THIS IS A GREAT BARGAIN, TWO FULL NOVELS IN ONE!!!

Planet of the Veils – Blurb

Planet Of The Veils, a Science Fiction erotic romance set in a far away galaxy actually comprises several interacting love stories that bolster the main romance.  Beginning before the hero is born with the tragic love story of his parents the young prince grows to manhood after his mother escapes the evil intentions of his throne stealing, murdering uncle. She fakes their deaths and eventually finds love in the arms of a powerful war lord. Prince Norquar becomes a man and returns to his birth world of Jenous to reclaim his birthright on his uncle’s wedding day and in doing so takes the young woman forced to marry the false king who is much older than she.  Norquar sends Belayla, the young warrior queen who has agreed to marriage with the uncle only on the agreement there will be no physical contact between her and the uncle.  Norquar has different ideas and sends Belayla to The Planet Of The Veils for safety while he establishes his government and to be trained in the sexual arts as she has been raised as a fierce warrior.  Unknown to Norquar he has left her in the clutches of Mistress Donestra a sadistic dominatrix. A battle of wills ensues and continues between the dom and the headstrong, virginal warrior as her hatred for the man who has left her on the sexual training planet grows despite the physical attraction she feels towards him.  Belayla will not succumb to Donestra’s methods and the day Norquar returns to claim his wife, she escapes.  Unknown to her, the lord of another world has seen her, unveiled and is out to kidnap her – IF he can find her.  Norquar and Belayla are destined to be man and wife – IF he can catch her  – the chase is on and either way Norquar has sworn vengeance on the sadistic Donestra who has badly traumatized his wife.

Casino – Star Shine – Blurb

CASINO STAR SHINE – opulence and decadence. A hidden resort floating between two glowing nebulas where elite guests from across the universe come to rest, relax, gamble, enjoy sex, and any vice desired in security and luxury. Equally famous for auctions of sex slaves, from well trained, to certified pure virgins by the Casino. 

BUY LINKS: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62&products_id=677

 

Daniel kidnaps Stephanie back in time to the 1700′s. He thinks this will intimidate her and bring her in line to his way of thinking – he has misjudged the spirited Stephanie, as has another lord on the island. 

“Lord Daniel left you alone?”

“For a short time to shop, he’ll return.” She found herself covering for Daniel and became angry. “Tell me, sir, where would I find a mount for hire?”

Gordon looked at her in surprise. “Madam surely you wouldn’t ride alone? Our jungles hold many dangers from animals to… spirits.”

“Sir, surely I may do many things the women you’ve know wouldn’t. Animals don’t frighten me and as for spirits… I don’t believe in them. Can you tell me where I would find a good mount or not?”

“Allow me to escort you?”

“No, just directions if you please,” Stephanie informed him. She wouldn’t be caught anywhere with this man, he was a farce. He gave her directions and she thanked him.

Going back inside the store, she appeared to shop until she was sure Gordon had left. She also gave Daniel ample time to rethink leaving her and return; which he didn’t. After an hour, she stepped from the store and window-shopped her way toward the livery where the horses were. Going inside she rented a fine, spirited stallion. Much to the distress of the livery’s owner and the amazement of on-lookers, Stephanie mounted the beast astride and headed back toward the manor at a full gallop.

* * * *

Daniel, after downing several shots of rum, regained his temper and realized his wife was teasing him. He hadn’t answered Stephanie’s question, he couldn’t, not knowing the answer himself. What started as a way to tame a feisty woman he wanted in bed, another conquest, was turning into something much more. Something he wasn’t ready to admit to himself.

Stepping from the saloon, the placement of the sun in the sky glinted in his eyes and reminded him of how long he’d left Stephanie. Seeing the carriage still waiting, he assumed she lingered in the store. One-step off the wooden sidewalk and a large black horse, the rider in full control came close to running him down. It took his muddled brain a moment to understand the skirts that flew by him and the strong whiff of cologne were those of his wife.  

“What has that crazy woman done now,” he muttered watching her race down Main Street and out of town back toward the manor. Going to James he asked him, “Why didn’t she take the carriage?”

“Mistress said, you’d need the carriage—you’d be so, ah drunk, sir.”

“James, take the carriage home,” Daniel ordered. He went to the livery and quickly rented a horse. Already several minutes behind his headstrong wife, he rode after her. She had no idea of the danger she might encounter alone in the jungles. His mind cleared fast and he noticed the tracks of another horse other than the one she rode. He knew those horse’s shoes. Sir Gordon. He was riding after Stephanie. Daniel pushed the rented horse a little faster. Gordon was known to press his will on a woman, and the way he’d looked at Stephanie, he was sure to try. Daniel lips sneered back to an angry line. Gordon was in for an unpleasant surprise.

* * * *

Stephanie was mad, not angry—mad.

No man treated her like this! None! What he’d done last night was nothing compared to this! Now he was angry with her for her sense of humor. All men were alike in one way or another.

Behind her she heard hooves and assumed it was Daniel. Finally she glanced back to see Gordon coming up fast. She reigned in her horse to see why he was following her.

“Gordon, what do you want?” Stephanie threw at the man with a snarl, her temper foul and in no mood for pleasantries.

“I just didn’t think it was right for a woman to be riding alone in the jungle.” Gordon flashed her winning smile.

“I’m not your average woman and I’ll be fine. Now Sir, turn around and head back to town or your home. I promise you, I don’t give a damn which but leave me in peace.” Stephanie put heels to her horse but Gordon grabbed her reins. Her horse tried to rear and bumped Gordon’s in doing so, causing his to bolt, almost unseating him.

“You’re a handful!” Gordon’s arm snaked around her waist and pulled.

Let me go!” Stephanie demanded and landed a hard right cross on his nose.

“Oh, is Lord Maxwell a fool to let you out of his sight!”

Stephanie wasn’t one to be manhandled by a person like Gordon, he tried to unseat her again and pull her into his saddle. Her skirts had become entangled in her strips on the other side of her saddle giving her an advantage he hadn’t counted on. He also hadn’t counted on the heel of her left hand meeting the cartilage of his nose and breaking it.

Blood flowed freely from his injured face and the sound of another set of hooves became clear coming up from behind. Stephanie heard them, but Gordon was too enraged.

“You’ll pay for that, bitch!” he thundered.

Daniel saw the scene. Pulling his horse to a stop and cocking his flintlock pistol, addressed Gordon, “I don’t think so Gordon, and I don’t like what you’ve just called my wife for defending herself.”

Gordon released Stephanie and turned to look at Daniel, clearly infuriated, obviously having had a drink or two, he saw his death in his cold gray stare.

“Now, Lord Maxwell, I was trying to make sure she arrived back at your house in one piece.”

“Gordon… leave before I really lose my temper,” Daniel growled. The man wheeled his horse and headed for his home. Daniel’s stare fell on Stephanie, now distracted trying to untangle her gown from the strips.

Feeling his perusal she slowly looked around, her anger somewhat discharged after fighting with Gordon. Her gaze met his.

“You are drunk.” Stephanie urged her horse forward at a slower gate.

“Stephanie, stop,” Daniel commanded.

“No!”

Daniel rode next to her and stopped her. “I said stop.”

“How dare you? You leave me alone in a strange town, stranded, without a way to get back to the house. And where are you? Getting drunk! I had no idea the great Daniel Maxwell had a drinking problem.” Stephanie kicked her horse into a full run and headed for the house.

Daniel, angry, close on her heels stopped in front of the house Stephanie had loosed her gown and started to slip down from the saddle when Daniel, faster at dismount, jerked her off the horse. With the strength to enforce his will he kissed her heatedly, Stephanie pushed against him and finally she gained her release to stomp up the stairs to their room.

Her rash action still to be accounted for, Daniel ran up the stairs to  

their room, catching the door before she could. He slammed the door shut behind him.

“Mr. Maxwell, this charade has continued long enough. I want normal clothing, I want to go home to the twenty-first century and I do mean now. I’ve had it with your game and will not be bullied by you any longer.”

“You little tart, you will do as you’re told.” He took a step closer to her.

“I can smell the rum on you. Did you drink an entire bottle?” She pushed him away, “Keep your distance…drunk.”

“I had a couple of drinks Mrs. Maxwell but I am certainly not drunk. I came after you because I knew Gordon was hot on your cute little heels. I knew what his game was.”

“Yes and I could have take him down by myself, thank you. You’ve intimidated me I’ll admit. You’ve had the upper hand, but now you don’t any longer. You will take me home.”

“You are home,” he raged at her. “And you are my wife.”

Daniel’s hands were on her shoulders, his strength much greater than that of Gordon’s. He shoved her on the bed. She rolled away from him but became entangled in her gown and the mosquito netting.

Swearing in ribald language, disgusted with all the fabric she was dressed in, “…God for a pair of jeans and boots!” Stephanie finished the string of curse words.

Daniel used the knife he always wore to slit the strings of her gown and jerked the bustier from her bodice. His mouth was on her breasts sending sensations through her like quick silver.

“No you won’t do that to me again.”

“Yes I will Steph and you’ll enjoy it… again, just like before.” Daniel threw her skirt over her head, his hands exploring her feverish and sweat soaked body. Even as she attempted to fight him, he slipped the braided restraints over her arms again.

“No, not again, you said you wouldn’t.”

“And you said you wouldn’t run.” He pulled her skirt away from her face. His now sober and passionate eyes looked into hers. Daniel released her arms suddenly seeing no need.

His mouth took hers, the taste of rum sweet on his breath she returned his passion and felt the restraints released.

“Could have at least offered me a drink, damn it,” Stephanie gasped.

His hands caressed down over her arms to fondle her breasts. To her anguish, she wanted him, and had, badly, since he came up behind her fighting off Gordon to save her. His cock pressed hard against her belly, his hands ripped her pantaloons away and found her wet sex. Entering her with a shove, she grunted from the force, not painful but not the gentle lover of the night before, she reveled in his mastery. Without her bidding them to, her free arms encircled his neck and pulled him closer. Their mouths fought, their tongues fenced while he pounded into her body he lifted her hips from the mattress in his climax while she found hers, pulling him closer grunting her fulfillment.

“You’re mine, Stephanie, now and always, I’ll not let you go.” He pulled away from her, looking down. “Here you stay… for now.”

“Damn you Daniel, and what you do to me.”

“You love it, Stephanie. Get dressed, I’ll be nice and take you for a swim since I did leave you alone in town,” he joked, a devilish smile lit his face. 

BUY LINKS: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/sultrysummers/subsintime.html

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DINNER WITH DANIEL

Stephanie was ready when she heard Maxwell’s Porsche pull into her drive.  She purposefully waited a few moments after her doorbell rang, to answer. Her heart beat jumping faster than she could remember for any date, and she reminded herself – this wasn’t a date but a business meeting. Stephanie purposefully took her time to unlock the two dead-bolts and unlatch the chain, taking a deep breath with each. She opened the door to be greeted by the devastatingly attractive, Daniel Maxwell standing on the other side. The scent of his cologne was enough to make her legs unsure, her stomach didn’t have butterflies – her long ignored cunt did.

“Good evening Mr. Maxwell,” she addressed him in a cool, even voice and didn’t ask him in. Stephanie stepped out, locking the door behind her.

“Ms. Waltrip, you look ravishing.” He complimented her without a hint of insult at not being asked in.

*

She returned his perusal, affixing him with the same cool stare she had in the office for his compliment. “You look nice yourself.”

His gaze leisurely traveled over her bare shoulders the heat in those steal orbs told her she looked more than nice to him. Stephanie’s skin knew what it was to be caressed by molten mercury, as if the heat of his scrutiny remained behind to scorch her flesh.

Daniel escorted her to the passenger side of his car, opening the door before she could reach for the handle. She felt his ogle further caress her. Stephanie reassessed her choice of dress in the wine hued, strapless cocktail dress she wore. It displayed a woman who stayed fit but wasn’t dedicated to the look of starved anorexia so popular with many modern women.

Stephanie was accustomed to being admired by men but Daniel’s look took in each line of her body, as if he caressed her without touching. His final visual feast fell on her black hose clad legs before he took the liberty of placing her wrap around her and dared to touch her. Daniel had relieved her of the expensive faux fur wrap as she slid into the bucket seat of his sports car. Before she could retrieve it, he wrapped it around her shoulders caressing her soft, warm, and sensitive flesh with the back of his fingers. She threw him an icy glance for his efforts, he returned a heated, feral your welcome smile. Stephanie projected an icy exterior, hiding the heat the arousal of his slight caress left knotted in her belly.

You can look Mr. Maxwell, but you don’t get to touch – again.

Like an experienced racecar driver he slid into the driver’s seat next to her and buckled his seat belt. He started to reach across to buckle hers, evidently noticing she hadn’t, but she clicked the restraint in place before he could. Their stares met.

“I don’t like being restrained,” her voice was close to a growl, or was it a challenge.

“I see, but when I’m in control…” He paused for a fraction of a second, his stare holding hers. “In a car, a seat belt is required.” Daniel informed her with such command in his voice the compulsion was persuasive. She hoped he didn’t notice the slight tremble that rushed through her when he’d leaned over her. Before taking his stare off her, he started the car’s powerful engine then directed his attention to driving. He backed-out slowly, and drove out of the security-guaranteed development with a wave to the guards.

“By the way, how did you get by the security gate? They didn’t call for permission to admit you?”

He shrugged, “I own the development. The guards know me.”Stephanie’s insides turned to mush.

Did this man own the world?

“What don’t you own Mr. Maxwell?”

“Vatican?” He laughed good-naturedly.

“Surprising.” Her tone was terse she looked away out into the dark night.

“I think you’ll enjoy where we’ll be eating. The menu is a varied. I like the quiet atmosphere, the privacy, and the food. I can always find something to fit my mood.”

She didn’t answer. His close proximity and her nerves made glib conversation difficult. He turned up the subtle music on his car’s sound system. A selected collection of music from classical to modern Stephanie figured he put together himself. Expecting where they would dine to be a restaurant in the city she grew more apprehensive as they drove away from the city’s lights and turned onto a smaller state road.  Suddenly anxious, the unwelcome notion he might be a rich murder entered her mind. As wealthy as he was, he could get away with such a crime, leave the country and no one would ever know.

“Where is this restaurant Mr. Maxwell?” Stephanie queried her apprehension, curiosity, and trepidations getting the best of her.

“Not much further now Ms. Waltrip… By the way – can we dispense with the formalities for the evening?”

She didn’t answer for a moment, “This is a working dinner… but yes, I suppose so.”

“Good Stephanie, conversation is much easier on a first name basis. Tell me about yourself.”

“I am sure you have a complete dossier on me Mr. Maxwell… Daniel.”

“As you do on me, but it isn’t the same as hearing about someone’s life from their own perspective.”

Stephanie looked at him critically. The last thing she wanted was to impart the private facts of her life to this man. Already she felt drawn to him and the first and last time she allowed a man so close, it cost her – too much. Lights through the thick trees caught her attention and she hoped they approached the restaurant. She knew most of the up-scale ones in the city and one this far from the city, she had never heard of.

“Is this our restaurant?”

“In a matter of speaking, actually it’s my home.” He replied like a guilty schoolboy caught skipping class but flashed a winning smile at her. “Please don’t be angry with me Stephanie, I wanted a private place where we could talk, iron out our problems, and get a good meal. My chef can’t be beat, and as for privacy – there is plenty of that here.”

“I don’t like being misled, and deceived, sir.” Her voice came out in a snarl, instant anger but controlled. “I should ask to be taken home.”

Oh you are a sneaky one – Daniel. I’ll keep that in mind next time you want something.

Daniel twisted the steering wheel, using the break, clutch and the gas pedal in rapid movements he expertly put the car into a boot-leg one eighty turn.

“If that is what you wish Ms. Waltrip – is it?” He inquired while controlling the car.

He accelerated through first and second gear, making Stephanie glad she wore the seatbelt but she couldn’t surpass a startled gasp. Daniel looked over at her, his gray eyes flashed in anger.  He popped the car into third causing the tires to squeal. Her pulse raced.

“Or would you rather have a nice quiet dinner and get to know each other?”

Thrown forward against the seat belts when he pushed the brake lever and clutch to the floor, stopping in the middle of the road it took a moment to catch her breath. Dark gray smoke from the abuse of the tires swept past them.

“Which is it?”  His gaze locked with hers.

“For now, if getting out of this car is quicker by going to that house than going back to my town-home, I’ll take your house. I doubt my cell will pick-up this far out and I assume you have a land-line. I can call a cab to take me home from your house. Your buy out of my company didn’t leave me so broke I can’t afford one.”

Stephanie bantered back at him her voice scathing.

Daniel leaned over, his face close to hers, “Good, I’m starving, and I will take you home, after dinner. As far as your financial situation, I’m aware of how poor you – aren’t.”

He again swung the car around, causing her heart to accelerate as he controlled the car’s engine. She was trembling inside and tried to cover her unease. Sitting next to him was disturbing. Stephanie glanced at Daniel, convinced she was tapped in a speeding cage with a wild lion. His driving was rough enough on her body and she hated seat-belts. Rarely buckled ‘in’, in her own car, despite the danger and the law, she didn’t wear seat-belts.

Questioning her reasoning at having agreed to have dinner with Mr. Maxwell, she decided she’d let her bravado overrule her sense and made a mistake. Glaring at Mr. Maxwell, she found her anger directed at him and herself. Stephanie fought against the awareness she found him appealing and arousing. Frustrated, she began to wonder if she was one of those women who fell for the same type of man, and didn’t doubt he was as much of a scoundrel as her ex-fiancée. This little diversion was a good example. He’d mislead her to get lure her to his home, and as naive as she was, she’d fallen for it.

At the age of twenty-three, Stephanie wasn’t experienced but neither was she innocent.  After one love affair in her final year at college, she prepared to walk down the aisle in a fairytale romance. The wedding date set, the plans made, she wore a huge diamond on her left hand for almost a year.

All her rose-colored dreams came crashing down days before the ceremony when she caught her fiancée in bed with not one, but two women.  He brushed it off as a last fling and tried to make-up. She brushed him off, for good, but the pain cut deep. Theirs had been an intimate relationship, while she couldn’t say it had been satisfying, Stephanie believed it would be. After so much pain, she didn’t plan to ever be so close to a man again. Sex just wasn’t worth the agony. From what she understood from several college girl friends, what happened to her wasn’t uncommon.  Beneath her lashes, she glanced at Mr. Maxwell. Maybe I will call a taxi when I get there. Surely, he won’t try to stop me.

His home loomed before them, a mansion larger than her childhood home. He pulled up to the front portico in a screeching stop that rocked her in the stiff seat of the sports car. Stephanie threw him an ugly glare. Her body would be sore tomorrow from the rough ride.

An older gentleman stepped from the covered portico, and with gloved hands opened the door. Their manner of arrival didn’t seem to affect him. He presented a gloved hand to assist her from the car.

“Madam,” he said cordially, “welcome to Falcon’s Talon.”

“Thank you,” she replied simply, taking his gloved hand. Glad it was the butler’s hand and not Mr. Maxwell’s who may have noticed her tremor as she exited the car. Somehow, Stephanie wasn’t surprised Mr. Maxwell had named his home and she made a mental note to speak with her security people about their lack of thoroughness in investigating him.

Mr. Maxwell joined her and moved to take her hand from the butler but she withdrew it before he had the chance, giving him a cold stare, daring him to touch her.

An amused steel gray gaze clashed with an angry hazel-green one that flashed gold flames.  Without breaking eye contact, Stephanie withdrew her cell phone and attempted to dial out.  Daniel’s big hand covered the phone and removed it from her hand.

“You take a great deal for granted Mr. Maxwell!”

“I thought we had foregone formalities Stephanie?”

“And I thought we were going to a public restaurant, you tricked me sir. Now if you will please return my

phone?” She managed to keep a cool timber in her voice.

“It won’t pick-up here Stephanie.”

“In that case, Mr. Maxwell, please allow me to call a taxi-cab from your house phone.”

“Stephanie, after dinner, I will return you to your home, as I promised. Come now and we’ll have drinks and dine. You might find it enjoyable,” his gaze looked deeply into hers, “if you will allow yourself to.” His voice dropped to a low, throaty challenge. She squelched the urge to smack the smirk off his face.

His hand found the small of her back. She stiffened at his touch and move ahead.He dared to touch her after that fiasco?

Stepping away, she walked inside his mammoth home to find his hand again on the small of her back directing her through his home to a spacious family room overlooking the back of the dwelling through sliding glass doors that opened onto a large deck and pool complex and further out, the darkened estate. She stared out into the darkness thinking about this man who had all but kidnapped her. He was compelling, aggressive, and authoritative – a glass of wine appeared before her. Looking up, slightly, she took the fluted glass of sparkling wine from him.

“Thank you.” Stephanie nodded and sipped the wine.

“Wouldn’t you like to sit down?” He indicated the numerous chairs and couches in the room with a wave of his hand.

Thinking to prevent him sitting next to her, Stephanie sat in an overstuffed chair – he sat on the wide, padded arm. To her dismay, giving him a full view of the low cut of her dress and an intimate closeness she found disturbing.

“I really shouldn’t have agreed to dinner, we have little to discuss. The manner you steer my… our company will determine our relationship. You have control by a slim margin.”

“Stephanie, I don’t wish to ruin this company. I would prefer to turn a good margin of profit than lose it. There isn’t any reason we can’t have a healthy relationship.” He smiled winningly down into her upturned face.

“That said, we’ve covered any problems for now.” She finished her glass of wine and sat the fine crystal fluted glass on the dark wood table. “Out of curiosity Mr. Maxwell, what other business ventures do you involve yourself in?”

An inscrutable smile lit his face, “Many, I have a varied portfolio of interests.  Thanks to parents who were of similar nature.  I would rather hear about you Stephanie.”

“You don’t give up easily do you? I really don’t care to talk about myself. In any case it has been my experience, men prefer to talk about themselves and women’s concerns soon bore them.”

Before he could reply, the butler announced dinner. Daniel rose and offered her his hand. She disregarded his gesture and stood without his assistance.Did he think her a weakling that she couldn’t get out of a chair?

His closeness was troubling enough without him touching her. Not wishing to be escorted again, she paused, arched an eyebrow and invited him, “After you sir,” she told him with a smirk, refusing to allow him any opportunity to touch her if it could be avoided.

Stephanie found his gaze had become a strong magnet which drew hers into his, “On the contrary, ladies first.” His hand was again on the small of her back sending heat through her body to center in the depths between her legs. For a moment she froze and knew what a person feels when trapped, and held by unseen electricity. His lips were inches from hers, his hand pulled her closer. She knew he would attempt to kiss her. Part of her wanted him to. Feeling spellbound, she suddenly remembered her fiancée had once trapped her as a game. The sensation returned and she bolted forward away from him, almost falling over a table. Daniel caught her with both his arms. Now truly ensnared, his mouth covered hers for a short kiss and releasing her without a word, he led her to the dining room.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Stephanie found conversation difficult with a man who disturbed her so completely. She knew of nothing they had in common other than her company that she resented him for stealing. He finished his plate, having a hearty appetite and she realized her plate was scantily touched.

“I fear your chef will be insulted by my poor appetite.”

“No, he won’t. Is there something else you would prefer?”

“No.”

“Come,” Daniel stood, “I’ll show you around the house. My parents furnished it with some unique pieces. My mother is an artist and a collector.”

“I certainly don’t mean to insult your mother’s taste but I would like to return home.  I’ll just call a cab…”

“No, I’ll drive you.”  Daniel’s disappointment was clear in his voice and on his face. “Allow me to summon the car.” He left the room.

Stephanie didn’t want a repeat performance of the drive up to his home and she didn’t want to be under his control any longer. Certainly, by the time she reached the main road her cell phone would pick-up.  It wasn’t further than a mile or so and she could walk that easily, she ran ten miles every other morning. Quietly she walked from the dining room and out the front door. Knowing Daniel would quickly come looking for her she slipped into the woods along the road and tried her cell phone. No activation bars. Damn. She walked, parallel to the road and saw Daniel rush out the front door just after she’d tried her phone. He appeared concerned and called her name a couple of times. Like she’d answer? She covered her mouth to stifle her giggle. Tomorrow morning at the office was going to be interesting. She chuckled to herself. Mr. Maxwell would soon learn – she wasn’t a simpering female who depended on a man to see to her every need. He whizzed past her in his Porsche, looking for her.  In a while, her feet hurting from the heels she wore and her hose were torn but otherwise unscathed she reached the main road and, thankfully, as expected her cell phone worked. She called a cab. After another half an hour the transport arrived. Exhausted she sat down in the back seat, gave the driver directions and though it cost a nice chunk of change, she arrived safely home.

Unlocking her door, her shoes in her hand, her feet sore, she walked inside but something felt – wrong.

“Glad to see you got home in one piece Stephanie,” Daniel greeted in a low throaty voice as he stood from his reclining position on her couch.

“How dare you!”

“Me!” he shouted, his timbre enough to shake the building. “You scared the hell out of me. What kind of man do you think I am to allow you to disappear from my home in the middle of the night?”

“Obviously a liar after you tricked me about dinner. Get out,” she roared. “You stole my company, I have no doubt, and I couldn’t do a thing about it, but this is my home, now out!”

“Stupid little…” he crossed the room in a bolt; both his strong hands on her shoulder drew her into his hard embrace. His mouth covered hers in a possessive kiss. He released her. Stephanie almost knocked him down with a well delivered left hook.

“Out – now!” Stephanie demanded. Her blood raced through her body from his embrace. The fact it aroused her only angered further.

“This isn’t over Ms. Waltrip!” he left.

Shaking from the encounter Stephanie poured herself a stiff shot of Hennessey’s Brandy and sat down to drink it.

Oh good heavens – it went straight to her…

BUY LINKS: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/sultrysummers/subsintime.html

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AUTHOR’S WEB SITE: www.sqpens.com

 

 

Excerpt – Stephanie and Daniel’s first meeting;

“Ms. Waltrip,” he addressed her, purposely taking on a smooth, charismatic voice, “I am especially pleased you chose to be present.” He smiled in a congenial manner, retaining a business like attitude.

“Mr. Maxwell, I may no longer be C.E.O. and have majority interest. I do however have a major interest in what is still a family orientated company.” Her statement was made in a calm, aloof, yet even voice.

“Shall we hope, Ms. Waltrip, we can take a family business to the next, more professional level?” Daniel challenged amicably, providing a glimpse of his plans for her company.

He noted her temper flare by the golden flames that blazed brighter in her eyes. Daniel had unknowingly insulted her by insinuating the company hadn’t been run professionally. Distracted by the flash of passion he saw flicker, Daniel failed to see the heightened anger that rose in her stare.

Stephanie appeared to be a formidable woman. One who wouldn’t willingly take orders from anyone she didn’t respect. Certainly not the man who she considered stole her company. However, Daniel detected a softer, more feminine side in hiding. A vision of Stephanie beneath him in bed, soft, willing and yes, submissive to his desires brought an unconscious, feral grin to his lips and produced a glare of outrage from Stephanie. Silence and static briefly crackled in the air of the boardroom and down the length of the long meeting table. Daniel settled into the new, plush chair he’d ordered and continued the meeting.

He conducted a typical board meeting to set up committees and handle the day-to-day business of running a company switching to new management. Daniel wanted to avoid the loss of employees and hoped to add new ones. At that revelation, he was gratified at the look of surprise, quickly hidden in Stephanie’s stare.

Stephanie’s leadership was faultless and Daniel didn’t want to lessen the board’s respect for her. He valued her company and saw its potential. As a businessman, he knew it would eventual fail unless bought by someone with the capital to support it until it rebounded since the decline  in the market. Daniel had found himself in the perfect position to take over. In a short meeting with the former owner, the ideal take-over changed into tedious maneuvering due to the unexpected strong physical attraction to the former C.E.O. If Stephanie discovered the decline of the market came after a little maneuvering to make a take-over easier for his interests, she would never forgive him. When he arranged the take-over, it had been just another company.

After all, it was just another company. He didn’t need the money. Daniel played the game for sport. A rich man’s sport, a card-deal he would have played much differently if he’d met Stephanie first. He’d known the company’s C.E.O. was a woman. That wasn’t uncommon in today’s business world. However, to find one as beautiful as Stephanie and to be highly attracted to her, Daniel mentally shrugged. He was trying to think of a way to get her into his bed. A sport he preferred above all others.

With the meeting at an end, Daniel made sure he was at the door, again thanking the members for coming. He enlisted help from a couple of sympathetic members of the board to delay Stephanie’s exit until last.

“Ms. Waltrip.” He took her hand in a firm, respectful grip, instead of gently as some men would a woman’s. “I hope to enjoy a close working relationship with you.” He looked into her eyes easily. “I would prefer to set aside any difficulties in this merger. I do have the best interests of our company in mind.”

She leveled a cool gaze on him and he saw flecks of gold leaping like small flames in those green depths. Either anger or passion, possibly both, but he sensed she wasn’t a cold woman, rather a snow capped, smoldering volcano.

Stephanie pulled her hand from his as if his touch burned her. He allowed some of his feelings to seep into his expression, watching carefully for her reaction. Despite her continued cool demeanor, the gold flecks in her eyes jumped higher and her breath quickened. His gaze remained locked with hers, accustomed to this game. He was an expert at it.

* * * *

“Mr. Maxwell…” Stephanie addressed her company’s new C.E.O. while working hard to contain her temper. Is this man flirting with me, or just attempting to placate me? I’m not that easy Mr. Maxwell! Complete predatory animal fueled the heat that flowed through his handshake, heating her blood. Already working hard to squelch the affect he was having on her hormones, she forced her voice to stay cold. “Make no mistake, I’m not happy about you taking over my company. It doesn’t make me feel amiable toward the stockholders I’ve known since childhood and thought of as—family, either. They sold their shares to you, giving you majority interest. Their betray… ah, sellout,” she caught the word betrayal, “forced me to make some hard sacrifices to retain my shares and the second largest block of stock, thereby some control.” Her look grew hard. “I feel this situation was in some method maneuvered, leaving my company in a less than solvent posture. Put in this position, I could do nothing else. You now own a major part of my company.” Stephanie found it difficult to keep the pain the situation caused her out of her voice. Revealing this was difficult enough, many of those she spoke of, she had considered as uncles and aunts, calling them such as a child.

“Ms. Waltrip, let’s discuss this further, I don’t want hard feelings between us. Have dinner with me this evening and perhaps we can find a more agreeable resolution.” Sincerity rang in his voice. Stephanie doubted it was genuine.

She eyed him with complete distrust. This was a dangerous man. One who took what he wanted, one way or another. Maxwell was wealthy enough and had the political pull to get away with anything. Stephanie’s intuition told her Maxwell had engineered her company’s near failure in order to purchase it. Proving it was another matter.

Now, he apparently thought he could romance and charm her into his bed as well. She hadn’t forgotten his playboy reputation. Other men looked at her in such a way. It didn’t work with them. It wouldn’t work with Daniel Maxwell. She knew what was on his mind. He’d take her to dinner and expect her for desert.

What does he consider an agreeable resolution, me between his sheets? Maybe I should go… just to turn you down later.

She suppressed a nasty smile, considering her options.

“Very well, Mr. Maxwell, I’ll have dinner with you.” She maintained a cool but smooth voice.

“Excellent, Stephanie. Where would you like to dine?” Daniel’s tone sounded like she’d done him a great favor. She squelched laughing in his face.

“I don’t have a preference, Mr. Maxwell.” She stressed his sir name, avoiding using his first name. “McDonald’s™ would be fine since this is strictly a business dinner and, Ms. Waltrip will suffice. I don’t use my given name in the office.”

“As you prefer, Ms. Waltrip, I have your address and will pick you up in an hour, or do you need more time?”

“An hour is adequate.” Stephanie turned, walking away. Half way to the bank of elevators, his voice halted her. “Ms. Waltrip, you may want to dress for a restaurant of a higher scale than suggested. I’ve not eaten in a while and require a more filling meal than fast food offers.”

Stephanie turned slowly to stare into his amusement filled gray stare, a smirk on his tempting, sensuous lips.

Darn, why did the man who took over her company have to be so—appealing?

Regardless, she wouldn’t let him get the best of her. She arched a perfectly curved eyebrow but suppressed a snarl.

“Fine Mr. Maxwell, where do you suggest we go for dinner?”

“I have a favorite place in mind. An elegant establishment with impeccable service and serves food the gods themselves would fancy over ambrosia.”

“I will endeavor to not embarrass you.”

“Ms. Waltrip, I doubt that would be possible.” She was amazed when he slightly bowed but refused to let him see. He turned and closed the boardroom door before she could reply. She slipped into the elevator that arrived as if on cue.

Stephanie leaned against the polished back wall of the lift, took a deep breath and held it. She released it slowly, trying to calm her nerves from the confrontation, disgusted at the affect he had on her. She didn’t expect such a virile, charismatic, and appealing man.

Her reports on the wealthy billionaire had been scanty, including a picture several years old. Photographers found Mr. Maxwell a difficult subject to capture, and he kept a low profile on how wealthy he truly was. Her reports, she now concluded, were terribly inaccurate.

All through the meeting, she knew the instant his gaze was on her, which seemed continuously. Two of his new employees had kept a conversation going with her until she was the last to leave. It was obvious he contrived the situation to speak with her alone.

Her knees went weak like a schoolgirl when his hand closed over hers. His firm handshake met hers in like form. She wasn’t prepared for the surge of adrenaline his touch sent racing through her body, leaving her panties suddenly sodden and all her defensive shields on full alert. In his attempts to impress her, Mr. Maxwell only succeeded in pissing her off and heating her body chemistry in ways not previously experienced. She pushed those sensations from her mind, as the song went.

Forget about the boy—except, he was no boy, but a man.

She remembered his stare burning into hers like hot steal, his passion evident, she shook her head to try to clear it.

Exiting the elevator in the lobby, her body hummed at an annoying pitch.

Summoned before she left the boardroom, her car waited at the entrance, the door held open by the doorman. Unable to dismiss Mr. Maxwell from her thoughts, her actions had become mechanical. She thanked the attendant and as usual didn’t buckle her seat belt. 

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SUBMISSIONS IN TIME – BLURB

 

Stephanie Waltrip was the C.E.O. of her family’s business until Daniel Maxwell the head of a large conglomerate bought out all her stockholders stealing control of her company. Suspicious Daniel has engineered her company’s hard times, Stephanie is out for revenge. When they meet, the chemistry between them is explosive and sparks fly. Stephanie hadn’t known Daniel was so attractive or the playboy would affect her so completely. But she isn’t about to let him know it.

Daniel, accustomed to women falling at his feet, is determined to get her into bed any way he can. To bring the haughty Stephanie to heel, he calls on one of his scientific companies which has discovered a way to travel back in time. Daniel kidnaps Stephanie back to the 1700′s where he is a titled lord of a Caribbean island.

With Stephanie held captive as his wife, their adventures begin. Tempers build. But lust turns first to passion, then to something more. Can their budding love save them as they face the danger of pirates, treacherous island lords and their own passion? They’ll have to confront their secret fears if they are to return to the modern world

 

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Hidden safely beneath the Atlantic Ocean under the Vortex Grid

 

 

Where the ancient, pyramid entrance was found

 

Even High Lord Xerxes looks good in jeans…..

 

And what else would he wear to rescue his future wife from Aztecs about to sacrifice her to their pagan rain god?

Atlantis at night, looking from the outside — IN

 

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