Swept Away Valentine’s Blog Hop

Posted by admin on Feb 14, 2013 | 20 comments

Happy Valentine’s Day and welcome to Day One of the Swept Away Valentine’s Day Blog Hop.

First is the give-away side of business.I have two…that’s right TWO books to publish next week and you could win one of them. Deadly Shades of Gold, book two in the Altered States Series or Perfect, a Tavish Black Fantasy-where two best friends find that the perfect match may be a lot closer than either of them expects.

The rules are simple enough…leave a comment and be in the drawing for your choice. Winners for those books will be announced on February 18. Make sure to tell me which book you want and leave an email address.

Since today is Valentine’s Day, I think we should have a special give away, just for today…

One of the most enduring themes in romance is the idea that there is someone out there who is just perfect for each of us. A soul mate just waiting to be discovered.

In Triple Threat, Zachary believes he has found that person-the one who is his perfect match in every way. Zach used to work as the manager and resident Dom at Master Archer’s BDSM club, Wilde Sides. Despite their dominant nature’s, the two men eventually found the relationship that worked for them and everything was perfect. They sold the clubs and began a unique salvage business. If you lost something of extreme value, and couldn’t or wouldn’t want to go through more traditional channels to get it back- Archer and Zach are your men. And all it will cost is one half the value of what they recover.

Life is good, or so Zach believes until he comes home one day to discover Archer has made some alternative arrangements…

Excerpt one…

I stood on the balcony outside the solarium and watched as the head gardener directed a larger than normal crew. With only a week until party time, they worked on trimming branches, replenishing the beds, and stringing white fairy lights from the trees in our park-like ten acres.

The twenty-four hours since our meeting with the client had passed in a whirlwind of meetings with caterers, florists, and a local security company to arrange valet parking with a little extra kick. Archer’s excitement was palpable, which intrigued me. It had been a long time since he’d been so involved in the BDSM club scene and even longer since he’d thrown a party. He was sparing no expense and if I didn’t know better, he could almost be setting up opening night at a new club.

I smiled at the memory. It was hard to believe it had been nearly fifteen years since—

“Penny for your thoughts,” Archer said. His arms wrapped around me from behind, and he rested his chin on my head. I wasn’t a small man, but when Archer wrapped me up and surrounded me with his tall, lithe body, I felt…home.

“I was remembering how excited you were when you opened your first club.”

“I think my excitement stemmed from the swarthy, sexy Dom I hired to be the club manager.”

I laughed. “Yeah, some Dom I turned out to be. One look from you and I was ready to roll over and beg for it.”

Archer turned me around to face him. Cupping my face in his hands, his long, slender fingers stroked my jaw, the blue-green eyes turned stormy under heavy lids. “It took me three years to convince you and it’s only for me, Zachary. Only for me.”

My knees nearly gave way at the possessive hunger on his face. “Yes, Sir.” God, how this man turned me inside out.

His mouth claimed mine in a quick hard kiss, before he released me and stepped back. “You need to go, love.”

Damn.

 

Excerpt two…

Taking the steps two at a time, I moved quickly, hands lose by my side, unsure of what to expect. Yes, the logical part of my brain knew we’d been conducting all sorts of meetings in preparation for the party, but it was completely uncharacteristic of Archer to meet with anyone unless I was nearby.

The foyer looked almost normal…if I didn’t count the five strange men standing in a loose group near the doorway of the formal living room. As one, they turned and watched me cross the marble floor. I stepped inside, pulling the heavy oak door closed behind me, ignoring the murmured greetings of the strangers.

“Hey,” I said, masking my concern once I saw Archer across the room, staring out the window, apparently undisturbed.

Turning, Archer’s smile was easy, and relief washed through me. I went straight into his arms and stood, breathing him in.

“Miss me?” he asked. The pleasure in his voice was evident. He liked when my need for him spilled over.

“Always. What’s going on?” I tilted my head in the direction of the foyer, leaving little doubt about the meaning of my question.

“I was conducting a few preliminary interviews.”

“Interviews for what, honey? Did I forget a meeting?” This had all the earmarks of a conversation that was not going to make me happy.

“No, no, not at all. These men are here to interview for a personal assistant position.”

“Personal Assistant? But, that’s my job, love.”

Archer stepped away from the embrace and took my hand, leading me to sit beside him on the couch. “I’ve been thinking about this for some time, I just wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I thought surprise would be best.”

A slow burn started deep in my gut and I wondered if I was going throw up right here or if I’d be able to hold on long enough to get to the bathroom. I locked my jaw against the questions that fought to be asked. His play—I would wait.

“I see.” I don’t know why I said that—stalling for time, I guess. This simply wasn’t possible.

Archer smiled, as if pleased by my reasonableness. “Walker already drew up the necessary papers, with legal protection for both sides. The compensation is more than adequate.” He patted my hand.

I’d never seen it coming. To say I was stunned was an understatement of epic proportions. Devastated. Shattered. Dying. Yeah, those worked better. Realizing there was really nothing for me to say, I stood, suddenly anxious to get going. If this ended here, then I needed to leave before I lost it completely.

“Zachary?”

I shook my head and left. I made it two steps before Archer caught my arm in a strong grip and jerked me around to face him.

“Zachary? Did something happen while you were gone? I should have asked if everything went all right on your interviews, but—Jesus.” With his hands still tight on my wrists, he examined my face. I blinked furiously against the sudden stinging in my eyes.

“Zach…baby…what’s the matter? Are you hurt?”

I tried to turn away so I wouldn’t see the stormy blue-green eyes, the face I knew better than my own. I had no words…I just wanted to be gone. Yeah, I was acting like a fucking girl. So what? This man had been my life for the last fifteen years.

There was a long pause before Archer’s grip on my arm loosened and I jerked back. Long, strong fingers seized my jaw and tilted my chin up. “Look at me.”

The deep rumble in his voice compelled me to do as ordered. His face had gone pale, the tic at the corner of his left eye and the tight muscles of his jaw showed me just how truly angry Archer was. For a long minute, neither of us moved. Then on a sigh, he pulled me to him and enveloped me in his arms, holding me so tight I struggled to breathe.

“Never. I will never let you go. You are mine. Dear God, Zachary, don’t you know that after all this time?”

“But I thought—” My gaze cut to the door, thinking about the men waiting outside… “You said there were legal documents and compensation. And what the hell? I’m your personal assistant. I thought—”

 

Want to know more? Let me know in your comment that you’d like a chance at today’s drawing-and be sure to check back tomorrow for a chance to win a different book!

Be sure to visit all the participating authors for more great blogs and leave a comment at each site for a chance to win! The Blog Hop Spot