Sunday 29 December 2013

Blog of the Year 2013 My first Star

Blog of the year 2013......



Blog of The Year 2013 Award



I have to admit that this year as a writer, for me, has been a phenomenal and amazing one, and far exceeded my dreams.

The very first post I placed on my Blog was back in February this year, just before Valentine's Day. Since that time my writing has gone from strength to strength. This I think, is partly due to constructive criticism from fellow writers and Bloggers, and also as we know, 
practice makes perfect.

I have had to date almost 16,500 views of my Blog and very proud to say that. I was excited when I got 10 views a day at the beginning and a possible 30 views overall in a week.

This Blogging award is particularly sweet, as it comes via one of my sister writers, and a fellow nurse Taylor Fulks.

Like Taylor, at the beginning of my Blogging experience, I struggled to work out how to use the tools of my trade in order to produce a visual experience that was both pretty and presentable. Especially after looking at some of the amazing Blogs available on the Internet. Over time though I have begun to learn the basics, and finally feel that I am getting somewhere.

Taylor's Blog Taylor~Made Thoughts & Doodles, is a fantastic Blog and well worth a visit, so please do and tell Taylor I sent you.

This is my first nomination for Blog of the Year Award - 2013, and came from the lovely, talented Taylor Fulks. Taylor is an author/blogger par excellence at http://taylorfulks.com/blog/

I am so grateful to Taylor as we have become firm friends, despite the pond that lies between us (known as the Atlantic.) We have so much in common as Taylor is a nurse ( like myself) and a writer and blogger too. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart Taylor.




This part of the Blog is where I pay forward this prestigious award (as this award is freely given from one author to another)



The Rules



1) Select the Blog or blogs you think deserve the "Blog of the Year 2013" award.


2) Write a Blog post and tell us about the Blog or Blogs you have decided to choose. There is no minimum or maximum number of Blogs required - and then you may "present" the Blog or Blogs with their award.


3) Let the Blog or Blogs that you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share these instructions with them ( please don't alter these or change the badges)


4) Come and say hello to the originator of the "Blog of the Year 2013" Award via this link 
http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2/blog-of-the-year-2013-award/

5) You can then also join the "Blog of the year" Award Facebook Page - click the link here
 and share your blog posts to an even wider audience

6) And, as a winner of the award - please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award - then proudly display the award on your Blog.........and start collecting stars.....



Blog of The Year 2013 Award


Yes - that's right - There

 are stars to collect!


Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once - this award is different!


When you begin you will receive "1 Star Award" and every time you are given the award by another blog - you can add another


There are a total of 6 stars to collect.




Which means that you can check out your favorite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again to help them to reach the maximum 6 stars! You can either ‘swap’ your badge for the next one each time you are given the award – or even proudly display all six badges if you are lucky enough to be presented with the award six times!



CONGRATULATIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following, here is your first star (maybe your second, could even be your third) but it is the first star from me!  

This list in in no particular order but these are bloggers that a very eclectic mix of writers and bloggers

I recommend you visit and read and judge for yourselves whether my choices are the excellent choices I believe that I have made.

So, here we go:-




















Saturday 28 December 2013

Book Review for Hungry Ghosts (Time, Blood and Karma Book Two) by John Dolan

Hungry Ghosts is the second in the series of "Time, Blood and Karma" by John Dolan. The first in the series being "Everyone Burns (Time, Blood and Karma Book One)"






This book takes you in to the world of farangs, and lets us experience Bangkok and Samui through the use of John's story telling. The descriptions and imagery makes the reader feel as if they have stepped in to these exotic locations. The smells, the sights and the language are brought to life through the telling of this thrilling story about a private investigator who is not short on character.

I enjoyed the first book in this series immensely and have anticipated the sequel with bated breath, downloaded and read this in short shrift.

The twists and unexpected turns abound once more, with further explanations and plot twists enough to make your head whirl. What you thought you knew after completing the first book is put test as further developments occur, demanding that you re-evaluate your previous assumptions.

David Braddock the main protagonist, proves to be a vastly troubled individual and in this book we get to dig deeper in to his psyche.

I will not provide any spoilers as basically they spoil! (hence the name) All I will say is download and read this fantastic book as I myself could not put it down once started. Dinners burnt and household tasks were left undone. This book will have you on the edge of your seat and also having a little chuckle with John's dry humour. David Braddock's amorous encounters with the ladies are numerous and varied, and you can't help having a soft spot for the rascal despite this. He proves once again to be a bad boy, but one with a heart.

I am now waiting (albeit impatiently) for the final book in the series (type faster John).

Well done once again Mr Dolan and a high five. Another well deserved five stars from this fan.




xxXXXxx

Blogger of the Year 2014 


I am very proud to say that I am through to the final three for Blogger of the Year 2014 on the site Skelat.

I was nominated by fellow writers and bloggers without my knowledge, therefore, when I found that I was not only nominated at all, but in the top ten initially, I cannot describe how excited, proud and pleased I was ( and still am.)

So maybe, just maybe you kind people would vote for me and possibly give me a chance of becoming Blogger of the year 2014. You have until New Year's Eve to vote. Voting then closes and the Queen of Blogging 2014 ( all three finalists are ladies) will be announced


You may vote here at :

http://www.skelat.com/voting.html


Debut Novel Bound for Passion



My Debut Novel is now available on createspace and on Kindle.  Soon to arrive on Amazon, I will update my page as it appears on each of the designated sites.


I am happy to report that I already have four 5 * reviews for my debut, which is amazing





Bound for Passion




I am currently working on a new story that I hope to add sometime this week end so keep your eyes peeled.

Bye for now

Scarlett

xXx

Thursday 31 October 2013

Night & Day Cafe Gig with The Bedroom Hour

The Bedroom Hour




I attended a gig recently at the Night & Day Café to watch a band I know well from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube the band are The Bedroom Hour. The gig took place on Saturday the 10th of August 2013 at the Night & Day Café. I have to give a shout out to Harriet and Jules on the bar that evening. Thanks girls you worked hard that evening



 


The Night & Day Café is an intimate venue in The Northern Quarter in Manchester and well worth a visit. It is situated on Oldham Street.


This was to be The Bedroom Hour's debut performance in Manchester and what a performance it was. Also playing on that evening were The Reveres and Narcosis.


The band members comprise of  Stu Drummond Lead vocals, Mark Dudley keyboards, Dan Rider bass and backing vocals, Rob Payne guitar and backing vocals and finally but not least Lewis Cosham drums.







The band have a number of songs available to download. A particular favourite of mine being X marks the spot with an extremely well polished video.



 
 

They played a number of tracks on the night and their set included x marks the spot, Nocturnal, Submarine, Midnight Game, Heart Will Haunt and Shadow Boxer. All in all the band are headed for big things.


Their debut E.P. is available to download "Themes" and if you ask the lads they will describe themselves as psychedelic rock but that are much more than that too. They have been compared to a number of bands including Elbow. All I know is they were magical to watch and all eyes were fixed on them, as they used their emotionally charged numbers in order to keep the audience entertained.



 
 

The night was an outstanding success with a fabulous atmosphere. Resulting in a further visit to the Night & Day Café lined up for the  Saturday the 2nd of November 2013 with special guests to be announced.



 
 
You will find them on Twitter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Reveres

 
 
The Reveres also played that evening. They are a four piece band from Greater  Manchester. The line up includes Oliver Lomax - vocals, guitar & Harmonica, Paul Hesketh - Guitar & vocals, Josh Stewart (described as a Ronnie Wood lookalike!) Bassist, and last but no mean least Tim Hewitt - drums.



Their E.P. Pale was released on 25th February this year and also an Acoustic E.P.





 
 

The band are an alternative Indie rock band with influences from many sources including The Smiths, The Rolling Stones and the Jam to name but a few. Quite an eclectic mix.






The numbers they played that evening included Riders from Zero, Chase the light, Kick your Maker, Love in Vein and The Death of Miss X amongst others



You will find them on Soundcloud.
 
 
 
 
 

Narcosis

 
The final band in the line up was Narcosis.  This is a three piece band from Hinkley in Leicester.
The line up being Richard Brown - vocals, Christopher Cropp - guitar and Stephen PGB King on drums.
 
 
 
 
 
 
There record label is Lazy Llama Records.
 
 
Some of the tracks they played were Abusing Ron, Beautiful Ally, Mechanical Face and Flames are Forgotten
 
Three of these tracks are available here on myspace
 
 
Unfortunately it sounds as if this band are no longer on our shores
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Saturday the 2nd of November 2013
 
The Bedroom Hour are once again at The night & Day Café in
 
 Manchester
 
 
I will be there Will you?
 
 
Scarlett
 
xXx
 
 
 
 
 



 

Saturday 26 October 2013

BOTYA 2014


Voted one of the top ten Bloggers of 2014 on Skelat



I have had amazing news this week as I have been voted one of the top ten bloggers of 2014 ( yes I know it is only 2013), on the site Skelat and I am so excited and honoured by this news that I had to share it with you


I hope to receive some votes, although I am up against some stiff competition. Also, some of those in the running with me are also friends of mine, which makes this doubly difficult


This award is voted for by my own peers therefore other bloggers, making it a prestigious award indeed



 




the link for this is here
 
 
Blogger of the Year 2014


Vote now your Blogger of 2014!
 First round begins 1st Novemeber and ends on the 10th of December.
Round two then begins on the 12th and ends on New Years Day!

Entries are now CLOSED!
We can now reveal the top ten!

In no particular order:

Jonathon Fletcher
Carol Hedges
Dallas Dixon
Garrard Hayes
K.M. Francoeur
Christa Simpson
Carole Remy
Marie Gilbert
Claudia Burgoa
Scarlett Flame

Congratulations to our top ten! You have been the most voted for over 2013! 

2014 could be YOUR Year!

*The top ten bloggers will be randomly drawn on the First of November, the Semi-Final will begin on the 20th of November and end 1st January

What can you do now? Share this on your blog and meet the others, on November the first voting will open and you will have to secure as many votes as you can, to become Blogger of the Year 2014!


Read more: http://www.skelat.com/the-top-ten.html#ixzz2iq5Znduk



 
 

Monday 14 October 2013

From Professional Hockey Player to Published Novelist Guest Blog by Luke M. Murphy Author

 
 
 
 
 


From a family of avid readers, even as a child I always had a passion for books. Whether it was reading novels on road trips or writing assignments in school, literature was always part of my life.


In the winter of 2000, after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing professional hockey in Oklahoma City. I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new hobby emerged.


I didn't write with the intention of being published. I wrote for the love of writing, through the years, honing my craft, making time between work and family obligations.


Then I made the decision to take my interest one step further. I've never been one to take things lightly or jump in half way. I took a full year off from writing to study my craft.


I constantly read, from novels in my favourite genre to books written by experts in the writing field. My first two purchases were "Stein on Writing", a book written by a successful editor Sol Stein, and "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" by Renni Browne and Dave King.


I read through these novels and highlighted important answers to my questions. My major breakthrough from Stein's book was to "Show don't Tell". I had to trust my reader. I even wrote that phrase and put it on a sticky note and put it on my computer monitor.


The self-editing book helped me to learn how to cut the FAT off my manuscript, eliminating unnecessary details, making it more lean and crisp, with a better flow. I learned to cut repetition and remain consistent throughout the novel.


I continually researched the internet, reading up on the industry and process "What is selling? and "Who is buying>" were my two major questions.


I attended the "Bloody Words" writing conference in Ottawa,, Canada, rubbing shoulders with other writers (published and unpublished), bombarding them with questions, learning what it took to become successful.


Feeling that I was finally prepared, in the winter of 2007, with an idea in mind, and an outline on paper. I started to write DEAD MAN'S HAND. It took me two years (working around full time jobs) to complete the first draft of my novel.




 
 
 

The first person to read my completed manuscript was my former high school English teacher. With her experience and wisdom, she gave me some helpful advice. I then hired McCarthy Creative Services, to help edit DEAD MAN'S HAND, to make it the best possible novel


I joined a critique group, teaming up with published author, Nadine Doolittle and Kathy Leveille, and exchanging manuscripts and information. Working with an editor and other authors was very rewarding and not only made my novel better, but made me a better writer.


When I was ready, I researched agents who fit my criteria (successful. worked with my genre, etc.) an sent out querying letters. After six months of rejections, I pulled my manuscript back and worked on it again. Then in my next round of proposals I was offered representation by Jennifer Lyons Literary Agent.


After months od editing with Jennifer, and more rejections from publishers, my dream was finally realised in April 2012, when I signed a publishing contract with Imajin Books (Edmonton, Alberta).



Back cover text for DEAD MAN'S HAND


What happens when the deck is stacked against you…


From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is a sadistic African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.


…and the cards don't fall your way?


When the brutal slaying of a prominent casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.


What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?


Against his superiors and better judgment, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer, while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a professional assassin hired to silence them.


Short Bio:


Luke Murphy lives in Shawville, Quebec with his wife, three daughters and pug.


He played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. Since then, he’s held a number of jobs, from sports columnist to radio journalist, before earning his Bachelor of Education degree (Magna Cum Laude).


Murphy`s debut novel, Dead Man`s Hand, was released by Imajin Books on October 20, 2012.


For more information on Luke and his books, visit: www.authorlukemurphy.com, ‘like’ his Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorLukeMurphy and follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/AuthorLMurphy


Review Blurbs:


"You may want to give it the whole night, just to see how it turns out."
—William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Lincoln Letter


"Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut novel that doesn't read like one,
but still presents original characters and a fresh new voice."
—Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Flower


"Part police procedural, part crime fiction, Dead Man's Hand is a fast, gritty ride."
—Anne Frasier, USA Today bestselling author of Hush
 
 
 
 
 
Well I hope you all enjoyed reading my guest blog this week, and many thanks to Luke and good luck with the book.
 
 
I found this a particularly interesting blog post as I am always intrigued as to how other writers came in to writing in the first place.
 
 
I see Luke also uses on of my little tricks, I always have a highlighter pen at the ready so that I can highlight a particular snippet of information that catches my eye. As a student at university my notes were always dotted about with highlighter and also sticky notes.



Love to you all

Scarlett

xXx











 
 



 

Monday 23 September 2013

Blog Hop Interview - Tag You're It




First off I have to thank the very sexy Mr John Satisfy for the opportunity to take part in this Blog Hop.

Last week, I didn't run quite fast enough and so he tagged me.










Last week was his turn to post on his Blog where ( as we all get to do), he answered the same questions as I am about to do today.

Please do go and check out John's Blog as he is a very sexy, sensual writer and you will notice comments from myself there, as I do frequent and read his posts.

Thanks a bunch John for allowing me to join this fantastic Blog Hop and for thinking of me when hunting for new victims........oops authors to entice aboard.

Hopefully the authors I tag at the bottom of this post will participate on Monday the 30th September 2013 Here's hoping this will continue for a few weeks more.

There are links on John's Blog to the other authors participating in this Blog Hop go check them out too.

So here we go to our first question of the day


1) What are you working on right now?

Well, I am actually working on two novels at the moment. The first one to be published (hopefully before Christmas ) is The Prophecy Unfolds (Dragon Queen). This novel is a paranormal erotic romance set on a Steampunk world and will be published as an ebook initially but will also appear in print.

This book includes a full cast of colourful, dark characters, set on the planet of Syros. There are fantastical beings on this world, including dragons, werewolves and magicians to mention but a few.

The world of Syros as a Steampunk world abounds with dirigibles, automatons and huge mechanical dragonflies. The story begins with the kidnap and capture of the main protagonist Alex, and the sexy adventures she finds herself caught up in in the process.

The second book is an anthology of short erotic stories (as yet untitled), that will be released sometime after Christmas.

This is alongside of writing for my Blog, interviews on both my Blog and for the site Skelat, gig reviews and much, much more.


2) How does it differ from other works in it's genre?

The series of books are all set in the first person, sharing Alex's perspective of her on going situation. There is some tongue in cheek humour, at the situations she finds herself in.

The compilation of genre, and sub genre that involves paranormal, erotica, romance and Steampunk , although, not unknown is an unusual combination in itself.

Steampunk has a growing fan base and a more in depth explanation of what is known as Steampunk can be found in an interview I did for Casey Ryan on his Blog entitled  Brass, Leather, and Ingenuity: A Steampunk primer by guest: Scarlett Flame.


3) Why do you write what you do?

I actually write in a number of genre under my own name, as well as under my pen name of Scarlett Flame (you didn't really think that was my real name did you?) Including writing children's stories.

I write about the characters such as dragons, dragon riders, werewolves and magicians etc. as in the main this is what I like to read myself. That, and erotica I love James Lusarde, Cole Browning, John Satisfy, and of course the ladies too.  The ladies in question being Suzy Ayers, Molly Wishlade amongst others too many to mention. I love to convey a scene and set the mood and pace in order to draw the reader in and carry them along.

If in the  process of reading my stories it evokes a response, then my job is well done. It should also move the writer too, which is a good test especially with erotic fiction.

I also like other genres too such as horror, Sci fi and suspense thrillers too.

4) How does your writing process work?

I decide where I want the story to go, but sometimes the characters in the story take over and lead me a merry dance first. So the story may vary a little but I know the general direction that I want it to take.

I love the use of different words to describe and convey textures, feelings, aromas and atmospheres All that goes in to setting a scene.  I also love to collect words. By nature I am a word collector and have a notebook to prove it.

Should anyone ever find this notebook they may wonder what they have discovered as it is in the main an erotic thesaurus of sorts. I may be reading another author's work and see a word or phrase that grabs my attention, and it is added to the book.

I hand write the first draft as I feel the work flows easier for me that way. Then it is typed on to my computer and edited and proofread as I type.

On my hand written draft I will put words I know I want to add to help set the scene in the margins ready to use. This helps me add emotion or set the pace to the story. I then insert these in order to vary the scenes too so that hopefully they don't become too repetitive.

I also dream parts of my stories (as you can imagine I have pretty erotic vivid dreams) especially after writing a particularly racy part of a story as they remain fixed in my brain. I have a notebook and pen next to the bed then jot them down as best I can upon awakening. He he wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall in some of my dreams?

All in all I am very happy with my musings so far, and readers have very kindly left very lovely comments regarding how well written they are. An especial accolade when most are left by fellow authors.

Thank you once again John for giving me the opportunity to share this story of my WIP (Work in Progress )



The three victims... oops sorry I mean to say author's I am tagging are;




I have another Blog almost complete so you get the joy of two in one week you lucky people
See you soon
Bye
Scarlett
xXx









Monday 19 August 2013

Guest Blog by Kathryn Bittersplit Edited and Proofread by Francis Potts. Scarlett an excerpt from Kathryn's WIP Agoraphobia for Girls

 
 
Most of us have had the hots for a straight woman at least once, and mostly it ends in tears, or desperately rubbing one out under the shower. Sometimes it ends in desperately rubbing one out under the shower and crying like an abandoned baby. You get the picture.
 
I fell for Scarlett. It was a little unusual, because we’d seen each other naked before we even exchanged a hello, but we went to the same gym. She wasn’t skinny like a lot of the women who go to the gym, or fat, like the ones who join up and hope they’ll lose weight and then give up when they find it’s hard work. I guessed her to be a size fourteen, five foot seven, C cup. I loved her auburn hair, and I absolutely adored her back, so I watched her as she changed. She was a lot more discreet than me, and always turned her gorgeous back to the changing room before she took off her tee shirt and shorts, and she wrapped a towel around herself before she headed to the showers. However, I have a thing about backs. I love having my back kissed, and I love kissing other women’s backs. I like a lot of the other things that women can do with women, also, but I like to start with backs. Fronts and cunts can come later. Literally, if I do it right.
 
Step one, I made contact. I waited until she’d taken off her sweaty gym clothes, and she was reaching for the towel. I’d taken an earring out, and I flicked it surreptitiously across the floor, hoping it would come to rest near her feet. It worked even better than I’d expected, and it actually bounced off the side of her foot. She noticed, looked around, and I was beside her before she realised that she hadn’t wrapped the towel around herself.
 
“Sorry. I just dropped an earring. I think it rolled over here somewhere.”
 
We crouched down together, and I waited until she picked it up, so that I could touch her hand when she passed it to me.
 
“Thanks.” We stood up. I stared deliberately at her tits, and then at her face. “I’m Cat. Hi.”
 
As if she’d suddenly realised she was naked, she wrapped the towel around herself before she answered. “Scarlett.” She held out a hand for me to shake.
 
I held on to it for longer than would be normal, to make sure she got the message. I knew she was straight, and I didn’t want her to have any illusions about me. “Pleased to meet you, Scarlett. Hot name, also.”
 
She looked a little embarrassed. “Yes. Thanks.”
 
I let her go. Cue rubbing one out under the shower, but definitely no tears.
 
Step two. Homework. I left before her and hung around to see where she went. She walked across the car park to a black car and drove away. I wrote down the number. Next time, I waited on the far side of the car park until I saw her arrive, and I parked beside her, as if I’d just arrived myself.
 
“Scarlett. Hi.” I was half a step behind her, but I didn’t think I appeared over eager.
“Oh. Hi Cat.”
 
“I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot the other day. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
 
She smiled. “It’s okay. It’s just that I don’t bat for the other side.”
 
I smiled back. “I only bat for the same side. It sounds like we have a lot in common.”
It made her laugh. “That wasn’t quite what I meant, but never mind.”
 
I held the door open for her, and when she hesitated, I said, “I’m not going to pinch your bottom, or anything. Go on. After you.” I wouldn’t have minded. She was one of the ones who turned up in their gym clothes, and her arse in the clingy shorts looked great.
 
Afterwards, I didn’t rub one out in the shower, not because I wasn’t hot for her, but because I wanted to be able to walk back to the cars with her, and talk. She told me she was a nurse, and an aspiring author.
 
“That sounds interesting. Maybe we could meet for a coffee sometime, and you could tell me more.” I thought it was a long shot, but it worked.
 
“Yes, that would be nice. Shall I give you my phone number? Then we can sort something out.”
 
My brain said, “Yessss! Yes, yes, yes! Fuck. Yes!” I said, “Good idea. Just a minute.”
 
I keyed her number into my phone, and she even kissed me on the cheek before she got into her car.
 
I drove home as quickly as I could, and didn’t get anywhere near the shower. I just unzipped my jeans and squatted down in the hallway, with my back against the door. I didn’t even have to rub, which was just as well, because my jeans were a little tight, and I couldn’t reach much beyond my clit. It didn’t matter. I was wet anyway, and I scarcely had to touch myself before I came.
 
The second one took slightly longer. I took my jeans and my knickers off. The jeans were a bit damp, and the knickers downright sopping, but it’d wash out. I squatted down again and took my time, trying to imagine Scarlett’s less experienced fingers in there, exploring the slippery folds. Inevitably, my practised fingers took over, so I imagined fingering Scarlett’s wet cunt instead, and I came again, burying my face in my shoulder to muffle my squawks of pleasure.
 
I was on a roll, and I’d have gone for a third one, only the postman shoved some stuff through the letter box next to my ear, bringing me back to reality. I gathered up the post with sticky fingers, dumped it on the kitchen table, and rubbed out the third one in the shower. Normal service resumed.
 
And there was Scarlett’s phone number. Every hour or so I’d look at it, and think of calling, and every time I just ended up looking at it until the backlight went out. That went on for three days, and then I saw her in Morrison’s.
 
“Hi Cat. I thought you were going to call.”
 
“Yeah. I was. But I thought you’d think I was trying to pick you up, so I got cold feet every time. I’d rather be your friend than nothing.” Friend and nothing were numbers two and last on my shopping list, behind kissing her beautiful back.
 
She laughed. “It’s okay. I like to think I can look after myself. Are you in a hurry now, or do you fancy a coffee and a chat?”
 
I wasn’t in a hurry, but I’d have happily postponed my wedding for coffee and a chat with her, if I were straight, and getting married. Which I wasn’t, obviously. “Sounds good.”
We went to an Italian place up the road. She had a latte, and I had a double espresso. It wasn’t busy, and while I didn’t expect anything too much from the chat part, I’d prefer not to be eavesdropped on.
 
“Are you really a writer?” I asked. We’d sat down and hadn’t said much.
 
“Yes. I’m working at it.”
 
“Sounds interesting. What do you write?”
 
“Paranormal steampunk erotica.”
 
I had a vague idea what the first one might be, not a clue about the second, but the third one was right up Goldilocks’s street. “That sounds even more interesting. Where can I read this erotica?”
 
She looked a little embarrassed, and her hair fell over her face. “At the moment, only on my blog.”
 
If I’d been closer, I’d have pushed her hair back, but across the table it would have looked a bit obvious. Besides, her hair was almost as beautiful as her face. “Men with big knobs and insatiable appetites? That kind of thing?”
 
She nodded and smiled. “I’m afraid so.”
 
“No girl on girl?”
 
Her smile broadened to a grin. “Not yet. Maybe you could advise me.”
 
“I thought you batted for the other team. Wasn’t that what you said?”
 
She appeared momentarily confused. “No. I don’t bat for the other team.” Then she realised, and laughed. “I see what you mean. It doesn’t matter.”
 
Time for a toe in the water. “What is it about girl on girl?” I asked. “You’re not interested, but you want me to advise you.”
 
“Lots of blokes think it’s sexy. The idea of two girls together.”
 
“Lots of blokes are generally wrong, but in this case, they’re spot on. Why not you?”
 
“It’s a bit creepy.”
 
I shrugged, trying to play nonchalant. “If you had your back to me, and I kissed it, how would you know it wasn’t a bloke who’d shaved particularly carefully?”
 
“I just would.”
 
I let it go. No point in spoiling something by pushing in too many fingers to start with. I could rub one out under the shower when I went home. “Yeah. You might.” When I sipped my coffee, it was going cold. I’d had other things on my mind.
 
“Why would you want to kiss my back, anyway?”
 
Gobsmacked. Just when I thought the game was over for the day, she picked up the ball and handed it to me. I tried to do a Lady Di, looking out from under coy eyelids. “Because it’s beautiful.”
 
She dipped a fingertip in the froth on her coffee, and I realised she hadn’t been drinking hers, either. “Just my back?”
 
My turn to grin. “Depends. The rest of you is beautiful, not just your back. I want to kiss the rest of you, not just your back. But I would be happy to kiss just your back. Which question were you asking?”
 
She smiled, and sucked her finger, making me go gooey inside. “The last one. If I let you kiss my back, would that be all?”
 
Fuck. “If that was as close as I could get, yes. If that was all you wanted, yes. Do I strike you as a rapist?”
 
“No.”
 
“Do you want me to kiss your back?”
 
“I don’t know. Part of me is curious. Men are mostly interested in what’s round the front. I can’t remember any of them paying special attention to my back unless they were undoing my bra. The rest of me is scared shitless.” She hesitated and looked me in the eye. “And slightly disgusted. Sorry.”
 
I shrugged. “It’s okay. I’d feel the same about your men with big knobs. Not so much of the ‘slightly’, either.”
 
“Can I think about it?”
 
Fuck, yes. Especially if you decide to give it a try. “Of course.”
 
“Can I call you?”
 
Panic. “Have you got my number?”
 
“I think so.” She checked her phone. She hadn’t. I called her, and then she did. “Thanks.”
 
We finished our coffees, I wiped the froth off her upper lip, and we kissed each other’s cheeks. She reached behind my back when we were kissing cheeks, and it was all I could do not to crush her body to mine.
 
The temptation to head for the shower when I got home was enormous, but I didn’t even squat behind the front door. However, I did take my jeans off, and I poured myself a stiff gin and French. As I drank it, I fondled my cunt. I wasn’t trying to come, I was just thinking of Scarlett’s back. Mostly her back. I still remembered looking at her tits in the changing room. She had beautiful hair, also. I spilt my drink when my phone rang, and when I saw that it was Scarlett, my attempt at putting the glass down tipped what was left onto the carpet. “Fuck.” Two deep breaths, and I pressed the talk button. “Hi.”
 
“Cat?”
 
“Yeah.” I fought the temptation to say ‘pussy’.
 
“I’m game. You can kiss my back.”
 
Fuck. Another deep breath. “Brilliant. Your place or mine.” I tried to make it sound like a joke.
 
“I’ve had a drink. How about mine?”
 
“Now?”
 
“As soon as. Before I sober up and have second thoughts.”
 
“Tell me where you are, and I’m on my way.” It was mostly true. I cleaned myself up with a wetwipe first, dumped some kitchen paper on the carpet, and put on a dry pair of knickers. Wishing I hadn’t had the gin and French, I rang for a taxi, and put my jeans on while I was waiting for it.
 
Five minutes never went so slowly, and traffic never seemed so bad, but I behaved, and my hands remained chastely in my lap while I tried to picture where Scarlett lived. I visualised a stylish apartment, mostly white, like something from a 1970s pop video. It didn’t matter that I was wrong, Scarlett was at the door of the terraced house when it opened. I so wanted to kiss her mouth, but I managed to find her cheek instead. I even managed not to say, “Fuck. I love you.” Instead, I said, “Scarlett. Hi.”
 
“Come in.”
 
Her house was probably about the same size as my flat, but with more rooms, over two floors, so it felt a bit poky. She was wearing jeans and a pale blue pullover, and I could see the outline of a sensible looking bra underneath. No big deal. If I had to, I could work around the straps.
 
She led me through to a sitting room. There was a half full bottle of red wine and an empty glass on the coffee table. “I’m afraid I had a couple of glasses of wine. Dutch courage, I suppose.”
 
“I had a gin and French. I thought I was drowning my sorrows.”
 
“You might have been. I nearly didn’t call. I still can’t believe I’m doing this.”
 
I couldn’t, either, but I was sure I was awake. “It’s okay. I think you’re very brave. If you were a man, there’s no way I’d be here.”
 
“Do I just take my pullover off, or what?”
 
I nodded. “Unless you want me to take it off for you.”
 
A hint of a smile. “Thanks, but I can manage.” She turned away from me before she caught hold of the hem and pulled the pullover off over her head. She threw it on the sofa and stood with her back to me, arms by her sides. “Okay. Do your worst.”
 
I rested my hand on her upper arm. “That bad, eh?”
 
“Scared shitless.”
 
“I’ll be gentle.” Leaning forward, I planted a light kiss on the top of her right shoulder, dragging a bit before I broke contact. Her skin was soft, and she smelt nice. “Okay so far?”
 
She laughed. “Yes. Quite pleasant, but hardly earth shattering.”
 
I went for a spot near her spine, a couple of inches above the catch on her bra strap, and sucked a bit. “Still okay?”
 
“Yes. That’s a bit sexier.”
 
I stopped asking, and got on with it, holding her beautiful hair out of the way as I worked my way up to the back of her neck. When I felt her head twist and tip, like a cat being stroked behind its ear, I knew I was getting it right. Mouthing my way back down, I headed out along the top of her shoulder, slipping the shoulder strap of her bra aside so that I could kiss the red crease it left in her skin.
 
After a slight intake of breath, she whispered, “God. That’s fantastic.”
 
Slipping the other strap down, I repeated the kiss on the other side, following the crease down as far as I could.
 
Scarlett reached behind her back to unclip her bra. “This is in the way. I’ll take it off.”
 
Fuck. Stuff of fantasy. My lips were on the rectangular dent where the felt behind the catch had been, before the bra was even off the ends of her arms. I took my time, but I knew where my kisses were going to end up, round the side of her rib cage, where the strap had been thinking about becoming a cup, and the marks of the seams curled around the swelling flesh at the side of her boob. Placing my hand as a marker just below my mouth, I worked my way back to the other side. She lifted her arm out of the way, and I could probably have carried on and kissed my way onto her tit. Instead, I slid the hand from the other side down, and round her back, slipping it into the waistband of her jeans, just where my fingertips could feel the top of the separation of her arse cheeks. I rubbed the fingers in tiny circles as I dragged my mouth across her lower back in slow sucking diagonals.
 
She was panting as she unzipped the front of her jeans. I stood up as she turned round, and I saw the look in her eyes that said, “I want you.” She pressed her mouth to mine, but instead of feeling triumph, or elation, I felt shabby inside, as if I’d cheated her. I returned her kiss, but gently, and I fondled the back of her neck, looking into her eyes, and not at the breasts I’d so wanted to kiss earlier.
 
“Is something the matter?” She looked frightened.
 
“No, but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
 
“What do you mean?” No less frightened.
 
“Don’t listen to your cunt.” I took her hand. “Let’s take a break. Is there any of that wine left?”
 
She nodded, and we sat side by side on the sofa. I shifted her pullover and her bra out of the way while she poured some more red wine into the glass on the coffee table. “You don’t mind sharing, do you?”
 
“Of course not.” I took a sip and leaned forward to kiss her lips. “Cheers.”
 
She smiled. “You taste of wine. Why did you stop?”
 
I allowed myself a look at her breasts. They were gorgeous. Crying out to be kissed, with nipples that said ‘suck me’ in puffy pink letters. “Because I want to stay your friend.”
 
Looking puzzled, she took the glass from me and took a generous mouthful.
I explained. “If we’d carried on, I might have walked out of here afterwards and you might never want to see me or speak to me again. I don’t want that. You wanted me to kiss your back. I’ve done that.”
 
“But I want to go to bed with you.”
 
I took her hand again. “Then we can.”
 
“Now?”
 
If you like. Well, in a minute. When I’m sure your cunt isn’t shouting louder than your common sense.” Mine was doing its best to melt everything between the neckline of my top and my knees. “I don’t want you thinking I took advantage of you.” Where she’d unzipped her jeans I could see the blue lace of her knickers.
 
She gave my hand a squeeze and took another mouthful of wine. “Thanks. Do you want some more of this before I drink it all?”
 
It would have meant letting go of her hand, and I didn’t want to. “No. It’s okay. Help yourself. I don’t need Dutch courage.”
 
“No.” A smile played across her face. And she put the glass down, still nearly half full. “I don’t think I do, either. Can we go upstairs?”
 
I smiled back. “Of course. If that’s what you want.”
 
She led the way up the steep and narrow staircase, holding her jeans up stop them falling down where she’d undone the zip. The big double bed almost filled the bedroom. “I’m sorry. I didn’t make the bed. I didn’t know that this was going to happen.” It didn’t look too dire, with the candy striped quilt thrown back where she’d got out, and a dent in the pillow.
“It’s fine. Can I get undressed?” I kicked off my shoes, they weren’t likely to be an issue. “Or is that too much?”
 
“Can I watch?”
 
“You can help if you like.” It was half meant as a joke, and by the time she answered I was already down to jeans and a bra.
 
The look in her eyes was like a thirst. “Can I?” Her jeans were slipping.
 
Fuck. “Of course. This isn’t just research any more, is it?”
 
She shook her head. “No. It started out that way, but when you kissed my back… Well, it was like magic. You seemed to know just what I needed, just where to kiss, and how, and how much. I wanted more.” She stopped, and looked me in the eye. “I want more.”
 
“How about another kiss. Is that a good place to start?”
 
“Can I take your bra off first? I want to feel your skin against mine.”
 
Does it rain on bank holidays? “I’d like that also.”
 
Taking off someone else’s bra if you’ve never done it before is a bit tricky, because everything’s the other way round from doing your own, and Scarlett struggled a bit before she managed it, but we ended up tit to tit and nose to nose. It made her laugh. “Is this what the Maoris do?”
 
“Maybe they used to. I think New Zealanders are a little prudish. I guess they keep their bras on these days.” I touched my lips to hers, with just a little bit of sideways drag, and when I felt her mouth soften, I sucked her lower lip.
 
I had no idea what she was trying to say, because she was mumbling with her mouth against mine, but she didn’t sound unhappy, and she pressed herself closer to me, her hands on my back. I slid my tongue forwards, and just touched it to her lips, but it was as if I’d wakened a sea creature. Her mouth suddenly sucked, and my tongue was inside it. A small piece of my brain tried to rewind an hour, so that I’d realise just what was going on, but the rest of my brain (and all of my cunt) was on fast forward, looking forward to what was going to happen next. I slipped a hand inside her jeans and her knickers, and cupped her arse cheek.
 
It was like breaking the glass on a fire alarm. Suddenly she had a hand on the back of my head while the other one was fumbling with the waistband of my jeans. I suppose because men wear jeans, she was quicker than she had been with the bra, and she had her hand on my arse, also. I loved it.
 
My face was so close to hers I could feel the warmth of my breath bouncing back. “Shall we get the rest of these things off and lie down?” I felt my jeans being hauled down even before I’d finished speaking.
 
“Can I touch the front of your panties?” Scarlett asked.
 
I couldn’t help laughing. “Sorry. Yes. Of course.”
 
Fortunately, she laughed too. “That must sound funny.”
 
“It did. It doesn’t matter. Unless you want to stick something up my arse, you can do more or less what you want, and I’ll like it.”
 
She stroked the triangle of cloth at the front of my knickers the same way a child strokes a cat’s head, unsure of what she was doing, and a little clumsy. “This is completely different from being a nurse.”
 
“Do you want to take them off?”
 
She looked up at me and nodded, but didn’t make a move, so I reached out, took her hands, and placed them on the waistband of my knickers. She got the message, and slid them all the way down past my knees, exposing my pubes close to her face. Looking up at me again, she said, “This may sound a little odd, but I’d like to rest my cheek against your bush. Is that all right?”
 
I laughed again. “Of course it’s all right. I’d love that.” It was such a gentle gesture, like a child with a soft toy, and for all my experience, I couldn’t remember anyone actually doing it before, and it had never occurred to me to do it to anyone either. “That feels lovely. Shall we get into bed? You can do it some more, if you like. Or I could kiss your back again. We don’t have to do anything unless you want to. What I said before is still true. I want to stay your friend.”
 
Scarlett got to her feet, pushing her jeans down as she did so. “I want us to stay friends too. But I want us to be lovers, even if only for today.” She smiled. “That sounds so corny, but that’s exactly how I feel. I don’t know what I want, but I know that I want it, and I want it with you.” She stepped out of her jeans, and slipped her pale blue knickers off quickly, as if she hoped I might not notice her doing it.
 
“You’re beautiful. Come on, let’s lie down.”
 
I let her get into bed before me, and when I joined her, she pulled the quilt over us.
“Are you cold?”
 
“No. Nervous. A little embarrassed.”
 
“Shall I kiss your back some more?”
 
“Do you want to? Or do you want to get on to something else?”
 
I felt myself smiling. “There’s no hurry. I’m not a man. Turn round, and I’ll kiss your back.” I pushed the quilt away and started with an abridged repeat of what I’d done when we were downstairs, but with a little more sucking, and then I worked my way down towards her gorgeous arse. I’m always a bit careful about arses. Lots of women like arse play, but the smell of shit puts me off. However, if you come at things from the right angle, there are lots of good things you can do without getting your nose near the hole. Like kissing the pudgy triangle between the dimples at the base of her spine. Or the creases below the buttocks, where they join the thighs.
 
At a guess, from the moans, Scarlett loved both, but when I started kissing and squeezing her arse cheeks she rolled over and sat up, seeking out my mouth with hers. It was never going to be a stable configuration, and she fell backwards onto the bed, dragging me down with her. She did her best to say ‘ouch’, but when you’ve got someone else’s tongue between your lips, it sounds more like a squelch.
 
“Sorry,” I whispered, detaching myself and straddling her thigh.
 
She giggled, which made me feel really happy, and said, “It was my fault. I’m okay. Are you?”
 
Fuck. How okay could I get? Snogging the woman of my dreams (who is straight) with my cunt pressed against her leg, and my breasts brushing her chest. Not a bad starting point. “I’ll live.” Even if I died later, it would still have been worth it. I kissed her mouth briefly, and wriggled down to kiss her throat, rubbing my aching clit against her thigh as I went. Unlike Scarlett, I managed not to squawk. She writhed under me, and just about the only bit of her that wasn’t squirming was the bit of her neck that I was kissing. I stayed with it for a while, and then I wriggled further down (probably smearing cunt slime on her leg as I went), to take her nipple in my mouth. I’d been longing to, even before I clocked her breasts in the gym, before I even knew what they’d look like, and when I’d seen them downstairs, while we were sipping wine, swollen and pouting like a teenager going for her first kiss, I had felt like a teenager again, also. The one I took between my lips didn’t stay swollen and pouting, it felt like the rubber on the end of a pencil, but the size of a hazelnut, and wrinkled like a giant cranberry.
 
Scarlett bucked and twisted, but I didn’t think she was trying to get away, and her knee pressed hard against my cunt. She just about managed to speak. “Jesus. That’s so nice.” I thought something similar myself.
 
I played with the nipple in my mouth until she started to calm down, and then I turned my attention to the other one, for most of a full length action replay, while my hand comforted the one I’d left behind. “Your skin’s lovely,” I said, trailing my lips towards her bellybutton. The way she was panting, it was like gliding over Hawaiian waves, and while I might have been taking my time, I knew where I wanted to be washed ashore. The red bush above the high water mark was beckoning. I kissed my way down the inside of her hip bone, just skirting the edge of the bush, and on to her thigh, down the front, and then over to the inside, just above her knee, ready for the trip back up.
 
Her legs spread in obvious anticipation, and I got my first good look at her open lips, pink and glistening. I could have gone straight there, but I figured that we’d both benefit from a couple more minutes of temptation. I slowly mouthed my way up her inner thigh. When I was close enough to get the first delicious whiff of her cunt, like the aroma from the kitchens when you’re still on the aperitifs, I switched to the other thigh, low down again, for a repeat. Scarlett groaned, I guessed partly with pleasure but also partly with impatience, so I didn’t take quite as long as I had with the first one, and instead of stopping short, I clamped my mouth over my tasty dripping prize, my nose in the red bush I’d seen from above.
 
Scarlett bucked, howling like a drain in a gale as I pressed my tongue against her clit and sucked hard. I could feel her orgasm pulsing against my lower lip, and I came also, though not with such ferocity, with my cunt pressed against her leg.
 
When her shuddering had subsided, and she was back to muttering ‘Jesus’ again, I kissed my way around the wet lips, gently, soothingly. It wasn’t over, by any means, but I reckoned she could do with a break before the next course. I sat up, straddling her thigh, with one hand on her pubes as if to steady myself, and I slid a finger of my other hand inside her, eliciting a squeak of delight. A second finger joined the first, and together they glided up the slippery inside to find the sweet spot above the bone. A gasp and a thrust from her told me I’d found it, and I slid my thumb up to her clit. She seemed just to come and come, sometimes with barely a few seconds in between the climaxes, and sometimes perhaps a minute, though I wasn’t concentrating on the timings.
 
Scarlett’s chest was sweating and flushed by the time I eased my fingers out, and her cunt was dark and juicy and swollen, like ripe cherries. I let her pant for a bit before I settled down to dessert. I touched my tongue to the dark opening, sucked each fleshy fold, and kissed her bulging clit, in no particular order, as if I were picking my way through a delicious fruit salad. Judging from the gasps and squeaks and whimpers, Scarlett was enjoying it at least as much as I was.
 
I finished with some flat tongued licks and a couple of delicate goodbye kisses, and I lay down beside her, my hand on her belly. “Are you okay?” I asked. It was a silly question, but it served as a way to bring the sex part to an end.
 
She turned her face towards mine. “That was amazing. You were amazing. You are amazing.”
 
I realised she was about to kiss me. “Careful. My face is covered in cunt slime.”
 
She obviously found it funny. “I’ve never heard it called that. Come here. I still want to kiss you.” It was a gentle kiss, a kiss that was more than just heated passion. “That was all so amazing,” she whispered. “You knew just what to do and where to go. Do you want me to try to do the same for you?”
 
My cunt was screaming, “Yes! Yes! Fuck, yes!” And I did. Desperately. But I managed to get my head round a better idea. “Yes. I’d love that. Next time.
 
 
xxXXXXxx
 
 
Well I don't know about YOU but I am pretty HOT after reading that excerpt and can't wait to read the completed work.
 
I hope you all enjoyed this excerpt as much as I did
 
Scarlett
xXx
 

★.•**•.★ NEW RELEASE ALERT ★.•**•.★ Be My Queen by Chelsea McDonald is now LIVE!

★.•**•.★  NEW RELEASE ALERT  ★.•**•.★  Be My Queen by Chelsea McDonald is now LIVE! Series: The Crown Duet, Book 2 G...