Dragon Ugly Character Interviews -- Brent & Carissa

My friend and fellow author, Selena Illyria, was kind enough to introduce me to her characters, Brent and Carissa, from her latest book, Dragon Ugly.
Me being me, I just had to find out a bit more about these two...but getting a dragon and wolf shifter to behave in public is worse than trying to herd a hundred angry cats...
I hope you enjoy the adventure as much as I did!
Oh, and as a special treat, Selena has agreed to give away a copy of Dragon Ugly to one person who comments about the interview or excerpt (or both) between now (July 15th) and Wednesday (July 17th)!
The winner will be announced on Friday, July 19th.
Q

The Dragon's Lair is closed for the morning due to the cleaning crew trying to make things spotless for tonight's performance by The Snake. There's already people camped out, waiting in line to get in when the time comes. Getting past the fans had been like running a gauntlet, but the guy at the door had been expecting me.

Louisa directs me to the outdoor patio that's been set up for summer use before turning back to direct two of Brent's friends, Fletch and Tor, on making sure the bar is stocked and that everything is going according to plan. From my set at the table on the patio, I watch Brent and Carissa walk in, holding hands and smiling.

A red flush fills Brent's face and Carissa can't stop giggling. They settle down at my table on the outdoor patio. Selena Illyria trails in after them and takes a seat at the next table, as if determined to distance herself from the characters. She blushes then looks away several times, seeming uncomfortable.

While Brent and Carissa are whispering into each other's ears and shifting their chairs across from me, Se leans over and gestures toward me. "They've been doing the PDA thing all freaking morning. I try and get them to behave and Brent seems to take it as a green light to push the envelope. Carissa doesn't seem to mind too much, but I can tell her patience is wearing thin and she wants to get him home. ASAP."

Ah, a clear indication that this is going to be a quick and dirty (no pun intended) interview if I want to keep from shocking readers with...well, you know.

Once the couple had moved their chairs closer together and settled down, I jumped right into the questions.

Qwillia Rain: I can see you two have other things on your mind, so I promise this won't take long. I look first at Brent then Carissa. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?

Brent: My brand new sneakers. They're so comfortable. Since I'm on my feet so much I need something that's not going to make me feel like I need to tear off my feet just to feel comfortable.

Carissa: My sexy black leather sandals with stiletto heels. I feel so sexy in them even if they are a pain to walk in sometimes.

Qwillia Rain: I look at Brent first. What's your favorite thing about Carissa?

Brent:  I love that she's so supportive of me. That she wants me for me and not --he waggles his eyebrows at Carissa-- 'cause I'm so damn sexy.

Qwillia Rain: I turn to Carissa and grin. What's your favorite thing about Brent?

Carissa: she rolls her eyes at Brent I love that he's so comfortable in his skin and that he loves all of me and that he makes me feel beautiful even when I've had a bad day.

Qwillia Rain: I look at Brent again. What do you like least or scares you about Carissa?

Brent: That I may drive her away if I can't control my dragon fully.

Qwillia Rain: And you Carissa? What do you like least or scares you about Brent?

Carissa: That he might lose interest in me because I might not be as beautiful as some of the women that he encounters on his job.
Brent reached over and squeezed Carissa's hand.

Brent: You're my mate, baby. No one else will ever lift me up, keep me grounded and love me like you do.
Carissa wiped away a tea and sniffled before regaining her composure.

Qwillia Rain: I hide my smile and make sure neither of them notice my quiet sigh..this is why I love romance! Ladies first this time. Carissa, describe what your job is and why you do it.

Carissa: I am part owner of an aromatherapy boutique called Scentify.

Brent: beaming with pride Which is awesome. You should try their relaxation kit. Ah, best night of sleep I've had in weeks, well, not the best. I only sleep well when you're in bed with me. Brent grins widely at Carissa. Anyway, I'm a waiter at Dragon's Lair Pub/Restaurant and an investor in the Velvet Palace Sex Shop.

Across from me, Carissa squirms in her seat as Brent reaches over and caresses her thigh.
An exasperated groan comes from the table behind us. Se leans forward and snaps her fingers a few times.

Selena Illyria: Focus guys!

Qwillia Rain: I fight not to laugh and hurry on to the next question before things get too out of hand. Coffee, tea, soda...?

Brent: Huh? Oh, right, I've had to lower my java intake so I'd say tea.

Carissa: Coffee, can't live without it. No coffee then you'll really see what a werewolf bitch looks like in the morning.

Brent: a nervous chuckle slips free as he nods Yeah, you don't want to see that.

Qwillia Rain: I can see the heat in both Carissa and Brent's eyes and I'm sure there aren't many more questions I'll be getting answers to, so I quickly toss out the next one. What addiction can you not live without?

Brent: Swimming naked. Does that count as an addiction?

Qwillia Rain: I nod. Yep, I would say it does. Carissa stays quiet, so I turn the next question her direction. If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about?

Carissa: her cheeks darkening with a blush Not telling them about my mother's odd notions about my sex life.

A look passed between the couple and a soft thump signaled Se giving up and dropping her head to her table. As if I didn't exist or the world around them had disappeared, Brent and Carissa moved into each other's arms and I closed my notepad. Turning to Se, I patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Se. The hormone levels will drop. Eventually."
She looked at me then glanced at the couple behind us. Her eyes went wide before she turned back. "I need a drink."
From the noises behind me, I had to agree. Then I added, "And chocolate."
Keeping my eyes averted, I followed Se back into The Dragon's Lair and headed for the bar.

Get a better "read" on Brent's and Carissa's antics when you check out their story in Selena Illyria's book, Dragon Ugly from etopia press. 

And don't forget to leave a comment about the interview or excerpt to be entered to win a copy of Dragon Ugly.

Title: Dragon Ugly
Author: Selena Illyria
Publisher: Etopia Press
Series: Dragon New Year, Book 2
ISBN: 9781939194473

Buy it here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ARe

Blurb:
Can a dragon shifter give more than just hot sex?
After Brent's New Year's fling with his friends Fletcher and Tor -- and Tor's mate Louisa -- Brent is determined to find his own mate. His dragon wants him to find their mate, too, and if Brent doesn't find a way to locate her soon, his dragon will take matters into his own talons. And that could spell trouble.

Wolf shifter Carissa has no desire to live up to her wild musician mother and artistic father's vision of free love and sex parties. She's buried her sexual desires and focused on building up her aromatherapy store, Scentify, no distractions allowed. Until she meets Brent. The sexy dragon shifter makes her burn with suppressed need. The only problem? His dragon wants Carissa, too. And pursuing the dominant dragon would be playing with fire.

Giving in to his dragon saps Brent of his focus and energy. Things are turning ugly--dragon ugly. How can he bond with his mate when his dragon only wants sex?

Excerpt:

When he took the bud between his teeth and sucked the aching tip into the warm, wetness of his mouth, she moaned aloud. Sweet pleasure cascaded through her as he tugged, nipped, flicked her nipple and the barbell that ran through it. With his free hand he worked her other piercing, rolling the jewelry in its hole and tugging on it. Pain and pleasure melted together in a red hot fire that filled her body. A ball of tension began low in her belly, as her vaginal walls fluttered and clenched and her pulse quickened.

Inarticulate sounds bounced off the walls, echoing back at her with each tug and flick of his tongue. “Goddess, so good. More. Please, harder. Brent, harder,” she growled out, her voice so ragged, she didn’t recognize it.

She felt the wolf surge upward, as raw animal desire filled her body. She needed more contact, more stimulation. Carissa ran one hand down his back and slipped it between their moisture-slickened bodies to push it between her legs. Her fingers delved between her thickened folds to find her clit. She stroked the nub, rubbing it with strong brushes as he continued to stimulate her nipples. Her pleasure increased as she felt the backs of her fingers brush against his erect cock. An idea of how to make this pleasurable for the both of them struck her and she moved her fingers away and tipped her hips closer to him until her pussy pressed against his erection.

She rocked her sex against his penis, trying to stimulate them both. Ribbons of tension slipped outward, filling her belly and wrapping around her growing orgasm. Delicious sensations surged within her as his muffled grunts filled the air. She gasped and moaned as she tried to claw closer to release. The wolf howled within, demanding more from them both. She could feel the shift coming on her. Pain and desire seared along her arms and legs. Her fingernails began to grow in sharp pangs until they’d turned into claws. She reached out and held onto his waist, digging her nails into his skin. The scent of blood mixed with the perfume of water and the bath salts and sweat. Moisture misted her face and neck, and clouded her vision until all she could do was close her eyes against the sting.

Her world view narrowed down to Brent and the pressure that was growing through her body. The shift and tension bounced her chest and coiled in her stomach as she continued to grind against him. Pleasure turned to pain as her nipple became oversensitive, and Brent transferred his attention to the other one. More, faster, harder—she wanted it all. And yet she felt an emptiness in her womb. She wanted to feel that sweet pain as his dick stretched her to accommodate his girth…but now was not the time. For now, nothing mattered but climax.

The cliff approached closer and closer with each move of her hips, until she could feel herself balancing right on the edge.

“Brent,” she sobbed out. Carissa wasn’t sure what else she could do. The aroma of water rushed up her nostrils as the room temperature increased. She felt his hands grip her hips as she rubbed his cock against her folds. Tingles ran up and down her legs, swirling at the base of her back and racing up her spine. The buzz filled her head as she dove deep into the pleasure. She felt the glide of his cock against her clit, increasing the blaze. The flames filled every limb and wrapped around her torso. Her body felt too small to contain the pressure that threatened to burst.

The conflagration burst inside of her, pulling her under. She howled in a long, loud sound that made the walls shudder.

A roar followed her yowl and a wash of warm brushed against her sex. Brent wrapped his arms around her as she quaked against him. Stars burst behind her eyelids as she struggled to breathe. Her mind was filled with a numbed blissful silence. She let out a sob as she rested her head on his shoulder. Carissa could feel his heart pounding against her chest in an echo of her own heart’s rapid pace.

“Goddess, that felt good,” Brent rasped out.

All she could do was silently agree. Carissa couldn’t even pick up her head to nod.

“Looks like we need another bath, or perhaps we can do this again in the shower.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.

Carissa wasn’t even sure if she could stand.

Monday Meeting: Ben Murphy from Under Control

With his hours at San Diablo General Hospital’s Emergency Room and his shift tending bar at the Diablo Blanco Club, Ben Murphy has very little free time. I was lucky to catch him before his shift started at the DBC, but I was extremely conscious of the occasional looks I received from the other patrons as I sat with him at the Club.

“I don’t want to keep you from work.”

He shrugged and leaned against the bar across from me. “No problem, Miss Qwillia. We won’t start getting busy for a while yet.” His smile was like a warm invitation to visit and lit his gray eyes with humor.

I stifled my curiosity about the Club and launched into the interview, “What is your favorite ice cream?”

“Vanilla.”

I blinked, “Really?”

He nodded, “Yes, because I can add whatever I want to it depending on my mood.”

I thought about it. That made complete sense to me. “Next question, what is your favorite thing about Vance Justiss?”

Even as he talked, Ben was straightening and wiping down bottles and shelves behind the bar. “My favorite thing about V? He’s got my back. The man doesn’t know the word ‘quit’. If he thinks you need help — he’s there.”

“Like you?” I prompted.

He grinned but didn’t answer.

“What does Vance do that is most annoying?”

The grimace that pulled his lips down was fleeting before Ben answered, “He doesn’t give himself a break. He has high expectations for himself and when he misses, he gets angry at himself for it.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Getting him down from that takes a lot and sometimes it tests me in ways I’m not sure I like going to.”

“How old were you when you lost your virginity?”

He leaned closer to answer. “My parents would be happy to know that I lost my virginity with a girl when I was sixteen. They’d be less than pleased to know that I was fifteen when I shared my first hand job with one of the guys from the football team.” An expression of both disgust and disappointment flashed across his features. “The fact that I’m attracted to men and enjoy sex with both men and women is what created the rift that made me leave my home in Virginia to make a life here in San Diablo.”

I remembered that and how much he hated the fact that they’d effectively cut him out of their lives for nearly twenty years. Hoping to dispel the unease, I jumped into the next question. “How did you meet Vance?”

“I led a Recon unit when I was in the Marines. Vance was assigned to my unit when our sniper was killed.” He gave me a wry grin. “I swear, the man could make me hard with a single look and that was dangerous in the military. But we had a good unit that relied more on action than orientation.”

“If there is something you could change about the first few weeks you knew Vance what would it be?”

“Nothing. He was an excellent soldier and fit into the unit immediately.”

“What about your personal relationship?”

Ben shrugged. “Not long after we met, he recognized the tension between my family and me and dragged me here.” He laughed. “I think he dragged the whole unit to his parents’ house at least once every time we had leave. His mom and dad loved having a house full of people. V was their only child and they had no other living relatives.”

“Didn’t he introduce you to the Diablo Blanco Club?”

“Yes. It was V who took me to the Club the first time. It was quite eye-opening and compelling. Plus I got to spend time with V.”

“What is your favorite movie?”

Ben laughed. “Don’t really have one. Between the ER at San Diablo General and the DBC, I don’t have a lot of downtime to watch movies.” He flashed a wicked grin. “And V is much more interesting to play with than a movie.”

“What is the craziest place you’ve had sex?”

The expression on his face was more of a grimace than a grin before he shrugged. “Nowhere. I’m not all that adventurous. A bed, the club, the shower — as long as I’ve got V, it works.”

“Which do you prefer? Coffee, tea, or…?”

“Coffee. The stronger the better.”

“What addiction can you not live without?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment. “The closest thing to an addiction I have is V. If I lost him, it wouldn’t kill me, but it wouldn’t be living either. I’d exist. That’s all.”

“Describe your favorite pair of shoes?”

A sly grin lifted his lips. “I have a pair of boots. Wore ’em on my last mission with Recon. They’re still the most comfortable boots for hiking.”

I hesitated before asking my question, pretty sure I knew the answer. “What do you fear most?”

“That V’s guilt over Aimee will tip him over the edge. He already has times when he’ll go days on cat naps because of the nightmares. I’m just not sure he’ll ever forgive himself for what happened.”

My own guilt gnawed at me, but I couldn’t tell him his fear was only going to get worse. I rushed on to ask, “What would you like to come back as if you’re reincarnated?”

He looked thoughtful then answered, “Haven’t really considered that. If I did come back, I’d hope to be with V, but I’d want to help people.”

“If you could be in a (different) book, which book would it be?”

“V and I have already been in a couple of the DBC books, I don’t need to be in anymore.”

I squirm thinking about the last story I’ll be telling. Not sure Ben will like it. Or if he’ll forgive me for what he and Vance will have to go through in the story. Determined to avoid spilling the beans, I ask the next question. “If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about you?”

He laughed again. “Not much about me is secret, but after twelve years in the Marines, I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“Who, living or dead, would be your hero if you have one?”

His expression grows somber before he answers. “Aimeelya. She sent V home to me. I wish she hadn’t had to die to do it, but it was his promise to her that broke down the walls between us so I could be with V.”

“Do you think he loves Aimeelya?”

The look he gave me was indulgent. “Miss Qwillia, you know V and I both loved Aimee. She belonged to both of us from the day we found her tangled up in barbed wire on the edge of a mine field.”

“If she’d lived, what do you think would have happened?”

“Nothing unless she wanted it to. Her parents were good people. V and I respected them. Aimee was a handful, but there’s no doubt, if she’d lived, V’s convinced she would have been the perfect sub from us.”

In the time we’d been talking the room had begun to steadily fill up. I held my hand out to Ben. “Thank you for answering my questions.”

He surprised me by taking my hand and placing a gentlemanly kiss on the back of it. “My pleasure, Miss Qwillia. You should really plan to attend the Midnight Masquerade some time.”

“It’s invitation only.”

The look he gave me held secrets I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but my fingers itched to write down. “Oh, I’m sure quite a number of members would be happy to send you an invitation.”

I laughed, “Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

He glanced over my shoulder toward the entrance. I turned and spotted Vance as well as Bryce and Richard entering. Turning back around I met his amused grin and added, “Definitely not a good thing.”

Making sure to stay as far away from the three Doms, I slipped out of the Club and into the warm Southern California evening.

Under Control (Diablo Blanco Club #2) is in the process of revisions and is slated to be re-released some time in June.

Monday Meeting: Rick Bennett from Rogue Master

Getting into Rick and Becka Bennett’s home meant waiting for clearance at the twelve-foot high, wrought iron gate, then withstanding the intense scrutiny of Rick’s father-in-law before I was directed toward the library where Rick relaxed on one of the sofas while Becka sat on his lap, breastfeeding their youngest son.

It’s been more than four years since their story took place, but I’m still digging out the details so I can get the story written — Rick is not one of the easiest character to get information from. Maybe, if I pay close attention to his answers I might get a better idea of what’s going on in his book. And if I’m really lucky, I’ll be able to get what I needed to finish the story so the fans of the Diablo Blanco Club series can finally read Rick’s book, and I can move on to the next three books.

I ease into the chair adjacent to the sofa and return the soft smile and greeting from Becka before I address Rick.

“Thank you for sitting down with me tonight.”

Rick smiled and ran his hand along Becka’s shoulder and arm. “Thank Boo.”

I fought the temptation to chuckle when I saw Becka roll her eyes before she dropped her attention to their son. I tried not to give her away, but something in Rick’s dark gray gaze warned me that he wasn’t fooled.

Hoping to keep his attention away from thoughts of discipline for Becka I dove into the interview questions I’d brought with me. “So, first question, what is your favorite ice cream?”

“Dulce de Lece—via Becka.”

I must have looked confused, because he laughed and expanded on his answer, “Boo loves that ice cream and the taste of her kisses after she eats it makes her flavor even sweeter.”

I could feel my cheeks heat as the color filled Becka’s face. Intent on getting through the interview and come away with more than just the answers to the questions, I move on to the next on the list. “What is your favorite thing about Becka?”

Rick stroked Becka’s hair as she cuddled their son and moved him from one breast to the other to continue feeding. “That her masochism matches my sadism.”

When I heard him say that, I was surprised, but it was nice to hear him accepting that part of himself. I made a note to myself to reflect that relaxed sense of self-awareness then asked the next question, “What does Becka do that is most annoying?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment before answering, “She doesn’t safeword out.” He gave Becka’s long, brown hair a tug and she smiled up at him. “It scared the hell out of me the first time it happened, but—” he grinned as if excited and reluctant at the same time “—it turned me on too.”

I hid my excitement at his revelation, but I kept my cool. “Interesting,” I mutter then lean forward and grin, “So, will you tell me how old you were when you lost your virginity?”

He laughed. “Oral — sixteen. Twenty for intercourse. I was so fascinated but freaked out by what Isaiah Halsey had to teach Bryce and me that sex wasn’t high on my list of interests until I learned topping techniques.”

I could imagine all the tricks Bryce’s uncle had been teaching them and how that could distract Rick. I needed to keep on track so I powered through the next few questions, “What is your favorite sexual talent of Becka’s?”

He closed his eyes as if in deep thought, his fingers moving softly through Becka’s hair and over her neck as the baby finished and she lifted him to her shoulder. Rick opened his eyes and moved his other hand to stroke the soft brown curls on the baby's head before looking at me. Definitely a flash of devilry in his gaze. “The way she takes everything I dish out without protest. Not to mention how fast she hits subspace for me.”

Hmm, another mental note made. “What is Becka’s weirdest habit?”

Rick chuckled, “She alphabetizes everything. I mean everything — books, CDs, movies, the cabinets, the contents of the pantry, clothes — I did not realize you could alphabetize a closet until she moved in.” A grunt slipped from his lips as Becka’s elbow dug into his side as she finished burping the baby.

I stifled my grin, no way did I want this Dom giving me the evil eye. “I know you met Becka when she began working for Halsey Unlimited as an accountant, but if you could, is there anything you would change about the first few weeks you knew her?”

A movement near the door seemed to distract both Rick and Becka. I watched as Becka’s father, Idris, stepped into the room. She rose from Rick’s lap and carried her son to her father and handed the baby over after pressing a soft kiss on the infant’s brow. Idris eyed me so closely, I wondered if he knew about the lady I’d been chatting with about him.

I turned my gaze back to my notes and waited until Becka returned to the sofa. Instead of resuming her spot on his lap, she eased into a kneeling position between his legs. She rested her cheek against his thigh and closed her eyes. Rick smoothed his hand over her hair from her crown to her shoulders before he answered. “Would I change anything? No, nothing. The first time I saw her alphabetizing the magazines and eyeing the plants as if she wanted to rearrange them by genus, species, and phylum, I wanted her. I had no problem imagining her submitting to me, but she never expressed an interest in power exchange. As much as I wanted her, Boo didn’t need the pressure of banging the boss to interfere in her rise to CFO of Halsey Unlimited, Inc.”

Interesting. I wondered what the answer to the next question would be. “What is your favorite movie?”

Again, there was no hesitation in his response. “Revenge and Taken.”

I stopped and thought about the films. “Revenge? You mean the one with Kevin Costner and Anthony Quinn?” I was pretty sure the other movie was the one with Liam Neeson.

While Rick nodded, a shiver went up my spine and it seemed Becka had the same reaction as mine, “Yes.” The look on his face said everything necessary, no explanation could express the synergy those two films represented in his life. In the story I was still working on finishing.

I hurried on to the other questions, “What is the craziest place you’ve had sex?”

A slow, wicked smile lifted his lips. “That’s a toss-up between against the stripper’s pole in the Dulce Oro or the heavy bag in my home gym — or maybe when I bent her over the weight bench.” He tugged on Becka’s hair and I wasn’t surprised when a soft purr left her lips.

“Which do you prefer? Coffee, tea, or…?” I asked.

“Water most of the time. Eighteen months in Mexico teaches you the importance of hydration. After that it would be a good single-malt Scotch or tequila.”

I tried to keep focused on the interview questions even as Rick moved his hands over Becka’s shoulders, around her throat. “Wh…what addiction can you not live without?”

“Becka’s submission.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and tugged lightly and slowly smiled at me, “It feeds the sadist in me. Keeps me human.”

I knew I had to hurry through the last few questions or I’d be witness to some very personal time between the pair in front of me. “Describe your favorite pair of shoes.”

A coldness settled over his features and the most sinister grin quirked his lips. It wasn’t a smile or a smirk, but more an expression of deep satisfaction. “A pair of black boots that I never wear anymore.”

Warily I ask, “Why are they your favorite if you don’t wear them?”

“Because they’re stained with the blood of the son of a bitch who tried to take Boo from me.” Something in his gaze assured me that he’d not only found satisfaction in the death of the man, but he seemed pleased by it as well.

Okay, next question — fast! “What do you fear most?” I grimaced the second I asked it, considering the answer to the last question, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear the answer to this question.

Fortunately, he was kind to me. He leaned forward and kissed Becka, nothing too sexy, but definitely affectionate. “Going too far. I recognize who I am and what I carry around inside me and Boo helps me control it. But the potential is there for it to break free and if that happened it would mean I’d lost Becka and no place on Earth would be safe.”

I knew exactly what he was saying. “If you could be in a (different) book, which would it be?”

Rick shook his head and rolled his eyes, “I already show up in Unfair Advantage, Santa’s Elf, and Under Control as well as the last book in the series so I don’t need any more exposure, thank you.”

It took everything in me not to reveal his future literary adventures. “If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about you?”

A snort left his lips and he choked back another one. “Seriously? Too late. Tried to avoid the secrets getting out by heading to Mexico and dropping off the radar for almost a year, but you’re too damned nosy.”

I didn’t bother asking anything else especially when I watched his left hand slip beneath Becka’s unbuttoned blouse and cover her breast. I babbled out my appreciation, scooped up my bag and notebook and hurried out of the room, determinedly ignoring the low, seductive laughter that followed me into the hall.

Idris didn’t say anything but the grin on his lips was enough to make me pick up my pace and sigh with relief the second I closed my truck door. I watched the door shut even as I recognized just how lucky it was that the residents of the house were even alive. The interview answers only made me more aware of why I needed to get Rick and Becka’s book written. And written soon.

Monday Meeting: Dane Reese from An Invitation: Ariel's Pet

Dane Reese appeared in An Invitation: Alayna's Training as the best friend of the hero, Logan Abrams. Then he became the hero of his own book in An Invitation: Ariel's Pet. When the opportunity presented itself to interview him, I jumped at it.
Enjoy the interview!

The Valerian Root was mildly busy as the breakfast crowd thinned out. It would be another hour or so before the lunch rush would begin. With the expansion of the café underway, I didn’t doubt I’d run into Ariel or Alayna, but my appointment today was with Dane Reese, Ariel’s husband. I spotted Dane leaning against the open kitchen door, but I didn’t stay anything or try to get his attention. I didn’t doubt he was talking to Ariel.

Instead, I took a seat in one of the booths and arranged my notepad and the list of questions on the table. One of the waitresses brought me one of Ariel’s special double-fudge brownies and a cup of cinnamon hot chocolate.

As I sipped my hot chocolate and nibbled the brownie, I tried to ignore Ariel’s voice as it rose in volume, “For the love of Pete, Dane, I am fine!”

Dane’s unruffled response was inaudible from where I sat, but I could see the intent look on his face as he hovered outside the kitchen.

Ariel apparently didn’t like his comment. “You step one foot in my kitchen, surfer boy, and I’ll have you on your knees. Besides, don’t you have someone coming to ask you questions?”

“Thirty minutes, Tink. If you’re not off your feet by the time I finish, I’ll get you off them.” This time his words reached everyone in the café.

The two waitresses whispered to one another, but the only thing I heard was “…five bucks.”

A muffin sailed toward his head, but he snagged it out of the air as if he’d had lots of practice. He didn’t wait for her answer before adding, “Don’t make me call Grimm.”

A litany of curses colored the air as he stepped away from the kitchen and allowed the open door to swing shut. He spotted me and grinned as he crossed the room.

By the time he’d settled onto the bench seat across from me, I’d noted the faded jeans and green tee shirt he sported, along with the battered sneakers on his feet. His golden blond hair was still neatly trimmed and the dark tan he sported only increased the intensity of his deep blue eyes.

“Thanks for talking with me today, Dane,” I offered as I shook his hand.

He smiled then tore a chunk off the chocolate muffin he’d caught and popped it into his mouth. When he finished chewing he said, “No problem, but we have to make sure we keep it under thirty minutes.”

I pointed over my shoulder toward the kitchen with my thumb, “Does Ariel have an appointment?”

Dane shook his head and looked a bit grim. “No. She’s just refusing to get off her feet for a few hours in the afternoon. The doc says she needs to rest, but you know Tink. The damned woman has a mind of her own and it’ll take a bulldozer to change it.”

I laughed, “Good thing you’re a bulldozer, huh?”

He shrugged. “If I have to be.” He pulled another chunk of muffin off and chewed, then suggested, “You said you had questions?”

“Yes. I have a few.”

“Fire away.”

I looked down at the list and asked the first one. “What is your favorite ice cream?”

A slow smile lifted his lips. “Jamocha fudge with malted milk balls. It’s complex and full of a mixture of flavors and textures, kinda like Tink.”

“Sounds yummy.”

“Oh, it is.”

The glint in his eyes hinted that more than just the taste of the ice cream was filling his mind. I hurried on to the next question. “What is your favorite thing about Ariel?”

He held up the half-eaten muffin his wife had thrown at him. “She’s a brat. Feisty and snarky and ready to fight at the drop of a hat, but she gets so wet when I paddle her ass for sassing that I know she’s doing it because she’s feeling scared.”

“Even when she throws food at you?”

He nodded, “Especially then. If she’d really been mad at me, she would have thrown the half onion she had left from Jake’s Denver omelet. Instead she tossed me my favorite muffin.”

I moved to the next question, “What does Ariel do that is most annoying?”

His broad shoulders shuddered slightly. “She’s too impulsive. And stubborn. I swear, she’s gonna give me a coronary one of these days with the stunts she’s pulled.”

I steered the conversation away from that and asked, “How old were you when you lost your virginity?”

He gave a low throaty chuckle. “Fifteen. The lady was a very mature eighteen and I was big for my age. The first time it was pretty quick, but after the third time that night I’d caught on and she was worn out.”

“What is your favorite sexual talent of Ariel’s?”

The lids fell over his sapphire gaze and an expression of pure bliss softened his strong features for a moment. “Food. Tink has this way of making eating into the hottest foreplay I’ve ever experienced. And never argue with the woman about chocolate.”

I recalled the scenes he was describing and I could feel the heat enter my cheeks. Yes, he was right about that. I coughed and asked the next question, “What is Ariel’s weirdest habit?”

“That’s easy. She’s an OCD freak when it comes to organizing her kitchen. Everything goes in a specific place, in a particular container, and heaven help the poor schmuck who messes with her stuff.”

“If there is something you could change about the first few weeks you knew Ariel, what would it be?”

He seemed to think about the answer before he shook his head. “Not a thing in the first few weeks when Logan and I started going to the café, but later when I went to the café to help out while Alayna was being trained as a submissive at A Master’s Gift. If I were going to change anything in the first week I was at the café, I’d have paddled her ass then fucked her the first time she got snippy with me. Instead I tried being nice, but she wasn’t having any of it.”

I winced thinking of all the things Ariel had done to try to drive him away. “What is your favorite movie?”

“Safe House. Denzel is kick ass in that flick.”

“What is the craziest place you’ve had sex?” I was curious what his answer would be.

A wicked grin lifted his lips as he leaned forward and dropped his voice so none of the diners around us could hear what he said. “In the exam room at Tink’s doctor’s office after the first ultrasound of our daughter.” His look was thoroughly unrepentant. “I couldn’t help it. She was so fucking hot with her little round belly and no panties on.” As if that was a good excuse…

It took a moment for me to stop laughing. “Which do you prefer? Coffee, tea, or…?”

“Mexican hot chocolate. Tink got me hooked on it after I moved in with her.” He motioned to the nearly empty cup in front of me. “You know, heavy cream, cocoa, cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne. Sweet and spicy—just like my Tink.”

There was no doubt in my mind that the drink was sublime. “What addiction can you not live without?”

“Watching Tink come. She totally blisses out, her eyes go all soft and unfocused, she goes all limp, and for those few minutes she’s all mine without any barriers between us.”

I could see he enjoyed thinking of that and with the way he was looking over his shoulder toward the kitchen, I figured I needed to distract him before he created a scene Tink would never forgive him for… The man had not an ounce of shame when it came to sex. “Describe your favorite pair of shoes.”

He stuck his foot out so I could see the battered sneaker on his foot. Though it had originally been white leather, the scuffed and worn surface was more an off-white or almost gray. “These. They’re really beat up and Tink is always threatening to toss them out, but she knows I only use them when I go for a run. When I get the runners she bought me broken in, I’ll think about tossing these, but not yet.”

“What do you most fear?”

“Although, I love when Tink gets worked up because that woman has a wicked imagination and an over-developed sense of evil revenge, and there are days I wonder why I stick around, I know, if anything happened to my pixie, I’m not sure how I’d handle it.”

“What would you like to come back as if you’re reincarnated?”

The smirk on his lips and the twinkle in his blue eyes was all the warning I needed to prepare myself for a wild answer. “There’s this blue vibrator Tink has. Oh man, there is nothing I’d like more than to be that particular toy when my girl gets horny.”

I could feel my face grow hot as I remembered that scene from their book as well. I rushed into the next question, “If you could be in a (different) book, which book would it be?”

“Well, I know I’m supposed to show up in Grimm’s book and considering how close San Diablo and Ayerstown are to one another, I wouldn’t mind visiting the Diablo Blanco Club, but I’ve got my hands full with Tink right now. So…”

“If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about you?”

Dane leaned closer. “See, there is one thing, but if I tell you, Tink will read this interview and learn it and then she’ll go apeshit over it. A pissed off pixie is not pretty. Then, I’ll have to punish her which I hate to do and she will feel bad because she hates to disappoint me. So, it’s better if I don’t mention it at all.”

As curious as that answer was, knowing the inventive ways he’d found to punish Ariel, I erred on the side of caution and asked the last question I had for him. “Who, living or dead, would be your hero if you have one.”

“Hmm, that’s hard. I admire Tink and her sister, Alayna and how well they succeeded after their parents’ death at their young ages. But I also think Shendah and Grimm should be commended for their abilities to survive such traumatic pasts and still build solid futures. Then there’s my man, Logan. He’s had a helluva past and despite his fighting it, he found Alayna and grabbed on with both hands. So, if I was forced to name a hero, I’d have to list all of them.” He popped the last of the muffin is his mouth, chewed then swallowed before calling out, “Time’s up!”

I was surprised at how quickly the time had passed as I’d chatted with him, but before I could say goodbye, he rose from the seat and headed for the kitchen. As I gathered together my notes and pen, There was a squeal from the direction of the kitchen that was quickly muffled then a few minutes later Dane came out carrying a very pregnant Ariel, her hair sporting bright pink and blue stripes, but still as short and silky as ever.

Neither Dane or Ariel paid attention to their audience as their lips remained locked in a sexy kiss and Dane navigated the hallway toward the office in the back of the café.

An Invitation: Ariel's Pet is available at Loose-Id, Amazon, ARe, and Barnes & Noble

Monday Meetings: An Interview with Lyssa Lawrence-Halsey from Rite of First Claim

So, I've decided to recycle some posts...actually interviews with characters that I posted on another blog, but I thought I'd run them here as well...
I'll try to write a new one every two weeks on Mondays for Monday Meetings.


Lyssa Lawrence-Halsey first appeared in Unfair Advantage and made it very clear she didn't want to get involved with a younger man, especially if that man was Mike Halsey -- a man six years her junior and the younger brother of her sister's husband.


By the time her story, Rite of First Claim, came around, life had dealt Lyssa some nasty blows. It made her reassess what she wanted and how she was going to get it, which opened her up to looking at Mike differently.


When I consider what happened in the book, I'm surprised Lyssa decided to speak with me, but her answers were very enlightening.

"Lyssa, thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to me."


Lyssa smiles and relaxes into the corner of her sofa, curling her legs under her. "I appreciate you thinking of me."


I laugh. "Considering the events you went through in Rite of First Claim I'm surprised you're willing to talk to me."


She shakes her head, her blonde ponytail swings against her neck and over her shoulders. "The results more than make up for everything that happened. Besides, I'm curious about the questions you could have for me."


I look down at the list. "Well, these are questions the authors on the Kinky Ever After blog came up with, so, first question, what is your favorite ice cream?"

Lyssa didn't even hesitate. "Neapolitan. That way I can have a bit of each flavor -- strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate -- if I want or just one."

I could see the logic in that. "What is your favorite thing about Mike?"

A soft smile lifts her lips. It isn't hard to see she's thinking about Mike in the way her blue eyes darken and a light flush colors her cheeks. "His possessiveness. It sounds silly, but when you grow up being told you were never wanted, having someone say that you belong to him -- not the icky stalker-obsessive-fan type of ownership, but a cherishing, protective possessiveness -- it makes you feel worthy of every loving touch and word."

I fought the urge to smile because I knew how important those feelings were to Lyssa's spiritual growth. "What does Mike do that is most annoying?"

Lyssa rolled her eyes and groaned.

I was pretty sure I knew what her answer would be, so I wasn't surprised when she answered.

"The picture thing. The man spent twelve years trying to get me to pose nude and now that we’re married he uses every opportunity to take pictures."

I knew the answer to the next question, but I asked it anyway. "How old were you when you lost your virginity?"

A visible shudder accompanied the grim look on Lyssa's face. "Because of the other things that happened, I try not to remember that night, but I was seventeen and it sucked. Turned me completely off the idea of sex for a very long time."

I nodded in understanding and hurried on to the next question, "What is your favorite sexual talent of Mike’s?"

Lyssa's face took on a dreamy expression and a blush turned her cheeks rosy. "His imagination and the amount of time he takes. Sometimes it’s fast and furious, but other times it seems like he takes hours drawing every sensation to the ultimate level. And he uses every sense from smell to taste and, oh my," her eyes closed as a blissful smile lifted her lips, "the sound of his voice..."

"What is Mike’s weirdest habit?"

She grimaced, sipped her tea, then answered, "Normally I would say the fact that he’s always carrying a weapon of some sort, but really, it’s how still he gets. It’s a bit unnerving to be out somewhere and turn around to see him looking at the people around us with this intense expression. I’ve asked him about it, but he doesn’t tell me all of it. I’ve been tempted to ask his daughter, Tuma, about it, but she gets the same look on her face sometimes and I figure it has something to do with the trauma that placed her in Mike’s path when she was twelve." Her grimace grew apprehensive. "And in a way, I really don’t want to know."

I didn't give away the things I knew about Mike because it wasn't my place, so I hurried on to the next question. "If there is something you could change about the first few weeks you knew Mike what would it be?"

"That I wouldn’t have dismissed my attraction to him so easily. Both our lives would have been a lot different, but I also realize that if I hadn’t pushed him away, Tuma wouldn’t have been saved. I don't think Mike or I could ever imagine not having her in our lives"

"What is your favorite movie?"

Lyssa gave a sheepish grin. "I know I should pick something related to the fashion industry since that’s what I do for a living, but my favorite movie is Buckaroo Banzai. I adore Peter Weller and John Lithgow, and the movie is just so campy! It's great."

"What is the craziest place you’ve had sex?" I asked as I tried to mentally flip through the various scenes from Rite of First Claim to figure out what she'd answer.

"Hands down it would have to be the supply closet at the Diablo Blanco Club. It was the first time Mike and I had sex and that night actually cured me of my phobia about closets."

I laughed. "Well, I guess that's one way to do it."

She nodded, "Uh, yeah. I guess you could say that."

"Which do you prefer? Coffee, tea, or…?"

She held up her half-empty cup. "Tea, mostly herbal, to help calm me down. Being with Mike can be intense — sexually speaking and a little down time makes everything stay in balance."

That was an understatement. "What addiction can you not live without?"

"Hearing Mike say he loves me. It took me so long to accept that he really meant it, that hearing him say it, even in the most casual way, makes my insides melt."

There was no disputing her feelings, I gave her a minute to bring her mind back to the present. "Describe your favorite pair of shoes."

She giggled and unfolded one her legs from beneath her and wiggled her naked toes before tucking her leg back under her. "None. I prefer to go barefoot when I’m at home and I tend to stay close to the house, what with a toddler and a baby to take care of and my designs to work on. Even when I’m at Mike’s studio I don’t wear shoes, it drives him nuts."

"What do you most fear?"

There wasn't a moment of hesitation. "Losing Mike and our babies. I know he’ll never stop loving me, I trust him when he says that, but he still takes the occasional assignment that puts him in harm’s way and I worry every second he’s gone."

I nodded my understanding of her sentiments. "What would you like to come back as if you’re reincarnated?"

"I don’t care what I come back as, as long as I’m with Mike."

I couldn't help but tease, "Hmm, I'm sensing a theme here..."

She shrugged and grinned. "Perhaps, but you know better than anyone how hard he worked to get me to see how we can be happy."

I knew just what she meant. "If you could be in a (different) book, which book would it be?"

"I’m already in Mattie and Bryce’s story, Unfair Advantage, that’s plenty of exposure for me thanks. I love my happy ending. I love my Dom. I don’t need anything else."

"If your life were a book, what would you prefer the author not tell readers about you?"

She looked pensive and hesitant before she answered, "The worst part of me was my refusal to trust my instincts, my inner submissive, especially with Mike. Once that was laid bare, there were no other secrets that didn’t touch on that insecurity that were left unexposed."

"Last question. Who, living or dead, would be your hero if you have one?"

"Oh, that's easy. Mike is my hero. No matter how much I tried to push him away he was determined to rescue me even when I didn’t realize how much I needed to be rescued. A man who opens himself up the way he did; who took rejection after rejection; attack after attack and still didn’t give up who he is and what he stood for — that’s a man to be admired. I’m very proud to say he’s mine."

I put away my notes and gathered my things. "Thank you again for letting me chat with you, Lyssa."

Lyssa unfurled herself from the sofa and walked beside me to the door. "You're welcome, Qwillia. Thank you for visiting. And for writing Mike's and my story."

Blurb:

Lyssa Lawrence fought her feelings for Mike Halsey, but when Mother Nature decides to play dirty, she does the one thing she swore she'd never do...attend the Diablo Blanco Club's Midnight Masquerade on Halloween. Which places her squarely under Mike Halsey's control when he enacts the oldest rule at the DBC -- the Rite of First Claim.


Available in ebook at:
Amazon
Loose Id, LLC
Barnes & Noble
ARe