Roni Loren, Author

Must-Read Monday: Another Screenwriting Gem For Writers

Roni Loren — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:48:45 +0000

Typically, I reserve Must-Read Monday for fiction and non-writing related books. However, I'm making an exception today because this one is so darn good.

If you've followed me for a while, you know I'm a big fan of writing craft books. And in particular, I'm in love with books on screenwriting because I find that those techniques have clicked with my pantser brain more than anything else. I'm practically religious about Save the Cat. So anytime, I pick up a new screenwriting book, I'm hopeful, but usually am not expecting to find anything as helpful as Cat.

Well, weekend before last, I attended DFW Con both to teach and go to classes. And one of the classes I attended was Screenwriting for Writers by Lou Anders. It was definitely the most helpful class I attended all weekend. And one of the books the presentation was based on was My Story Can Beat Up Your Story by Jeffrey Alan Schechter.

I came home and immediately ordered the book and gobbled it up in a few days. It's one of those books that has so many great nuggets of information that I feel like I can't hold it all in my head at once. I'm now going back through it and making notes and worksheets from the information so that I can add it to my pre-writing routine. (This is the point where I delude myself into thinking I'll one day be able to plot before I write the book.) But whether you're a pantser like me or a seasoned plotter, I think this book has a lot to offer. And reviews seem to back me up. Out of 55 reviews, 51 are 5-stars and 4 are 4-stars. That's impressive.

AND it's on Kindle right now for a mere $3.03 (for some reason, it's not available in Nook - boo). I bought it in print because I prefer my craft books in paper so that I can flip through and reference easily, so that's a bit pricier at $15.45 but still well worth it.

And if you want to read about my other must-have writing craft books, I list my faves here.

Has anyone else read this one? Anyone else a sucker for a good screenwriting book? What's your favorite book on craft?

Name a Character in a Loving on the Edge Book!

Roni Loren — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:13:46 +0000

Just wanted to pop in and let y'all know about the Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes Research. Each year the auction has the best prizes from the literary world. It's a great cause and great fun.

And this year, I'm offering an opportunity to name a character in one of my Loving on the Edge books (most likely in Kade's story, NEED YOU TONIGHT, or Colby's story.) You can use your own name or pick another. It's up to you! But the winner will get to see their chosen name in print. And if you have a special request, like your character gets a hug from Jace or one of the other guys, I can try to work with that.

So who doesn't want that? ;) AND it's for a terrific cause. You also get signed copies of my first three books (which is a 45.00 value all by itself.)

Here's the info if you'd like to bid on the prize:

Have a character named after you (or the person of your choice) in a future Loving on the Edge book by Roni Loren (one of the 2014 releases). Plus, receive signed print copies of CRASH INTO YOU, MELT INTO YOU, and FALL INTO YOU.

CLICK HERE TO BID

NOT UNTIL YOU Cover Reveals!

Roni Loren — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:54:26 +0000

So it's only a little over a month away until my first e-serial, NOT UNTIL YOU, comes out. And finally, I have covers to share with you. Yay for covers!

So here they are. I wanted something young and modern since this is the first college-aged heroine I've written. I love the black, white, and red theme.

What do you think?

And here's the blurb for Part 1 out June 11th!

Not Until You: Part I

NOT UNTIL YOU DARE

From the author of the Loving on the Edge novels comes a story of a good girl who discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it’s hard to turn back…

On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of Never Have I Ever with the two hot neighbors she’s been quietly crushing on for the last year. Always the prim and proper student, Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn...

Ian Foster is tired of playing games. With his membership to The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM resort, and a musician roommate who brings home groupies with a taste for ménage, Foster has a life most guys would kill for. But lately, his need for dominance is no longer satisfied via one-night stands. He craves the full surrender a woman—a submissive of his own.

But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling…

Ready to pre-order? Come on, I'll lurve you forever. :) Nook | Kindle

Must-Read Monday: After Hours by Cara McKenna

Roni Loren — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:35:30 +0000

I know I've been bombarding you with old school romance picks lately for Must-Read Monday, so I thought today I'd feature a new release-- Cara McKenna's After Hours.

Here's the blurb:

A dangerous infatuation with a rough and ready man…

Erin Coffey has been a nurse for years, but nothing’s prepared her for the physical and emotional demands of her new position. Needing to move closer to her dysfunctional family, she takes a dangerous job at Larkhaven Psychiatric Hospital, where she quickly learns that she needs protection—and she meets the strong, over-confident coworker who’s more than willing to provide it.

Kelly Robak is the type of guy that Erin has sworn she’d never get involved with. She’s seen firsthand, via her mess of a sister, what chaos guys like him can bring into a woman’s life. But she finds herself drawn to him anyway, even when he shows up at her door, not eager to take no for an answer.

What Erin finds even more shocking than Kelly’s indecent proposal is how much she enjoys submitting to his every command. But he can’t play the tough guy indefinitely. If they want to have more than just an affair, both will have to open up and reveal what they truly need.

And here's my Goodreads review...

After Hours by Cara McKenna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read Cara McKenna before and enjoyed her writing, so when I saw this one was about mental health workers, I had to pick it up. My first job as a social worker was at a mental health hospital, so I could relate to the heroine's fears about her new job. I primarily worked with children, but I had to train for a few days on the locked men's ward and went through the restraint training like this heroine, and it definitely was intimidating. So on setting alone, the author did a great job of making it realistic and not falling into the stereotypes of what an inpatient ward would be like.

Also, she did a lovely job of telling this story through a gritty lens. This story takes place in a small town but it's not the typical town of small town romances where everybody is nosy and cheerful, and where main street is full of flower boxes and ice scream shops. This is a dive town struggling to keep its footing after manufacturing days gone by. If this were a movie, I'd picture it being filmed with the kind of camera they use on The Walking Dead--kind of painted in faded greens and grays.

However, despite the slightly depressing backdrop (which I liked, frankly), the hero and heroine of this book are in full color. They both have angst and issues of course, but really, they're very sweet with each other. And funny. I love my erotic romance with a fat dose of wry humor and this definitely had that. Plus, I can't resist a filthy-talking hero like Kelly. Kelly is all alpha, dominant, and unapologetic about it. The heroine struggles with reconciling her feminist ideals with Kelly's macho ones, but the clash of them together is where all the fun is. Two thumbs up. :)

View all my reviews

Note: This one is available in ebook only.

Anyone else read this one yet? What do you think of gritty settings or tones in a romance?

A Writing Book Worth Adding To Your Library

Roni Loren — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:30:21 +0000

So it's no secret that I'm kind of a glutton for writing tips, techniques, and insight. It's one of the reasons I maintained a blog for writers for over two years and still have the occasional post on writing here. There's always more to discover. I can never learn enough about this thing that I do for a living. (And maybe secretly I'm hoping to run across that tip that makes this whole crazy writing process easier. Ha! See, I'm delusional as well.)

So even though I have a shelf full of books on craft already, I do occasionally let myself wander to the writing section at the local Barnes and Noble. This usually results in hours sitting on the floor in front of that section, skimming the books until I find the ones that I can't put down. This past weekend, I had a little time and went on a bit of a shopping spree, buying three new writing books. (I was supposed to be shopping for clothes. That didn't go so well.)

I've only made it through one of the three pictured above so far, but I wanted to share that one with you.

The Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises

Blurb:

Successfully starting and finishing a publishable novel is often like fighting a series of battles. You not only have to work hard to shape memorable characters, develop gripping plots, and craft dazzling dialogue, but you also have to fight against self-doubts and fears. And then there's the challenge of learning to navigate the ever-changing publishing industry.

That's why best-selling novelist James Scott Bell, author of the Write Great Fiction staples Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing, came up with the ultimate novel-writing battle plan: The Art of War for Writers.

You'll find tactics and strategies for idea generation and development, character building, plotting, drafting, querying and submitting, dealing with rejection, coping with unrealistic expectations, and much more.

With timeless, innovative, and concise writing reflections and techniques, The Art of War for Writers is your roadmap to victory.

This was a quick read but it was full of wisdom for both new and experienced writers. Like I said in my review below, I pretty much love everything James Scott Bell has to say. If you're not following him on The Kill Zone, fix that now. : )

Here's my Goodreads review...

The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm discovering that I just kind of love everything James Scott Bell has to say about writing. His advice is always to the point and eminently practical, and he gives great examples to boot. This is an easy, fast read but it's filled with great nuggets of wisdom. The last section is more focused on writers who are still aspiring to publication. But I found the first two parts, especially the section focused on craft to be chock full of tips I wanted to write on index cards and pin up around my office. A great addition to any writer's craft library.

View all my reviews

For other suggestions on some of my favorite craft books, check out this post: Twelve Writer Woes and the Books to Cure Them

What's your favorite book on writing? Or which craft book have you gotten invaluable information from?

Must-Read Monday: A Movie Star, A Kidnapping, & 90s-tastic-ness

Roni Loren — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:44:50 +0000

Perfect by Judith McNaught

So if you follow my blog, you know that I've been going through a phase where I'm reading old school romance from the 80s and 90s to catch up on some of the classics I missed out on. Well, when I reviewed Judith McNaught's Whitney, My Love, I had a ton of people tell me, "You must read Perfect!" (Paradise also got lots of mentions, but I haven't gotten to that one yet.) So I decided to give Perfect, which is one of her contemporaries, a try. And I'm so glad I did.

Here's the blurb:

A rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned.

Zachary Benedict was an actor/director whose Academy Award-winning career had been shattered when he was wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. After the tall, ruggedly handsome Zack escaped from a Texas prison, he abducted Julie and forced her to drive him to his Colorado mountain hideout. She was outraged, cautious, and unable to ignore the instincts that whispered of his innocence. He was cynical, wary, and increasingly attracted to her. Passion was about to capture them both in its fierce embrace...but the journey to trust, true commitment, and proving Zack's innocence was just beginning....

Now, what I'm loving about these older romances is how epic they feel. As writers, we can't get away with loads of backstory anymore. We have to get to the present action immediately and carefully drop in character history here and there. The style has changed. Back in the 90s, it seems that authors often started early in the character timeline. We see them in their childhood or teen years for a chapter or three. Then it jumps ahead to another pivotal moment in their lives, then the present. I think Perfect had about 80 pages of backstory and set up before we got to the present story. But it wasn't boring, "This happened long ago." Instead it's written as the present and filled with action. So it works for me. Plus, this book is long, almost 700 pages, so the author had more room to give us all that information. And the result is that you feel seriously attached to the characters throughout the story because you feel like you've known them since they were kids.

And boy was I attached to these characters and their HEA because when the black moment came, gah, I was torn up. I almost couldn't read because my head was screaming the dramatic, "Noooooo!" and I didn't want to watch it all fall apart. >.< Any author that can make me feel that involved, like these people are real and this is not just a story, gets a gold star from me. And she does give you like a 100pg HEA so she tries to make up for all that anguish she put you through by laying on the happiness with a heavy hand. :)

Also, as a bonus, this book is from the early 90s and about a movie star, so there are cameo appearances by stars of that day, including Patrick Swayze (my very first celebrity crush.) And I had to chuckle at some of the 90s stuff like the heroine popping up her collar or the house being decorated in mauve, green, and brass. Also, because it's old school romance, there was a bit of a "forced seduction" scene where I wanted to smack the hero for being an asshat. But I realize that was acceptable hero behavior in older romances.

But overall, I really loved this book and felt like I went on a real journey. Here's my review on Goodreads:

Perfect by Judith McNaught
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a Judith McNaught that many people told me was their all-time favorite. I'm glad I listened to them. I love how she writes books that show characters from the pivotal moments in their childhoods and brings you forward in time. It gives the stories an epic feel and you're totally emotionally involved with the characters because you feel like you've known them so long.

And speaking of emotions, I have to say the "black moment" of this book gutted me. I felt like I needed to go cuddle puppies or something to make me feel better. Guh. It's a feat to make me feel that bleak about a couple's outcome when I *know* it's a romance and I *know* there will be an HEA eventually. I wanted to scream, "No!" and look away, hoping it wouldn't really happen. Yes, I know it's fiction. But good fiction makes you forget that it isn't real and this one did that. My only minor quibble is that the heroine seemed a little too perfect and without flaw. I know that's the title of the book, and the heroine had her reasons for being a model citizen/person but everyone has some flaws and no one is always that self-sacrificing.

Definitely one to add to your shelf, especially if you like epic, old school romance.

View all my reviews

So what Must-Read have you read lately?

UK & Australian Readers: FALL INTO YOU is now available in ebook!

Roni Loren — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:02:59 +0000

Good news! I know a lot of you from outside the U.S. have been asking when FALL INTO YOU will be available in ebook. It's always a complicated answer because of the way foreign rights work with the publisher. And I honestly never know when the ebook will be released. It's usually delayed 6-12 months post U.S. release. But I'm happy to report that FALL INTO YOU has gotten here faster.

So you can now purchase ebook versions in the UK and Australia. Thanks for being patient, and I hope you enjoy the book!

Check it out: Kindle UK version

First Look: Chapter One of CAUGHT UP IN YOU!

Roni Loren — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:59:34 +0000

I've had a few reader requests lately to give a sneak peek of Wyatt and Kelsey's story, CAUGHT UP IN YOU, which is releasing in August. I'm really excited about this story. It's probably my sweetest, most romantic story I've written so far. Not that it isn't sexy and erotic as well, but I felt these two needed over the top, 80s movie-style romance. : )

So without further rambling, here's the first part of chapter one. To read the whole thing click the link at the bottom...

Chapter 1 of Caught Up In You

*18 and over only*

“You know, picturing someone naked this early in the morning isn’t good for your health.”

Kelsey LeBreck leaned forward to get a better view through the kitchen’s pass-through, smirking at Nathan’s jab but not tearing her gaze away from her subject. “Hush and keep flipping his eggs.”

But of course her co-worker ignored that command. “I mean, think how long you’ll have to wait before you can get home to your vibrator and imagine Mr. Tall, Dark, and Loaded rocking your world. You’re going to be so pent up and distracted, you’ll screw up everyone’s order.”

“I do that anyway.” Except his. Never his. Though, that wasn’t really an accomplishment, considering he always ordered the same thing.

“Yet you still get better tips than Chandra.”

“I’m charming that way.” And desperate. When that tip meant the difference between being able to pay for a tank of gas instead of riding the bus, she could channel so much sunshine and sweetness, even the grumpiest customer couldn’t be mad at her for long.

“Are the muffins ready to go in yet? Darryl’s going to be here any minute and you know how he gets if shit is late.”

“Working on it.” Kelsey blindly stirred her muffin batter as she watched Wyatt Austin adjust his glasses, fold his newspaper just so, and then spread out a stack of documents on the table in front of him. He had a way of moving that was somehow graceful and efficient all at once. Like he’d figured out the most streamlined way to do each and every thing so that he could fit the maximum amount of work into every minute of the day.

And maybe he had. God knows his schedule was more predict- able than the sunrise. At six fifteen every weekday morning, he would walk in the cafe with his newspaper tucked under his arm and his own travel mug of coffee. He’d sit at the same table in the far corner, the one that provided him both a view of the television on the wall and the least amount of glare for his laptop screen. She knew that only because she’d finally asked him one day why he chose that booth all the time. When she’d joked that he sat there because it was her section, he’d just offered that enigmatic smile of his—one that had promptly made her forget the last order she’d taken from the table before him.

“You need to stop torturing yourself,” Nathan said from be- hind her, the sizzle of the griddle playing soundtrack in the back- ground. “From what I’ve heard, the suit doesn’t date. And he’s not gay either. Believe me, I’d be the one serving him eggs and sausage if he were.”

She snorted and finally looked back at Nathan. “Sausage? You’re going with that one, really?”

He held his arms out to his sides and gave her a come-on-how- could-I-pass-that-up look.

“How do you even know this stuff? And you, with the fetish for skater boys, would go after Wyatt Austin, CEO-in-training? Please.”

“I love the shit out of that strong, silent type. They’re usually crazy good in the sack. Like they’re saving up all that intensity just for you.” He shrugged and turned over a row of bacon with his spatula. “And money never hurt anybody. I’m not above being a kept man.”

“You’re a top.”

“And so are you, baby girl. But that hasn’t stopped you from your mad, passionate love affair with Mr. In Charge.”

She sighed and turned back to her batter, grabbing a ladle so she could scoop it into the muffin tins. It was a mad, passionate love affair. He was the absolute perfect boyfriend for her right now. Delicious to look at, panty-dampening to fantasize about, and completely and utterly unattainable.

Nathan set a plate next to her and slid the egg white omelet and two slices of turkey bacon onto it. “Order up. Now, if you’re not going to give up on this crush, why don’t you take this plate over there and ask the guy out?”

She spun to face him, muffin tray in her hand. “Did you forget to take your meds today? I’m a waitress and wannabe baker. His family owns an entire company.”

“So the fuck what? He has more money than you. Big deal. Doesn’t mean he’s better than you. In fact, he’d be a damn lucky bastard to get a date with you. Hell, I’d take you out just to get these secret muffin recipes of yours.”

She handed the pan to him, picked up Wyatt’s plate, and kissed Nathan’s cheek. “Thanks, hon. But if I’ve learned one lesson in life, it’s that fantasy is always better than reality.”

He gave her a sly smile. “But fantasy can’t have breakfast in bed with you the next morning.”

No. But it also couldn’t break your heart.

Or break her.

Kelsey turned on her heel and pushed through the kitchen’s swinging door. Time to serve breakfast to her imaginary boyfriend.

CLICK TO READ THE REST OF CHAPTER ONE (and to get a peek inside Wyatt's head)

If you want to be awesome, you can pre-order it now. :) Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Contemporary Romance Reader Chat with the RITA Finalists tonight - Join me!

Roni Loren — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:18:48 +0000

So for those of you who didn't see my announcement, MELT INTO YOU is up for a RITA award for Best Contemporary Romance! (I'm still squeeing.)

And tonight, RWA is hosting a free reader event to chat with the finalists in my category. I'd love it if y'all joined me. (Hey, you'll get to see me looking awkward on a web cam - I mean that's worth DVR-ing American Idol and visiting with us instead, right?)

Here are the details from RWA:

Chat with 2013 RITA^® Finalists: the RITA Reader Series

Romance Writers of America® (RWA) is launching an 11-week series of interactive video chat events highlighting 2013 RITA Award finalist authors. Fans will have the unique opportunity to meet one another and ask their favorite authors questions face-to-face in an intimate online environment at Shindig.com.

The series kicks off Thursday, April 11, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with RITA finalists in the Contemporary Single Title Romance category. RSVP today to chat with Barbara Freethy, Barbara Hannay, Ruthie Knox, Kim Law, Roni Loren, Jill Shalvis, and Roxanne St. Claire—all from the comfort of your PC or Mac. One lucky participant will win a copy of each of the 2013 RITA Contemporary Single Title Romance finalist books.

The events are free to the public, and only 1,000 spots are available at each of the weekly events.

Visit http://www.rwa.org/RITAchat to view the schedule of upcoming events, and RSVP for the Contemporary Single Title finalists chat at http://shindig.com/event/rwacontemporarysingle.

Don't forget to tell your friends who love contemporary romance about the event!

Follow RWA on Twitter @romancewriters (#RITAchat hashtag) during the chats.

And here are the finalists' books:

I kind of love how out of place my cover looks amongst the others. Yay for an erotic finally making it in! Especially with such esteemed company.

Hope to see y'all there! : )

A Sexy Sneak Peek from NOT UNTIL YOU!

Roni Loren — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:20:09 +0000

Photo via Mixxula (Flickr CC)Guess what's only two months away? The release of my e-serial NOT UNTIL YOU! I can't believe it's almost here already. I'm really excited about this story and this format. It's my first time writing something in serial format, my first time writing a college-aged/New Adult heroine, and the first time I'm using first person POV for the heroine.

So I thought today I'd give you an inside look into the story. This is an exceprt from NOT UNTIL YOU Part I: NOT UNTIL YOU DARE. And if you'd like to pre-order the first part (Nook or Kindle), I'd not mind at all. ;)

NOT UNTIL YOU DARE Excerpt

Foster watched Cela’s throat work as she sipped her margarita. The club was in full swing, but Pike had used his connections to get them a table on the balcony so that they could all have a drink and talk without the music drowning them out.

This kind of club wasn’t usually Foster’s speed. Too loud. Too crowded. If he was going to go out, he usually drove to The Ranch where true privacy could be had if needed. But when Pike had suggested dancing, Foster couldn’t resist the thought of having Cela’s body pressed against his, the scent of her swirling around him.

But unless Cela relaxed, they were going to be cemented to these chairs all night. Her salt-rimmed drink sloshed precariously in her unsteady hand as she sent the tables nearby a darting glance and sipped. If he said “boo”, she’d probably leap off her seat.

Way to go, genius, he chided himself. It was his and Pike’s job to make sure Cela had fun tonight, and they were reaching epic fail status quickly.

Pike was at least trying to put her at ease. “So how long do you have before you move back home?”

“I’m going to help out in the clinic at the vet school for a few more weeks. I’ve been interning there this year, and I wanted to make sure they had a replacement for me before I left. So before the end of June.”

“Wow, that soon, huh?” Pike asked.

She looked at her drink and seemed to sink into her thoughts. “Yeah.”

Damn, they needed to turn this night around quickly. Cela seemed to be getting more morose instead of relaxed. Enough sitting around. He didn’t have Pike’s talent for settling women with humor and the occasional off color comment. If he said half the stuff Pike did, his face would be permanently marked from angry slaps. But he did have one potent tool in his arsenal—one that only worked on a special type of woman. And all his God-given instincts were telling him Cela was exactly that kind of girl, his kind of girl. Even if she didn’t know it yet. Time to do what he’d been wanting to do since he’d first met his shy neighbor.

He reached out and plucked the glass from her hands. “Stand up, Cela.”

She turned toward him and blinked as if to clear her vision of some afterimage. “What?”

He stood. “Up. Now.”

She glanced at Pike with a what’s-going-on look but rose to her feet anyhow.

“Thank you.” He stepped around the small cocktail table to stand in front of her, using his height advantage to the fullest. “Look at me.”

Her head tilted upward without hesitation—like he’d tugged a string attached to her chin.

Good girl, his mind whispered. But he shoved the instinctual response to the back of his brain. “We brought you here to have a good time tonight.”

Her lips rolled inward, nervously smoothing her lip gloss, and she took a breath. “I know. I want that, too.”

“Good.” He glanced at Pike, who was watching the exchange with deceptively casual interest. Pike gave a barely perceptible nod, somehow always in tune with Foster’s thoughts, and climbed out his chair. He moved behind Cela with easy confidence and slid his hands along her waist.

She jolted a bit at the touch, a flush creeping over the skin exposed by her V-cut neckline, but she held Foster’s eye contact.

“You’re shutting down on us.” Foster reached out and cupped her face, running a finger along her cheekbone. “I need you to let go of the nerves. You have no reason to be anxious around us.”

She scoffed, then bit her lip when she realized the sound had escaped.

Pike smiled over her shoulder and moved in closer, pulling her gently against his chest, swaying a bit to the music. Foster knew this would be the make or break moment. She’d either jump in with both feet or shrink back into her shell like a hermit crab. But he was done trying to resist his urges with her.

So far, she was responding just as he’d hoped, the submissive undercurrent almost a taste on his tongue. The desire to take control, to take her over, surged inside him like lifeblood. His dominance could calm her. “You’re safe with us. Neither of us would ever make you do something you don’t want to do. Understand?”

Her gaze shifted, and he could see her body going rigid. Her fight or flight was kicking in—which only served to activate his chase and conquer gene. But right as he thought she may wiggle out of Pike’s arms and run, she blurted out, “But I don’t know how to do this!”

The honest response made him want to smile, to kiss her, to soothe that insecurity. “Do what?” he asked calmly, letting his hand drift to her throat, feeling her pulse quicken against his palm. “Tell me what you fear.”

She closed her eyes as if gathering her strength around her—finding that steel core he sensed resided under all that cottony soft innocence. “I’m…not used to this. Being out with guys. I don’t know how to act, what to do.”

“Ah, sweetheart,” Pike said, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “You’re doing just fine.”

Foster breathed slowly, willing his own heartbeat to slow, his protective instinct flooding him. Oh, how he’d like to show her exactly what he wanted her to do when she was with him, how to act, how to submit. But she was so young, so untouched. He’d fear crushing her under the weight of all he desired.

Despite his body screaming for a different outcome and knowing that he and Pike could seduce her into their bed tonight, he forced the right words to come out of his mouth. “Listen to me, Cela. Tonight, we’re just going to dance. All you need to do is relax and have a good time. We don’t have any expectations beyond that.”

What if I want you to? The question sat full on my lips, my body already in overdrive from Pike’s warm chest pressed against my back and Foster’s commanding gaze holding me captive. But I couldn’t deny the unwinding ball of tension in my stomach at Foster’s statement. They weren’t expecting anything from me. All I needed to do was get the stick out of my backside and have fun. Give myself over to the night.

Give myself over to them.

Hope you enjoyed it! You can pre-order the first part for only $1.99 on Kindle or Nook.