#lovemehard ~ Love Me Hard Boxed Set By Lucy Felthouse Nicole Morgan, Whitley Cox & MORE

Out Now!

Love Me Hard Boxed Set

Featuring books by some of today's hottest best selling and award-winning authors, including: 

 Nicole Morgan, Whitley Cox, Lucy Felthouse, Aeris Lize, Lita Lawson, Jeanne St. James, Alyssa Drake, Marissa Farrar, Christina Rose Andrews, Erica Lynn, EmKay Connor, T.J. Loveless, Molly Alvarado, Celia Fay and Kathleen Lawless.

Blurb:

Romance Collections is proud to present these fifteen sexy and scintillating stories of passion, lust and desire. With each pulsating chapter, you will be pulled into these stories that will seduce you with every flip of the page.

So, do not hold back.

Do not set your eReader down.

It's time to curl up and get lost as you read these tales of loving oh so hard.          

             

Grab your copy today! https://books2read.com/lovemehard  

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37830925

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Love-Me-Hard-951457135031913/

Excerpt from Lottery Losers by Lucy Felthouse:

Susie Parmenter let out a heavy sigh and closed her book, then put it down on the table beside her. She closed her eyes and let her head loll back on her shoulders, enjoying the warmth of the summer sunshine on her skin, which was pleasant but not too hot. It wasn’t the book that was boring her—under normal circumstances, she’d have been riveted by the crime fiction novel featuring a hunky lead detective—it was life. Just lately, her world had become so dull, so predictable, that she just couldn’t summon any enthusiasm for anything.

The worst of it was, she couldn’t tell anyone. It was a problem so utterly first world it was embarrassing. Humiliating, even. Admitting her permanent state of apathy would be ridiculous, and she doubted anyone would understand where she was coming from, anyway. After all, how could you possibly tell your friends, your family, your husband, that you were bored out of your damn mind when you had, quite literally, everything? Since winning a lottery jackpot twelve months ago, Susie and her husband, Peter, had had their worlds turned completely upside down.

At first, of course, it had been amazing. They had won more than enough money to live incredibly lavish lifestyles for the remainder of their years—even if they lived to be very old indeed. So, once the cash was safely in the bank, they’d quit their jobs. Then they’d taken off on an incredible round-the-world trip, spending much of their travel time plotting and planning what else they were going to spend their winnings on. By the time they arrived home, they were ready to hire an architect to draw up plans for a custom-build home. Another two weeks later, they’d found and purchased the plot of land, and were talking to builders. Things moved fast—but then, Susie had found that was often the case when large sums of money were involved.

Now their dream home was complete. It was, naturally, stunning. The huge house stood high on a hillside in the Derbyshire countryside, with only a handful of other properties in sight. It was situated so that from one side of the house, you could watch the sun rise in the morning, and from the other, you could watch it set in the evening. There was a covered and heated swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a gym, a home cinema… everything a person could possibly need or want, and then some.

They employed a cleaner and a gardener, so aside from cooking meals three times a day—if they didn’t eat out or order takeaway, that was—there was nothing to do around the house. Susie had moved the furniture umpteen times, which was a novelty at first, given their old house had been so small that every single item had a place that it fitted into—barely, in some cases—and that was that. She now found herself swapping pictures around and tweaking the positions of ornaments on a regular basis, often putting them back where they’d been to start with.

She’d gotten into a routine of using the pool, gym, and sauna every morning, but that still left hours and hours of the day just waiting to be filled.

It was all right for Peter—he might have ditched his job, but these days his time was divided between playing golf, and being involved in a bunch of stuffy business boards. She didn’t really understand what he did at the meetings, if she was honest, but it didn’t matter. What did matter was that, only weeks after moving in to their beautiful new home, Susie’s boredom was at fever pitch. She was climbing the walls. Surely even board meetings were more exciting than this?

Grab your copy today! https://books2read.com/lovemehard  

Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.

#GiveAway COMING HOME By Melissa Frost

COMING HOME

By Melissa Frost

 $10 Evernight Teen Gift Card will be given away to one randomly chosen winner. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here. 

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 Interview:

Crystal: Today I have the pleasure of hosting Melissa Frost. Welcome Melissa! I'm so happy to have you here today.  Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Melissa: I live near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and fans of my Dating Tutor series surely realize that I am a sports fanatic. I’m a huge Penguins fan. My love for hockey made it enticing to write my rough and tough sports guys like Matt and Alec in the series.

I am also a new mother! My daughter Adalynn just hit the three month mark last weekend. She and my son Marshall are a total blessing. I couldn’t imagine life without them.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Melissa: In this story, I love the scene where Andi sees Devon turn into a werewolf for the first time. It’s that magical moment when everything in her life finally falls into place. But I also enjoyed the scene where Devon took her to the park and made Andi try to catch squirrels with her bare hands. That was such a silly, fun scene.

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for your current release?

Melissa: I’m sure the idea of adoption and the “system” were in my head because my husband and I were looking to take in a child whose circumstances were less unfortunate than ours. We attended many parenting classes and learned a great deal about the foster care system. That new knowledge served to be the base and start of this story. And I just had this vision of the first scene with Devon — him standing all cool and sexy in the snow as he stood on the sidewalk waiting for her. The rest just fell into place.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Melissa: I just finished up the fourth installment of my Dating Tutor series. This one will be through Sasha’s point of view. I’m working on going through my own personal edits before I submit it to Evernight Teen. Keep your fingers crossed!

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing? 

Melissa: With two kids, I laugh at the idea of routine! I write when I can and hope to achieve even just a little bit each day. Nap times are usually my go time.

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Melissa: I didn’t do much research for this story. As I mentioned, I was already taking the parenting classes, so it was unintentional research.  I did write a book titled ‘12’ under the name Melissa Hosack that I had to do a great deal of research for. It was about the Mayans end of the world prediction. My husband did a lot of the research for me. We looked through all of the things that could “potentially” happen and I hashed them all out while using proper time zones and information about different cities all around the world. A lot of work went into that one.

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Melissa: I have a multitude of authors that I love to read. My current favorite is the White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter. I read the first book in the series a few months ago (Alice in Zombieland) and I could not put it down. I tore through the first two books in the series. I took a break to read A Dance of Dragons (Game of Thrones) by George R. R. Martin, but I look forward to getting back to Alice!

Crystal: Is there any genre you haven't written that you would like to try?

Melissa: I feel like I’m very diverse in my writing. I’ve done young adult, romance, paranormal, action/adventure, and horror. I haven’t written a full-out historical piece. I’ve had pieces of history in books in series with vampires, but never something set in that timeline. I think it would be fun to write, but it would take a lot of research to make sure I got everything correct.

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Blurb:

As a foster care child, Andi never stays long in one place. She doesn't have a chance to connect with anyone—until
sexy, blue-eyed Devon walks into her life.

Devon claims to have known her birth parents. He’s even got a photograph to prove it. He shows up offering her everything she could ever want—a friend, a connection to
her family, and answers.

The only problem is Devon’s friendship comes with a few complications attached. There’s the fact that he’s a werewolf, and then there’s the territorial clan out to start a war with Devon’s pack. What started as a simple journey to learn about herself turns into a dangerous road trip that could get her killed.

If she can survive, Andi just might get the answers that have been plaguing her, and she might just fall in love with her new furry pal along the way.

20K,

Evernight Teen Publishing

Paranormal/Shifters/Romance

Buy Links:   

Evernight Teen |  Amazon | AllRomance eBooks | BookStrand  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Excerpt: 

“I’m still not convinced.” She informed him of this in a tone that stated quite clearly
she thought him to be a liar. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”

At her skepticism, Devon gave a grin that could only be described as devilish.
Climbing to his feet, he yanked the zipper down on his coat and shrugged out of
it. He tossed the coat into the snow before lifting his shirt over his head.

As if they had a mind of their own, her eyes drank in the sight of his bare chest. He was
amazingly sculpted, his arm muscles bunching with every movement. His abs, which
appeared rock solid, mirrored the action. He even had an interesting scar along
his left shoulder that only seemed to add to his sex appeal. She cleared her
throat uncomfortably, willing her body to settle down. She didn’t usually get
so affected by boys.

When his hands went to his belt buckle and began unfastening it, she gave a squeak of
objection. “What are you doing? Stop taking your clothes off!”

He grinned over at her. “You wanted to see a werewolf, didn’t you? I’m just obliging.”

“But … but…”

He stripped out of his jeans with ease. “Werewolves aren’t freaked out by nudity, Andi. If you remembered even the slightest bit about your history, you would know that.”

As his briefs came down, her eyes lifted hurriedly to the sky. She gazed at the clouds
as if they were the most intriguing thing in the entire world. Which was a
complete farce. Standing before her was the first naked boy she’d ever been in
the presence of. She desperately wanted to sneak a peek, yet she was too
freaked out by the idea to even lower her gaze a fraction of an inch.

“Sheesh, you’re such a human,” Devon said in complaint. “You’re such a prude that you’re about to miss all the fun.”

Andi scowled, but her gaze was still lifted skyward so she had no idea if he saw her
or not. As she stood awkwardly gazing at the clouds, she realized how absolutely absurd this situation was. She was standing in the entrance to a public park. With a naked boy. In the snow.

“This is so—” Her protests broke off as an odd popping sound filled the air. She couldn’t quite place it, but it felt so familiar. It was a noise she’d heard before, but
she couldn’t remember where.

Her eyes lowered to Devon’s bare shoulders to find them shifting and cracking. His flesh moved in such an unnatural way, she nearly cried out in alarm. Her own hand
pressing to her lips was the only thing that stopped the sound from escaping.

She watched with morbid fascination as Devon’s body repositioned and changed itself into something new. Before her very eyes, his entire being altered, and he
transformed into the shape of a wolf. It took no more than a minute or two, but
the time seemed to stretch on forever.

She witnessed soft puffs of cream fur appear that seemed to burst right out of his
skin. His fingers elongated, the nails growing out into sharp claws. The urge to run lasted a mere second before she was stepping forward in fascination.

Her fingers outstretched toward the furry muzzle that had once been Devon’s nose. She
wasn’t frightened by him in the least. How could she be? He was the wolf! The one she’d seen outside the school staring into her classroom window.

She knew instantly he’d been there for her, watching over her as he awaited their reunion. She bet he had seen it playing out quite differently. Closing her eyes, she allowed her fingers to brush over the soft fur between his ears.

The sensation of it shook her to the core. Her body remembered it, recalled it like
it was yesterday. Werewolf fur. She wasn’t sure if it was his fur in particular that felt so much like home, or if it was werewolf fur in general. Either way, it startled her just how much she longed to be near him in that moment.

Her eyes snapped open, and she stumbled back, unsteady on her feet. This was far too
much to absorb in one afternoon. Her mind was racing, and she didn’t even know
where to begin. As a result, she simply plopped down into the snow, stunned.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
About the Author:

Melissa Frost grew up loving young adult novels and continues to immerse herself in the current authors on the market. In the fifth grade, she won a writing competition to work with children’s author Colleen O'Shaughnessy Mckenna, and it inspired her to write stories of her own. She never looked back.

Google:   AuthorMelissaFrost

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaFrost/?ref=bookmarks

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

#GiveAway #Interview - Emerald Bound By Teresa Richards

Emerald Bound

By Teresa Richards

Giveaway:  Signed Copy of Emerald Bound. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. Those locations may be found HERE

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Interview:

Crystal: Today I am honored to host Teresa Richards. Welcome Teresa! I'm so happy to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Teresa: I’m thirty-six years old and my husband and I have five kids. Writing is my outlet and provides me a much-needed distraction from mom-duties. I also enjoy playing the piano, reading, and watching movies. I firmly believe in spontaneous dance parties. They are good for the soul.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Teresa: Sharing my favorite scene would spoil the end of the book, so I’ll share one of Lindy’s scenes. This one takes place in the 1600’s. It’s when she wakes up in the inn, after the slumber that should have been her last.

A neatly folded, crimson blanket sat beside the wash basin. Though the water was cold, it was still a luxury to have my own basin. After washing my face, I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and went in search of my father.
A strong, rich scent lured me down the stairs. It was bitter, but also slightly nutty. The front entryway was deserted, as was the sitting room. “Hello?” I called.
I entered the dining area, also deserted, and a woman’s voice rang out from the next room over. The kitchen, I assumed. “How could this be the last of it?” she demanded. “Marsala brought some in less than a fortnight ago!” Though I stood out of sight, I could picture the pots and pans as they clanged in the next room. “You’ll have to go for more.” A chair scraped across the wooden floor. “I need it!”
“Beggin’ your pardon, Ma’am, but the beans are still scarce in these parts. ‘Tis a long trip from Arabia. Mr. Han says ‘twill be another month at least ‘fore more comes in.”
A bang, like the slamming of a door, shook the walls. A menacing voice said, “Milda, coffee is a luxury I’m unwilling to go without. Offer him whatever he wants. I’m quite certain he can procure some.” Another bang. Then, “I’m going to collect the Peas.”
Footsteps approached and Calista, the woman who’d welcomed us the day before, rounded the corner and collided into me. She cried out, a sort of strangled bark catching in her throat. Her hand flew to her mouth and she stood, staring at me.
Another voice called out from the kitchen, “What is it, dear?” Calista’s husband, Theodore, appeared in the doorway, saw me, and cursed. He clamped a hand over his mouth.
The cook followed, carrying a steaming pitcher and heading for the heavy wooden dining table. She maneuvered around Theodore before looking up. She gasped when she saw me and the pitcher slipped out of her hands. It crashed to the ground, splattering its dark brown contents everywhere.
Nobody moved.
The dark, steaming puddles slowly shrank as the precious coffee dripped through the cracks in the floorboards.
I shifted under their scrutiny and drew the blanket tighter around my shoulders. “I’m looking for my father. Do you know where he is?”
The Lady’s lips pressed together in a firm line. A too-tight smile appeared on her face. “Oh, good morning, dear!” She glanced pointedly at the cook, who stooped to pick up the pitcher. Theodore still gazed at me. His wife nudged him and he ducked his head. “I trust you slept well?”
Even though I knew better than to speak my mind and insult my hosts, somehow, I couldn’t stop myself. “I think there’s something wrong with that bed. It was awfully uncomfortable. Full of lumps. I had a terrible nights’ sleep.” My face flushed and I looked down, mortified that I’d answered so candidly.
Calista’s taut smile didn’t waver. “Theodore will tend to it. Don’t you worry, Dear.” She grabbed one of my arms and led me to a chair. “Sit down. Milda will bring you some bread and freshly churned butter.”
“Where is my father?”
“Oh. Rupert. Ahhh… he stepped out.” Her eyes darted to the door. “Said he had to settle some business. You just missed him. Eat up, dear.” She hurried from the room, her husband trailing close behind.


Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for your current release?

Teresa:  I’m cringing as I admit this but, honestly, the spark that started Emerald Bound was from a dream. In the dream, I had to save a friend who’d been taken captive, and a gemstone under her bed had the power to hold her there. So weird, I know. When I woke up, the gem under the bed immediately reminded me of the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. I’ve always loved fairy tale retellings and the idea of twisting up The Princess and the Pea intrigued me because I hadn’t seen it done before. My creative juices went to work and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. The story unfolded and grew and morphed into something I was so excited about. Seeing it come to life on the page was a ton of fun.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Teresa:  I’m working on a YA contemporary suspense novel that I started as soon as I finished Emerald Bound. It’s called Windfall. I’m finishing up my second round of edits, which means it’ll soon be ready for beta readers! As soon as I’m done editing Windfall, I’ll be working on the sequel to Emerald Bound, which I already have outlined. I can’t wait to start!

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing?

Teresa:  Sit down, open laptop, and write. J When my kids are all in school (which only happens two days per week since I still have one in preschool), I like to go to the library so I don’t get distracted by other jobs around my house that need doing. I get a ton done when I go to the library. I also get a lot done at night when the house is quiet and I’m the only one left awake. Staying up too late is my fatal flaw, but at this stage of my life, it’s when I do some of my best work.

Crystal:  Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Teresa:  I did a lot of research about life in Scandinavia in the 1600’s for Lindy’s sections, since that’s where her story starts. What they would have worn, what their lives were like, how the villages would have looked, that sort of stuff. One thing I learned that I thought was funny was that when people started using forks to eat (instead of their hands or pieces of bread) early fork-users were look upon with suspicion.

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Teresa:  I’ll read (and love) anything by Maggie Stiefvater, AG Howard, Brandon Mull and Sophie Kinsella.

Crystal: Is there any genre you haven't written that you would like to try?

Teresa:  I love historical fiction, but I stink at history. So in theory I’d love to write a historical fiction, but might not be able to remember the actual history long enough to write a credible fictional account.

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Blurb:

A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairytale...

 Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in
a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate. 

Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late.

 If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an
endangered best friend. 

Fantasy, Romance, Suspense

Evernight Teen Publishing 

~ 83,000 words

Editor's Pick

Buy Links: 

Evernight Teen | Amazon | Smashwords | B&N    

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Excerpt: 

A part of me died long ago.

It was the part of me that feels, and it was Calista’s fault.

What happened tonight was nothing new—innocent victims welcomed into our home, not knowing they would never leave. I learned long ago I could not help them, so I stopped trying.

But this time something was different. This time I was awake, burning with a gut-wrenching guilt, as the next victims slept downstairs. This time I knew the victims. And they didn’t deserve what was coming.

It had always been hard for me to make friends. I’d been called loner, loser, outcast, and freak.
Even still, I remembered Maggie offering to show me around when I first
transferred to their school. Through her, I met Kate and Piper. The three of
them were always nice to me, while other kids kept their distance and spread
rumors behind my back. I told myself I didn’t care—I wasn’t like them.

But being a loner was lonely.

So tonight when I saw
Maggie and her friends here, something inside me snapped. Or, perhaps it was
the dead piece of me coming back to life. Now I cared desperately about what
was happening in the room below mine.

But there was still nothing I could do.

Calista usually lured in victims from out of town to avoid arousing suspicion. Pregnant ones were a particular favorite—easy prey, she called them. But Maggie and her friends came here all on their own. The opportunity was too good for Calista to pass up.

Everyone thought Calista was my mother, but she wasn’t.

Back in my day, almost four centuries ago, Calista had an alternate method of luring in victims. She and her husband, Theodore, advertised for hired help with their inn. The number of parents willing to sell their daughters into a life of servitude in exchange for a forgiven debt or a clean slate was staggering.

My father was one of them.

By the time my mother found out what he’d done, it was too late. There was no escape. I was bound.

My story was well known in this land, whispered as a bedtime tale to ease children into sleep.
But, just like any other story passed down through time by rumors and idle
gossip, the fragment that survived was woefully incomplete. It began Something like this:

There is rumored to have been (once upon a time, of course) a princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses.

That much was true, though in actuality it was only one mattress, not twenty. The pea was also real, though most would call it a precious stone—an emerald, to be precise.

The gem that sealed my fate was now in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.
Calista was furious when she found it missing. She thought I’d stolen it until
she remembered my limits. The identity of the true thief remains unknown.

Even though the emerald is no longer in our possession, we are still bound to it, as it is bound to us. Admirers of the opulent necklace where it rests don’t understand it. Like me, the gem is a prisoner, struggling against its fate.

Even now, centuries later, I don’t understand all the details of what happened to me that night. But it began with a troubled slumber on a bed of enchanted emeralds.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

  About the Author:

Teresa Richards writes YA, but loves anything that can be given a unique twist. Her zombie stories 'Are You My Mombie?' and 'The Zombie Code' can be found in Z Tales: Stories from the Zombieverse by The Fairfield Scribes.

When Teresa’s not writing, she can be found either chasing after one of her five kids, or hiding someplace in the house with a treat her
children overlooked. Emerald Bound is her debut novel. 

You can connect with her on twitter @BYUtm33 or at authorteresarichards.com.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eyes Wide Open by Lucy Felthouse ~ SPOTLIGHT

Eyes Wide Open 

by Lucy Felthouse

Out Now!

Blurb:

A standalone novel from the Totally Five Star imprint.
An ordinary girl catapulted into an extraordinary world meets two even more extraordinary men—but what will she do when she discovers their sexy secret?
Fiona Gillespie moved to London shortly after graduating to take advantage of the opportunities the capital could offer. However, months later, she’s still living in a horrid flat and working in a grimy East End pub. The problem is, she doesn’t really know what she wants to do, career-wise. So when she happens upon an advertisement for a job at a plush Mayfair hotel, she jumps at the chance. A great deal of determination and a spot of luck land Fiona her dream role.
But working at the Totally Five Star London is just the beginning. She adores the role and flourishes, impressing her bosses and making her increasingly determined to climb the career ladder.

While her career is flying, though, her love life is non-existent. She hasn’t even thought about men, never mind met or dated one for months, so when she bumps into two gorgeous businessmen in the hotel, she’s surprised to find her head has been well and truly turned. Even more surprisingly, they flirt with her—both of them! She’s drawn to James and Logan, despite feeling that they’re way out of her league.
When a misunderstanding leads Fiona to James and Logan’s sumptuous top-floor suite, she has no idea what she’s about to uncover. Scenes of people-trafficking, drug-pushing and wild sex parties all appear in her active imagination. Yet what she actually sees is something she’d never even considered before, something that piques her interest.

After discovering their sexy secret, what will she do with this new-found knowledge?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of anal play, spanking, sex toys and bondage.

Buy links & Book Links: 

Amazon US | All other retailers may be found here | Add to Goodreads | Book Trailer 

Excerpt:

Continuing to surreptitiously peer at the men over the rim of her glass, it hit her that this was the first time in months that she’d looked at a man with interest, much less two men—and at the same time! But, ready to snatch her gaze away if one of them happened to glance at her, she realized that it wasn’t surprising that the pair had attracted her attention.
The tailored business suits would draw the eye even on an ugly guy. But on these two, the fine clothing was practically an orgasm for the gaze. They sat opposite each other, and their angle to her meant that she had a view of both their profiles—lucky her.
The one to her right had very dark, almost black hair, with a bit of a curl to it, a long straight nose, a trimmed goatee and, if she wasn’t mistaken, deep blue eyes. It was hard to tell for sure from this distance and perspective.
The one on her left had lighter, shorter hair, stubble that by some magical feat still looked smart, and the most sinful lips she’d ever set eyes on. And speaking of eyes, she thought perhaps his were green. What she wouldn’t give to go and check both of them out close up, preferably naked.
Shocked at her own sudden lustful thoughts, she inhaled more than drank another sip of the juice. Unfortunately, it hit her throat all wrong and she almost slammed the glass down as she started to cough. She tried so hard to suppress the cough, eager not to draw attention to herself, that she made it worse. Snatching up the thick linen serviette from the table, she held it to her mouth as she spluttered in a most embarrassing manner, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. By now, she was sure that the whole damn restaurant was staring at her, and she wished the tablecloths reached the floor, like the ones in the restaurant upstairs, so she could hide under the table until she regained her composure.
Swallowing repeatedly to try to soothe her irritated throat, she gasped as a gentle hand laid on her shoulder, which set her off all over again.
“Oh God,” came a voice. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you jump. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. See if I could help.”
Unable to speak, Fiona waved a hand to try to signal that she’d be okay, but unless the guy was a mind reader, he’d have no luck figuring that out. Blinking through the tears that marred her vision, her urge to hide underneath the table grew stronger. Christ, it was only the hottie with the blue eyes. And, if she wasn’t mistaken, his sexy friend with the green eyes was also hovering close by, concern etched into his handsome features.
Managing to drag in a breath, she huffed out, “Thank you.”
Just then, Jeremy arrived with a carafe of water, complete with ice, and poured her a glassful. “Here you go, Fiona. Drink this. Are you all right? Anything else I can get you?”

Author Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women's Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9