Thursday Thirteen - "sexify" your bedroom

Since I retired, other than writing every day and I plan on redecorating each room. Several articles I've read state redecorating should begin in the bedroom.The bedroom is your sanctuary; a place to get away from it all and relax. With a little effort, a bedroom can be turned into a personal love nest. One needs this special place when tearing up the rest of the house.

Here is a list of things to do to create a sexier space.

 1. Get rid of the television, computer or any office stuff. 

 2. Think about the overall mood of your room and make your selections from there. Good choices include medium to dark shades of purple, blue, green, brown, gray and orange. Neutral and pale earth shades work grate as well when accented with vibrant colors such as red, black, pink, white, and tan. If you don't want a complete make over, add some color with pillows, scarves, and drapes. 

 3. Platform beds are considered high on the romance scale. This is great for couples with low budgets, as most platform beds are quite affordable at major chain furniture stores such as IKEA and Crate & Barrel. Most importantly, though, is to make sure your bed is a focal point in your room. However, sleigh beds and antique beds can give a sensual aura to a room when accented with antiques or a Bohemian style. 

 4. Get the highest quality thread-count sheets you can afford. If you're buying new bedding, open the packaging to actually feel the blankets before purchasing.

5. The look of a bed filled with pillows sends a clear message of invitation. When you get creative with textures, the invitation gets harder and harder to pass up. For even more fun, consider ordering (or making your own) specialized pillowcases with sexy messages on them to help set the tone. 

 6. Use light sources in your room such as table lamps and candles and use those to achieve the best lighting for your rendezvous. Use pink-tinted light bulbs to flatter your skin even more. 7. You get romantic ambiance and also great mood lighting with candles. To keep the glow longer, and safer, consider battery operated flameless candles. 

 8. Nothing says vitality like a thriving plant. Keep in mind your color scheme and pick flowers or plants accordingly. Roses, tulips and daisies are common romantic favorites. Try placing petals in a glass bowl for both the delicate scent and the appealing visual. 9. Don't keep photos of family and kids in the room. Instead display photos of places you've visited, pictures of the two of you together or sensual photography. 

 10. Sensual photography, artwork, sculptures or collectibles are a great addition to any passionate bedroom. You might also want to set the tone with artwork from a particular location you both enjoy or that you picked out together. 

 11. Keep a secret basket, drawer or chest of your love toys handy and easily accessible. Things to include could include lotions, massage oils, scarves, toys and anything else you both like to use or try for your love play. 

 12. Keep your lingerie in a prominent position in your closet. This creates two effects. One, it's easy to use whenever the put strikes and two, it serves as a daily teaser for your lover. 

 13. When picking out anything for your room, look at it's texture and color and think about what it makes you feel. If it doesn't feel right for your purpose, don't use it in your room. This is your love den. Make it a place that works for you both.

Check out the Thursday 13 Blog. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

#Thursday13 - Favorite Lines from Handcuffs & Silk

Welcome to Thursday 13

Today is a Throwback to the first book I published with Decadent Publishing. 

I've listed my personal favorite lines from Handcuffs & Silk.

Available on Amazon

1. Being a Las Vegas cop, Steph recognized the evil lurking in the shadows of the beautiful city, also known as Sin City.

2. Rubbing the smooth part of his neck where a collar had rested for over a year, he remembered the day Ericka removed the soft, blue, leather strap with her initials stamped on it.

3. Miss Stephanie Johnson is a lovely lady with the type of personality I’m sure you will find to your liking, and perfectly capable of fulfilling your current desires.

4. “Grow up, Hunter. Drop this damn beta act and be the alpha you were born to be.”

5. Nicely curved hips accented by shiny, black leather hot pants, high-heeled, thigh-high boots laced up her long legs, and a small leather bag hung on a silver chain snug against her hip.

6. Her mouth watered at the sight of his muscular chest peeking from the opening of a black Armani shirt with the sleeves rolled past his elbows, and one hand rested on his thigh while the other held a rose.

7. Stepping tighter between her legs, he grasped Steph around her nape with one hand and pulled her to him for a hard kiss.

8. Sex appeal coupled with willingness to satisfy equaled a very appealing combination in a one-night stand.

9. The room filled with heat, yet the only sounds were their breathing, the creak of the bed, and the rasp of her boots as they brushed against his legs.

10. She opened the drawer and found a couple of black silk scarves.

11. With a wicked grin, she paused to pick up the glass with the key resting under the melting ice cubes.

12.  “I win.” His deep voice wrapped seductively around her entire body.

13. “You have the right to remain silent.” She clamped a handcuff roughly onto a wrist and raised both arms over his head to hook around the headboard rails then attached the remaining cuff to his free wrist. “Anything you say can and will be used against you for my pleasure.” (Yeah, I know it's more than one line, but it's my all time favorite in the entire book!)

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Love Knot is FREE for Read an Ebook Week

I'm participating in READ AN EBOOK WEEK to promote more reading! Whether it be holding a printed book or a kindle, it counts as reading. The first week of March has been set aside for publishers and authors to promote the advantages of reading digitally and encourage readers to give it a try.

I'm offering a sexy St. Patty's Day romance for FREE!

Mimi Cates is an artist who lives over the coffee shop she owns. Content with her life, she won't allow herself to become to close with her sexy, wanderlust neighbor, despite what her heart tells her.

Irishman, Robbie Mac Donnell never wanted to stay in one place very long. His job as a scientist allowed him to travel the world without ever making permanent ties to anyone. However, when he finds the perfect person and the perfect place to settle down, he's not sure if she'll believe him.

****

“Well... you're a sight for sore eyes!” Mimi grinned as the sight of her long-lost friend thrilled her senses.

Dressed in black jeans, black boots and black tank under a plaid shirt with hunky muscles peeking out; hot enough to make any woman with a pulse drool. His reddish blonde hair fashioned in the usual mess as if he just crawled out of bed. Dark brows arched over beautiful green eyes and those lips...so kissable.

Without saying a word, Robbie placed a box he carried as well as a highly polished apple onto the table and walked towards her. His hand slipped under her hair to cup the base of her head, while his other arm circled around her. When his lips came down on hers, Mimi had to grab onto him to keep from falling over in surprise.

Not a sweet kiss of friendship but an obvious promise of decadent pleasure. With a tilt of his head, Robbie took the kiss deeper. The scent of milled soap and masculinity made her heady. She could barely remember the last time he kissed her, not that she complained at the moment. Robbie slowly pulled away, tugging at her lip with his teeth as he did.

“Ah... welcome home?” She choked on the words.

AVAILABLE FREE!

SMASHWORDS

KOBO

BOOKTOPIA

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

Books to Add to Winter Reading List

 I have a couple books to add to your Winter TBR pile. Yesterday, romance author Marie McKinney stopped by for a chat. Check out the interview HERE. She has two books out now and one coming in November. She captures emotions and drama perfectly.

An emotional first
& second chance romance.

If you can’t fall in love in Paris, where can you?

Emily Chambers ran away to Paris to heal her broken heart. Because, really, where better to do that than the city of love? Just her luck she finds the perfect crush in a French tour guide… Just in time to bid him adieu. That’s okay. A few perfect days together and a few swoon worthy memories to last her forever, she’ll take that. Only… Emily finds herself toting home something a little more permanent than her Eiffel Tower key-chain.

Nick Wyatt wasn’t looking for love but that’s exactly what he finds in a bubbly, doe-eyed, big-hearted brunette. Problem is, she’s leaving in a few days. Bigger problem is she thinks he’s a French tour-guide named Jean-Luc. A not-so-chance reunion two years later leads to a second chance.
This time he’s not letting her slip through his fingers.

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1st book in the Wilde Men series

When Magdalena was a little girl, the worse thing she could imagine was never knowing who her father was. Then she grew up and met him.

Now with the threat of what’s left of her family being ripped apart, she’s forced to wed his rival to stop a brewing war from imploding a world she never knew existed.

When the girl he’d pledged to marry was murdered, Aidan Wilde swore he would never share his life with anyone else. He promised her he’d dedicate every breath to ruining her killer. Who would have thought that in order to do the second he’d have to break his promise about the first? But that doesn’t mean he’s going to give away his heart.

He’s not the husband she wanted but he’s the one she needs.

She’s not the wife he wanted but she’s the one he’s owed.

Together Magdalena and Aidan could be a force to be reckoned with.

But first they have to get out of their own way.

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Book 2 of the Wilde Men series

Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is love someone enough to stay.

Kate’s spent all her life being the responsible one. The one who left the risk taking to everyone else. With a mother who followed her gut down every shiny road made of fool’s gold, a father who’d left her before she was born, and a string of failed relationships, she knows the real risk is relying on others. Especially when it comes to her heart.
Then Sloan Wilde blows into her life and he’s the one risk she can’t afford not to take.

Former Marine, Sloan Wilde knew what it was like to have his entire world ripped out from underneath his feet. Orphaned at twelve years old, he’s spent so much time protecting his heart from the devastation that comes with loving someone and then losing them that he hasn’t spared a thought towards finding his forever someone.
Then in a blur of serendipity she walks into his life, steals his convictions, and turns his heart inside out.
Now he just has to convince her to stay.

One’s afraid to love.
The other’s afraid to lose the ones he loves.
But fate is a fickle mistress and the past has a way of coming full circle. Only time can teach them the true meaning of courage...And they’re running out of it.

Coming in November

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#SneakPeekSunday - Handcuffs & Silk #Excerpt

It's a little chilly in my neck of the woods. Let's head somewhere a little warmer... such as Vegas. Here's a sneak peek into A 1 Night Stand Story I wrote for Decadent Publishing. I was one of the first authors to write for this 1 Night Stand series. Handcuffs & Silk was my first book with them.

Excerpt~

The blades of the chopper sliced through the heat of the night as it flew over the City of Lights. Casinos glowed in various hues of blue, plum, gold, green, and silver, casting a magical aura. Spotlights danced in the night, graceful fingers tickling the sinister side of Vegas. Unsuspecting people moved about, flitting from place to place, searching for excitement and fulfillment while cars in traffic jams occasionally brought the pulsing arteries in the heart of the city to a temporary halt.

Being a Las Vegas cop, Steph recognized the evil lurking in the shadows of the beautiful city, also known as Sin City. As the chopper made a turn, she viewed the vast landscape as an artist’s canvas. The awesome structures designed and built by nameless men. So many lives below. Where there is sin and sadness, one will also find love and happiness.

With a deep sigh, Steph continued to gaze at the site, wondering where she fit into the street party of existence. Not a single malicious bone in her body, yet a monster lurked inside, crying to be set free. And, despite the desire to have a special someone to share a lifetime of love and happiness, meaningless one-night stands never filled the emptiness inside. Lately, living and breathing her job had become her reason for lack of a social life. That, and always being looked at as one of the guys and a hard ass.

Some of the cops’ wives had made it their mission to fix her up with someone. Despite their efforts to feminize her, she intimidated the men they’d found for her. Not considered butch—she had all the right curves in all the right places and could wear sexy clothing that normally only looked good on a model—but everyone knew how tough she could be.

Controlling the power hidden deep inside her proved to be difficult and had ruined many relationships. Her last boyfriend liked to try kinky things, but had his limits. She’d gone out with a guy who’d insisted she be submissive to him, but that felt completely false and ended shortly after it began.

What’s wrong with me?

Frustrated at her inability to escape her reputation, she’d applied with an online dating service, 1NightStand. Not a regular matchmaking site, but more upscale; the mysterious owner, Madame Evangeline, had an amazing ability to find just the right person to satisfy one’s needs. Or so Steph had been told.

Her cell phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, she noticed an email from 1NightStand. Instinct told her Eve was probably letting her know the dating service could not match her up. To avoid disappointment until back on the ground, Steph put the phone back in its holster.

The chopper began its descent.

****************************************

BLURB

Stephanie "Stiff" Johnson, is a tough Las Vegas cop who many men find too intimidating to date. Steph begins to wonder if something is wrong with her so she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who could be the yin to her yang, even if it's just for one night.

Hunter Morgan left behind years of living as a sub to a female Domme in New York. Upon return to his hometown, he questions whether he wants to continue with the "lifestyle" or find something different. Turning to 1 Night Stand, he hopes to sample his options.

A simple one-night stand opens a whole new sensuous world to both. 

************************************************************************

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#SneakPeekSunday – Crow Magic

Enjoy six paragraphs from Crow Magic.

Hearing her name, she focused on him. He had removed his shirt, his bare chest shining with sweat while his arms commanded the night. As every muscle rippled, he emitted supernatural power, sending erotic shivers through her. With a quick bow, he began an ancient dance, moving in a series of mystical twists and turns. Through the graceful movements, he became god-like in the candlelight. Not able to take her eyes off the shaman dance, she caught sight of a large tattoo of black wings covering most of his back with the wing tips hidden under the edge of his pants.

The flames continued to stroke her without pain. Tongues of pleasure lapped her skin. She closed her eyes, the vision of black feathers embracing her returned. Was it her crow spirit or his? Power coursed through her veins and the inferno absorbed fear and apprehension. The face of a crow appeared and whispered her name. A violent renewal of forgotten vigor and confidence emerged. Inhibitions developed into sexual recognition. Fiery fingers caressed her torso and cupped her breasts. Her back arched in pleasure.

“May the flame continue to burn and always remind Lucy of her power as a woman.”

His voice drew her attention. She managed to open her eyes. Firelight painted his rigid muscles in gold and bronze. A lean warrior stood his ground, calling upon the elements to do his bidding. Silken wings emerged from his back and flexed behind him and in one fluid motion he unlocked his grasp and with his palms turned, plunged his arms downward.

“So be it!” His voice roared with the blare of many voices.

He held her gaze. The flames extinguished and electricity shot through her in a sudden piercing pain, followed by a wave of emotional warmth and comfort. The fire destroyed the demons of her past. Never again would she be harmed by a man or her fear. She commanded her own sensuality. Love poured from her inner core and encompassed her.

The hero in this story is a Native American Crow Shifter. 

If you had an animal spirit which would it be?