Announcement! Please Do Not Buy My Ellora's Cave Titles

Happy New Year everyone! With 2016 in the History books, 2017 dawns with promise. As many readers and authors may know, my former publisher, Ellora's Cave, has closed its doors. While the rights to my titles that remained at EC reverted to me in October, and all but a few print books were removed from EC's website, it's taken a very long time for them to be pulled from 3rd party vendors.

While I have been frustrated by this, I elected not to make a big deal out of it or press those who remained at EC, primarily because I knew it wouldn't be until 2017 that I would be able to revamp, revise, re-cover, and possibly re-title all of the books that have reverted to me. Believe me, I want to get them back out to you all, however, I want them to be as I'd envisioned them from the start. Over the next year, and into 2018, I'll release them all as indie titles. I honestly can't wait to dive back into the world of hot, sexy football players, the Maddox brothers, and Dare, Nevada. Some of the series, such as Ink and Kink, will get new titles, and, while there will be crossover secondary characters, as they'd been with EC, I'm planning to write new books and create a series featuring the Alexandria Griffins football team and finish several books in the Dare series that I simply couldn't write or publish with Ellora's Cave.

Rather than get into the logistics of what happened with my former publisher, I'm now asking readers not to buy any of the following titles that might be found on third party sites such as Amazon, iBooks, Google Books, etc: Quarterback Blitz, Field of Play, Ink Master, Playing Doctor, Cuff Master, Hazard's Dare, Switch Master, Menage-a-Dare, and Pleasure Trove.

It's possible that you might see print books on various sites. This is slightly different, but, it's my understanding that these are being sold by private persons and treated like used books. They're very expensive, so I would not recommend purchasing them through any vendor.

That said, I do have indie titles available at Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, and B&N/Nook, set at great prices and will continue to publish both new and re-released books through indie/self-publishing for a while. It's my sincere hope that you'll check them out, starting with UnMAsKed, Lipstick and Camouflage, and Persuasion: The Abcynians Book I (previously with EC). In the New Year, look for Pride: The Abcynians Book II, and the 2nd book in my Brandt's Dozen series. Between them, Quarterback Blitz will be revamped, re-titled, and re-released. As the books are ready for publication, I'll continue to make announcements, primarily here on my blog, and post the links on social media.

Thank you so much, and, if you do see a book of mine with an EC logo or cover, kindly let me know.

Again, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and plenty of awesome books to read in 2017!

Until Next Time,
Frances Stockton

Important News! Ellora's Cave Publishing

Good morning everyone! I've important news to share with readers. As you may know from previous blog posts (not my own), social media, and various other forums, my former publisher, Ellora's Cave Publishing has announced they will be closing at the end of December 2016. Fortunately, I'd received notification a couple of weeks ago that all of my remaining titles (I'd previously received 5) would revert to me as of October 12, 2016! While I am relieved and excited about the opportunity to re-release every title, and more that were planned but never came to be due to the stress and circumstances beyond my control since 2014, I am also very saddened by this news. I've never wished ill will toward anyone at EC, ever. In all honesty, I am grateful to the staff, editors, cover designers, and Jaid Black for creating a venue for authors to write as hot as they wanted and not feel ashamed or hide. Along the way, I've been fortunate to meet the most amazing, incredible authors, my editor, cover artists, models, and readers at RomantiCon and RT conventions, and lately, Wild Wicked Weekend. They were a blast! With thanks to Facebook and Twitter, etc, those relationships have continued, and I will be at WWW, which is always a fun time.

Currently on my to-be-released schedule is Pride, The Abcynians Book II, and the second of my Brandt's Dozen series, featuring Kristian Rodriquez. Soon after, I will begin revising, revamping, and in some cases re-titling, all of the books previously published by EC, the first of which will be Quarterback Blitz. While characters will remain the same, I intend to update the books so that they're more current, for example phones/technology/computers/social media, and the series formerly known as 'Ink and Kink', that included 6 titles, will be divided into two different series, the Alexandria Griffins and Maddox Ink  though characters such as Phalen Maddox or Alexander Grant will crossover. Likewise, the 'Dare' books will be reworked and re-titled, with two additional stories to complete the series! In other words, there are going to be a lot of books next year. Between the re-releases, Brandt's Dozen and The Abcynians will continue to thrive.

While I intend to write more for the Major Crimes Unit (MCU), it could be a while before a new one comes out, as I'll be a very busy writer in 2017 and 2018! Stay tuned for release dates, news, and up-to-date information. To my readers, thank YOU for standing by Kyran and Anna, Dallas and Grace, Phalen and Cassie, Alex and Ryan, Ethan and Morgan, Avery and Hazard, Taran and Samantha, Eve, Jaxon, and Remy, and a standalone, Pleasure Trove's, Callie and Maksim/Julian. They will all return in the future!

Until next time,
Frances Stockton  

Ellora's Cave: It's Time to Speak Up

Greetings everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I hope you'll stick with me for a post that is certain to be long.

You may have noticed an uptick in former Ellora's Cave authors and/or staff speaking out about their experiences with a publisher that once rocked the mainstream publishing world with innovative, sexy, erotic, and adventurous oftentimes hardcore romances that broke the mold. For that alone, I say, bravo to Jaid Black, who decided not to kowtow to New York and write sexy stories about aliens from another universe, a result that launched EC into a huge financial success. Long before Fifty Shades of Grey, Jaid, along with many other erotic and erotica authors were venturing into sub-genres such as BDSM, Older Woman/Younger Man, Menage, M/M, and horror, just to name a few.

Many of those authors have gone on to become huge bestsellers on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and B&N lists, and to them, I can only tip my hat.  Likewise, I continue to believe that Jaid's Trek Mi Quan universe is one of the most creative series I have ever read. Is it for everyone? Maybe not, but, again, props to her for writing what she loved, for sticking to her guns, and giving those books life through a lot of hard work and determination during a time when the concept of electronic books was as alien as her hot, sexy characters from a far away world.

Keep in mind, e-publishing has come a long way since the time of downloading files, printing them out or reading on a PC. With the advent of the Kindle, Nook, iPads/Tablets, buying eBooks is as easy as a 'click', and it's on your device in the matter of seconds. Self-publishing, of which I am now a huge fan of as a result of my last few years experience with EC, has become very popular and eBooks tend to be priced in such a way to make them affordable. Now, if I was J.R. Ward or Sherrilyn Kenyon, perhaps a reader would be willing to pay upwards of $6.99-$7.99, and at some third party vendors even higher, for a 100K+ novel on their iPad or Kindle. But generally, that's a lot to ask for a digital book.

That said, the following is my account and my experience with Ellora's Cave Publishing, and while it's not intended in any way to bash anyone or TPTB at EC, and I will not go into any contractual information that I have with them, I've had enough with the vitriol going on or being said about my fellow former EC authors and/or staffers and editors who are only telling their truths and their experiences. 

My first book was published with Ellora's Cave under the Cerridwen Press imprint, titled Seductive Persuasion, and was the first of an historical-paranormal four book series. Soon after the third book in that series, Sea Captain's Ghost, released, I learned that the imprint was going on hiatus. Eventually Cerridwen Press would become known as Blush. More on that in a bit. As I tended to write more sensual than erotic or explicit, this was awesome to me. But, I still had one book in the series left and wondered what would become of it. I debated turning it into an erotic story, however, given the time period it was written in, late-Georgian, and it just didn't seem to be right.

Instead, I set it aside and went back to a book I'd started a year before and stopped because it was 'out of my comfort zone', translation, erotic, featuring an older woman and a younger man as the heroine/hero. During an RT Convention in Columbus, Ohio, I'd attended an EC spotlight in support of my publisher and learned that older woman/younger man scenarios were selling very well, and, I immediately went home and wrote what would become Quarterback Blitz. To this day, that book is and continues to be very popular with readers, it won Best Erotic Contemporary from several online book review websites, and it launched a series of six books, a series titled Ink and Kink, Let me just say that I am proud of each and every story in that series, as well as those that I wrote separately or featured secondary characters in the Maddox brothers/Ink and Kink universe. In between, yes, I'd finally completed the Panthera series with Arrington's Claim for the Blush imprint.

Around the time the last Ink and Kink book was released, Switch Master, I'd begun tracking my royalty statements, primarily because sales dipped dramatically. I figured there were several causes, EC was releasing a lot of books, some re-releases, some in trade paperback per week. And, while that is their prerogative to release that many books in a given week, I also saw that more and more eBook publishers were on the rise, ditto for self-publishing, and the costs of those books were much more attractive to consumers than the pricey MSRP of my admittedly long stories. Yes, I write big books and I cannot lie. Yes, I think they are worth every penny, but I'd wished that the market would've been a bigger factor in the pricing.

The problem with the downturn in the market, therefore, my royalties, which were starting to come later and later, or in one case, a new release's sales figures were not accounted for, though quickly and professionally corrected within days, had dropped to the point that I could not afford to attend the Romantic Times Booklovers Conventions or many other conventions with the exception of Ellora's Cave's conference known as RomantiCon, and my local RWA chapter conference. I also couldn't afford blog tours. Book reviews declined dramatically and eventually stopped altogether.

All the while, royalties declined, and I thought, I'll write more books and establish a back list. EC started a few marketing campaigns, such as 1st books in a series free for two weeks, and, yes, this helped, some. But readers will rush to get a free book yet when the next book is priced so drastically above other books of similar genre and length, they move on. Now, some of this is taste, not every reader or reviewer is going to like my books, and that's their right and opinion. However, pricing and affordability makes a difference in a consumer's choice when money is tight.

With the last book in the Ink and Kink series, I'd started a new series based on some secondary characters readers had been introduced to already. Those books simply did not sell well and while I understand that opinions vary, I began to think about making some decisions about my future. My favorite genre, in all honesty, is Romantic Suspense, and I really, really wanted to go into mainstream fiction.

In 2014, many things were happening, my royalty checks were coming very, very late, and while contractually EC was to pay quarterly,they primarily paid monthly. Checks came at odd times, likewise, they were dated a whole month before they were actually stamped and mailed. In two cases, there was no date on the envelope. Authors were told this was due to a glitch in the accounting software program. I have no idea if this is true or not, that's what we were told via an author email loop.

In August of 2014, the wheels fell off and my eyes were opened. While on a family vacation and very concerned because I'd not received royalties in a while and an email inquiry as to whether my check was lost in the mail or sent at all went unanswered, and in the midst of content edits for what would become the last book I've published with Ellora's Cave word was sent to the private author email loop that many EC staffers, including freelance editors, mine, too, were being let go due to a downturn in the market and blame seemed to be placed on Amazon. In my opinion, Amazon is a powerhouse in the eBook world and will remain so, and most of the sales I'd been making came from that vendor. I was devastated, not only for myself, but for the editors, especially my editor, whom to this day is one of my favorite people on the planet and continues to be my editor for my self-publishing ventures. For many reasons, I've chosen not to include her name in this post, though I'm sure she knows that I've the utmost respect for her. I'd also like to thank her for taking a chance on a newbie and helping me through the publishing process.

Within an hour, maybe less, of the announcement sent to the authors about the layoffs, an unknown party shared that same message on a public forum. I saw and read it on Absolute Write, but it was shared elsewhere and within a very short time, I received countless messages from readers and authors outside of EC sharing their concerns for the stability of the publisher. I had them too, but I wanted to believe it would be okay. My editor graciously finished the last round of edits for Pleasure Trove and the book received a release date within two weeks of the books final draft and FLEs, Final Line Edits, were done in a rush. Guess what? Despite blogging and doing as much promo as I could, the book tanked, I couldn't get it to sell, no matter what. A few of my faithful readers were concerned that I wouldn't receive the royalties and asked what they should do. I didn't know and did NOT EVER ask anyone not to buy the book or any of my titles. I still haven't done so. However, they have graciously purchased my self-published title, UnMAsKed, and are eagerly awaiting the next, also a Romantic Suspense titled Lipstick and Camouflage.

In September of 2014, I was attending a weekend writer's workshop in Connecticut. It was a great weekend, especially as I was able to get away from the stress of what was happening with EC. I had finally received a check dated in late July 2014 that arrived in my mailbox a month later, at the tail end of August. I was grateful. Yes, my checks were coming later and later, but they did come eventually. The problem was that EC became radio silent on our private loop, primarily, I believe, because private messages were being shared on public forums. For the record, I did not like that private emails were being made public and felt that this was hurting authors more than anything else going on. Again, my opinion.

I started talking to my husband about what I should do going forward. Okay, actually, we'd been talking about this for a long time but things were heating up. Should I ask for rights back based on contract terms? Let it go and hope checks come as they were supposed to? But then at that same writer's workshop, everything got drastically worse. NOT because one of the ladies at Dear Author had written a very long 'writer beware' type of article titled The Curious Case of Ellora's Cave. That article is on DA's blog and I'm not going to go into specifics, except to say that the blogger corrected a few details recently, yet the majority of it remains.

What alarmed me and so many authors and reviewers and bloggers, as well as readers, was EC's decision to sue the writer of the post. I was familiar with Dear Author and similar sites, yet, I'm honestly not a frequent visitor or reader of it, primarily because it's a little bit 'mean girl' for my tastes. That said, the blogger had every single right to write what she substantially believed to be true, she'd researched court cases, looked at tax liens accrued against the publisher that are on public record, and listened to author accounts of not receiving royalties. That's called FREEDOM of SPEECH. It's part of our Constitution, the Bill of Rights. And, Ellora's Cave turned around and sued a blogger in what appeared to be a SLAPP suit. From there on the Streisand Effect took root. Readers and reviewers boycotted. The vitriol that resulted since steamrolled, more readers bailed on EC's books out of concern that we weren't getting paid, royalties came later and later and that all meant to me that the publishing company was in serious financial trouble.

A few months ago, EC also launched a new website. I didn't care for it visually, but I'm not a web designer by any stretch. Some say it's more user friendly, some say otherwise, and there appeared to be more than a few glitches that needed to be fixed. What I know is this, during the change something happened to all of the blurbs on my books on EC's site. They're not only missing commas and punctuation, they appear amateurish. Therefore, I have not asked my web guru to change the links on my website that directs readers to purchase my books from the publisher's site, nor have I any plans to. It seems to me that the responsibility for hunting down and correcting typos and punctuation errors is on whoever maintains that site.  

Honestly, I've no idea what the financial status of EC is. I'm not going to guess or take a jab at the ownership or current staff members, other than to say, that I absolutely believe the authors who say they haven't been paid or that their payments are way late or breached. At the time of this blog post, I have not received a check since February 2015's sales that came in September of 2015. Could a check arrive this week? I hope so, we were informed via the private loop that we would receive payment for three months in one check, yet even if it arrives they are still months behind. I hope they really do catch up, authors worked hard on their books and deserve to get paid.

Let me say that up until the last year or so, I've enjoyed my experience as an EC author. I loved RomantiCon and the friends I've made through the convention, both authors and readers. I adored the Cavemen models who danced for us, and I will miss Angelo forever. He was incredibly charming and charismatic and appeared on the cover of Field of Play, not only signing my cover flats to help the book to sell, but also one for me that's now framed and in a place of honor in my office. For those who don't know, Angelo was tragically shot and killed (for the true story I recommend the documentary produced by Joe Manganiello, from True Blood/Magic Mike, titled LaBare). To this day, my fellow EC authors and former editors remain my friends, people I respect, admire, and trust. They are speaking up, they are telling their truths. If they're asking readers not to purchase their books, respect their decision. It is not because their books are poorly written or they are ashamed of it. Despite what's being posted on social media by an EC principle and a few EC authors who are in her corner (that's their right, too), those who are speaking out or speaking up are not liars, they are not misogynists, Bad Apples, or bullies. To sick a very nasty troll after a group that follows a Twitter hashtag known as #notchilled, the same person probably best known for GamerGate, is, by my measure, very low and irresponsible and an another attempt to 'chill free speech.' That's the purpose of #notchilled, not to malign EC, but to come out in defense of a blogger's and anyone else's right to write what they believed to be substantially true.

It is because of the lawsuit that I have chosen not to write for Ellora's Cave any longer. Yes, the case settled, and there's a sense of letdown by all parties of interest, but an attempt to stifle free speech did not sit well with me, and still doesn't. That's why I made the decisions I have since August of 2014. I'll continue to write and publish mainstream Romantic Suspense, and I'm venturing into paranormal again. When or if I get the rights returned on my back titles, I'll heavily revise, re-title, re-cover, and set prices according to what is most affordable for readers. If I go with a mainstream publisher, who knows what's down the road, you can be certain that I will never sign a contract without a lawyer and hopefully an agent's assistance.

Please note that this is my experience, another author or staffer's story may vary. It is not intended to sling mud, there's already too much being thrown around by both sides of the situation. Frankly, I hope the bullying on Twitter from sock puppets and trolls ends. I hope the vitriol stops and business-like discussions resume. I do not hope EC goes into bankruptcy, there are authors, staffers, publishers, artists, copy editors, you name it, who depend upon this publishing house. I do not wish ill upon Jaid Black, Patty Marks, or anyone else involved with Ellora's Cave, nor do I seek to cause trouble for them or create further chaos. It was simply time to speak out.

To authors who remain supportive of EC, I wish you success. To authors who have chosen to speak out or request readers not to purchase their Ellora's Cave titles, whether it's a business decision or something more personal, I support you unconditionally. To my readers, I hope you will continue to support my self-published titles, UnMAsKed is available at Amazon, B&N for Nook, Kobo, and iBooks. For information on this, hit me up in the comment section or check out the following page: http://www.francesstockton.com/romanticsuspense.html#unmasked           

Until the next time,
Frances Stockton

  
     



   

Pleasure Trove, Ellora's Cave Moderne! Blurb and Excerpt

Greetings everyone!

It's almost the end of August and I'm excited! Tomorrow Pleasure Trove, Ellora's Cave Moderne, releases and I wanted to share as much information as I can. After the book's release at EC, I expect it to be available through Amazon, ARe, Google Play/Books, and Barnes and Noble/Nook. Prices will vary and you might find the best price through Ellora's Cave directly and if you have a Kindle, yes, they have the right format for you to read, ditto for Nooks and iPads/Android devices.

http://www.ellorascave.com/pleasure-trove.html

Right now, I'd love to share a little background about Pleasure Trove, a blurb, an excerpt and the link. I'd also like to introduce you to Maksim Steel and Callie Andrews aka Calysta MacIntyre. Callie, a former undercover reporter for a small press newspaper in Baltimore, travels to Hollywood looking for answers regarding the mysterious death of her long-missing cousin. Her search takes her to adult film company Pleasure Trove. She never expects to meet charming and charismatic actor Maksim Steel, much less that she'd become his fluffer and the scorching hot affair that follows.

Maks has a secret! Many in fact, and he guards them zealously, even as he suspects that PT's new production assistant is far more than others may see. Still, he can't deny his attraction to her, or the fact that the 'rest' of him responds to her in ways that seasoned porn stars haven't been able to muster lately. Taking Calysta on as his fluffer, he quickly seduces her but warns not to expect fidelity or true intimacy. He never plans to fall for her.  For more, here's a blurb and a glimpse into their first meeting!

Pleasure Trove

Frances Stockton

Troubled by the death of her cousin, former undercover reporter Callie goes to Hollywood to find some answers. Her search takes her to adult film company Pleasure Trove.

Callie never expects to meet charismatic actor Maksim, much less become his fluffer! She’s quickly seduced, but he warns not to expect romance or fidelity. Despite the risk of heartbreak, Callie is drawn into Maks’ world of sin and seduction, engaging in sexual experiences she’d never dared before.

Soon, however, their affair strengthens, hinting of love. But when danger grows and Callie’s old column is cruelly exposed, they must face their demons, or risk losing everything.

Inside Scoop: Callie’s new career path leads to some interesting times, including participating in a hot ménage or two, complete with female/female sexual exploration.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

 “Mr. Erikson, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve brought your coffee orders,” she said to the director, silently reminding herself that she’d left Callie in Baltimore. “Where should I place them?”
Right here, right now, she needed to be Calysta MacIntyre, calm, cool and professional. That was until Sven Erikson moved away and a man stepped out from the screen and she momentarily forgot who she was.
Resembling a beautiful blond Greek god, he didn’t have a sprayed-on tan. Oh no, he was taller than Hardy by at least two inches, broad, built and sculpted with gorgeous wavy shoulder-length hair left wild and unbound.
Wearing nothing but bathing trunks, he filled out them out beautifully. His face, perfection, chiseled perhaps by the gods themselves.
Trembling nervously, Callie caught herself, waiting for the director to tell her what to do when the actor’s eyes met hers from across the room. He smiled, flashing perfectly white teeth and sending a sharp pang of sensation low in her belly.
For the longest time, they stared at each other, both seeming unwilling to look away. Tiny butterflies took flight within her, her heart thudding. This wasn’t just any actor, somewhere in her cluttered thoughts, she recognized him as Pleasure Trove’s leading man, Maksim Steel.
Okay, so she’d watched several of his movies on her trip to Los Angeles. Each time she stopped at a motel for a couple hours’ sleep, it was simply a matter of popping in a DVD in her computer. She’d told herself it was for research. Plus, he was a sexy, virile man with the biggest cock she’d ever seen in her entire life.
Holy cow, just like that, she was aroused simply from the memory of how well he’d performed in those flicks. The problem was the longer they stared at each other, the wetter she became. Shifting, she felt the telltale dampness of her panties even as her clit pulsed as if she’d gotten herself off.
No, oh no, she did not have a mini-orgasm simply because he smiled at her. That’d be too embarrassing for words.
“Ah, there you are, Ms. MacIntyre. I trust you found your way to the café?” Sven greeted. He was a good-looking man in a GQ kind of way, his sandy-brown hair neatly trimmed.
“GPS is a miraculous thing,” she said, steeling herself as the director came up to her. “Once everyone’s been served, is there anything else I can do for you? I’m quite handy with a hammer or finding props, though I may need someone to give me a tour later.”
“Be glad to assist, Ms. MacIntyre,” Hardy offered, grinning as he set his tray of coffee on a table near the sofa.
Frances Stockton
10
“Hardy, shouldn’t you get back to your post? I’ll have someone give Ms. MacIntyre a tour when there’s a break,” Sven said, stepping in closer than she expected. For a fraction of a second she thought his blue eyes scanned her from head to toe in a way he hadn’t done during her interviews.
“Shall I place this with the other tray?” Callie asked after Hardy left, intending to move out of the way when the brunette made a sudden beeline for the coffee tray in her hand.
“I hope you remembered to tell the barista to only use soy milk in my latte,” the actress sniped, managing to tip the tray so that it fell toward Callie, icy coffee splashing down the front of her.
The chill cut straight to the bone, stealing her breath. Miraculously, the lids on the hot coffees remained intact until the cups hit the floor and liquid went everywhere.
“Look what you’ve done!” the actress shouted upon realizing her short robe had been splashed. “Have you any idea the cost of this outfit?”
“I’ll be more than glad to have it cleaned for you or pay for a new one,” Callie offered, shivers setting in just as Maksim came charging up to yank the tray from her hands.
“Don’t concern yourself with Felicity. Are you burned, honey?” Maksim asked as he checked for damage, his big hands brushing up and down her bodice and coming a little too close to her breasts.
Sucking in a deep gasp and hoping he thought she was reacting to the cold drinks, she tried to catch his hands. The hell of it was she liked how he made her feel with the simplest of touches.
“I’m fine. It’s…cold more than anything,” she answered huskily, wondering where that voice came from. At five foot eleven in flat shoes, she was equal in height to the brunette, though Maksim’s size and height made her feel tiny, feminine.
“What the fuck was that, Felicity? You’re lucky you didn’t burn Ms. MacIntyre. Is that right?” Maksim asked Callie directly.
“My name’s Calysta,” she answered. “Please don’t fuss. I’m not hurt.”
“Sven, get Felicity out of my sight or I’m doing this scene with Veronica,” Maksim commanded, his vivid-green eyes narrowing, his lip curling in disdain.
“What!” Felicity screeched. “Sven wouldn’t dare cut me out of a scene for someone who’s barely elevated from fluffer status, Maksim.”
“It’s…okay, really, don’t change your scene. It was an accident,” Callie insisted, amazed that Maksim cared. No longer searching for injury or burn marks, he stroked. It felt so good she didn’t want him to stop.

News: New Release and 50% Off!

Hello everyone,
I know it's been a while since I've blogged, however, I've been busy through the summer with family vacations and writing! In fact, I've a new release coming this week! And I've some awesome news to share regarding the price of seven of my previous titles! Yes, seven books with Ellora's Cave have been reduced by 50% of the original retail price, books include Ink Master, Field of Play, Quarterback Blitz, Arrington's Claim, Sea Captain's Ghost, Rhiannon's Pride and, my first book, Seductive Persuasion! Prices range from less than $4.00-$1.00! These prices are available through EC, Amazon, ARe, Barnes and Noble, and Google Play! Visit my website for direct links: www.francesstockton.com

My new book is Pleasure Trove, featuring an all-new cast of characters, and for now is a standalone, though who knows what the future could bring for some of them? Pleasure Trove features former investigative reporter Callie Andrews seeking answers as to how her long-missing cousin died in California. Her search takes her to Pleasure Trove, an adult film company.

She never expects to meet the enigmatic and charming Maksim Steel, much less become his fluffer, or the daring affair that results! For more information about Pleasure Trove, follow the link: http://www.ellorascave.com/pleasure-trove.html

For a look at the cover, here you go!

Release Day for Menage-a-Dare!

Hello everyone! I'm wicked excited to share the news that my next Ellora's Cave contemporary erotic romance releases Wednesday May 7, 2014! That's this Wednesday.

For those who may be more familiar with my six book series titled Ink and Kink, my new series Sexcapades, all of which can be identified with Dare in the title were launched with the release of Hazard's Dare, Ellora's Cave Moderne. In Hazard's story, readers were introduced to Dare, Nevada, once a former Wild West ghost town rescued from extinction by a group of investors who turned into a mini-mecca for the rich and famous to play without the risk of discovery by the media or paparazzi.

It is now my pleasure to introduce you to three characters whom you may have met before in a secondary role, Evelyn Stratham, from Cuff Master and Hazard's Dare, ghost hunter Remy Sinclair, also from Cuff Master and the enigmatic and incredibly sexy bisexual businessman with a secret, Jaxon Wynter! 

For more information on any of the books mentioned on this blog post, visit my website http://www.francesstockton.com and click on my bookshelf!

Author's Note: This story is one of sensual discovery with BDSM elements. I highly recommend anyone considering the lifestyle to get informed before engaging in it. Menage-a-Dare also features two bisexual men who become as committed to each other as they do to Eve.

Here's a glimpse of Menage-a-Dare! 
http://www.ellorascave.com/menage-a-dare.html 

Here's a sneak peak at the first meeting between Eve, Remy and Jaxon!

“Eve! Remy,” Avery called out in a rush, disrupting their kiss by plowing into the two of them and wrapping them both up in a bear hug that would do the Maddox brothers proud.

“Whoa, Avery, careful with your knee. I need that part, know what I’m saying?” Remy muttered, laughing when he and Eve drew apart.

“Sorry, Remy, god I’ve missed you guys,” Avery replied, backing up to assess them as only a mother hen or best friend could. “It’s true isn’t it? You and my best friend are a thing, a couple.”

“A couple, yes, a thing, no,” Eve pointed out, laughing happily.

Avery waved her hand in the air expressively. “You guys hungry?”

“Starving,” Remy answered, sounding distracted all of a sudden. His hand tightened on Eve’s, a warning, an acknowledgment, she couldn’t say, all she knew was that something was about to happen.

Turning her head, she discovered why her man had become mute. Another man who wasn’t nearly as big as Remy but equally imposing came strolling up to them as if everything he surveyed belonged to him. The cut of his charcoal-gray slacks, pale-gray shirt and dark vest was impeccable, probably expensive.

At once, Eve was certain the man with the straight, shoulder-length white-blond and dyed black-streaked hair was Jaxon Wynter. To say his hair was beautiful was an understatement—it was gorgeous, different. The added touch of red bleeding down from his widow’s peak made him resemble a vampire.

But it was more than his hair that caught Eve’s attention. He was handsome as sin with a strong chin, a straight nose and a mouth that made her pussy tingle. For a heartbeat she thought the Norse gods had sent him to earth to play with mere mortals.

Wow, she wouldn’t mind playing with him. He had charisma in spades. Everyone in the lobby stopped what they were doing to stare at him. It didn’t matter if they were men or women, they all looked and Eve couldn’t do anything more than stare back.

It was Avery’s frantic waving that broke the strange force-field that seemed to take hold of Eve and Remy. Blinking rapidly, Eve tried to speak but Remy shook his head, for a moment acting as if he’d seen a ghost, which was really ironic considering his profession.

“Jax, come meet my friends,” Avery urged excitedly.

Something told Eve that if Jaxon Wynter didn’t want to rush something, he wouldn’t. He was making a statement. His walk was as engaging as the look he sent Eve and Remy.

Remy felt it too. She knew it by the tug of his hand on hers, the intake of his breath that was utterly male and utterly taken by the other man.

Great Review of Switch Master by Literary Nymphs!

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a joyous and peaceful Christmas/Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. As it's a New Year, there are awesome books coming down the pike for 2014, books and stories I'll tell you all more about the closer they are to releasing. I will say that I recently signed a 5 book contract with Ellora's Cave, three that are part of the Sexcapades series that feature characters introduced in Hazard's Dare, Ellora's Cave Moderne, in small town Dare, Nevada, a place where the rich and famous and sometimes infamous can retreat to and not have to worry about candid cameras or discovery unless they want to be discovered.

Two of the books are for the Exotica line, Pleasure Trove and Road Gig! The first features an inside look at the porn industry from the prospective of a newly hired PA who unwittingly becomes the lead actor's fluffer! The latter, set to release late in 2014 or early 2015, depending on how fast I write, is a one night stand and a dream come true for a bartender working toward her doctorate.

In the meantime, as the subject heading indicates, my latest release, Switch Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo, the sixth book in the Ink and Kink series, received an excellent 4.5 Nymphs review from Literary Nymphs and I had to share.

To read the review from Amazon Nymph, click the link!

http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2014/01/switch-master.html?zx=d59740be6e2253d6

Release Day Contest!

TGIF everyone!

As promised, Switch Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo, is available now from both EC and Amazon.com. I'm wicked excited about this, and, in honor of Taran and Samantha's debut, I'm holding a contest!

It's really very simple and you could win your choice of an Amazon.com giftcard or a back copy of any print book in my Ink and Kink series (there are 5 books in print, with the 5th set for it's print release December 30, 2013) The books in the series include, in order:
1. Quarterback Blitz, Ellora's Cave Sophisticate
2. Field of Play, Ellora's Cave Moderne
3. Ink Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo
4. Playing Doctor, Ellora's Cave Spectrum
5. Cuff Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo
6. Switch Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo (Available Now in digital format!)

How do you enter? That's the easy part, all you have to do is read the teaser I'll post right here on my blog, and tell me what Taran Maddox is doing during the scene. That's it! You can post your answer here on my blog or you can post the response on my FB pages, I say pages because I'll post both my Author Page url and my regular fun FB page url. As a matter of fact, here they are now:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/frances.stockton and/or https://www.facebook.com/AuthorFrancesStockton

I also want to post direct links to Switch Master at Ellora's Cave and Amazon. There are excerpts, a blurb, details, all sorts of fun things to check out!
http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Master-6-Ink-Kink-ebook/dp/B00H80MINM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386945024&sr=1-1&keywords=Frances+Stockton+Switch+Master#_
and
http://www.ellorascave.com/switch-master.html
http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Master-6-Ink-Kink-ebook/dp/B00H80MINM/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386945510&sr=1-11&keywords=Frances+Stockton#reader_B00H80MINM

The second link is an excerpt! Enjoy everyone!

Again, check out the following teaser first then comment here or on FB with the answer to the all important question, what is Taran doing during the scene? Comment and you're entered. This contest will be open for a week! I'll announce the winner next Friday December 20, 2013 here and on FB.

Teaser:

Meet Switch Master's Detective Samantha Riley

Greetings and Happy Holidays. At this time of year, when folks are rushing here and there and traffic is at a crawl, it's always good to take time out for yourselves. Of course, one of those ways could involve reading a good book, whether it's print or on your Kindle/Nook/Tablet.

Now, I'm the first to admit I love the smell of a print book, mass market, category, hardcover, trade paperback, whatever, they all smell...like a book, know what I mean? But that doesn't mean I don't totally support ebooks and in that vein, I'm hoping maybe you'll take time out of your busy schedule and give Detective Samantha Riley and her Dominant hero, Taran Maddox, a try! On Friday, in honor of Switch Master's release from Ellora's Cave Taboo, I'll be hosting a contest that involves nothing more strenuous than reading my blog OR Facebook posts.

If you're not following me yet on FB, I have both an Author Page and a regular FB page and I do tend to post a lot of hot guy pictures and fun memes and status updates. The author page tends to be more promotional, but information for all my books will be on BOTH. That said, please note that my website is under reconstruction, something that is badly needed and I'm very excited about. When the site is done and goes live again, I'll host a big contest featuring a really great prize. More on that another day.

Back to the subject at hand, or should I say, heroine at hand? Detective Samantha Riley, a tall, sexy blonde with a kickass attitude she's developed to make certain her fellow detectives and members of the BPD take her seriously.

As a detective on the Missing Persons and Cold Case Homicide Unit of the BPD (purely a product of an author's imagination), along with her partner in fighting crime Detective Ethan Maddox, Sam has become friends with all of the Maddox brothers, Taran included, but Taran, is somehow different.

Not only is he younger by nearly a decade, he is a Dominant with a fetish for bondage, something that scares her not because Taran is mean or abusive, but because of a heartbreaking past that, alas, I can't elaborate on here because I'm hoping you'll read Switch Master to find out everything she had to go through as a teenager!

Taran is also the single most gorgeous man Samantha has ever had the fortune to meet. Once she spies him naked, there's no turning back for her, she is caught and accepts Taran's challenge to enter his dark sensual world of BDSM, munches, ropes and a sex life that scorches more than the bedroom, it scorches her soul.

For more information on Switch Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo, Book 6 in the Ink and Kink series, visit the following link! http://www.ellorascave.com/switch-master.html

Switch Master: Taran Maddox

Meet Taran Maddox!
Hero of Switch Master, coming December 13, 2013, from Ellora's Cave Taboo!

Taran, the youngest of three Bostonian brothers, Southie born and raised, is only months away from his thirtieth birthday, a Leo, a Dominant, and recently passed the Bar, becoming an attorney-at-law who concentrates on family and civil litigation. Additionally, he's recently opened up his own firm located in the office space above the family-owned tattoo shop known as Maddox Ink, the ink and body art shop he also manages on behalf of his brothers, Phalen and Ethan.

To those unfamiliar with Taran, it would help to read both Ink Master and Cuff Master, each available in ebook and print (Ethan's story, Cuff Master, to be available in print just before the New Year!)

But since I realize not everyone has read the previous books, I thought it'd be fun to introduce you to Taran and Taran alone. Here's a rundown on everything Taran!

Of the Maddox brothers, Taran is the one with the most ink work. Not afraid of a little pain, he craves the bite of a tattoo needle and is willing to undergo body piercing. His ink features everything from Celtic bands and tribal tattoos to a justice scale. He is, of course, gorgeous, ripped and incredibly tall, which is perfect for a six foot tall heroine like Samantha.

Taran is athletic by nature, his sport of choice is lacrosse, but few realize that he is also wickedly intelligent, was the captain of his high school debate team and excelled in academics. A graduate of Boston College, he is proud of being an Eagle and passed the Bar exam on the first try.

As previously stated, Taran is a sexual Dominant and until he met Detective Samantha Riley, has never, ever thought about or entertained switching or submitting to a lover. Active in the BDSM lifestyle and a member of a club located in Danvers, Massachusetts, he attends monthly munches to further understand the culture and Shibari rope bondage. While he is a D, he is more B&D than S&M. His mission when taking a woman into his dungeon is her erotic pleasure above everything else.

One thing he would always tell someone new to the lifestyle, if you're going to engage in bondage or discipline, get educated, attend munches, join a community of like-minded individuals and learn every single thing you can before engaging in any aspect of BDSM.

Now I could give you more details into the mindset of Taran Maddox. But if I gave it all away, it wouldn't be fair to the readers. Don't forget, Switch Master, releases this coming Friday! December 13, 2013! Just in time for Christmas. Middle brother's book, Cuff Master, comes out in print soon after!

For details about Switch Master, here's a direct link! http://www.ellorascave.com/switch-master.html
And a teaser!

One Week Until Switch Master's release!!

Greetings everyone!
I know it's busy this time of year. The Holidays are here, people are scrambling, hunting online for the best sales and decorating their homes in pretty, festive colors and what has become, for their families, tradition. Whether you prefer white lights or colored, twinkling or steady, simple candles in the windows or a pretty wreath on the front door, enjoy the season.

As I know it's busy, and since my website is being revamped, something that's desperately needed, I thought I'd post today and I'll post quite a bit next week with teasers and excerpts from my upcoming Ellora's Cave release, Switch Master!

That's right, Switch Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo, releases Friday December 13, 2013! I'm so excited for this book. Not only have the hero and heroine, Taran Maddox and Detective Samantha Riley, been flirting and dodging each other since Ink Master, big brother Phalen Maddox's book, came to be, it's finally their turn at HEA. But the thing is, after all this time, after the games and the reality of Samantha's painful past returns with a harsh vengeance, can they find the happiness that has eluded them both for too long?

Next week I'll share brief excerpts, teasers, if you will. Today, here's a blurb and a link for Switch Master! http://www.ellorascave.com/switch-master.html If you follow the little 'scope' in the corner of the cover, you can read a full excerpt, too! Even better, just before the new year, Cuff Master, middle brother Ethan Maddox's book, will be available in PRINT!

Samantha has been dodging her attraction to Taran since they met. But when she turns to him for help, the kinky fantasies she’s had about him can no longer be denied.

Master Taran is floored when Samantha comes to him of her own volition. Sensing his chance to end the cat-and-mouse game they’ve been playing for months, he tests her, convincing her to join him on a dark, sensual journey into bondage and sex. But to collar his switch, he must be willing to submit, something he’s never done for a lover.

As their relationship heats up, Samantha’s heartbreaking past returns, threatening their chance at happiness. To save her, Taran will need to be more than her Master. He’ll need to become her soft place to fall while giving her wings to fly.

Website Changes and Switch Master

Hi everyone,
I wanted to apologize for being so quiet as of late. Honestly, I've been writing, a lot. In my last post, I'd indicated that I recently signed a five book contract with Ellora's Cave, plus, I went to EC's RomantiCon2013.

These are all great things to share, and I'm wicked excited. I'm also thrilled to announce that due to the creative direction of my writing career, I've decided to revamp, renew, and reorganize my entire website and online identity.

It's so difficult these days to market oneself, especially with so many choices out there for readers from traditional and independent networks and authors. In light of this, note that my current website is terribly out of date, at least two book releases out of date and it's time to shake things up and go in a new direction.

The process will take time, as I naturally want this transition to be reader friendly as well as putting the best possible site up. This blog will remain an active part of my website, with monthly updates as needed to the site itself, and as-needed updates and news right here and easy to find.

Also, while I was at RomantiCon, I received the cover for Switch Master, Coming Soon from Ellora's Cave Taboo, the final installment of the Ink and Kink series, featuring Master Taran Maddox and switch-in-denial Samantha Riley, a Boston detective who has spent years cultivating a badass reputation.

Here's a gander at the cover!

  

Big Time News to Share!

Hello everyone!

I wanted to apologize for being quiet as of late, but there's been a really GOOD reason. In addition to revamping and reorganizing my website so that it is more reader-friendly, I've been writing a lot and working on edits for Switch Master, coming soon from Ellora's Cave Taboo, the final book in my Ink and Kink series featuring the Maddox brothers and their friends.

Today, however, I wanted to share some incredible news. I've recently sold/contracted a 3 book series with Ellora's Cave titled Sexcapades, featuring an interesting cast of characters first introduced in Hazard's Dare, EC Moderne, and take place in fictional Dare, Nevada. Here's a short summary of the series:
Three Nevadan men with a kinky side and a secret to guard join forces to rescue Dare, Nevada, a Wild West ghost town from extinction, turning it into a haven where they and the town’s famous visitors explore their naughtiest fantasies without risk of discovery. Their motto: Take a chance on Dare, you might decide to stay.

I don't have release date information, yet, however, I can say that Book 1: Menage-A-Dare, coming from Ellora's Cave Taboo, is finished and going into edits soon. Book 2: Virgin's Dare, is a m/m contemporary for Spectrum, and Book 3 finishes out the series with: Illusionist's Dare, a contemporary erotic romance.

Additionally, I've two stand alone novel/novellas coming from Ellora's Cave Exotica! Yes, I've taken the leap into the hot, hot, hot zone with a 'possible' HEA for each, or not?! Look for Pleasure Trove and Road Gig in the coming months!  

I'm so excited to share this news with my readers, and I can't wait to unviel my new website in the coming weeks. As some may know Ellora's Cave Publishing's RomantiCon13 is right around the corner and I may not post as much, but pictures will go up on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for letting me share!
Frances
 

Ink Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo, in Print!

Greetings! Summer is winding down fast, school supply shopping is on the horizon and we've just returned home from a beach vacation. It was AWESOME.

That said, I have major news, Ink Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo is available in trade paperback! While it's also available in digital/ebook format from Amazon, B&N, ARe, Sony, Kobo and, of course, Ellora's Cave, the print book is also available.
This book also received a great review from You Gotta Read!
http://yougottaread.com/review-ink-master-by-frances-stockton/

Here are the urls:
Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/ink-master-1.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ink-Master-Kink-Frances-Stockton/dp/1419969048/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376314748&sr=1-1&keywords=Ink+Master+by+Frances+Stockton
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ink-master-frances-stockton/1106957633?ean=9781419969041&itm=1&usri=ink+master+by+frances+stockton

Blurb:
Phalen, a former Army Ranger turned PI and tattoo-shop owner, is a Master waiting for someone to challenge him. Submissive-in-denial Cassie is the perfect partner in lust. Having been out of town for a case, Phalen returned determined to claim his woman and discovers she's more open to BDSM than he'd hoped. He couldn't be more turned-on.

 

Then Cassie nervously reveals her submissive twin sister may have been killed by an abusive Dom, who died shortly after. Despite the fact that her family and the cops believe their deaths were murder-suicide, Cassie hires Phalen to find the truth.

 

While he investigates a cold case, their relationship scorches the bedroom and his dungeon. But when his investigation points toward someone close to Cassie, she's caught in a psychopath's web of lies. It'll take all Phalen's skills to unravel the clues-and save Cassie's life.

 

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

An Excerpt From: INK MASTER

Copyright © FRANCES STOCKTON, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

5:00 a.m. Book Haven Diner-Salem, MA



The first step on my path to submission was acceptance. I’m a professional woman and have responsibilities I’ve worked hard to achieve. There was no way in hell I would willingly submit to a man, much less let him bind me to his will and lead me on a sensual journey few can understand. But that was before I met Master and my body knew before my heart that he was destined to make me fly.

Under his domination, I became a powerful woman. Under his control, I flew. And when I accepted his collar, I did so with the power of love…

Cassie Williams pushed her glasses back into place on her nose and tucked her sister’s journal into the pocket of her apron. Fiddling with the coffee machine, she poured fresh Columbian beans into the grinder while trying to reason out how a financial adviser on her way to being the CFO for a big shot corporation could be something totally different in private.

Allie had been a submissive in a D/s relationship, something her family kept secret.

Even as Cassie filled the water basin, she recognized something in herself. She and Allie may not have been identical twins, but her sister’s prophetic words made her wonder if she’d ever know what it was like to fly beneath the skill of a Dom’s hand.

“Morning, sweetheart, saw your car parked out back and thought I’d check in.” Phalen’s Boston accent turned the r in car into an h. Cassie loved his voice. It never failed to make her weak in the knees.

Waiting for the coffee to begin brewing, she answered, “Hey, Phalen, been awhile since you walked through my door.”

“I’m sorry I was gone so long. Had my brothers keeping an eye on things around here,” he said. “Any chance I can get a mocha latte before the breakfast crew gets in?”

In an instant, Cassie’s panties were damp. The smell of Irish Spring tickled her nose. Phalen Maddox was her darkest fantasy come to life. But damn it, her fantasies scared her sometimes.

“Sure, it’ll just take me a sec.” Turning around, she found Phalen sitting in his seat at the counter.

As always, her heart skipped a beat. Her clit pulsed in recognition of a sexy primal male who could do amazing things with his hands and tongue if they ever got horizontal. Refusing to let him know how much she wanted him, she shoved the glasses up her nose as a show of indifference.

Phalen didn’t just sit at the counter. He commanded center stage, even though all he did was offer his gigantic coffee mug and a charming devil-may-care smile.

Pulling herself together, she went to grab the mug. He caught her wrist first, holding her absolutely still. “What’s going on, babe? You were a million miles away when I walked in. The door wasn’t locked. Not a good idea when you’re here by yourself.”

Every nerve-ending beneath her skin fired in delight at the way Phalen’s hand wrapped around her wrist. His grip was strong. His fingers were calloused from years of martial arts training in Jujitsu, Kung Fu and Judo. Recently, he’d joined the Taekwondo dojo on their block and was mastering that too. There was no force. But to pull back right then wasn’t an option.

“Wow, two nicknames in less than a minute,” she said, slowly lifting her eyes from his long fingers to his face. “At least you stopped calling me darlin’.”

He called every woman that. Now women who came into the diner frequently asked for the hot blond guy with the scrumptious body and wicked charm. Granted, he was ripped. If there was an ounce of fat on him, she’d eat his Sox cap.

“Answer the question,” he insisted. Normally, she’d have thought eyes the color of melted pewter would be cold. No. His gaze made her hot from head to toe.

“Nothing’s going on.”

“Ah huh, then you weren’t daydreaming about Donatelli?” Changing his hold on her wrist, Phalen kept his eyes on her. “Ethan told me he saw you getting cozy with him on TV last Sunday.”

“This little show of dominance is about Michael? Need I remind you we’re never been on a date? Or did you suddenly appoint yourself my Master while you were gallivanting around Fairfax with another woman for more than a month?”

“I’m not interested in any woman but you. When you’re ready, I’ll be your Master, Cassandra Williams,” Phalen declared. Already turned-on, she creamed her panties. “You need to stop going out with him. Or I’ll take issue with it.”

“What will you do? Tie me up like a pretzel and flog me into orgasm? I don’t think so,” she scoffed, refusing to let him know there was a very real part of her that wanted him to tie her up like a pretzel.

“No pretzel twists. No flogger to redden that fine ass of yours, much as you’d like it. I’ll put a chastity belt on you and keep you from coming at all.”

“You wouldn’t dare. That’s barbaric.”

Phalen squeezed enough to keep her attention, his gray eyes boring into hers, one brow raised. She knew if she simply backed up, he’d release her. Choosing to stay was far more thrilling. “Test me on it, Cassie. See how long I’ll forbid you to fuck if you date him again.”

“For your information, I haven’t had sex in so long I’ve forgotten what it feels like. There’s no reason to worry about who I’m dating or not.”

“That’s good. I don’t share. When I fuck you, you’ll never go back to your vanilla boyfriends.”

Did he have to be so damn gorgeous when he said he was going to fuck her? It was difficult enough dealing with a man as confident as he was. Phalen had chiseled movie star looks, extreme height at six foot six, incredible long blond hair which he kept tied in a ponytail, gorgeous eyes a woman could melt into, a strong chin and muscles that screamed former Army Airborne Ranger.

She loved when he wore his faded Boston Red Sox cap, it was such a part of him she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him without it. That had been more than six months ago, when they’d opened their businesses within the same week. They’d flirted and danced around each other since.

Yet they’d never gone on a date or kissed. Phalen had learned how her sister died and backed off so far he’d almost dropped off the planet.

“Phalen, if you let go, I can make your latte,” Cassie suggested, letting him decide when to release her.

“Promise you won’t see him anymore.” He loosened his fingers, using the edge of his blunt fingernail to smooth the pulse in her wrist.

She shook her head. “I can’t promise not to see him. Having a state senator as part of my father’s congregation is a huge deal. My parents and his have known each other forever. Sometimes we cross paths when I go to church. But I’m not dating Michael Donatelli. He’s been dating someone for a couple years anyway. What’s the problem?”

Phalen smiled, sending her heartbeat into overdrive when he flashed his pearly whites. It wasn’t that his teeth were perfectly straight that got her. In fact, his canines reminded her of a wolf’s and one incisor was crooked. It didn’t matter. He was sexy as hell. “Thank God I don’t have to pulverize the slimy bastard.”

“You believe me?”

“Of course,” he answered, releasing her wrist. “I don’t like the guy. His TV commercials drove me bat-shit crazy last November. You know that.”

“You think he’s a conservative bore,” Cassie said, reluctantly stepping back. Now that he’d let go, she missed the strength of his hand restraining her.

“Donatelli is an asshole. Never said he was a bore. That’s on you.”

Phalen was right. Michael was boring. And so damn uptight at times that she’d wanted to ruffle his feathers by telling him who she’d voted for. She didn’t though. Her father would have a cow if she openly admitted she was a Democrat to the right wing politician. She was twenty-nine, for goodness sake. She shouldn’t have to hide what she was from anyone.

“Can I get that latte now?”

“Sure. My breakfast crew should be coming in soon if you want something to eat.”

“I ate already, thank you. Any chance you’d like to come over and pick a tat over lunch?” he asked when she turned away to play barista.

“I don’t think I’m ready for a tattoo.” She’d been contemplating getting one for months. The pain involved kept her at bay. “Maybe I’ll get one for my birthday in April.”

“How about I design something for you?”

“That’d be nice.”

Cassie loved coffee and books. Miraculously, she’d found this old diner up for sale nine months ago. She’d been saving her money while working at a coffee shop since she was in high school, had sound investments, was gifted with a nice inheritance from her grandparents’ estate and borrowed a small business loan from her parents, which she was still paying off.

Her cooks and wait-staff served diner-style dishes while customers read or worked on their computers. There were eight vintage booths, ten tables and a counter that could seat eight in the front. The tables and booths had small music boxes, each connected with a digital jukebox to the right of the counter near the restrooms.

Customers had to walk through an archway to get to the store, where she offered magazines, newspapers and gifts such as coffee mugs designed by local artists and jewelry.

Since it was in Salem and a few blocks down from historical landmarks around town, it was an attractive destination for breakfast and lunch crowd tourists. She didn’t serve dinner, deciding when she opened to switch to goodies like soft pretzels and scones until closing time. Coffee, lattes and hot teas were available all day.

“Cassie?” Phalen called out again, putting more push to his voice.

Loving the way he sounded right then, she looked back. He was still in his seat. His eyes were trained on her hair. “Yes?”

“You said maybe about getting ink,” he pointed out. “Not long ago, you said ‘no way in hell’. What’s changed?”

“The idea that getting a tattoo from you doesn’t seem so painful anymore.”

“The degree of pain changes, depending on where you want the work done. Endorphins kick in to help your body deal with the discomfort, sweetheart. For some, it’s very addictive.”

“My answer stays the same. I’m not ready yet.”

“For the tat or me?”

Review: Ink Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo

Hi everyone!
Just received an excellent 4 Star 'You Need to Read' review from You Gotta Read Reviews for Ink Master. The reviewer gave the book a lovely review and really seemed to 'get' Cassie and Phalen's love story.

Here's a link to the review:
http://yougottaread.com/review-ink-master-by-frances-stockton/

I'm thrilled to share this information and hope you'll check out the review, You Gotta Read, Ellora's Cave books and all the books from my Ink and Kink series. http://www.ellorascave.com/series/ink-and-kink.html

Have a great Saturday,
Frances

Hazard's Dare

Hi everyone,
Today I thought I'd post about Hazard and Avery from Hazard's Dare, available now from Ellora's Cave Moderne. In August, I'm happy to say Hazard will be interviewed by a reviewer/blogger, more to come on a later date, as there will be a contest with the interview featuring a giftcard from Amazon.com.

As to Hazard, who is he, you might ask? Trevor Hazard Osbourne is the middle linebacker from the pro football team Alexandria Griffins. Previous titles involving football players consist of Quarterback Blitz, Field of Play and Playing Doctor, with crossover secondary characters. Hazard also appears in Ink Master.

Avery Grant is the younger sister to Alexander Grant, one of the heroes in Playing Doctor, a m/m from Ellora's Cave Spectrum. All of her life, Avery's been expected to live an exemplary life, avoid scandal and help her powerful US Senator father succeed. But when her father is forced to retire from political life, she finds herself able to explore her femininity and her sexuality, to do that she ventures to a small town in Nevada known as Dare, with a reputation for guarding the rich and famous from the vultures in the gossip presses and online hype. That's when she runs into her secret crush, Hazard Osbourne, one of her sports agent brother's clients.

For more on Hazard's Dare, here are all the links to EC, ARe, Amazon and B&N. You'll find excerpts there, too. http://www.ellorascave.com/hazard-s-dare.html
http://www.amazon.com/Hazards-Dare-ebook/dp/B00BND224U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374669783&sr=1-1&keywords=Hazard%27s+Dare+by+Frances+Stockton

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hazards-dare-frances-stockton/1114804831?ean=9781419944796

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hazard039sdare-1094962-340.html

Read on for the blurb and a great excerpt!

Hazard, talented linebacker for the Alexandria Griffins, is known for hard hits, record-breaking sacks, fast living and engaging in unconventional relationships. During a week off from football, he travels to Dare, Nevada, for some R and R and to hook up with a hot woman or two.
When Avery, his agent’s sister, walks into the club wearing a wicked red dress, he’s not immune to her delectable charms. After several tequila shots, Avery invites him to her hotel room for a week of hot sex with no promise of commitment, and he gladly accepts.
Of course they don’t expect their brief sexcapade to quickly turn into love—nor are they aware that someone dangerous has been stalking Avery’s family for years. Someone who’s about to strike. When Avery disappears, Hazard might lose the best thing he’s ever had. But not without a fight.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.

An Excerpt From: HAZARD’S DARE

Copyright © FRANCES STOCKTON, 2013

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

Truth or Dare Club, Dare, Nevada—Late January



For the first time in her life, Avery Grant felt like a woman.

More than that, she felt like an attractive, sexy, vivacious woman ready to take on the Truth or Dare Club, with no one telling her what to do and no man to tell her to go back to her hotel room alone.

But it was too late.

She’d prepared for the evening by spending the day in a spa and getting a new hairstyle, complete with highlights and dark lowlights. Then she’d gone on a shopping spree to find a gorgeous red V-necked cocktail dress and six-inch stilettos.

Currently, her dress was covered with a long red coat, but she’d shed it once she was inside the building. It was January, and even though she was in Nevada, there was a distinct chill was in the air.

She hesitated for a minute or two, maybe three, recalling her friend Morgan Maddox’s phone call two hours ago. Morgan claimed that tonight would change Avery’s life because the man destined to be her soul mate would be at the Truth or Dare Club.

Unfortunately, Avery didn’t believe it was possible.

For one thing, she wasn’t looking for a soul mate or even a boyfriend.

For another, she’d recently gotten herself out of a loveless relationship. Thank God she’d dodged the bullet when she realized her ex was a lying, cheating scum with no reason to be with her except former Senator Charles Grant’s political backing.

No. She was looking for something else entirely, certainly not forever, and coming to Dare, Nevada, was the right place to be.

The once-dilapidated Old West boomtown, nestled in a valley thirty minutes south of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, had been bought up by a quartet of the rich and famous, revamped and made into a mini-mecca for those who wanted to get away from everyday life and not get swallowed up by the craziness of Vegas…or the paparazzi.

Not that the paparazzi was an issue in Avery’s life. After all, she was Charles Grant’s oldest daughter, the one considered to be a sensible bore. Compared to her sports agent brother, Alexander, and her younger sister, Charlotte, who was a promising US swim star, she lived an ordinary, scandal-free life.

But as of tonight, she wasn’t following anyone’s rules anymore, except her own.

Tucking her small red clutch purse under her arm, she squared her shoulders and stepped up to the door. Music could be heard from where she stood.

Taking a deep breath right as the music faded and someone onstage announced the night’s special guest performer, Avery missed the man’s name because her cellphone went off in her purse.

Grumbling, she scrambled to get the phone from the clutch purse, saw who called and immediately turned the thing off. She was not answering to her older brother tonight.

He could wait. Her life couldn’t.

Stuffing the phone out of the way and returning the purse under her arm, she pushed her way through the door, stopping to hand her coat off to a young man working the coat check closet.

The man’s reaction when he saw her dress was priceless! With more confidence under her wings, she headed into the already crowded club.

At first, she had to blink because it was dark inside, with typical club lights turned down low and a spotlight aimed toward the stage.

And then the tantalizing riff of a guitar and a country singer’s voice trapped her right where she stood. “When you came in, the air went out…and every shadow filled up with doubt…I don’t know who you think you are, but before the night is through…I want to do bad things with you.”

As the song made popular by Jace Everett and the TV show True Blood continued, Avery was completely taken in, seduced. Not only did the singer hit every note with a deep-voiced country drawl that was undeniably hot, she’d locked eyes with… him .

Up on stage, guitar in hand, microphone in place, was Trevor Hazard Osbourne, middle linebacker for the Alexandria Griffins!

And her secret crush. The man was the reason she was a football fan and a huge proponent of the defense!

Suddenly, irrevocably, everything in her that was female went on red alert. Her heart pounded, her knees grew weak, her pussy awakened, leaving an aching reminder of how staid and nonexistent her sex life had been as of late.

Hazard wasn’t just another football player with a badass reputation. He was known for his killer charm with the ladies, megawatt smile and was considered hazardous to any self-respecting offense’s chance of scoring in the red zone.

And right now Avery was red hot! Hazard was not only incredibly good-looking, he had beautiful shoulder-length caramel brown hair that gave him a lion-sized personality and a body made for sin.

Even from the slight distance, she could see that he was tall, broad and built. He had an ass made for squeezing and muscles made for crushing opponents. Aware of herself in a way that she’d never been before, she realized that she was dripping wet between her legs. To be crushed beneath a man like that would be incredible.

Just like that, with a song and what she imagined was recognition in his eyes when he continued to sing to her , Avery was smitten.

For a second, she thought of Morgan’s warning earlier that day. Could it possibly be that Hazard was the one?

Oh, this was bad. She could handle keeping her crush a secret. It was just that Hazard—as he was called by teammates, media and football fans—was more than a crush. He was one of the athletes represented by her brother.

Thinking maybe it’d be a good thing to exit gracefully, Avery took a step backward and stepped on the foot of the person behind her. Stilettos had to hurt his instep, even if he was wearing a nice pair of loafers!

“Oh, I am very sorry,” she apologized.

“It’s not a problem,” the man answered, catching her elbow and helping her to regain her balance. “This place is crowded tonight. Ever been here before, gorgeous?”

Gorgeous? A man called her gorgeous? Turning her head and hoping like hell the guy was hot, she was struck by two things.

He was undeniably handsome. And he was the polar opposite of what she’d come here for. Granted, he was clean cut, smelled great and his brown hair was ultra-short.

He had nice blue eyes, a nice chin and a nice voice, altogether nice.

She hadn’t come to the Truth or Dare Club for nice. She’d come for naughty.

“No, I’m afraid I haven’t been here yet,” she answered, realizing it was rude to stare. If she was going to stare at anyone, she’d rather watch Hazard from afar.

“That makes two of us. Name’s John, would you like to find a table?”

“That’s very nice of you. But I’m meeting someone in a little bit.”

“At least let me get you safely to the bar. The crowd watching the mini-concert is decidedly pushy.”

“That’d be nice of you. Thank you for being so polite after I treaded on your foot. These shoes are new and take some getting used to.”

“Didn’t feel a thing,” he insisted, making good on his promise to escort her across the room.

She barely had the chance to appreciate the modernized replica of an Old West saloon. John nearly bowled through people to reach the bar. She tried to apologize, but by the time she got words out, she was dragged away.

Deciding that she did not like John, she was glad when they reached the bar.

“Thank you, John, for the escort. I’ve got it from here,” she said, homing in on a vacated stool made out of an old-fashioned barrel.

“Let me order you a drink,” he insisted.

“It’s not necessary. Really, I came to meet someone.”

“Looked to me like you were alone when you walked in,” John commented.

“That’s because my date’s currently up on stage,” she said, hoping John wasn’t good at detecting a fib.

“He’s in the band?”

“The singer, Hazard Osbourne, maybe you’ve heard of him?”

“Afraid not, but I know when I’ve worn out my welcome. I hope he appreciates what he has, if he doesn’t, look me up.”

John reached into his wallet, pulled out a business card, snagged a pencil from the bar, jotted something down and handed her the card before disappearing into the crowd.

Avery checked the card. The front advertised John Redman was the owner of an independent film studio. On the back, he’d scribbled the name of his hotel and room number.

Finding that presumptuous, Avery flicked the card across the bar with her finger, sending it flying straight into the back of the broad-shouldered, pale-blond bartender.

“Oh my god, what’s gotten into me?” she asked herself out loud, thinking no one would hear because Hazard was still performing.

Bad Things was over. He’d switched gears and sang something equally deep, equally compelling and sexy, Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game . All Avery could do was park her butt on the barrel and hope she hadn’t earned a kick in the caboose right out the door.

The bartender turned, saw her sitting there, then bent down to retrieve the object that’d nailed him before coming up to her.

“Hello, Red, this must be your first time in Truth or Dare,” he greeted with a curiously sexy tone of voice that sounded a little like he’d spent a lot of time in California.

He smiled, and for a crazy second, Avery was transfixed on that smile because there was something about it that warned he could be a predator or a savior. His shoulder-length pale-blond hair was nearly white, with two dyed black streaks sweeping from a sharp widow’s peak.

His face was, whoa, stunning. Smiling as he was, she saw even white teeth, but his canines looked suspiciously like fangs. If she didn’t know better, she’d think the bartender was a vampire or creature of the undead.

“Um, hi, yes, this is my first time here. Could I get a margarita if I apologize for hitting you with my trash?”

“Don’t worry about the card,” the bartender said as he tossed it in a trash can. “It’s not the first time a pretty lady got rid of an unwanted suitor the only way she could think of. What’s your name?”

“Avery,” she answered honestly, unsure if it was wise, but she couldn’t retract it.

“Welcome to Dare,” the bartender said, offering his hand. “My name’s Jaxon. I sure hope this isn’t your only visit to our cozy little town.”

She shook his hand, finding that he had a strong, confident grip without being too forward or rude. “Thank you. Now that I’ve found it, I have the feeling Dare might become my new getaway spot.”

“As it is for many who come here,” he said. “How do you like your margarita?”

“On the rocks, with salt,” she answered.

Jaxon mixed her drink and handed the quality-tequila-laden drink on the bar.

“First one’s on me,” he said when she reached into her purse. “How about I start a tab for you while you wait until it’s safe to mingle? The guy who offered his room number is currently seated at a table with a direct line of sight to where you’re sitting.”

“I didn’t like him much. There was something false in the way he flirted.”

Jaxon looked around the room. “You don’t have to worry about him. If he bothers you again, I’ll have the bouncers take care of the situation.”

Disliking the idea that she was being watched, she took a liking to Jaxon for offering to look after her if she needed it.

“Thank you, Jaxon, I appreciate that you’re looking out for the newbie,” she said, taking a sip of her margarita. Perfect, with just the right amount of salt. The drink was exactly what she needed to calm her nerves. “This is good.”

“Glad you like it. Enjoy the music. Considering it’s football season, we’re lucky to have Trevor Osbourne with us tonight. If country’s not your thing, illusionist Gabriel Krystiyan starts his show in the Truth or Dare Theater in about a half an hour.”

“Gabriel Krystiyan? Wow, isn’t he a Vegas headliner?”

“Yes, but Gabe’s one of us, one of Dare, I mean. When he’s home, he takes over the theater with his magic act that’s second to none.”

“I’m in town for a week. I’ll be sure to catch one of his shows.”

“But not tonight,” Jaxon said.

“I’d rather enjoy this margarita and put in an order for a second.”

Relaxing and finding the barrel she was sitting on surprisingly comfortable with its plush red leather cushion, she took another salt-laden sip and discovered the stool swiveled too.

Fastening her eyes upon Hazard as his concert continued, she became absorbed in the moment, in him. Sure, he was a sex symbol known for playing hard but fair, on the field and off. Yet there was something compelling about him, something that had awakened her long-dormant sex drive.

He was the perfect bachelor, loved being single, never professed to being a saint and her brother told her not long ago that Hazard had plans of becoming a country singer after his football days were over. By Alexander’s account, Hazard was intelligent, understood that he needed a career after football and chose his endorsement deals and fundraisers wisely.

Suddenly noticing that Hazard seemed to be staring straight at her, Avery squirmed a little.

There was no way that he could see her from the stage. The lights on the stage were a red, green and blue hodgepodge that showcased each member, a spotlight haloed him, letting the audience appreciate the way his talented fingers strummed the electric guitar.

To Avery, it seemed as if he made the guitar sing, bringing it to life. That kind of talent was rare, that kind of passion was what she’d always longed for and could never have.

Raised to be a good girl, she’d decided to put aside her ordinary image and be a little bad. Maybe Bad Things had been the right song to hear the second she’d walked into the Truth or Dare Club. Maybe the tequila in her drink was working its magic.

Whatever it was, right then Avery was tempted by Hazard in a way she’d never known before, and they hadn’t even spoken yet.

What were the chances he’d remember her anyway?

The only time they’d met and spoken at length had been when her father was in the hospital needing a kidney transplant. Like the hero he was, Alexander donated his kidney to save their father. But the stress of her father’s illness and discovering that her almost fiancé was a lecherous lout had taken its toll on Avery.

She hadn’t been herself when she’d met Hazard. He’d been polite and friendly enough, but then Timothy had returned after taking a lengthy phone call from a client and started acting like a member of the Grant family and Hazard withdrew to talk to his friends.

It could have been a few minutes of time that they actually spoke. She didn’t know. But something had shifted inside her when they shook hands, a spark had ignited, reminding her that she was indeed female and Trevor Hazard Osbourne was all male.

Shortly after, her father and brother were taken into surgery and she didn’t see Hazard again. Once everyone knew the transplant was successful, the athletes left. And it’d taken several weeks afterward for Avery to tell her father she’d decided to break things off with Timothy.

Though she’d gone in with evidence gathered by her one of her brother’s friends, PI Phalen Maddox, the shit had hit the fan. It was the first and only time she’d done anything against her daddy’s wishes.

All her life, she’d tried to be a good daughter, to make choices in her career that would never put a negative light on her father or cause his opponents in the Senate to use her against him. When she’d told her dad about Timothy’s infidelity, he’d gone so far as to suggest that it was something she had to deal with, not run away from.

Avery did try again. She and Timothy went on a few dates and she acknowledged she’d never been in love with him. She’d just been too chicken to admit it. Once she did, the reconciliation her father wanted never came to be.

“Ready for that second drink, Red?” Jaxon offered, tapping her hand and pointing to her almost-empty glass.

“Yes, please.”

“You got it,” he said, flashing another glimpse of that vampire smile.

She couldn’t help herself. She had to know. “Anyone ever mention you look a little like a vampire?”

Jaxon froze for a second, his rare violet eyes homing in on her face. Avery wasn’t sure what she’d said to set him off, but she regretted upsetting him.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

He shook his head and grinned. “You didn’t. I get that a lot, the vampire thing, I mean. I’m human, and except for a tattoo on my arm made from invisible ink, I don’t glow or anything.”

“Some friends of mine are tattooists. But I’ve never seen them do an invisible tattoo. How does it become visible?”

“Black lights,” Jaxon answered, rolling up his white long-sleeved shirt to reveal a blood-red mouth with iridescent teeth and fangs.

“I’ll get your drink,” he said as he lowered his sleeve and turned away to grab a new margarita glass.

While she reflected on the tattoo he’d revealed, Avery realized the music in the club had changed from live to a DJ spinning a mix of music in booth somewhere.

A man’s hand came out of nowhere, startling her when he placed it on the bar and wedged himself between her barrel and the person next to her.

“What do you say, gorgeous? Are you ready to give up waiting for a stranger and take a chance on Mr. Nice Guy?”

John had just gone from weirdo to asshole in Avery’s book. “I say that I’m not interested,” Avery told him, shifting around to look him in the eye.

“Come on, how about a dance? Let me at least buy you a drink.”

“That’s not necessary,” she said, right as a giant shadow came up behind her.

John was about six foot even. Judging from the way he looked up, she’d say her rescuer was about six-five or six-six, big, broad and a total badass.

She knew exactly who was behind her.

Her body had known seconds ago. Her pussy had unfurled like a spring flower beneath a ray of sunshine. Her breasts felt heavier, her nipples tightened. The powerful draw of need deep in her belly was completely sexual.

“Someone giving you a hard time, baby?” Trevor Hazard Osbourne asked. Nestling in nice and close to her back, he drew her up off the barrel and parked his ass in her spot.

Before she could blink, she was sitting in Hazard’s lap and John Mr. Not So Nice Guy disappeared from sight.

“Hazard,” Avery whispered, shocked that he’d gone to such lengths to protect her and instantly aware of his steel-hard muscle and size.

Hazard was enormous, with not an ounce of fat.

“Good to see you again, Avery Grant,” Hazard answered, his baritone whispering right into her ear. “Would you mind telling me why you’re wearing a smoking-hot dress and killer shoes that make every man in this room wonder how your fantastic legs would feel wrapped around him?”

“Wearing a nice dress and new shoes isn’t a crime, Mr. Osbourne.”

“When it comes to you, it is.”

“How do you figure? You’re not my boss. In fact, it’s quite a shock that you even remembered my name. We met once.”

“I’m not likely to forget that you’re my agent’s prettier twin.”

“Wow, at first I felt honored to know Hazard Osbourne saved me from trouble. But saying I look like my brother when we’re not even twins won’t get you laid as payment for your help, bonehead!”

Offended, she tried to scramble off his lap, but to do so would only cause damage to her daring dress. Hazard’s unbreakable grip around her waist made her feel trim and slim and female.

Her C-cup breasts felt bigger, her nipples tighter and in a constant state of arousal. She was almost five-eight, regarded herself as reasonably attractive and average. Hazard made her feel as if she was so much more than average.

“Whoa there, don’t get pissed at me and wiggle that fine ass of yours like that unless you’re prepared for trouble. I didn’t save you in order to get laid and you don’t look like a man. You look amazing, Avery.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“You’re welcome. For the record, I know Alex is older. While the family resemblance between the two of you is uncanny, you are much prettier. Now answer the question. What kind of trouble were you hoping to find in Dare?”

“You want the truth?”

“We are in the Truth or Dare Club, baby, might as well go for broke.”

Hazard’s big hands tightened around her waist. Shifting her on his lap, he expelled a deep breath, as did Avery. For a heartbeat, she’d thought for sure the hardness she felt pressed up against her ass had been the biggest cock she’d ever known.

Not that she’d known many. Okay, that was an understatement. But her lack of lovers notwithstanding, she’d certainly seen her share of erotic images. None of the men had a penis that rivaled Hazard’s.

Telling herself she was feeling his hard as hell thigh that just so happened to get thicker, Avery sat very still.

“I’m not sure you can handle the truth,” she warned.

A big hand came up to her chin, turning her so that she could look at him without causing damage to her neck muscles or putting a strain on her back. “I can handle anything. The truth, Avery, what were you looking for when you came here?”

Caught up in his unusual amber eyes that reminded her of a lion’s and imagining Michelangelo had a hand in sculpting his cheekbones, strong chin and chiseled features, she couldn’t look away or take back her answer.

“I came to find a fuck buddy. Not forever, mind you, just a friend to have fun with whenever I’m able to go on vacation.”

“Say that again,” Hazard demanded, tightening his fingers on her chin ever so slightly.

“You heard me, a fuck buddy. That’s what I want.”

“Like hell you are,” he grumbled as he clutched her tighter in order to stand up.

“Let go!”

Over her shoulder, he said, “Jaxon, my table. Biggest fucking glass of sweet tea you’ve got and whatever Avery’s drinking, bring it there.”

“Got it,” Jaxon answered without missing a beat in his mixology.

With little ado, Hazard let her grab her purse from the bar and carefully propelled her across the room. Those who hadn’t found a seat or table stepped aside, because the linebacker was the size of a freakin’ mountain.

Claiming a table that had a fresh deck of cards and a couple of guitar picks sprawled across the well-worn surface that had nicks, dings and names of musicians inscribed in the oak, he finally guided her into a chair.

Despite their conversation and the fact when he stepped backward, he revealed an enormous erection tenting his faded button-fly jeans, Hazard claimed the seat opposite her.

Unsure what to say or do, Avery waited until Jaxon delivered their drinks and vacated the coziest spot in a very crowded room. She didn’t think it wise to speak until Hazard gave her an opening.

He didn’t. He grabbed up the tallest glass of iced tea she’d ever seen and took a long drink. At the rate he was taking that tea down, it’d be gone in three seconds.

“Slow down, Hazard. You’ll make yourself ill.”

Hazard glared at her and kept drinking until he was satisfied. Slamming the ice-frosted glass back down on the table, he broke the silence. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to let Alexander Grant’s sister come to town to find a fuck buddy.”

“FYI, I’m more than his sister. I’m a woman, dammit! Maybe I’m tired of being the sensible Grant all the time. Maybe I’m ready for no-holds-barred sex. I’m on vacation. Why shouldn’t I have fun?”

Hazard growled deep in his throat. Briefly, she thought for sure he’d roar as loud as any self-respecting lion warning rival males away from his pride. “Sonofabitch, this isn’t happening. No, I won’t allow it.”

“You don’t even know me beyond my name. Why do you presume to think you can tell me what I can or can’t do?”

He took another long drink, this time his amber eyes staying on her face as he crushed some ice with his teeth. In his college days, he must have been killer at beer pong and quarters.

Fearing her night would end before it began, she swallowed hard. “You know what? It was obviously a mistake to come here.”

“A huge mistake,” Hazard said, placing his glass back down. “Not because you don’t have the right to fuck whoever you want. Because courting that kind of trouble isn’t you, baby. You go through with this asinine scheme, you’re going to get hurt!”

“Now I’m asinine. Is that what you’re saying?”

“No. Don’t you get it? As beautiful as you look tonight, I might accept your red dress challenge. And the horrible truth is, I don’t want the kind of relationship you represent, permanence.”

“What challenge?”

“To be your fuck buddy,” he said, again keeping his eyes on her face. The look in his eyes warned her not to look away.

Right then, Hazard was all alpha male. With his long caramel-brown hair running in thick waves to his shoulders that gave him the appearance of a lion and those compelling amber eyes, she was captivated and didn’t dare look away.

“I didn’t challenge you to be my anything, much less ask,” Avery said when she found her voice.

“Didn’t you? You melted when I held you on my lap. I’m willing to bet my playoff bonus that you were soaking wet from the knowledge that my cock was hard and ready to sink deep into you from behind. Now your body’s craving sex with me, Avery. And dammit, I feel like a bastard for wanting you too!”

“Very well, I will free you of the burden of being a bastard.”

Taking a huge gulp of her margarita and nearly choking on a mouthful of salt, she slapped it back on the table and stood to leave. She made it an inch before his big hand engulfed hers, pinning her right where he wanted, but not once putting pressure on her more slender fingers or wrist.

“Sit down,” Hazard commanded. “Stay and talk to me. Please.”

It was the please that stopped her. Hastily added though it was, she sensed he was being sincere. Folding down to the padded seat, she reached out for her margarita with her free hand.

Even as she sipped at her drink, it dawned on her that Hazard hadn’t let go of her left hand. Wrapping his fingers with hers, he picked up his glass with his free hand and sipped the remaining amount of tea.

When the glass was empty except for some ice, he flagged the bartender. Avery didn’t know how they could be seen from the bar, but Jaxon returned. “What can I get you two?”

“Tequila, straight up, limes and salt,” Avery said.

“Are you drinking tonight, Trev?” Jaxon asked.

Hazard’s eyes never left Avery’s face, his fingers squeezing hers. “Just this once. And, Jax…none of that cheap crap that does nothing but create hangovers touches this table.”

“Patrón it is.” Jaxon left to prepare their shots.

Avery didn’t move. She couldn’t.

Hazard was so compelling and charismatic in person that she knew that this was the reason for her secret crush.

On the football field, he was larger than life, twice the size of most men, and his eyes were constantly studying the offense. In the flesh, he was magnetic, irresistible, uncannily intuitive and so much more significant than even the best HDTVs could showcase during a big game.

When she’d learned that her brother was taking him on as a client just before Kyran Black’s career was sidelined by a demented ex-girlfriend, Avery had been over the moon with excitement. She’d always loved football, had dreamed of dating football players in high school.

Her daddy nipped that dream in the bud. He’d believed that his daughter was better than a jock, going so far as to fix her up on dates with the class politicians and members of the debate team.

Now here she was with one of the best linebackers in professional football. And beyond her better judgment, her heart was telling her that Hazard was the man she’d been looking for when she walked through the door.

She hadn’t known he was here specifically. But maybe a little destiny was at work tonight. Maybe it was time to live and laugh with someone who didn’t give a damn who her father, brother and little sister were and would see her for herself.



Hazard had a problem.

Actually, he had several, starting with the red-dressed vixen sitting across from him, her hand still tucked within his, and an erection that could pound nails.

Worse? It didn’t help alleviate his hard-on, even after knowing he’d been alerted to Avery’s possible arrival by Alex Grant shortly before he’d started his set.

Alex’s text had been simple.

Morgan Maddox called. Said my sister’s been planning to go to the Truth or Dare Club all day, but felt certain danger was following Avery. Keep an eye on her for me, and for god’s sake, keep your zipper zipped around my sister.

Having scrambled off a response that promised he’d keep an eye on Alex’s sister, Hazard went out on stage, guitar in hand, phone in his pocket.

Promising to keep an eye on Alex’s sister had been easy. Keeping the promise was going to be hell.