Showing posts with label Lori King. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lori King. Show all posts

Thursday, March 2, 2017

A Wild Wicked Weekend with BFFs


Masquerade Night at Wild Wicked Weekend


Last week was Wild Wicked Weekend and TinkNCognito and I spent some rowdy times drinking, dancing, and receiving dances.  There were games, prizes and late night maracas (security may or may not have been called).  And we did this with our friends, readers and authors alike. 

We love Dick's on the Riverwalk, where Lori King got a table dance from the waiter while a mariachi band played.  We enjoyed several drinks with the rest of the Brat Pack in attendance.  Lori King just recently released Paw Prints on Her Heart, a stand-alone in the Crawley Creek Ranch.  Lori gave us some awesome swag, including a tattoo heart that I wore to accent my, ummm, heart.  In this book, Payton Storm served her country with honor until an IED ended her career and scarred her for life. Struggling to overcome PTSD, she agrees to a long-term stay at Crawley Creek Ranch under the care of a PTSD specialist. Single father, Luke Gillian, has been the Montford veterinarian for most of his adult life. In fact, he's barely left the town he grew up in.  A ray of sunshine appears in his life with her injured service dog. Could Payton be the change his life needs? 
You'll have to read to find out! 


Most days and nights, I was hanging out with some pretty awesome authors.  Laurie Olerich writes Primani stories about Angels who give Black Dagger Brotherhood a run for their money.  Elizabeth SaFleur writes The Elite Doms of Washington stories set in Washington, DC, with BDSM elements.  She excels at the cute-meet!  Victoria Saccenti's Destiny series is about two sisters coming of age against the turmoil of the late 60's/early 70's as they juggle traditional and modern values.  Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is winning her awards for her suspenseful mysteries and émigré short stories. I'm telling you--it was never a dull moment. 


Be sure to check out their books!

Book 1 and 2 are currently FREE on Kindle!

Holiday Ties is currently FREE on Kindle!



The Destiny's Series


Award winning author of Coins/Hours Cycle



Saturday, January 28, 2017

Haunted by Love - Lori King

Lori King is one of Pearls and my favorite authors and we are always super excited when she has a new story out!



Haunted By Love
By: Lori King

It was the dare to end all dares, and she didn’t have the option of backing down. Spend Halloween night in the haunted castle in the forest. She figured it would be easy enough; after all, she didn’t believe in ghosts.
A hundred years trapped in an inescapable hell had twisted his heart into a black rock of despair and loathing for everything human. Many had tested his limits over the centuries, but none had reached into his soul the way she did.
To overcome, he was to reach her, but she doesn’t believe. Will they both spend the rest of eternity haunted by love?
This story was originally published in the Shifters Hallows Eve Anthology Fall 2016.






What in Gods name was the woman doing? She’d just shut herself in the maids closet for a few moments and then reappeared with a smile on her face. Gideon waited for her to kneel on the floor of his bedroom before he flew across the beamed ceilings to peer down at her. She was quite lovely.
Her dark hair was pulled up in an unusual hairstyle that twisted around into a knot, but left the ends sticking out so they cascade over the bun in a fall of curls. She wore tiny golden rings in her ears, and a delicate gold chain around her elegant throat. He could envision her dressed as the ladies of his time, dripping in gemstones that he gifted her, and shrouded in satin and silks.
When she bent and began spreading a fabric bed on the floor, he was treated to a view of her perfectly rounded rear, and the part of him that still remained in touch with the man he was, reacted very physically. His claws knocked a broken shard of rock from the walls edge to the floor, and the woman shrieked with fear, her eyes wide and glassy as she spun to look his way. The moment she saw him, she relaxed and took a deep breath.
“Just a bird. Thank God.”
Gideon didn’t like her tone of voice, but it wasn’t like he could protest verbally. If he shifted now she’d run screaming, and he’d never understand this compulsive need to claim her.
The first time he’d laid eyes on her, she’d been but a child. Freckled nose, bare toes, and a gap toothed grin that warmed his dead soul. She’d been a frequent visitor to his home for years, and then one day she was gone. All this time he’d wondered about her, dreamed of her, fantasized about them, never once imagining she’d actually return.
“You’re a pretty girl, aren’t you?”
It took him a moment to realize she was still talking to his raven, and when he did, he took offense, cocking his head to the side in irritation. How could she possibly think he was a female? What female wore her blue-black feathers so brilliantly, he’d like to know?
“Make yourself at home, pretty girl. We have a long night ahead of us,” she paused and then turned back to the fabric bed she’d laid out, “Although I can’t say I don’t appreciate the company.”
Gideon watched her carefully pull a device from the pocket of her pants and tab at it with her fingers. After a moment she made a rather nasty noise and cursed.
“Fucking hell. No signal. Of course, I don’t know why I thought there would be.” She dropped onto her rear end on the floor and tossed the device aside as if it had offended her. “So no Candy Crush, no Netflix, no social media…what the hell am I going to do in this big old empty place all night?”
Oh how he wished he could offer her a few options.
“It’s just you and me, pretty girl. Oh, and the ghost downstairs.” She giggled, and he felt his feathers ruffle lightly at the sound. It had been so long since he’d experienced joy, would he ever feel it again? “I have a book on my ereader program I could read, but I’m not much in the mood. I’ve already explored this floor, and there’s no way I’m going back down there.”
Her eyes drifted over the walls and ceiling, taking in every cobweb and corner before they came back to rest on him. “Do ravens sing? I don’t think I’ve ever been this close to a raven before. You’re so quiet…I guess that answers my question.” She wiped her palms nervously on her thighs. “Well, I sing, and I guess tonight you can just listen. I need something to take my mind off where I am.”
The sound that came from her throat was like that of the angel’s choir, and Gideon had trosuble maintaining his shift as she sang about a dream and a wish the heart makes. What kind of dreams and wishes were in his lady-love’s heart, he wondered? Did they consist of a tall, dark, and handsome ghost/raven shifter?

 About Lori
Lori King Pic 
Best-selling author, Lori King, is also a full-time wife and mother of three boys. Although she rarely has time to just enjoy feminine pursuits; at heart she is a hopeless romantic. She spends her days dreaming up Alpha men, and her nights telling their stories. An admitted TV and book junkie, she can be found relaxing with a steamy story, or binging in an entire season of some show online. She gives her parents all the credit for her unique sense of humor and acceptance of all forms of love. There are no two loves alike, but you can love more than one with your whole heart.  
With the motto: Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance, she will continue to write as long as you continue to read. Thank you for taking the time to indulge in a good Happily Ever After with her.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Dominant Persuasions

Dominant Persuasions:
Twelve tales of dominance and submission…where mastery meets passion.

12 Scintillating tales of Dominance and submission as told by your favorite Amazon, NYT, & USA Today Bestselling Authors. In a world of power plays, and safewords, only the strongest can find pleasure in submission. From strangers passing in the night, to lifetime loves that spark with new life; join us in the intriguing world of BDSM. No is not a safeword, and this deal is only available for a limited time!

Featured Novellas:
  • Submission Dance by Lori King
  • Out of Order by Bella Juarez
  • Surrender Her Inhibitions by Nicole Morgan
  • Make Believe Submissive by Daisy Philips
  • Under His Protection by Doris O’Connor
  • Broken by Julia Sykes
  • The Sub That Got Away by Amy J. Hawthorn
  • In His Hands by Raven McAllan
  • Indulge by Sherri Hayes
  • Submitting To Temptation by Jan Graham
  • Fire and Ice (An Excerpt from KNOTTED) by Juliet Braddock
  • Yes, Justin (Expanded Edition) by Michele Zurlo  

Visit our Webpage:

Buy Links:

Review by pearls
In anticipation of today's post, I read the first tales-- Hawthorn and Juarez's.  Now I can't wait to read all the others!  Hawthorn's story takes us through the getting-to-know-you stage as each encounter takes them deeper into intimacy.  The release provided by BDSM play is highlighted for both the Dom and his sub.   Juarez's tale takes the characters on a suspenseful action-filled adventure that fuels their give and take relationship.  Trust is huge in this story as both are coming from a place of pain.  Together they are able to learn to trust another with their life, body, and souls.  I can't wait to see what else this anthology holds in store for me!

Amy Hawthorn
Blurb for The Sub That Got Away by Amy J. Hawthorn

Dr. Ember Ross dedicated her life to caring for her patients, always putting her needs last—including her need for submission. Royce Damron has everything he could want in life. The only thing he lacks? The perfect sub. When mutual friends use a new BDSM dating site to set them up, a clueless Royce takes things one step further, intending to keep their encounter an anonymous one-night stand. Unaware the woman he’s spent years pining for waits beneath the hood he insisted she wear, will he miss the sub that got away?  

Enjoy this excerpt from The Sub That Got Away by Amy J. Hawthorn


Standing in the bedroom of the hotel’s suite, Ember read over the instructions for the second time. A warm, not at all unpleasant, flush stole through her. She’d come this far. She wouldn’t let her fears take this from her.





Her Dom for the night waited in the other room. As she set her tote bag in the corner chair, she pondered the steps that brought her here. On an impulse, she’d given Beth the reins and let her friend do everything except fill out the preferences questionnaire. Her friend insisted that Ember at least do that part herself. A couple of days later Beth emailed her a set of directions from her prospective Dom. She’d looked them over and gave Beth the green light.





He’d instructed her to come to this hotel, this room and go immediately to the bedroom. There she’d find her next set of instructions.





He’d also insisted that they stay anonymous for their encounter.





She agreed. With no thanks to her schedule, she didn’t have the time to invest in a relationship. Not to mention, it wouldn’t be fair to her partner. Still, it didn’t mean she had to spend her nights alone.





Laying on the bed next to a black silk hood was a letter written in neat, bold handwriting. She was to strip down to nothing then put on the provided matching robe and hood.





How she needed this. Her fingers trembled as she unbuttoned her top. Work had been brutal over the past month and a warm bath with even the best book wouldn’t rid her of the oppressive stress. She just needed a few hours to block out the world. A desperate, clawing need to be someone else, even for a short time, threatened to drag her down to her knees.





She removed her bra and freed her breasts. Already they felt heavy, hypersensitive. She slid down her pants, folded them then placed them on the chair with her things. Hooking her fingers in the waistband of her panties, she took a deep breath. She slid them down her legs and bared herself to the empty room. Though the temperature was comfortable—perfect, even—her nipples hardened. The thin silk of the robe whispered over her skin as she pulled it on. The soft material rasped over her beaded nipples and they tingled with excitement when she pulled the robe closed and tied the belt around her waist.





She twisted her long hair into a knot at her nape then pulled the hood over her head, blocking her vision. Dim light came through the soft fabric and the world became a fuzzy, muted place.


Taking the last instruction to heart, she stood facing the foot of the bed with her back to the door and waited. Anticipation made her alert, eager.





Long seconds ticked by.





Please let this be what I need. Hope beat a dangerous rhythm in her chest. Driven to the point of desperation, she didn’t know how she’d stand the disappointment if it didn’t work.





“Good girl.” Sounding quiet, a little rough, and all masculine, he whispered right into her ear. She hadn’t heard his approach and wondered how that could be possible. His warm presence bathed her five foot nine-inch frame. How could someone so large move so quietly?





“Since you followed my directions, we can get to business even faster.” She held her stance and waited. “Turn around, sub.”





Oh, that voice. The decadence hidden behind it alone just might make this worth it. She turned around. Before her stood a tall, broad, shadowy figure. She waited breathlessly for his next command, eager to hear him again.





Bella Juarez
Blurb for Out of Order by Bella Juarez
Journalist Marianna Banta embarks on a search for a faceless drug lord who gunned down her husband and submissive. When Marianna follows the killer’s bloody trail to Tampa, she finds herself face to face with a man who could derail her quest.
Green Beret MSGT Lars Nielson has returned from the battlefields of the Middle East. Memories of violent, missions have taken up residence in his tortured mind, leaving him broken. He comes to Tampa on a secret quest of his own and finds a challenge. When he takes a job as a bartender at a local BDSM club, he becomes fascinated by the fine art of Shibari, and while tying the intricate knots, his troubled mind finds peace.
When Lars and Marianna meet at her family’s BDSM club, there is an instant attraction they can’t deny. Can Lars coax a lifelong Domme into the coils of his Shibari ropes?

Enjoy this excerpt from Out of Order by Bella Juarez


“Mari—“


“Shush, just hold me,” she whispered against his lips.





Without another word, Lars seized her in a hungry kiss. Liquid heat coursed through every inch of his being and set every nerve on fire when they connected. He slid his tongue along her upper lip, and she opened to him. He growled in response, sliding his hand up to her nape where he tangled his fingers through a handful of her hair. He kissed her deeper, exploring and savoring the taste of her. He’d hold her; he could spend a lifetime holding her. No other woman had ever had such a sudden impact on him as Marianna. Even though every rational thought told him to run the other direction, he defied it—just like a moth toward the flame that would eventually destroy it. One hand mapped her body while the other held her secure against him. He squeezed tighter, and her low, sensual moan let him know he was doing it right.





Wicked thoughts of fucking her once then leaving crept into his mind. She would be his undoing in so many ways. He broke their kiss. He had to stop before this situation went completely sideways for him. He cupped her face hoping she would be the voice of reason.





“Do you think this a good idea?” he asked.





“No, I get the feeling we’re both pretty fucked up.”





Who the hell was he kidding? He gripped her shoulder in an attempt to push her away. Once would never be enough. He had to muster his control and focus. He still had a job to do. Marianna dug her nails into his back and gently bit his lower lip.





It was as if she’d thrown gasoline on dying fire.





Something small and dangerous ignited the soul he thought he’d lost long ago. The simple act of creating pain and pleasure made him react in a way he never thought possible. Pushing logic away, he gave himself over to greedy lust. Resistance to her erotic call would be an exercise in futility and the slight pain of her nails with the bite whispered temptations he’d fought since seeing her casually sipping a glass of wine. She was the woman of his dreams, resilient and so taboo, a mystery to unravel and peel back layer by sweet layer. She was a woman who embodied sin and delight to a degree he hadn’t allowed himself to imagine was possible.





The call to his dark side was irresistible. He’d disregarded the appeal of what he’d seen at the club because he didn’t want to understand it. The honesty of it painfully pointed out the flaws in his relationships with women. In an instant, Marianna brought it all into crystal clarity. Submission and Domination were a beautiful dance of trust and surrender by both sides. Lars had been courting the wrong sort of woman. He needed a strong, determined woman who could take care of herself not a weak, co-dependent, manipulative bitch who used him to get what she wanted.





He’d find a way to make this work and with a capable, intelligent partner he’d finally find the peace and happiness that had eluded him for so long. He’d give his queen the security she needed, and he hoped she’d give him acceptance he’d never had.



 

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Dominant Persuasions


Thanks for featuring us today! We’re super excited to announce this anthology, a collaboration we hope hits as close to your heart as it does ours. The release date is March 29, but you can pre-order now to reserve your copy.



Dominant Persuasions
an Erotic BDSM Romance Anthology

Twelve tales of dominance and submission…where mastery meets passion.



12 Scintillating tales of Dominance and submission as told by your favorite Amazon, NYT, & USA Today Bestselling Authors.



In a world of power plays, and safewords, only the strongest can find pleasure in submission. From strangers passing in the night, to lifetime loves that spark with new life; join us in the intriguing world of BDSM. No is not a safeword, and this deal is only available for a limited time!

 


Buy Links:









Submission Dance by Lori King



Marley Saltzman has a secret fantasy. She wants to let go, and submit to a Dominant. Intrigued by the BDSM lifestyle, she attends a fetish party to indulge her desires. She had no idea how far out of her element she would be until she came face to face with an experienced Dom. Will this dance end in heartache, or will they both find their darkest fantasies fulfilled?





Out of Order by Bella Juarez



Journalist Marianna Banta embarks on a search for a faceless drug lord who gunned down her husband and submissive. When Marianna follows the killer’s bloody trail to Tampa, she finds herself face to face with a man who could derail her quest.



Green Beret MSGT Lars Nielson has returned from the battlefields of the Middle East. Memories of violent, missions have taken up residence in his tortured mind, leaving him broken. He comes to Tampa on a secret quest of his own and finds a challenge. When he takes a job as a bartender at a local BDSM club, he becomes fascinated by the fine art of Shibari, and while tying the intricate knots, his troubled mind finds peace.



When Lars and Marianna meet at her family’s BDSM club, there is an instant attraction they can’t deny. Can Lars coax a lifelong Domme into the coils of his Shibari ropes?





Surrender Her Inhibitions by Nicole Morgan



Three years ago Sophia Hunt was on the tail end of a bad break up and in a vulnerable and confused state of mind when she crossed paths with the sexy and seductive J.T. Mastrantonio.

Stuck in a rut and no longer satisfied with his successful life, J.T. finds an unfamiliar ache when the scared girl who ran out on him years earlier walks back into his life.



Though time is not their side, Sophia is faced with the realization that her biggest fears and greatest temptations are one in the same. And only J.T. will be the one who can get Sophia to surrender to her inhibitions.





Make Believe Submissive by Daisy Philips



When the Kinky Book Club relocates to the restaurant Maggie owns, she's fascinated by the D/s lifestyle. When they offer her a chance to visit the club, she talks her fiancé Rick into going, thinking it will be fun for a night.



Rick gave up the lifestyle when he fell in love with a vanilla woman. Maggie may be playing the role of a submissive, but he is not pretending to be a Dom.



Will their visit to Club Hades reawaken a need he thought he'd buried? Can Maggie change from being a make-believe submissive to the real deal?







Under His Protection by Doris O’Connor



Jacqui Page doesn’t know where to look when her birthday surprise turns out to be a visit to the local BDSM club. Especially when she spots the one man she’s been secretively lusting after for months. Lukas Markz can’t believe his eyes when his shy-goody-two-shoes-next door neighbor turns up at his club dressed as every Dom’s wet dream. The silly girl has no idea what she’s up against. Just as well she’s under his protection. If only he could keep his hands off of her.





Broken by Julia Sykes



Gwen may bartend at Dark Grove Plantation BDSM club, but she sure as hell doesn’t participate in the kinky acts going on around her. Not anymore. She’s been hurt too many times before.



But everything changes when sexy Dom Damien shows up at Dark Grove and locks his sights on her. He senses her submissive nature and is intrigued when she rebuffs his advances. Determined to take on the challenge, Damien resolves that Gwen will submit to him, no matter what it takes.



Can she resist the unbending Dom who is determined to help her heal? Or will she remain broken?





The Sub That Got Away by Amy J. Hawthorn



Dr. Ember Ross dedicated her life to caring for her patients, always putting her needs last—including her need for submission.



Royce Damron has everything he could want in life. The only thing he lacks? The perfect sub.



When mutual friends use a new BDSM dating site to set them up, a clueless Royce takes things one step further, intending to keep their encounter an anonymous one-night stand. Unaware the woman he’s spent years pining for waits beneath the hood he insisted she wear, will he miss the sub that got away?





In His Hands by Raven McAllan



In Monsoon season in Hong Kong, anything can happen…Even so, the last thing Caness Clacher expected was to meet a Dom. The very man who made her want to sink to her knees and say, ‘Yes, Sir’. Unbeknown to her Patrick Lim had waited a long time to claim Caness as his sub. Without electricity and with a monsoon raging, it’s time to explore their desires. Will the elements work in their favor or not… Only time—and a scene—will tell.





Indulge by Sherri Hayes



Logan Mattson has been dating Lily Adams for a year and he wants to do something special for their anniversary. What better way to celebrate than to take her away for the weekend and indulge in all her kinky desires?





Submitting To Temptation by Jan Graham



Accepting a positions at her brother’s law firm seemed like a great way for Susan to get back on her feet after a nasty divorce. That was until she met junior partner, Blake Daniels, a man who personifies everything Susan ran away from when she left the BDSM scene years ago—Dominance. Blake is a patient man, and it’s a good thing he is because waiting for Susan Dean is driving him to distraction. Susan is a submissive, he’s sure of it, but getting her to admit that fact is harder than he envisioned. When Blake decides it’s time to make his move, Susan has no option but to admit her true nature and submit to his tempting ways.





Fire and Ice (An Excerpt from KNOTTED) by Juliet Braddock



What happens when a blizzard immobilizes Manhattan on Valentine’s Day…and a sassy little sub is stuck in her Dungeon with her beloved Dom? With candlelight and a roaring fire to keep them warm on this frigid afternoon, sparks fly between Maxine and Drew as he attempts to cool her down with a bit of tantalizing tenderness…




Yes, Justin (Expanded Edition) by Michele Zurlo



After fifteen years and two kids, the romance has fled from Trish’s marriage. When a friend introduces her to BDSM, she decides it’s what she wants—to have her body and soul mastered by a man who is completely focused on her. And that’s not her husband, whose life revolves around his career.

Justin isn’t shocked when he finds out his wife is planning to cheat on him. They’ve been drifting apart for years, and he hates it. He’ll carry out her kidnap fantasy, fulfill her desire to be dominated, and force her to confront the reasons she wanted to be there in the first place.










Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Red Hot Heroes for Veteran's Day

 
This Veteran's Day,
find home in the heart of our heroes with Broken Surrender,
part of the Red Hot Heroes multi-author series
and stands alone for reading enjoyment.
Surrender Series
a Menage Romance series
By: Lori King

 
In the small town of Stone River, Texas, there’s no such thing as too much love. A unique variety of acceptance abounds, and the number of menage relationships is growing. Everyone is welcome, so come on in, and surrender to a cowboy…

 

Weekend Surrender

Flawless Surrender

Primal Surrender

Broken Surrender

 

 
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Broken Surrender

Surrender Series 4

 
One bullet made it physically impossible for Sarah Bryant to fulfill her dreams of a military career. With her family’s sympathy suffocating her, she escapes to Stone River, Texas, determined to rebuild a life and maybe find a new dream.

Silas and Jeremy are two brothers who are as different as Texas is big. One is an adrenaline fueled former Army medic, the other is a laid back tow truck business owner. The two things they have in common? They know they want to live life in a ménage relationship, and Sarah is the woman for them.

Sarah has too many doubts about herself to believe she can be enough for one man let alone two. Can these souls find what they need to grow together, or will they leave more emotional scars to match their physical ones?

 

 

  Preorder Links
 

  

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Excerpt

 
“So what have you been up to since you recovered?”

The question caught her off guard. No one had ever referred to her as recovered before. Everyone still saw her as an injured vet, but in all honesty, she was as healed as she would ever be, and she hated the idea that she was in the world’s memory banks as disabled.

“I…um…well, nothing really at the moment. The VA set me up as one hundred percent service connected, so I at least get my medical bills covered, and a little bit of money every month. That’s been enough for now. I came down here for a job, but that fell through. I’m not sure what I’m going to do next. Just floating along until I figure it out.” She pushed her now lukewarm beer aside. “How about you? What are you doing besides rescuing damsels in distress?”

He grinned at her joke before responding. “Not much sadly. Casey and I divorced after I got back stateside, and I moved back here to room with Jeremy. He owns his own towing company. The man might be a whiz at business, but he’s a terrible housekeeper, so I pretty much spend my evenings playing housewife to my brother. I guess we both ended up in places we’d never imagined, huh?”

“Truth. I thought I’d spend a couple decades serving, and then retire out with a star on my shoulder.” Admitting the truth to someone stung, but she found Silas easy to talk to. She’d already spilled most of her heartache, whatever else she said wouldn’t much matter at this point.

“I don’t remember what I saw for myself when I enlisted, but I know it wasn’t what I got. Military life sounded a lot more exciting than it was,” he said with a chuckle.

“What? You mean you don’t miss bunking in the elements, carrying eighty pound packs, and fighting to survive with sand in your eyes?” she asked, pretending to be shocked.

“Nope, but I do miss the guys. We had a lot of fun over there. In between bullets and IEDs of course.”

“Of course. Goes without saying. I miss it, but it doesn’t do me any good looking back. I can’t change what is.”

Silas watched her for a few moments silently and then nodded as if he’d decided to accept her answer. There was a weird crackle of tension between them as they stared at each other, and then he sat back in his chair and smiled.

“Whatever it was that happened to get you to Stone River, I have to say I’m thankful. It’s good to see a familiar face. Especially a pretty one.”

Her cheeks grew hot, but she laughed his compliment off. “I never thought I’d run into anyone I knew around here, but I have to admit, it’s been good to see you, too. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.”

“Me either. Hey, you know my brother and I are going out to a friend’s house for a barbecue Friday night. Why don’t you come along? You can meet some more folks from around here, and make some friends.”

She almost said yes just to see his smile again, but then she remembered herself and shook her head. “I’m not much for parties anymore. I can’t sit still for too long without my back hurting, and I hate having to explain why I’m leaving early.”

“Then don’t. Jeremy and I will pick you up on our way out, and when you’re ready to leave we’ll just blame it on him.”

She couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up, and she shook her head. “You’re terrible.”

“The worst, but you’ll learn to love me,” he countered with a serious glint in his eye that had her mind dredging up all kinds of implications in his words. “Say you’ll come. I won’t leave it alone, so you may as well agree.”

“Okay! Fine. I’ll come, but don’t be surprised if your friends think I’m stuck up. That’s generally what people assume when someone’s always wandering off and bailing out early.”

“They’re gonna love you,” he assured her. “How could they not?”

Pushing back her chair, she rose and picked up her purse. “Thanks Silas, for the beer and the memories. It’s been fun.”

“I’ll walk you out.” He started to stand, and she stopped him with one hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you anyway, but I’m perfectly capable. My car’s barely twenty feet outside the door, and besides, this is as small as small towns get.” She squeezed his shoulder, and then released him.

“Okay, but I want it noted that I protested. If my mama knew I’d let a woman walk to her car alone, she’d crawl out of her grave and beat me with a willow branch.”

“Duly noted, Sarge,” she teased, clenching her fist to resist saluting him.

“We’ll pick you up at seven Friday night, Sarah,” he reminded her. She waved, but kept walking. Maybe between now and Friday she’d come up with a good reason to turn him down. At the moment, all she could think of was, I can’t go because you make my insides quiver, and somehow she didn’t think that excuse would work.

 

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Lori’s Bio

 
Best-selling author, Lori King, is also a full-time wife and mother of three boys. Although she rarely has time to just enjoy feminine pursuits; at heart she is a hopeless romantic. She spends her days dreaming up Alpha men, and her nights telling their stories. An admitted TV and book junkie, she can be found relaxing with a steamy story, or binging in an entire season of some show online. She gives her parents all the credit for her unique sense of humor and acceptance of all forms of love. There are no two loves alike, but you can love more than one with your whole heart.

 
With the motto: Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance, she will continue to write as long as you continue to read. Thank you for taking the time to indulge in a good Happily Ever After with her.
 
 Find out more about her current projects at http://lorikingbooks.com,
 
or look her up on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoriKingBooks