#WildandWickedWednesday: @MtnMoxieGirl Author Amber Lea Easton Gets Ready for Her #New #RomanticSuspense

Welcome to Wild and Wicked Wednesday at Sassy Vixen Publishing. Today we have an extra special treat. Our friend, fellow author and editor extraordinaire has a new release tomorrow. We're helping to spread the word and get everyone geared up and ready to download Dancing Barefoot the second it goes live on all the retail sites.

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published fiction and nonfiction author. Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes about strong female characters who have their flaws and challenges but ultimately persevere. She currently has six contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels out in the world: Kiss Me Slowly, Riptide, Reckless Endangerment, Anonymity, In Between, and Dancing Barefoot. Her memoir, Free Fall, is dedicated to suicide prevention, awareness, and helping others navigate the dark journey of grief.

In addition, Easton works as an editor, freelance journalist, and professional speaker. She speaks on subjects ranging from writing to widowhood. Some of her videos on romance writing have appeared on the international Writers & Authors television network. Current radio appearances are linked via her author website, http://www.amberleaeaston.com.

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where she gives thanks daily for the gorgeous view outside her window. She finds inspiration from traveling, the people she meets, nature and life’s twists and turns. At the end of the day, as long as she's writing, she considers herself simply to be "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."

Easton also publishes under the name Dakota Skye who has one paranormal erotic romance, Blurred Lines, currently available and another, Deadly Decadence, due out in the fall of 2014

Author Contact Information:

Amazon Author Page viewAuthor.at/AmberLeaEaston

Author website: http://www.amberleaeaston.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/MtnMoxieGirl

Dancing Barefoot blurb

Jessica Moriarty appears to have it all—a successful career as an architect, a loyal group of friends, a gorgeous apartment, and an on-again-off-again affair with Boston's most eligible bachelor. Behind this “perfect life” façade, Jessica hides the loss she feels over giving up her dream career as an artist, copes with a destructive relationship with her alcoholic mother, and struggles with heartbreak over a lost love.

Jacques Sinclair only needs his cameras, a backpack, and a good pair of walking shoes. A world-renowned photographer, he is a man without boundaries. Despite fame and fortune, he still yearns for the woman who shattered his heart when she vanished from his life five years ago.

A chance meeting brings Jacques and Jessica back together. Reunions aren't always planned or welcomed, but chemistry has a way of revealing what is denied. Ensnared in a web of sabotage and conspiracy—carefully constructed by people who want to control their lives—Jacques and Jessica struggle to trust each other, break free from the status quo, reclaim their love, and build a life of extraordinary possibility. 

Excerpt (appropriate for any audience)

Deep inside his chest, his heart stirred with protectiveness.  He didn’t want to hurt her. If he had had his way, she would be his wife. But he hadn’t had his way.  She had deceived him, manipulated him into falling in love with her, treated him as a summer plaything, and disappeared one day without saying good-bye.  But, regardless of how she had felt about him, he had loved her.  That’s why her leaving had hurt so badly, why it still hurt.  Five years wasn’t that long ago, only a heartbeat in time. 

“Jacques, we really need to leave.  We have dinner with Jenkins then our flight back to New York.  We can’t—” Kevin ended his statement with a broad gesture of frustration. 

He nodded and shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. If ever he needed an escape, it was now.  “Bring the car around.  I’ll meet you outside.”

“Well, if you’ve got to go, I'll get out of your way," she said.

“People are waiting for me.”  He winced at the verbal acknowledgment of his compromises. 

A tentative smile curved her lips. “I always knew you’d have your day to shine. It was inevitable.” 

His gaze drifted over her again. “Corporate America treating you well?  Let me guess…you always work late, are committed only to your career, have given up art, have a stable boyfriend who wears suits and talks about the stock market, are still trying to please a mother who never understood you, have compromised to the point of losing yourself completely…am I close to the truth?”

 Her smile faded.  “Five years is a long time to hold a grudge.”

“It isn’t long enough.” He wished this rendezvous could go differently, but bitterness tainted his words. He reminded himself of his immunity to her.  Cool.  Aloof.   “I never said I had a grudge against you.  Why would I? That would mean I think about you and I haven’t in years.”  

 “I can see that you haven’t given me a thought at all.  You must have forgotten who this was, then?” She held his book up to his face.

Brains and beauty, a combination he now avoided. 

“Perhaps I did forget it was you. Hundreds of women and even more photographs…” He ripped his gaze from the cover of his book.  He had used that photograph hoping she would see it some day and be hurt by the memory.  

The cover photo had been taken the morning after their night in Rome after he had proposed to her and foolishly believed her when she had said yes. Questions pummeled him aching for release—and, oh, he had fantasized about seeing her again and letting them fly without restraint—but he hadn't expected to be blindsided with heartache.

“Why are you lying? We both know damn well—”


“Of the two of us, you are the expert liar.” He thrust the book back into her hands. “What do you want?”

She slid the book into her messenger bag.  Unshed tears glistened in her eyes.  When she looked away, he could almost see the fight for control within her.  When she looked back, eyes were dry. Scary control.  When had she learned that disturbing skill?  Not that he should care, he didn't.  Her life. Her choices.

“You’re good at that, aren’t you?” he asked despite himself.

“Good at what?”  Her gaze slid to his chest. 

“Hiding what you’re really feeling. What an actress you are.”

Her blue eyes hardened like a frozen glacial lake.  She stood tall.  “I almost didn’t come inside, but now I’m glad I did.  You’ve turned into a real ass.  Fame must have warped your brain.  It’ll be much easier to forget you now.”

“You’ve had years to forget me,” he said.

“I failed.”  Her chin trembled.  She shrugged in defeat.  “I failed, okay?  Is that what you need to hear?  I haven’t forgotten Florence, Rome, our apartment, you...any of it.  I think about it all daily.”

"Do you ever stop lying?"

Their gaze connected and held.

Irritated by her presence, his lack of control and life in general, he strode toward the door. Time to leave. 

He stopped in the doorway and turned, unable to simply leave her behind even though he knew he should.  “You were going to run away from me again when you realized I was still here, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Guilt for his behavior settled in his heart and sickened him.  She'd mattered to him, had been the center of his world...once upon a time not too far in the past.  “I’m sorry for treating you badly. You took me by surprise." 

She walked toward him, a hesitant grin on her trembling lips.  She looked foreign to him in her crisp white blouse, red skirt and high heels. 

“I wish we had more time, we could talk, get a drink, catch up.  That wouldn't be so terrible, would it? I have so much I want to say to you, to explain—"

“I need to go before Kevin has a nervous breakdown.”  Irritation snapped through his nervous system.  He wanted to take her to dinner and force her to eat pasta, mess her hair up, make her laugh and see...well, see what had happened to the woman he had loved, find out the real reason she had given up on their future together.  But getting involved in her life again—even in a small way—would be detrimental to his heart health. So why did he want it so badly? “Kevin’s like you, always worried about being late.”

“How do you stand him?” Her tentative grin became a smile. 

“I fire him daily but he refuses to go away.” He would not meet her eyes again as they walked together onto the street. Awkwardness stretched between them in the warm June evening. 

“You don’t have a few minutes?  Just to talk?  Catch up?  We could have coffee or a drink?  After your dinner?”  She kept his pace, stood too close, looked at him with those big blue eyes. Damn her.

He wanted more than a drink.  He wanted hours.  He wanted an explanation. 

When she rubbed the back of her neck, he noticed the ring on her finger.  Hurt and anger took their rightful place in his heart.  Resolve restored, he looked down the block for any sign of Kevin and the get away car. 

“We have said all there is to say,” he said.

“We could—”

“Could what?  Talk about old times over a cold drink in a crowded bar?”  He closed the space between them.  “Do you know how many women want to have a drink with me, Jess?”

“I’m not a stranger.”  She stood her ground, straightened her spine and tilted her chin as if willing to go toe-to-toe with him.  Maybe she hadn't changed so much after all.

“What do you want from me?”  His gaze pierced hers looking for a glimpse of truth beneath the facade. 

“I don’t want anything from you.”

“What did you expect when you came here?  You expected something. Deny it.”  The temptation to yank the ring from her hand boiled beneath his skin.  She had no right to wear it. 

“I don’t know what I expected.”

“No? I think you expected me to be happy to see you.”

“You’re wrong.  I knew this would be hard.  I—”

“And you couldn’t come during scheduled hours, you waited to catch me off-guard, to…” he struggled for the right word.  A native French speaker, sometimes English escaped him when he needed it most.

“I worked late. I thought I'd missed you, hoped I had.”  She stepped within inches of him.  “I was scared, is that what you want to hear?”

He silently cursed Kevin for taking so long with the car. “That was your problem in Italy, too.  Scared little Jessica.  Haven’t you grown up yet?”

Her head jerked back as if he'd slapped her. 

“I shouldn’t have come.”  She stepped backward.

“No, you shouldn’t have. I’m better for not knowing you.” He shook his head.  He had had enough. Of all the scenarios he had played out in his mind, this conversation was all wrong. He hated himself for the words he said. 

If you want a glimpse into the world of the characters of Dancing Barefoot, head on over to Amber's Blog Kisses, Caresses and Whispers in the Night for the prequel entitled In Between. It's a free read and there are twelve chapters up for you to enjoy NOW. As soon as we have the live purchase links, we'll share them with you. Until then, happy reading!

~The Vixen

UPDATE!! Buy Links now available!

Amazon: myBook.to/DB

 All Romance eBooks: http://goo.gl/Hd8eTg

Smashwords: http://goo.gl/g56oj0

Wild and Wicked Wednesday: @dochappycamper REVISITS How to Write Explicit #Erotic Love Scenes #LGBT #manlove

The following post was originally published a year ago. A lot has happened during that time for myself, Sassy Vixen and the guest author in today's spotlight. Her post had the highest number of hits of ALL TIME here at SVP and I don't think it will give up it's spot any time soon. 

To celebrate how far we've all come during the last year and revisit a post that's just as timely now as it was then, I decided to share it again. Sit back and enjoy the fabulous advice from my friend and fellow smut writer, Kendall McKenna.
~The Vixen


I'm thrilled to have back here at Sassy Vixen Publishing, one of our favorite authors and friends, Kendall McKenna. As many of you know, she was one of the very first authors of M/M romances that I chose to read and have never regretted it for one moment! My alter ego Lia Michaels was so taken by the genre, she's completed TWO of her own...and Kendall along with Tyler Robbins were the inspiration for her to give it a try. Today for Wild and Wicked Wednesday, I thought I would just turn the whole post over to Kendall and let her have some fun. Come on out, Kendall! The floor is all yours...

Hello! I’m Kendall McKenna and I write gay porn.

Okay, not really, but I have your attention now! I just like to put it out there early that I write m/m erotic romances. If you haven’t yet ventured into this genre, you really ought to give it a try! Seriously! My first book, Brothers In Arms, is a good starter book. But anyway, what I want to talk about today is relevant to all the types of erotic romance.

Writing Explicit Erotic Love Scenes

I was recently interviewed for another blog and one of the questions I was asked was, what is easier for me to write; love scenes or action scenes? My answer was love scenes. The reason is that a well written action scene requires a change in the narrative style that isn’t natural for me, whereas love scenes utilize a narrative voice that is more in keeping with my natural style. For that interview, I focused on the differences between the two types of scenes. For this post, much of what I’ll discuss holds true for action scenes, as well.

We’ve all read them; those books with lukewarm love scenes, or love scenes that are obviously shoe-horned in just to have a love scene, or unrealistic (is that even physically possible?) love scenes, or identical to the previous love scene, or is absolutely out of character for the participants. I recently read a book where I skipped through the later love scenes because there were too many of them, they were all the same (blow job followed by penetrative sex), and none of the scenes did anything to move the characters or the story forward. It’s frustrating and unsatisfying when this occurs.

An explicit love scene serves the same purposes as every other scene in a story. It needs to strike an appropriate emotional note, it needs to move the story forward or contribute to character development, and it needs to hold the reader’s interest. These things are achieved through the construction of the scene, they don’t happen by accident. A successful love scene isn’t just a flow of consciousness, and it’s much, much more than simply describing how Tab A is inserted into Slot B.

We all have our own techniques for writing a hot love scene. While many writers probably have some similarities or commonalities, for the most part, we’re each unique in how we go about it. This is a quick overview of my process.

Story within a story

I approach each erotic scene as if it’s its own, stand-alone story. As a scene in a larger story, it becomes a story within a story. I write the scene like a three-act play, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Specifically; foreplay, primary sex act/orgasm, resolution (afterglow). This helps me with pacing, to keep the reader interested. I can establish the emotional states of my characters and take one or both of them through to where I need them to be at the end of the scene, and closer to where I want them to be at the end of the story.

Show don’t tell

I’ve seen readers use this in reviews and, having read the books myself, it’s obvious to me that they don’t understand what this means. Telling is something like this: “John was turned on, now that he was with Joe.” Showing is something like this: “John’s heart beat quickened, his breathing quick and shallow. The feel of Joe’s skin, the scent of his body, made John’s cock harden. He’d waited so long for this, now that he was finally with Joe, John’s head was spinning.” Rather than telling the readers that John is turned on by Joe, it’s more effective to show the effects of John’s arousal, to show how emotions effect the body and vice versa. Rather than telling the reader that John is nervous to be with Joe, saying that John’s hand trembles as he skims it down Joe’s chest helps the readers to both understand and relate to what John is feeling. If characters have years of history with each other, two pages of narrative explaining the history can get tedious and boring. A little narrative, a little dialog, a little memory recall gets the job done in a much more interesting and engaging way.

This leads me to the next topic:

Use all five senses

In real life, we use all five of our sense when we have sex. We aren’t necessarily aware of them all, but they do provide us with sensory input and enhance the experience. Using all five of the POV character’s senses enhances the story for the reader. His partner is handsome (sight). His partner moans (sound). His partner’s skin is warm (touch). His aftershave is strongest right behind his ear (scent). The sweat collecting on is throat is salty (taste). There is of course, an emotional reaction to each of the sensory inputs. This draws the reader into the scene and helps them relate to what the POV character is experiencing.

Don’t be afraid of language

Euphemisms and purple prose ruin an explicit erotic scene. I’m perfectly comfortable using the graphic, coarse words that make these scenes effective. Cock, dick, prick, erection, balls, ball sac, ass, asshole, come, jizz, spunk. ‘Velvet covered steel rod’ is soooo 1980’s. I of course, have to tailor the language to suit my character(s). For instance, I write about U.S. Marines. They use coarser language than a doctor or a lawyer would, because that’s just how their sub-culture is. They throw around words like ‘fuck’ and ‘shit’ much more frequently. They’re more likely to use ‘jizz’ and ‘spunk’, less likely to use ‘erection’ than they are ‘hard-on’. Whatever the character’s background, I can’t shy away from the use of the explicit language.

My most recent book is a paranormal story called Strength of the Pack. It’s Book 1 in the series, The Tameness of the Wolf. The book is about U.S. Marines, both humans and werewolves, serving side-by-side in perfect symbiosis. I use erotic love scenes to further the plot, deepen the bond between the pairing, and intensify the inner conflict of the POV character. Because my characters are Marines and it’s set in Afghanistan, there are a lot of combat scenes, as well as the erotic ones. Writing the combat scenes was a struggle for me. I struggled to get them just right. In contrast, the erotic scenes were a breeze to write, and require far less editing along the way.

Curious about Strength of the Pack? You can read a little more below. 

Strength of the Pack
by Kendall McKenna

Blurb:

Lieutenant Lucas Young doesn’t know much about shifters. When Sergeant Noah Hammond is assigned to Lucas’ platoon, the Marine Corps’ True Alpha werewolf challenges the Lieutenant’s authority and his self-control. As Lucas learns to dominate and command Noah, he struggles against a strong attraction and deepening emotional bond.

During their combat deployment to Afghanistan, Lucas and Noah begin mirroring legendary partnerships. Their bond and their power grow as they survive dangerous combat and ambushes. When one of them is wounded in battle, they both must embrace the strength of their bond before they lose each other forever.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT!

I’m sharing this excerpt exclusively,
here at Sassy Vixen!

Excerpt:
Noah dropped the items in his arms and slammed Lucas’ back against the wall. His hands were everywhere on Lucas. The only place Lucas wanted his own hands was right on Noah’s naked skin. He ran his palms up Noah’s back, digging his fingers into the thick muscles of his shoulders. He pushed back against Noah’s kiss, rubbing their tongues together.

Lucas’ chest heaved with each raging breath. He ran his tongue over Noah’s upper lip just before he bit down on Noah’s lower lip.

“Fuck,” Noah snarled. He licked his way along Lucas’ jaw. “Need you against me.”

Lucas ran his hands up Noah’s bare chest, the heat nearly scalding him. Noah’s tags hung heavily against the backs of Lucas’ hands, his fingers tangled briefly in the beaded chain. Noah’s hands tugged at the hem of Lucas’ fleece, pushing it up over his belly. He’d never felt anything like the touch of Noah’s super-heated skin. The chill of the air was more pronounced in the wake of Noah’s touch.

“Too cold,” Lucas murmured against Noah’s cheek. “I don’t run as hot as you do.”

“I’ll keep you warm,” Noah replied, insistently tugging on Lucas’ fleece.

Lucas was helpless. He lifted his arms, and Noah pulled the fleece over his head, Lucas’ dog tags fell back against his chest with a soft, metallic clink. Noah was true to his word, and he immediately wrapped his arms around Lucas, lending the warmth of his body.

That was when Lucas noticed the lack of a bite mark on Noah’s shoulder. He lifted a hand and ran his fingers over Noah’s skin. He could still feel something, where the mark was supposed to be, but it was faded to nearly nothing.

“It’s gone,” Lucas murmured.

“We heal faster in wolf form,” answered Noah. “It dulls the pain, too.”

Lucas didn’t like it that Noah was walking around unmarked. Anger flared in his chest and he pushed against Noah’s hold. Lucas lifted his hips and pivoted, pushing Noah’s back against the wall.

Noah wrapped his arms back around Lucas, again sharing his warmth. He leaned his head back, as if offering himself up. Lucas spanned Noah’s ribs with both hands. Without thinking, he lowered his head and sank his teeth into Noah’s skin, just below his collarbone.

Lucas felt the bite echo on his own chest. Noah snarled, and his arms tightened around Lucas. Noah’s scent, the taste of his skin, overwhelmed Lucas’ senses. He expected stinging pain, but it never manifested. Instead, desire, affection and deep satisfaction flooded him.

“Oh fuck, Lucas.” Noah’s voice was low and ragged. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Lucas tore his mouth away, and Noah whimpered. He nosed his way across Noah’s chest, swiping his tongue over a patch of heated skin just beneath his other collarbone.

“Please, Lucas,” Noah pleaded.

Lucas bit down hard, resisting the urge to break skin. The relief and the ecstasy that rolled through him weakened his knees. Noah pumped his hips rhythmically against Lucas, his cock hard through his uniform. Lucas released the flesh from his teeth and licked at it soothingly.

He pulled back slightly to admire his work. Each of Noah’s collarbones was decorated with an angry red bite mark. Lucas sensed Noah’s triumph. It relieved him to know he hadn’t hurt Noah. He didn’t understand why this meant so much to Noah, but there was no denying that being marked in this manner met some deep, powerful need inside of him.

“I wanna feel you.” Noah’s words were slurred slightly.

Lucas looked into Noah’s face, concerned. Noah was flushed; his red, wet lips were parted as he breathed raggedly. His pupils were blown wide with desire, nearly obliterating the glowing silver irises. He looked at Lucas hungrily. Lucas was stunned as a powerful wave of need flowed through him. Much of it was Noah’s, but some of it was Lucas’, as well.

“You’re touching me,” Lucas said against Noah’s mouth. “You can feel me. I’m right here.”

“I wanna touch your dick and get you off, but you need me to keep you warm.” Noah emphasized his words with his hips flexing against Lucas’.

Lucas licked a long strip up Noah’s neck and felt him shiver. He bit hard on Noah’s earlobe. A violent shudder rocked Noah’s large frame, and he groaned. His hands tightened on Lucas’ back.

“This isn’t about getting me off.” He pressed his face to the join of Noah’s neck and shoulder, breathing in nothing but Noah’s scent and mouthing at the chain of his tags. Lucas reached between their bodies and unfastened Noah’s fly.

His hands trembled, and it made Lucas slow. He fumbled with the fastenings until he had them open. Noah’s cock slid out eagerly, lying hot and heavy in Lucas’ palm. He squeezed the shaft tightly and stroked from base to head roughly, repeating the motion when Noah unleashed a feral growl emanating from somewhere deep in his broad chest.

“I wanna feel you,” Noah gasped, pumping his hips so his dick slid quickly through Lucas’ fist.

“My hands are on you,” Lucas said, reaching his free hand lower to cradle Noah’s sac. “I’ve got you. Just let go.”

Noah’s brow furrowed, and he rolled his head against the wall. A fleeting image ghosted through Lucas’ mind, his own hard cock aligned with Noah’s, his hands stroking them both to completion.

Lucas’ dick pushed hard at his fly in response to the image. He gasped against Noah’s neck, and the scent made his erection ache more strongly. Lucas tore open his own fly and eased out his straining cock. Noah pushed his hips insistently against Lucas, demanding the contact he desired.

He aligned their cocks, root to head. Lucas pulled back slightly and spat into his palm several times. He spread the fluid over their hard shafts. He needed more slick.

Lucas lifted his hand to Noah’s mouth. “Spit,” he ordered.

Noah obeyed, over and over until Lucas was satisfied. He wrapped his hands around them both and stroked quickly. Noah’s gratitude was like a physical thing. Lucas’ hips pulsed reflexively at the feel his own tight grip. 

“Yeah, like that,” Noah groaned. “Fuck. Just like that.”

His arms stayed wrapped around Lucas. His warmth still seeped into Lucas’ bones. Lucas shivered, but not from the cold, when Noah’s hands slid down his back to cup his ass. He moaned into the sweat-slick skin of Noah’s throat.

Lucas started when Noah’s super-heated hands slid beneath his clothes and gripped his bare ass cheeks. Noah’s hands were as strong as they were hot, and he squeezed Lucas’ ass firmly. There was no discomfort, only exquisite pleasure.

The feel of Noah’s hands on his bare skin pushed Lucas closer to his climax. “Are you close?” He didn’t want to come before Noah found his own release.

“Yeah,” Noah answered. “Almost there.”

Lucas sped up his hands on their cocks. He stroked them both from base to head, keeping his grip tight. Somehow, in all the chaos, they managed to match the rhythm of their hips to Lucas’ hands. Heat swirled in his belly, and tendrils of pure sensation snaked up his spine.

One of Noah’s hands left Lucas’ ass for several moments. When it returned, he pulled Lucas’ ass cheeks apart and slid his fingers into the cleft.

Lucas knew what was coming, and he wanted it. His hands on their cocks faltered slightly when one of Noah’s fingers breached him. He moaned against Noah’s throat as the wicked finger pushed in deep and stretched him slightly.

“You feel so fucking good inside,” Noah murmured.

The finger slid out and was replaced by two. Electricity shot up the length of Lucas’ spine, and he pressed his open mouth to Noah’s neck as he cried out. He struggled to keep up the rhythm of his hands on their cocks.

“I’m coming, Noah,” he said between gritted teeth. “Fuck! Come with me. Dammit, come with me.”

Noah’s fingers in his ass slid in and out in time with Lucas’ stroking hands. He pushed them in deep and stretched Lucas’ rim when he pulled them out. It was all too fucking much, and Lucas felt his balls tighten and lift.

He didn’t want to be the first to go. Lucas wanted Noah to come and searched for a way to ensure he did. When a faint hint of Noah’s eagerness drifted over Lucas, he forced the connection to open wider. Lucas let go and started to come, dragging Noah over the edge with him.

Together they shouted and swore as hot come splashed over Lucas’ fingers and coated both of their bellies. A part of him knew they could be heard in the corridors and that it was more than obvious what they were doing. Most of him didn’t give a fuck. His body clenched hard as his cock shot out thick, white come, his asshole grasping greedily at Noah’s fingers.

As Lucas stroked them both through their orgasms, Noah’s body shuddered violently. He pumped his hips as his come coated Lucas’ stomach. Together, they made a huge fucking mess, and Lucas didn’t care. 

Noah’s body gave out first. His hand slid free of Lucas’ ass, and his knees buckled. Lucas released their spent cocks and steadied Noah, smearing their come even further.

“Fuck,” Noah sighed. His eyes were heavily lidded and he looked spent and exhausted. “Fuck.”

“Noah,” Lucas said sharply. “Stay awake long enough to help me get you into bed.”

Noah wrapped himself around Lucas, leaning so heavily on him that Lucas wasn’t sure he could support him. Noah collapsed heavily onto the bedroll laid out across the room.

When Lucas shifted to remove Noah’s boots and retrieve the tub of baby wipes, Noah reached out and grasped his wrist painfully.

“Don’t go, Lucas,” he pleaded, battling to hold off sleep just a few moments longer. “Just today, don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said soothingly. “I’m sleeping right here today.” He ran a hand over Noah’s hair, encouraging him to lie back. “I’m going to clean us up first. Then I’ll sleep right here.”

“I like the way you smell,” Noah muttered just before his eyes closed, and his breathing evened out.

Strength of the Pack is available from 

MLR Press 
ARe 
and all major distributor sites!

#WildandWickedWednesday: @MtnMoxieGirl Shows Us How to Escape into #ANONYMITY #romance #suspense #adventure

Welcome to Wild and Wicked Wednesday here at Sassy Vixen Publishing. I'm "The Vixen" and I'm excited to have one of my friends, fellow Sirenista, and now fellow Muse, Amber Lea Easton here today. 

"The Temptress" recently published a fantastic contemporary romance that I like to call a fantasy escape. Within the pages of 
Anonymity you'll find hot, sexy beaches along with a smokin' hawt couple getting lost in each other. Think of it as a bit of Vegas in the tropics: what happens in Belize...

Get the picture? Now toss it out the window. This book is so much more. Go on. Take your seats and let Amber take you on a journey...

ANONYMITY

by Amber Lea Easton

Do you know why I love traveling so much? No expectations, no one but my travelling companion knows anything about me. I'm anonymous. I even have a separate wardrobe for when I'm out of the country or simply at lower latitude. Why is that? Some may say I'm living a lie and am more true to myself when I'm on an adventure somewhere. Perhaps that's true to a certain degree because I'm free of responsibility when I'm on a trip—I don't need to drive to lacrosse practice or worry about the kids' friends' parents being shocked by my wild side. Here at home I'm "mom" and solo entrepreneur 24/7. Sometimes a girl's just gotta let loose!

That's the premise behind "Anonymity." Alyssa feels trapped by convention and is propelling herself from her comfort zone. This translates into a sizzling weeklong affair and adventure that pushes her to reexamine who she really is and what she truly wants for herself.

Ah, vacation! I know Vegas coined the phrase, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," but I think it can apply to anywhere at anytime where people are indulging in pure fun. Maybe with age I'll start embracing my vacation persona here at home—after all, the kids are almost off to college! I like vacation Amber—she's a real wild child. What about you? Do you let loose when traveling or are you the exact same as you are at home?

Anonymity

contemporary romance/adventure, blurb...

New year; new beginnings. Alyssa McNeil is on a mission of breaking free of her comfort zone, reinventing herself, and forgetting the fact that her ex is getting married on New Year's Eve. She's in Belize for a week of sun, fun, adventure, and flirtation. Meeting Luke is an unexpected bonus…falling in love with him, though, simply isn't part of the plan.

Luke Picket is more than happy to go along with her idea of a no strings, uncomplicated weeklong fling. He embraces his bachelor lifestyle and can't see that changing any time soon. But when they find themselves trekking through the jungle and facing turbulent seas together, his hard heart starts to soften.

But they'd agreed on anonymity, on a first-name-only-no-strings love affair, and neither wants to ruin the moment with unwanted declarations. Old beliefs are challenged. Doubts questioned. Will they stick to their deal and go their separate ways when the week is over? Or will the new year bring them a new attitude about love?

Amazon: http://getBook.at/Anonymity

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-anonymity-1379776-153.html

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Excerpt

He hardened at the slightest physical contact; doubtful he'd be able to be a gentleman much longer. Her body was made for a man's hands with curves he ached to touch. She radiated heat that burned through the clothes separating their bodies as they walked side-by-side down along the water's edge. Shoes dangled from their fingertips as they allowed warm waves to caress their ankles.  

Screw it. He only had six more days before returning to his tidy well-constructed life. He stopped, pulled her against him, lifted her up and kissed her.

Hand at the nape of her neck, he pulled back a fraction to look into her eyes. "Are you sure you want this, that you want me? Tell me now before I let myself go."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, eyes bright with desire. "I've never been as sure about anything as I am about you right now."

He smiled against her mouth, loving that she was entwined around him like an exotic vine. "You're one intense lady, do you realize that? It's like you're on fire."

"It's an illusion, I'm a fraud," she whispered against his lips.

"I don't think so. Neither of us has anything to gain or lose."

"Stop talking." She kissed him with passion that drove him over the brink of control.

They needed to get someplace—anyplace—private. Now.

Not breaking the kiss, he dropped her gently to her feet. Kissing, touching, laughing, they stumbled down the beach toward the resort. A crowd had assembled on the beach in front of the bar where Dave the One Man Band presided. The group of scuba divers played beach volleyball amidst it all. Maneuvering through them would be a challenge, especially with Savannah overly curious about Alyssa.

"Locals come out for Dave," he said when she simply stared at the transformation from tranquil paradise to party central. "Come here." He dragged her into the gardens surrounding Ramon's Village and pressed her back against a tree. "Feeling adventurous?"

"What do you think?" She pushed her hands beneath his shirt.

His mouth ravaged hers while his hands slid beneath her dress and squeezed her ass. One hand moved up the front of her dress, teased her breast beneath the fabric, while the other inched her panties aside. He felt like a man hell bent to touch her skin.

"Not very romantic, I'll make up for it later. I need to have you."

"I'm not complaining. I want this just as badly as you do." She bit his neck while her fingers fumbled with his zipper. Her hands slid inside his waistband before closing around his erection.

God, he'd never wanted anyone like this. It's like he would die without being inside of her. Urgency pulsated through his veins. 

He fumbled with the condom he'd stuffed into his back pocket while he kissed her neck and reveled in her hands moving up and down on him. He lifted her up until they were eye level, her feet off the ground and linking behind his waist. Her hair fell across her eyes when she laughed and lifted her hands over her head to grab the tree at her back.

"You're the sexiest woman I've ever met." He pulled one of the straps of her dress down and squeezed the heavy breast he'd been salivating over since seeing her sitting at the bar. His thumb toyed with her nipple.

He thrust inside of her and felt the velvety tightness envelope him. He grabbed her wrists and held them against the trunk of the tree. She ground her tongue into this mouth.

This was sex, animalistic, raw, intense, passionate, no-holding-back sex.

Closing his eyes, he surrendered to the sensations...the palm tree hard against his knees as he ground his hips against hers, her tongue driving him insane, his mouth on her neck, her breasts pressing against his chest, her heels grinding into his ass, 80s rock music blaring from behind them, people laughing only fifty feet away, ocean lapping against the shore, scent of flowers mixing with barbecue, breeze tossing the palms above them, and the feel of her thighs squeezing him tight.

He hadn't let himself go like this in years, maybe ever.

They came together, both moaning into each other's mouths, eyes wide open, connected in the moment. They laughed against each other's lips, neither pulling apart.

She curled her fingers into his hair. "I want more."

"Insatiable...I like it." His teeth gently tugged her lower lip.

"Best. Vacation. Ever." She kissed him with each word.

"On fire, I'm telling you." He dropped her wrists and smoothed his hands over her breasts. "You're like an inferno."

"Only with you." Curls danced in front of her eyes as she pulled him back for another kiss. "I'm not lying. If I'm on fire, it's because you found the fuse."

"That sounds like a bad song lyric. I think you've been exposed to Dave the Gringo's music too long, we'd better get you inside and away from his influence." He kissed her, not wanting to step away from the tree but knowing they were pushing the limits by staying here too long. Something stirred deep in his chest with her words, with the kiss, with this entire scenario.

She laughed against his mouth before dropping her legs from around him and sliding down his chest. He felt like the entire world would know what they'd been doing in the bushes. He laughed to himself as he stuffed her panties in his pocket. He had never had sex against a palm tree before and definitely never within yards of a group of people.  Exhilaration hammered through his heart.

She smoothed hair from his eyes. "You look like you've been having sex on the beach."

 "So do you." He turned them into an impromptu dance on the sand, his mouth clinging to hers in a slow kiss, while he held her close.

"You're too good to be true," she whispered. "I can't believe you're real."

"Like you said...it's all an illusion." Regret flashed in her eyes, darkened them in the moonlight, before she looked away.

Maybe it was, but then again maybe it wasn't.

He flattened his palms over her shoulders and wondered at the glimpse of pain he'd seen. Anonymity had its pros...and cons.

About the Author

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of both nonfiction and fiction. She spent years working in journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial sector. She has three published romantic suspense novels—"Kiss Me Slowly", "Riptide", and "Reckless Endangerment"—and a contemporary romance novella, "Anonymity." Her memoir about surviving the suicide of loved one, "Free Fall", published in September 2013.

Easton is also an editor and professional speaker. Links to radio interviews can be located on her website, http://amberleaeaston.com, and her videos about romance writing have been showcased internationally on the Writers and Authors television network.

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She gives thanks daily for the view outside her window and healthy children. As long as she's writing, she considers herself to be simply "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."

Amber Lea Easton: http://www.amberleaeaston.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MtnMoxieGirl