Pitching A Story

Writing is difficult. Very difficult. I'm not going to lie and say that anyone can write a book. They can't. To write a book you have to be willing to work hard. Very HARD. You have to be willing to take vicious criticism and write and rewrite and re-rewrite ad nauseum until the idea in your head is clear on the page. That kind of perseverance isn't easily cultivated. And it doesn't come naturally to many people.

How does this apply to pitching? The same perseverance needed for writing comes in handy when dealing with writing blurbs and pitches. If you aren't familiar with "pitching" I'm not talking about the skillful throwing of a baseball or softball across home plate in an effort to strike out another team's batter.

Pitching for an author is the presentation of a book idea to an editor, agent, or publisher. Most of the time and in many ways, it can be considered a verbalized query.  In my opinion though, every time a person skims the description of a book, either on-line or in a bookstore, they are reading a pitch. By creating a compelling "pitch", an author can pique the curiosity of another person and, with luck, make a potential sale.

So, how can you create a pitch?

Now, everyone does it differently, but this is my method.

You start with an interesting story. Not that all stories aren't interesting, but some are better than others. Once you have the story, then you can start paring it down. I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "but I just finished the darned thing!" It's okay, you don't have to cut anything out of the story. What you have to do is something I personally find more difficult than writing or editing the book — write the synopsis.

Yup, take those beautiful 100K (100,000) words and reduce it down to a 1,000 word summary of all the high points. Some authors write this before the story, some write it during, some write it after. Me, I'm an "after" if I really, really have to do it. If you know your story, it shouldn't take too long.

Here's where the pitching comes in. With the synopsis done, you now have to take that 1,000 words and reduce it down to 200.

Yes, I said 200 words. You're creating your long blurb. That neat description on the back of the book that makes the reader go "Hmmm? This sounds interesting." Just enough of a teaser to get the person reading it to want to know more. To ask why? And who is she? Or how did he know that?

Here's an example of a long blurb for my book, An Invitation: Ariel's Pet.

Ariel Valerian knew cooking techniques and recipes, but a Dominant like Dane Reese had her more hot and bothered than a dozen hours slaving in a steamy kitchen. And 'slaving' is just what she intends to teach her blond-haired, blue-eyed, oh so yummy surfer boy. He might be helping at the family café as a favor to her sister, but there was no way she was giving him an opportunity to play Dom with her.

For Dane Reese, Ariel Valerian is a full-figured pixie -- a life-size, blue-haired Tinkerbell in a chef's coat surrounded by the scent of chocolate and cinnamon and an aura of mind-blowing, sweaty sex. Too bad she's driving him insane with her determination to order him around. As a Dominant and half-owner of A Master's Gift, Dane has seen his share of Dommes and submissives, and, no matter how she might deny it, Ariel is destined to call him Master.

Two powerful personalities; a contest to determine who is more adept at control; and less than thirty days to discover if Ariel will bow to Dane's commands, or if Dane will become Ariel's Pet.

This long blurb is only 188 words. It gives the gist of the conflict in the story and the disposition of the hero and heroine. From these 188 words I made the short blurb.

The short blurb is best described as your elevator pitch. A quick two or three sentence description of the story that can initiate conversation. The short blurb is 200 characters — yes, I said characters and not words. What I mean by characters is letters, spaces, and punctuation marks.

This means you are going to really use your words wisely for this blurb. The short blurb is what is used on the publisher's website to give the reader a hint of what the story is about. It compels readers to click on the link to read the summary of the story.

Try not to repeat words or character names if you don't have to. Here's the short blurb for An Invitation: Ariel's Pet.

She knows flans, soufflés, and pastries; he has mastered ball-gags, floggers, and bondage. Ariel won't back down and Dane won't submit. Will she go to her knees for him, or will he become Ariel's Pet?

This short blurb was only 200 characters (including spaces) long. Note it doesn't go into detail, only presents the key conflict in the story — namely, the struggle for control between the main characters.

So, how can this help other authors?

As you work on your blurbs keep in mind the purpose of them. Blurbs or pitches are something you will always have to develop with each of your stories if you intend to pursue writing as a career. Remember, pitches and blurbs need to be as polished as the novels they represent. You need to know your story and characters so well that the pitch is an extension of the story and rolls off your tongue in conversation as easily as your own name.

Bouncing ideas off your critique partners or someone who's read your book is a great way to get help in condensing your story to 200 words or characters. Ironically, the 200 character elevator pitch is a snap once you have the 200 word pitch.

Personally, I like working on pitches/blurbs. It's like doing a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle or a crossword puzzle in pen. A challenge worth meeting.

If anyone has a pitch that's not quite to the 200 words stage, feel free to post it and I'll see if I can help with it. Then we can get it down to 200 characters so you're ready just in case you find yourself in an elevator with an agent, editor, or publisher.

Have a great day!

Q 

Valentine's Day Contest!

Over the weekend I posted two of the recipes I used in my book, An Invitation: Ariel's Pet on the Kinky Ever After blog. Although the book isn't set during Valentine's Day, one of my favorite scenes is, in my opinion, an excellent way to share a sexy Valentine's Day meal.


I'd love to find out what you think of the scene. And to make it more fun, one lucky commenter will win an autographed print copy of An Invitation: Ariel's Pet.

***Adult Content --- Must be 18 or older!***

Dane was sure this would be a true test of his ability to control his body. The scent of her arousal drifted up from her mound, and his cock jerked with interest. He'd been semihard all day, and her greeting at the door hadn't helped. His erection twitched as if it had sniffed out a prime piece of real estate and was ready to buy. Dane forced himself to remain calm as she lifted the bowl to his chin.

She took her time swirling her finger through the contents before she plucked out three or four coated almonds and held them to his lips. The bite of spicy chili mixed with the mellow flavor of honey. He sat straighter on the chair even as his lips closed over her fingers, and his tongue curled over the pads to suck off the warm, sticky coating.

Once he'd licked away every bit of the honey, his hands rose to settle on her hips, but she shook her head at him.

“No, no.” She waggled her finger. “Hands by your sides. No touching without permission.”

Dane slid his hands along the outsides of her thighs, teasing her before he settled them on the edge of the chair near his hips.

Five more times she served the deliciously spicy almonds. Each time her fingers set the nuts on his tongue, he took his time cleaning any residual honey from her fingertips.

Ariel leaned down and pressed her lips against Dane's, lapping up the little bit of flavor and stickiness clinging to his lips. Before he could deepen the caress, she eased away, set the almonds down, and covered them before selecting the next dish.

He watched her uncover it and pick up a small white roll similar to an unfried egg roll. She then dipped it into a tiny dish in the middle of the platter. Holding his gaze, she lifted it to her lips and bit down. His mouth watered at the crunch of fresh vegetables and the pungent scent of shrimp. If there was one thing he enjoyed, it was fresh spring rolls. It didn't matter if they had shrimp in them. The ache of his cock surpassed his growling stomach with every second he watched her eat the savory treat.

She dipped the roll again, then lifted it to her lips, but this time she took too long to reach her mouth and some of the sauce dripped onto her chin and breasts.

Still astride his lap, she leaned close. Her expression was innocent, but her breasts were a sinful temptation. He sniffed as he dropped his chin and lapped the golden fluid from her cleavage; the spicy sauce only made the enticement that much harder to pass up.

“Open,” she whispered in his ear.

Lifting his head, he did as instructed, opened his mouth, and bit through the rice-paper wrapping. The blend of noodles and shrimp, crunch of bell pepper, and spice of the sauce were familiar, but he was curious about the scent and taste of mint, along with the unique peppery flavor he couldn't quite place. “What did you use in these?”

She smiled as she dipped the end of the roll and popped it into his mouth. “You like?”

He nodded, savoring the taste as he chewed.

“Most of it you probably know.” She dipped a second roll and took a bite.

“I recognize the shrimp, bell peppers, noodles, carrots, and celery, but I've never had mint or pepper in a spring roll.” Watching her dip the roll and carry it toward his mouth, Dane noticed the heavy coating of sauce. The way it dribbled over her fingers and splashed onto his abdomen. He took the rest of the roll and chewed, but his interest in the ingredients waned as her fingers wiped at the golden liquid, smearing the sauce more than cleaning it up.

“Hmm, I seem to have made a mess. Stay still.” Her gaze held his as she eased one leg between his and lowered her bottom onto his right thigh.

When she broke eye contact, Dane suspected what she would do next and made an effort to chew and swallow his food before her mouth opened over his belly. He barely made it. Hard as his cock was, his hips jerked upward at the brush of her cheek against his shaft. Her tongue swirled through the dusting of hair below his navel before it dipped into the depression and lapped up the bit of sauce that had spilled inside. Making her way upward, she sucked and licked at the seasoned oils coating his skin. Her wet pussy rocked over the tensed muscles in his thigh.

His fingers gripped the seat to keep from directing her mouth south to the leaking tip of his dick. The thick piece of meat in question had ideas of its own; it grew harder and arched closer to his abdomen, bumping against Ariel's chin as she did one last swipe of her tongue from his sternum to his navel. A whisper of a kiss brushed its sensitive crown as Ariel stood up and reached for one of the napkins on the table.

She held his gaze and licked the sauce from her fingers, her mouth lingering to suck on the very tips before she wiped her hands off on the napkin. Ariel reached for the dish of sauce and cradled it in her left palm before she selected another roll from the plate.

After straddling his lap, Ariel dipped the roll into the sauce, then used it like a paintbrush to coat the firm muscles of his chest. He gritted his teeth at the sting of the chili seasoning in the sauce and the cool slide of the rice paper over his skin.

When she raised the morsel to his lips, he held her gaze and devoured nearly half of it in a single bite. Pieces of noodle, shrimp, and vegetable escaped the leftover half and dropped into the sweet and spicy mixture glistening on his flesh.

Her tongue slid between her lips and stroked over and around his pectorals. Her teeth nipped at the solid muscle beneath his skin every time it twitched or flexed. His nipples ached, their firm crowns tight and begging for attention. Dane panted and tried to maintain control following the scrape of her teeth across each firm peak. She opened her mouth over first one, then the other.

Finally she lifted her head; her lips were wet and swollen, but the fire in her eyes was growing. Determined to turn the tables on her, he lifted his hand to cradle the one she cupped the dipping sauce in. “May I feed you?”

Caution dimmed the heat in her gaze, but she nodded. Dane lifted the sauce from her hand and the remaining bit of roll from her other, then leaned forward to place both on the table behind her. He made sure the heated length of his cock pressed firmly against the wet panel of her panties. Shifting his hands to her waist, he pulled her closer and stroked along the side and back of her garment before he raised his fingers to the first hook.

“My skill won't be as good as yours. And I wouldn't want to ruin your clothes. Perhaps we should take them off?” He kept his voice low and his gaze on hers as he caressed the warm curves of her breasts with his middle, ring, and pinkie fingers, while his index fingers and thumbs played with the fasteners.

He was sure Ariel could read the intent in his deep blue eyes, but he could see her determination not to back away from his challenge.

Propping her elbows on the table behind her, she grinned. “Wise idea. You may remove my top.” She waited a heartbeat, long enough for him to slip the first hook free before she added, “We wouldn't want you to earn a punishment for soiling my new leathers.”

Dane met her gaze with a brow arched over his left eye. His silent admonition only egged her on. He wanted to see how far she'd go. A second hook was released. Ariel's gaze drifted down. With each loosened hook, she rocked forward and back, rubbing against the base of his cock. Her gaze tracked the spill of his semen as it slid over the reddened, plum-shaped head, then coasted over the throbbing veins and the thick ridge of tissue along the underside of his penis.

He watched her shiver in response to the wash of cool air over her sweat-dampened breasts and belly. Ariel's attention returned to Dane's progress as he slid the bustier from around her and dropped it to the floor beside the table. Holding her gaze, Dane reached past her shoulders to collect the bowl and spring roll, then waited, measuring her level of control.

It was there, held tight and close. The knowledge that she worked to rein in her desire to match his reinforced his intent to show her how his mastery would complete her. She'd sworn never to submit to him, but her body told him otherwise.

The problem he could see forming was her unreasoning intent to best him at his challenge. She seemed to worry about being under his command, despite what her betraying body might suggest. It was his responsibility to show her she had nothing to fear.

With that in mind, he cupped the bowl in his palm. “Dip it like this, right?” he asked, the roll poised over the sauce for the briefest of moments

Ariel nodded. She scrutinized his every move. Her expression revealed her suspicions that she might end up wearing part of the chili-ginger sauce.

And Dane didn't disappoint her. A sharp shift of his hand sent a tiny wave over the lip of the bowl. Golden fluid splashed onto the side of one breast and her belly. More dribbled over his fingertips and down onto her navel and lower abdomen. A soft gasp slipped from her lips.

“Oh, I am sorry.” Dane's apology carried all the sincerity of a Ponzi schemer promising to pay back his investors.

“Lick it up,” she ordered. Leaning forward, she ate half the roll he held between his fingers. Her gaze held his as she slowly chewed.

Dane set the bowl back on the table. “As you wish.” He smiled. Lowering the last bit of roll to her belly, he used it to wipe up some of the spilled sauce. His tongue followed the slow slide of rice paper along her skin; it lapped up anything left behind. The stroke of it over her skin made Ariel gasp, and Dane grinned at the flex of her muscles under his lips. When he lifted his head, he popped the roll into his mouth and chewed quickly.

She wouldn't be outdone. “Give me your hand.” Ariel tapped the back of his right hand, the fingers still slick with sauce.

Dane held it up to her.

Her gaze locked with his, Ariel wiped the backs of his fingers over her breasts, smearing the sauce onto her nipples, then took each of his fingers, one at a time, into her mouth and sucked off the lingering moisture. Once finished, she released his hand, rested her elbows on the table behind her, and smiled up at him. “First clean my breasts.”

“And then?” Dane waited. He stroked his hands over her belly before he rubbed his fingers along her wet panties.

“You must have spilled some on my pussy, so you'll have to lick it up as well,” Ariel advised him.

Dane was sure her amusement was in response to the humor that flashed in his eyes. “Hmm, I don't recall—”

“Are you questioning me? Refusing to follow an order in my kitchen?” She tilted her head to the side and lifted her eyebrows.

“No, merely stating a recollection.” Dane smirked as he lowered his head to slide his tongue over her peaked nipples.

“Mmm.” Ariel's eyes closed. She tipped her head back; the look on her face reflected a sensual enjoyment of the swipe of his tongue along her skin, the tug of his teeth, and the suction of his mouth as he suckled first one breast, then the other. “You have a very talented mouth, Dane. I'll have to make sure to put it to good use.”

The nip of his teeth on the slope of her breast startled a cry from her lips. She sat up to stare down at him.

“Did that hurt?” He tried to look guileless, but he sensed Ariel's inner rebel stirring at the warning in his gaze.

“No, merely surprised me.” She shrugged.

As his mouth finished cleaning the last of the sauce from one breast and traveled to the other, Ariel dropped one hand from the table to grip the thick length of his cock. Precum glistened on the bulbous tip with a few dribbles trailing down to his balls. Squeezing tight, she dragged her fist from base to tip and back down in several quick jerks, drawing a hiss from Dane's lips.

“Too tight?” she cooed, assuming a wide-eyed, innocent look.

Dane shook his head and leaned back in the chair. Settling his hand over hers, he halted the motion and drew a deep breath. His other hand plucked at the wet silk covering her mound. “What shall I do with these?”

Ariel grinned. “Anything you'd like.” She slipped her hand from beneath his and returned her elbow to the table behind her.

The thin elastic snapped easily in his fists. He discarded the thong on the floor beside his chair. The black leather chaps framed her naked mound. The evidence of her arousal shimmered on her skin.

“Have you forgotten what I told you to do?” Ariel asked with a teasing smile.

“No, merely evaluating the best method.” Dane stroked his fingers over the plump folds and dipped between them to trace the wet entrance to her body.

“Method?”

Dane nodded. “Yes. You'll notice the distance between your pussy and my mouth. In order to reach it, I would have to bend down, which limits the area I can reach.” He leaned over; his hands gripped her hips and angled them upward, allowing him only enough room to lap and nuzzle the upper slope of her mound.

Ariel groaned and shifted, drawing his attention to the swollen nubbin.

Dane sat up, lowered her bottom back to his lap, and made sure to brush the damp curves with the tip of his cock. “See, not enough contact. A second way would require removing the plates from the table and blowing out the candle.” He glanced past her shoulder at the objects in question and then shook his head. “Too much work, I think.”

Ariel nodded in agreement.

“There is another way,” he offered. Sliding his arms beneath her thighs, Dane raised her pussy to his mouth. Her legs dangled over his arms, and her shoulders rested flat on the table.

He watched her as his tongue stroked over the soft flesh of her mound. He hummed in appreciation at the taste of her cream. The slide of his lips eliminated the moist evidence along one thigh before he transferred his attentions to the other.

His gaze challenged Ariel to try to look away. She stared right back. Her eyes followed the path of his lips and tongue. Her intent to win their battle of wills was clear in her gaze. Ariel smiled and smoothed her right hand over her belly and up to her breast. In the same slow, stroking rhythm he used to tease her sex, Ariel squeezed the pale globe and tugged at the rosy crest. The flare of arousal darkening his eyes was reflected in hers, but when he nuzzled between the folds and began to circle her clit, Ariel shook her head.

“Uh-uh, Dane. No touching inside.” As precarious as her position was, he could see she acknowledged his control over her, but instinctively she seemed to know she could trust him to stop when she told him to.

Slowly, reluctantly, Dane lowered her ass back to his lap. His breath the slightest bit accelerated, he waited, his hands on her hips.

Sitting up, Ariel slid her hand from her breast to her pussy. “Very good job, Dane.” She stood up, stepped back from the chair, returned the bowl of sauce to the platter, and set the cover over the leftover spring rolls. “You've earned your dessert.”

Dane leaned back in the chair and grinned. “And that would be?”

She uncovered the last plate and held it up for him. “These.”

Dane groaned and shook his head. A layer of thick, creamy filling rested between two chocolate cookies. Ariel set the plate down on the table in front of the chair and picked up one of the cookies. Resuming her seat on his lap, she held one to his lips, and he bit down on it.

Sweet cream and chocolate filled his mouth. It was delicious, but it was not what he wanted. What he craved. The desire was hot in her eyes, but she was as determined as he was to keep from succumbing. After swallowing the first bite, he held her gaze and leaned forward to take a second, slid his lips over her fingers, and nipped the very tips with his teeth. As he bit into the treat, Dane pressed hard enough to force some of the creamy center to overflow the edge of the sandwich and spill into Ariel's hand. Several thick drops splashed onto his lower abdomen and cock.

“Such a messy man.” Ariel moaned. She looked down at the sticky filling between his legs.

He watched as she popped the last bit of sandwich cookie into her mouth and licked the smear of filling from her palm. Dane waited, watching her expression as she focused on the thick jut of his erection; he hoped she'd do what he wanted, but he wondered if she'd devise some other means of pushing his control.

With a shake of her head, she gave him a scolding look. Both humor and yearning gleamed in her eyes. She slipped off his lap and ordered, “Lift yourself up so I can clean you off.”

Dane cursed silently as she reached for a napkin from the table. He braced his hands on either side of his seat, lifted his ass off the chair, and kept his feet planted on the floor.

He nearly lost his grip when Ariel bent at the waist and licked the icing from his stomach. Her attention shifted to the base of his cock as she licked away the other smear of gooey sweetness and glanced up at him. “Seems you have another mess that requires cleaning, hmm?”

He swallowed, his focus centered on her as she smoothed her tongue up the length of his penis. Base to tip, she stroked up the solid column of flesh like a child licking an ice-cream cone on a hot summer's day. Each time she reached the tip, she swirled over the crown, dipped the tip of her tongue into the tiny slit, and then started all over again.

Once she'd made her way all the way around, she stood up and dabbed at her lips with the napkin. “Mmm, delish.” Waiting until he'd settled back onto the chair, she asked, “Would you like another cookie?”


***Winner will be announced on Friday, February 17th. (Print copy of book only available for US residents only...electronic copy if winner is outside the US)***

Night Owl's Spring Fling Web Hunt -- A Peek at My Prize

As part of my contribution to the Night Owl Reviews Spring Fling Web Hunt, I put up a print copy of An Invitation: Ariel's Pet and Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage.


Then I got to thinking, if you've never read my books before, why would you even want to win them, so.... I decided I'd post a short excerpt from Ariel's Pet today, and another short excerpt Unfair Advantage on Monday, April 18th.


Oh, and keep your eyes out -- May 13th is my birthday and I'm thinking I'll be giving away a prize or two on my blog...more details later, after I get them all ironed out. (This year is extra special to me since my b-day falls on a Friday!!)


So, here you go, a quick look at Ariel Valerian and Dane Reese, my heroine and hero of An Invitation: Ariel's Pet.


Enjoy!
Qwillia
****************************



Ariel's body went stiff, her chin came up, and her arms folded over her chest. Every particle of her being seemed to vibrate with displeasure. She looked up at him, bright blue eyebrows arched. “Who's the chef around here?”


“You are, I'm—”


“Just because you wormed your way into handling some of my sister's duties, don't get ideas about horning in on my territory,” she warned as she fidgeted, shifted her feet, and settled her hands on her hips.


I knew it wouldn't last. Dane resisted the temptation to roll his eyes at her pugnacious attitude. “I'm not. I merely thought sea-salt-and-black-pepper chips would add an extra kick to that sauce you made,” he suggested and kept his tone cool and reasonable.


“As long as you remember who's in charge here.”


“In the kitchen, yes.” He crowded closer to her. There didn't appear to be any rationale behind her animosity. It could be her determination to avoid any kind of change. It could stem from the resentment he knew she carried because he was the one to coax her sister away from the café for a month. No matter what the cause of her anger, he'd be damned if he would back down now.


Her gaze narrowed. “And out of it.”


Dane shook his head. “Sorry, doll, but only in the kitchen. I run the rest of this place until your sister gets back.” The fire that flared in her eyes probably matched the one in his gaze.


“You are not in charge.”


“If you have any complaints, talk to your sister,” Dane offered, his arms crossed over his chest. “I have no doubt she'll side with me when it comes to who should run the financial side of your café.”


“Why do you think that? Because you've played on her interest in sexual submission?” The flash of varied emotions in her gaze disappeared, replaced by icy disdain. “And I would contact her, but you seem to have forgotten the rule about no communication with the outside.”


“Ah, so Alayna did discuss the rules with you.”


“Rules?” Ariel scoffed. “Prison sentence is more like it. Thirty days trapped at your mansion with no way to contact anyone.”


Dane shook his head, marveled at Ariel's dogged misinterpretation of the facts. “Not trapped or without a way to contact anyone. Alayna chose to accept the rules for her training, as a submissive is expected to do—”


“Without the right to think for herself, without being allowed to—”


“Again you show your ignorance of the D/s life.” The deepened pitch of his voice silenced Ariel. “Negotiation is key between a Dominant and a submissive. Nothing happens until both parties agree and expectations, limitations, and safe words are in place. You have this fanciful notion that Alayna languishes under a whip, bound and helpless beneath the control of some faceless, nameless man.” Dane leaned forward, and his tone dropped to a whisper as he held her gaze. “Maybe because that's a particular fantasy of yours? Fostered by a lover who tempted you to push the boundaries you desperately cling to?”


Resolved to make the little shrew see the errors in her thinking, he continued. “There is a difference between BDSM and D/s, Ariel. Dominance and submission do not require bondage and discipline practices. They are an exercise in trust and control. Leather, whips, ropes to tie a partner up—those can be part of the play, but at its core, a D/s relationship is about an equal exchange of power.”


Dane was sure Ariel didn't realize her expression was a mixture of disappointment and envy. He knew she would heatedly deny any desire to be in her sister's place, to experience the training Alayna was undergoing, but her gaze and the tone of her voice betrayed her curiosity about it all. Or perhaps his increased interest in controlling her was coloring his analysis. “What has you so angry, Ariel? That your sister asked me for help to navigate a new world? Or that she's doing something for herself for the first time in ten years but didn't include you?”


She blanched at the observation, and Dane cursed his impulsive comment. Retracting it would be useless; he watched the cool mask Ariel consistently adopted around him slip into place. It reflected her refusal to listen to reason. At least from him. This only seemed to exacerbate the fact that his ability to maintain a professional attitude toward Ariel was a facade. One that crumbled easily when she pushed him.


“You have some sauce on your face.” She pointed toward his chin.


He reached up to wipe away the gooey spread, wary of the keen look she gave him. It made him wonder what form of retribution she might concoct.


His suspicions grew when she stepped in close and gripped the tie he'd loosened earlier. “You may have my sister thinking you're needed here, Master Reese”—she tugged his face closer to hers—“but we both know it isn't true.”
Taking her time, she smoothed the tip of her tongue along his chin and licked away the smear of sauce before swiping upward to his cheek.


The damp track of her mouth removed any of the spread. “Be careful who you try to push. I'm not Al. And I have no intention of ever calling you my master.”


And that's where his problem lay, Dane admitted as he watched Ariel scoop up one of the covered containers on the prep station and carry it to the walk-in cooler. In that moment he realized those were the words he wanted to hear. My master. His imagination readily conjured images of Ariel kneeling before him, her bright green eyes ablaze with desire, her naked body dewed with sweat as she trembled at the cusp of orgasm, requiring only his touch, his words, to slip over the edge.