Don’t you love the beginning pages of a romance when the hero and heroine first meet? Their smoldering stares, their first words as they size up each other?
I do. That’s one of the parts I like to write most. When neither character quite knows where this might be heading…they just know where they would like it to go.
Usually during these encounters, we – the readers – get to know the characters better, to fall in love with them as they begin the journey of falling in love with each other.
In Take Me Away, my newest erotic romance, Kyle’s reluctant to let Lexi stay at his cabin, while she sees it as her only means to avoid the hounding press. Their first moments alone are telling for what they both think and want.
Here’s a blurb and an excerpt to show you what I mean.
Blurb:
She’s everything he escaped…and all that he desires
Three years ago, Kyle turned his back on a pro-football career and being the target of tabloids or gold-digging groupies. Craving privacy, he gets it at his roadhouse in Northern California until Lexi Sands invades his life. Indulged and surely phony, she’s exactly what Kyle fled.
An actress since childhood, Lexi’s fresh out of an anger management program, court-ordered when she lashed out at a badgering paparazzo. Weary of the press’s harsh scrutiny, she sees Kyle’s secluded cabin as the ideal place to hide out and him as a damn-near perfect alpha male. Deliciously virile. Protective. Principled. She offers him serious cash to let her stay for two weeks, assuring there will be no complications or touching.
Yeah, right. Passion flares, along with tenderness. Kyle recognizes how lonely Lexi really is, while she’s falling hard. Through intimate days and impassioned nights, they explore their most shameless needs, until a cruel betrayal exposes their growing love, forcing a choice neither anticipated.
Excerpt:
Lexi caught his scent, more pronounced this time, delivering a hint of musk. Something needed and desired coiled within her, despite the fact that they’d just met.
A moment passed. Papers rustled as though he was moving or reading them, keeping himself busy, avoiding the inevitable, turning her down.
Lexi’s longing remained even as reality kicked in. Fiona’s plan to help her hide out had been kind, but unreasonable. At least for Kyle. He had a life he enjoyed. He didn’t want her presence and celebrity to screw it up.
Steeling herself for the worst, she opened her eyes.
He was leaning against the edge of his desk, arms folded over his broad chest, feet crossed at the ankles, his gaze on her.
A pulse beat crazily in Lexi’s throat. The sound of her thrumming heart drowned out the puppy’s thin whines and the muffled noise coming from the bar. She expected Kyle to look away as he had in there. He did not. Once more, interest flashed in his eyes – or at least she thought it did.
Remember, her counselor had said, what you want isn’t always what a person is willing to give.
Tell her something she didn’t know. For as long as Lexi could remember, she’d wanted a home life like other kids had. Parents that adored her because she was their child, not for the income she could bring in.
Even after all these years, the truth still wounded. Refusing to let it defeat her, she made her voice light. “So when did you?”
Kyle’s expression went from intent to confused. “When did I what?”
She smiled at the puppy licking her fingers. “Get Baby here.”
His gaze dropped to the dog, then returned to her. “Buddy.”
“Right. Buddy Baby,” she amended.
Kyle laughed.
Pride and contentment rippled through Lexi for having caused it. For having brought back those killer dimples. God, how she enjoyed seeing them and listening to his laughter. So easy and free. So intimate.
A kiss, a fuck, couldn’t compete with a man and a woman sharing a laugh. That’s what bonded two souls. Joy. Happiness. Friendship. Not mere lust.
A second ago, she’d been willing to leave without a goodbye. Now, she wanted to stay, even though she knew Kyle would never like her as deeply as she required. Lexi saw it on his face, in the way his laughter wound down and his dimples disappeared.
Didn’t matter. For a few days, no more than two weeks, she longed to be around a man who couldn’t care less about her fame, who didn’t want to use it to further his own interests. She ached to get away from the craziness, the pain, the loneliness of her world. “Before you say no, I’m willing to offer five thousand dollars.”
His brows shot up. “Pete said three.”
She was being too needy. Something else her counselor had warned her about. “Okay then, three.” She smiled. “Are you always this easy to negotiate with?”
Kyle’s gaze settled on her smile. His expression became heated, all male.
This time, Lexi knew she wasn’t imagining it. He did find her interesting. The real Lexi, not the tramp she looked like tonight or the Hollywood invention. She saw that truth in his eyes. Excitement raced through her, but she kept it from her voice. “I won’t be in your way at all. I’ll stay in my own room. I’ll only leave it when you’re here or wherever else you may go. I’ll amuse myself outside.”
His gaze turned inward as though he were trying to imagine such a thing. Whatever his thoughts conjured up, pleasure relaxed his features.
Now she had him. “I’ll even take care of Baby for you. I’ll act as his sitter.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Kyle’s mouth. Not enough to make dimples, but surely enough to arouse. “Buddy,” he corrected.
“Sorry. I forgot. Buddy Baby.” Giving the puppy a kiss on his snout, she lowered him to the floor, pushed to her feet and advanced.
Smile fading, Kyle watched.
At his office chair, Lexi stopped. With her right foot on the seat, she slipped her hand into her boot.
Kyle stared at her naked thigh. Her skirt was so short the damn thing practically exposed her ass. From his vantage point, he could see she wasn’t wearing regular panties. Whether she had on a thong was debatable.
His mouth went dry. He pulled in a deep breath, which rewarded him with her alluring rose scent.
I won’t be in your way at all, she’d said. I’ll amuse myself outside.
With those words, he’d pictured the creek behind his cabin. Lexi shedding her clothes and boots on the bank. Sunlight caressing her nudity. The water swirling around her sleek thighs, dampening her bush, licking her cunt. Beads of moisture clinging to the soft swells of her breasts, dripping off the tips of her nipples.
A groan of pleasure and frustration bubbled up. Kyle fought it, remaining silent, not daring to ask what in the fuck she was doing. Adjusting her sock? Removing a rock that had somehow gotten into her boot and was hurting her foot?
His guesses weren’t close to correct.
She pulled out a wad of hundred dollar bills.
In the coming moments, they learn quite a lot about each other, which stokes their interest and passion. 😀
Take Me Away is Available Now!
Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9333-take-me-away.aspx
Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097
To celebrate the release of Take Me Away, I’m offering a contest today. One lucky commenter will have her choice of one of my following ebooks**:
Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
** Winner chosen at random.
I would love to win this ebook. I just got a nook for moms day and looking for books to put on it.
Congratulations on your new release! I’ve got a kindle and would love to try one of your books on it… You are a new author to me but the excerpt you posted has put you on my must read list… Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the beginning of books when the characters get to know each other and fall in love. I believe in love at first sight and I am a hopeless romantic. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Hey, Chris, Linda and Tore – thanks so much for commenting – and your kind words!! Entering you in the contest now. Good luck! 🙂
Another great excerpt:) I do love when a couple first meets– it can be full of steamy thoughts, witty banter or maybe they don’t even hit it off right away, but it’s always fun.
Please enter me too:)
I know Tina’s writing and it’s exceptional. She is one of the best authors I know creating memorable characters who leap off the page.
I have no doubts that once you read her books, you’ll buy the rest. Oh, by the way, please do not enter me in the contest. I’d like someone else to win and become a Tina fan.
I would love to win this ebook.
Congrats on the new release! I liked the teasing between the characters regarding the puppy and its name.
My late husband and I fell in love the first day we met, what a day! Love your books and would love to win one!
Congrats on your newest release! The excerpt was great!
rootml1 AT hotmail DOT com
Hi Tina,
What a great exceprt! i can’t wait to read this book,the characters sound wonderful and i can’t wait to see how she torments him next.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
Brenda – thanks, glad you liked the excerpt. 🙂
Des – wow – what can I say – you’ve made my day!
Timothy – you’re entered!
Jean – Thanks!
Jill – so glad you dropped by – thanks for your kind words and you’re definitely entered. 🙂
Meggerfly – I’m happy you liked the excerpt!
That was a great excerpt… definitely have me wanting to read more… thanks for sharing! 😀
Hey, Colleen – thanks for dropping by. I’m glad you liked the excerpt!
Ya know, Tina, I see that you really put your heart into Take Me Away and I also see that in this excerpt you pulled from your own experiences from way back when. You’re the one who always says, write from your heart, and in this book, I know you did just that.
Thanks, Sarah – you’re correct, I did have experiences somewhat like Lexi as a professional model. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Great excerpt Tina! Wow it looks like she really got under his skin. I enjoy stories where the hero and heroine are at odds with each other. They may be attracted to each other but they always seem to butt heads instead of agree. I like to see their chemistry get the better of them. It seems like Kyle and Lexi have a little bit of that.
Congrats on the new release!
Congrats on the new release. It sounds like an excellent read!
Congrats on your new release. I’m looking forward to reading this book. I keep seeing it everywhere lately and it looks really good.
Loved both those excerpts Tina. And that connection from a first meeting, with all that delicious chemistry and sparkage is my favorite part of a story too. And that first laugh, that’s precious.
Hey, Stacey- yeah, Kyle and Lexi have LOADS of chemistry.
Estella – thanks for your kind words.
Hi, Danielle – so glad you could come by and say such nice things about Take Me Away.
Cathy – yeah, I like this scene too. Really love Kyle!
This book sounds like a great read! 🙂 I would love to be entered into the contest!
Hi, Elaine! Thanks for dropping by – you’re entered in the contest – good luck. 🙂
I can’t wait to read this book!!! I do love when they first meet.
please consider me in your contest.
Hi Tina,
This book sounds wonderful interesting to read and I would love to be entered into the contest;)
I wish you a wonderful evening
Cheers:)
I checked them all out and they all sound really good. I would love to read Lush Velvet Nights. Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Ella, Mannouchka, Jen – thanks for stopping by!! You’re all entered in the contest – good luck! 🙂
Hi!
I’d love to win one of your eBooks! I admit that I’ve not read one of your books before and will be trying one out whether I win, or not.
Best wishes!
Charli
Continuing Congrats to the release of Take Me Away…*S*
Another excerpt I haven’t seen, and thank you for sharing it…*S*
This book keeps reading better and better Tina.
I would dearly love to win one of your books…*S*
Thank you for the contest!
Darcy
pommawolf @hotmail.com
I’ve read some of Tina’s works and loved them. I look forward in reading more.
Hi, Tina! Great to “meet” your newest characters! Lexi and Kyle sound like they’ve met their matches 😉
Holy Hot!! I loved that excerpt and you just sold this book to me ’cause now I must finish this story. Your a new to me author, but I can’t wait to check out your work. Thanks for this contest, crossing my fingers 🙂
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