Blurb:
When Meredith is stood up by another blind date, she hooks up with sexy coworker Sam at the local bar. She’s drooled over Sam for months, but getting to know him better in a back booth makes her wish guys like him want to stick around.
Sam’s been attracted to Meredith’s lush curves, bright-green eyes and throaty laugh ever since he met her. Sharing drinks, bad-date stories and sexy innuendo makes him like her even more. But her lousy one-night stands have convinced her she’s not worth a second glance. Spankings and a little bondage just might help the voluptuous Meredith understand that not only can they share adventurous sex and pizza at midnight, but a future together as well.
Buy Links – Pre-order now – Voluptuous releases 9/6
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Excerpt
Delightful shivers danced along her skin and she leaned in close, placed her hand on his shoulder. “Okay. What are we doing here?”
He leaned in even closer. “Getting to know each other a little better?”
The scent of spicy musk reached her over the smells of booze and perfume, and she took a big whiff. “Are you hitting on me, Sam?”
“I’d hoped the hitting on was mutual.”
It was hard to resist a guy who made her laugh. Especially a hot guy who made her laugh and squirm on her seat. But from prior experience, she knew a hot guy like Sam wouldn’t want her for more than a one-night stand. “We have to see each other at work.” Life could get awkward fast.
“I know.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Those guys are leaving. Want to grab that booth?”
“Yes!”
He laughed, grabbed her arm and snagged the back booth before anyone else noticed it was free. She scooted onto the bench seat and instead of taking the seat on the opposite side of the table, Sam slid in beside her. Between the two of them—one big and tall, one big and wide—they took up most of the space.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Sam said softly. “We can talk without shouting across the table and besides, now I can do this without drawing too much attention.” He placed his hand on her knee, then began to slide it slowly up her bare thigh until he reached the edge of her dress. Her pussy quivered in anticipation and he wasn’t even close to her center.
Two could play that game. Meredith put her hand on his thigh. It was so hot and hard. But his leg was covered by fabric and that was so not fair.
Her mind was whirling with the implications of what was happening here tonight. She’d been stood up by one guy but now was getting up close and personal with a coworker. A totally hot coworker who at this moment was sneaking his fingers underneath her dress. She slid her hand up at little closer to his groin.
“It’s your turn,” she said, her voice a little breathless.
His slow slide up her thigh stopped and he gently squeezed her flesh. “My turn?”
She settled in closer, shoulders touching, thighs rubbing, hands a little hungry for more. “For another bad-date story. Surely there was someone worse than the greedy woman who just wanted you to buy her food for the next week.”
Sam smiled and resumed his voyage beneath her dress. The waves of arousal swimming through her system grew larger and more insistent. She was glad she hadn’t worn a tight dress. The waitress came and they ordered another round of drinks. This would have to be her last one, and then she’d have to get some food in her stomach. Her head was whirling slightly but it was more from the man beside her and the intimate way he was touching her.
Meredith shifted in the much more comfortable seat, dropping her leg slightly to give him better access. She barely worried about what he thought about her fleshy thigh. The liquor had apparently done a good job of lowering her inhibitions.
“There was the woman who took her cat with us on our date,” he said. “The furry thing was curled up in her lap the entire time. She petted it and talked to it for the entire drive down the coast. I might as well have been their chauffeur. ”
“Maybe she was afraid you were going to try to get in her lap and she wanted protection.” She laughed louder when the thought hit her. “Ha! She was petting her pussy so you couldn’t.”
Sam joined in her laughter. His fingers had made it to the edge of her panties. Any worries she had about her thick thighs went flying from her mind when he skimmed a finger down the wet center.
Artist James Bryant has forearm crutches in every color from rainbow for fun to sleek black for business. He even has a pair with more paint splatters than metal. After his family’s rejection and abuse from a man he thought loved him, James only just gets through the day by painting. He lives in constant fear that he’s not worthy of anything, let alone love.
As CEO of his company, Carrington Enterprises, Seth Burns is a take-charge kind of guy, and he is instantly smitten by the artist helping with his newest project. When he witnesses James suffer a panic attack, a protective instinct he never knew he had kicks in. He truly believes nothing is unobtainable—including James—if he’s willing to put in the time and effort.
James is shy and confused by Seth’s interest in him as a person. With Seth’s support, can he work through his fears to finally find the true love he deserves, or will someone finally land the crushing blow he won’t survive?
Excerpt 1
667, 668, 669….
A file slapped the desk in front of James, distracting him from his attempt at counting the dots in the ceiling tiles above him.
“I know you’re busy and all,” Brian said, his usual sneer in place. “But do you think you’ll have time to help a new client?” The man just lived to give him a hard time.
James took a deep breath. He desperately hoped his hatred of the man towering over him didn’t show. James Knew open displays of boredom pissed Brian off, but James hadn’t had a prospective or existing client call in two days. He’d finished his purchasing reports, sent the work orders and e-mail. All calls done. What else was he supposed to do?
“Sure, Brian. Let me see what we’ve got, and I’ll head right out,” James replied. He tried to sound upbeat. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his job; he did. But Brian hated him, and he always got the leftovers—usually clients the other designers did not want for one reason or another.
“I’m sure this one’s right up your—” Cough. “—alley,” Brian finished with a snicker.
James never figured out how someone so hateful and narrow-minded as Brian stood working in their field, much less kept his job. In James’s opinion, art, even corporate branding and design, should attract people with a bit more open-mindedness. He had a few ideas on the latter but kept his opinions, and gutter-mind, to himself.
Forcing a smile across his face as he opened the folder in front of him, James called out to Brian’s retreating form, “No worries, boss.”
Brian paused and turned to look over his shoulder and with a nasty smile added, “Oh, and the guy’ll be here in about ten minutes. Don’t screw up.”
Ten minutes? Seriously?
He started to peruse the new client information, pleased that at least the file seemed to be complete—charts, images, budget, etc.—and his phone rang. He answered on the second ring. “Good morning, James Bryant speaking.”
“Ah, Jamie, got the file yet? ’Cuz let me tell you, this one’s something else,” came the disembodied voice of his best friend and co-worker, Chase Manning. “He’s not like most of the scraps Brian-the-dick tosses you.”
“I’m sure I can handle whatever he sends my way. The clients aren’t usually as difficult as Brian and the others make them seem. They just don’t want to deal with high maintenance or quirky. Which, when you consider the job, makes no sense. But—”
“Jamie, dear,” Chase said, cutting him off. “That’s not it at all. This guy’s hot, and I mean H-O-T, hot. He’s waiting for you already and man, I so wish I had your job today,” he practically squealed. “So hurry up and get your sexy ass down here. Now.”
“Shh…. Don’t be so loud. The last thing I need is you to offend a new client. Now, go back to work and let me read over the file, would ya?” He shook his head and clicked off his Bluetooth. James glanced over the information for his new client. Seth Burns? Carl, their senior manager, had been trying to get Mr. Burns of Carrington Enterprises as a client for years. Wonder what he’s looking for and how this project slipped past Brian to me?
Setting it aside, James pulled out his messenger bag and loaded it with the folder. He already had all his staples in there: pens, pencils, a notebook or two, and a couple of sketch pads. He carefully hung it across his neck and shoulder so the bag wouldn’t slip. He preferred his backpack, but his boss frowned on “casual.” James gathered his forearm crutches, the plain black ones he only used for work, and he began the arduous task of getting up before he slipped his arms through the cuffs.
Once satisfied he wasn’t forgetting anything, James slung himself down the hall to the elevator, where he waited. He hated standing there, given Brian’s office faced the hall.
When James reached the main floor, Chase seemed to vibrate as he waited for him. His face reminded James of a child at Disney World instead of the twenty-five-year-old man he actually was.
“Do you want to meet with him down here in one of the conference rooms?” Chase pleaded, batting his eyes for full effect. He knew better than to act like that, but, oh well.
“Relax, Chase,” James said with a smile. Chase, his sometimes assistant and best friend, always worried about James walking too much, but then he never managed to understand the idea of limitations versus inability. James could walk, though he couldn’t walk far or carry much of anything. He simply needed his crutches. Limitations James loathed but had learned to accept.
“I just hate you traipsing up and down the halls. I wish—”
“Don’t,” James snapped harder than he’d meant to. “Sorry. You know I appreciate your concern, but I’m a big boy and can manage fine. Now, go back to your desk and do your job so I can do mine.”
With a huff, Chase flounced back to his desk. “Fine,” he called over his shoulder. “Be that way.”
James ignored him and pushed on, maneuvering himself around to reception to meet his new client.
5 Random Q -n- A’s with James Bryant
Yesterday we cornered Seth over at Tali’s blog, but today we have a little “mini” Q-n-A with James Bryant, one of the MC’s of Designs of Desire,by Tempeste O’Riley. I hope you enjoy getting a peek inside James’s head. Don’t forget to check out the book and giveaway below.
Which living person do you most admire?
Hmm… Depending on the day I’d waffle between answering Chase or Seth. Chase is my bff and one of the strongest men I’ve ever known, though he argues with me when I say things like that to him. Seth is my love, and very powerful in and out of the bedroom, plus he’s infinitely patient and caring.
What do you most value in your friends?
That would be a toss up between loyalty and compassion. I could never be close to anyone that didn’t inherently possess both.
What is your favorite body part?
Oh, hands! Hands show what kind of person a man is. Is he strong, powerful, does he work with his hands or in an office (both are good, depending on he person), and of course… how would they feel?
What is your idea of the perfect evening?
Any evening I get to spend with Seth. I’m torn between staying in, curled up together or going out some place. Both are wonderful, when with Seth, as he makes me feel like the center of his world and heart.
What do you consider your greatest life moment?
My first gallery show is one of the highlights of my life. Though, what happens near the end of that show is my most precious memory now. I am still in awe of both events and the fact they happened together makes that night my greatest singular time in my life.
About the Author:
Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud omnisexual / bi-woman whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since.
Tempe is a hopeless romantic that loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.
Harlie Williams, Author 