suck her supple breasts.” This bold statement further aroused him. “I want to lay my soft body atop hers. I want to feel her rapture moisten my face.”

Available now from Ravenous Romance.