SWEET-TALKING THE OPPOSITION (a contemporary erotic romance) appears alongside novellas from Nicole North, Nathalie Grey, and Dominique Sinclair.
London-based journalist, Eliza Jameson, is on assignment on a luxurious Rhine river cruiser, when she finds the perfect distraction on board — old flame, Marcus Weston. But Eliza came dangerously close to falling for Marcus last time around, and in order to play him at his own game, she decides to call the shots. Meanwhile, Marcus has his own agenda. In the ensuing battle, who will end up on top?
Eliza stopped outside her designated cabin. “Thank you,” she said, and turned her back against the door, her mind racing while she looked at him standing there and eyeing her up. Away from the hubbub of the reception area, the tension between them escalated, his masculinity omnipresent. Her senses were filled with it, her womanly center keenly attuned to the presence of so much testosterone. “I’ll take it from here.”
His eyes twinkled. “I was so pleased when I saw you climbing out of your taxi.”
He’d been watching her? That surprised her.
“And you’re traveling alone,” he added, in an insinuating tone. “It’ll be good to catch up with each other.”
Don’t let him get to you, she told herself. Easier said than done.
He dropped his bag to the floor, put one hand against the door by her head, and leaned closer. She noticed he hadn’t put her case down, but held it as if it were a bargaining tool while his large, muscular body engulfed her much smaller form. The scent of his cologne washed over her, the gap between them minimal. He breathed against her hair, inhaling deeply. “My cabin is three doors back, but I’d love to see how big your bed is.”
So much for keeping her head. It was spinning. She gave as dismissive a laugh as she could muster and flashed her eyes at him. “You think I'm just going to fall on my back for you?”
“You did last time.”
He had the nerve of the devil himself. She wasn’t able to deny the remark, though. “Don’t take anything for granted, Marcus.”
“Come on, Eliza, you’re woman enough for another round, surely?” He gave her a knowing smile and then ran one finger over her tightly pursed lips. Then, lowering his head, he kissed her neck—just barely, and it was so tantalizing.
When he breathed subtle kisses over her skin, her eyelids dropped with pleasure. Her blood was racing, her core melting, and her back shifting against the cabin door. Resist him, she urged herself, but did she really want to? Mercifully, voices at the end of the corridor filtered into her consciousness. Other passengers approached. She broke free, grappled her key into the lock. Moving quickly, she opened the door.
“Thank you for bringing my case. Now just put it down, Marcus, please.”
He had other ideas. He was looking past her, at the bed. “These cabins are surprisingly big.” He gave a husky laugh, his glance surveying the entire cabin, with its en-suite bathroom and floor-to-ceiling sealed window overlooking the water and the passing scenery. He walked past the end of the nearest of the twin beds and put her case on the luggage rack. “More like a five star hotel room than a ship’s quarters.”
The stretch of his body when he moved fascinated her. His tall frame was nimble, panther-like. On the surface he was sophistication personified, and yet a raw energy shimmered beneath what was visible. She took a deep breath, inwardly refusing to enter the cabin until he’d left it.
“I’d like to give your bed a try.” He looked at her when he spoke, not the bed.
She laughed softly, shaking her head. It was what he’d done in Zurich, insisting on her bedroom, not his. Was he guarding his own territory? Why? It had to be strategy. Yes, and if he never let the female enter his space, then he could love and leave her, come and go as he wished in her space. How about turning the tables on him, play him at his own game? She looked at him, brooding handsomely while he undressed her with his eyes. She should be able to do it. She should be able to match him—have him and walk away. Yes, why not? She’d have to keep her head, not let him get under her skin, but the cruise would be even more fun if she had Marcus Weston to toy with in her spare time. She just needed to formulate a strategy of her own.
The boat had started to move, and she held onto the doorframe while she got used to the odd sensation. The hum of the engine made itself felt within her body, purring internally. She pointed at the floor outside her cabin, where he had left his bag. “Out, Marcus.”
He hesitated, one eyebrow lifted, his expression part surprised, part admonishment. Then he walked out, pausing alongside her, his eyes narrowed. “We’ll discuss it over dinner then, shall we?”
He wasn’t so sure, now. She liked that.
“You’re so demanding.” She met his stare and anticipation ran in her veins. “You want to watch that habit.” Smiling, she stepped past him and into her cabin, closing the door behind her as she did so.
Strategy. She was perfectly capable of inventing her own.
Exciting news in today, SECRETS VOLUME 19 is listed in the Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll! Please consider voting for us HERE. Thanks! :-)
In other news, reviews are starting come in for SECRETS VOLUME 19 (due out in July) and I’m exceedingly happy with the responses to my paranormal novella, WHAT YOU WISH FOR. I’ve been nervous, because I tackled writing a time travel, a new challenge to me and a lot of fun, but something I didn’t know if I’d pulled off well enough. Here are some snippets from the reviewers:
Win a signed print of the gorgeous cover art from THE STRANGELING, which was done by fantasy artist,Timothy Lantz. This is not a cover flat, it's a print of the actual artwork itself. I’ve got one framed on my office wall and it really is a pleasure to look at. To enter, send me an email to the following address: saskiawalker @ gmail. com (no gaps) with the answer to this question:
The heroine of The Strangeling is called Maerose. What is the name of Maerose’s sister?
Please put the following in the subject line to help me stay organised ;) "Strangeling cover art contest entry"
I’ve got three 8 by 10 inch prints up for grabs. I’ll post the results here and on my newsletter. Anyone can enter, reviewers included.
