For those of us in the US, today is Memorial Day. Many of us celebrate by doing nothing. Well, maybe a cook out or something. Some of us go to the cemetery to pay our respects to those who’ve left us too soon.
It’s also the official kick off to summer. Pools open, kids are all out of school, and the lazy days of summer finally begin. Vacations start, travel plans are finalized.
What do you do? What’s your celebration? Big plans?
Okay, I have to apologise to start with. This post should have happened two days ago. Two days ago, however, I was still recovering from an operation and a little bit doped up on pain-killers (actually, a little bit more than a little bit *grin*) Suffice to say, I’ve only just got my head clear enough to even try to post something, so if this makes very little sense, blame my doctor.
I’m attempting an experiment. Two and a half decades ago, I declared to my Engligh teacher I wanted to be the next Stephen King…”but with sex.” Yes, even back then, I knew sex was a vital part of any good tale. Just as important as being scared silly. You see, I like being scared silly. Not torture-porn scared silly (I’m afraid movies like Saw just don’t do it for me), but scared silly by the unknown and the possible. Stephen King is a master at terrifying his readers. Who didn’t read It and be petrified for life by clowns, drains and spiders? One of the things that King does so well is put the fear in the minds of his readers without anything overtly horrifying happening on the page. There’s a scene in Pet Semetary where the protagonist/hero is walking through the bush at night, heading towards the newly discovered and extremely mysterious cemetry dedicated to pets. The protagonist stops, listening to the sounds of the night. Nothing happens in this scene, but for me it is truly menacing and scary. Why? Because what my mind tells me may happen is very very scary. And that thrill, for want of a better word, that moment where my heartbeat races, the hair on my nape tingles and my mouth dries, where I wish to God I was anywhere else BUT reading this book is soooo damn exciting, so damn stimulating it’s…well, to put it bluntly…it’s arousing. (And if you haven’t worked it out by now, I AM the disturbingly weird one of the International Heat ladies *grin*).
So, what of my experiment? I’m going to write an erotic horror book. A tale that petrifies at the same time it arouses. A tale of molten lust and pleasure threaded through a tale of horrific menace. At least, I’m hoping I will. What I may finish with is an unmitigated mess, but I’ll have fun trying.
I’ve come close to doing this once already. My Ellora’s Cave releae, Timeless Wrath has been described by JERR as a, “double-edged sword, because while the sex was outstanding, the plot was frighteningly scary”. I didn’t set out to write a scary book then. This time I am. This time, I’m hoping to scare the beejeezez out of any one brave enough to read my tale (tentatively titled Endless Lust). Here’s the beginning. It’s totally unedited so there’s probably typos and mistakes a plenty, but this is how it begins…
The stench of sex and sweat threaded through the subtle scent of linseed oil and acrylic paint hanging on the air in the room. An unnerving aroma that slipped into the body like fine mist, snaking into the pit of one’s belly to stir deeply suppressed fantasies.
Xander Dupont didn’t want to suppress those fantasies any more. Not since Cate walked out on him. Now he wanted to live them. No, not just live them, submerge himself into them. Let them possess him. Own him.
He glared at the large canvas mounted before him on his old easel, its virginal-white primed surface mocking the dark desires smoldering in his core.
Cate may have denied him those fantasies before, but on canvas, where she had no control of his imagination, she would submit to his every whim.
Snatching up a number 5 sable brush from the cluttered table beside him, he drew in a deep, slow breath, letting the intoxicating air seep into his being. His prick stiffened, his balls rising up in response to the heady combination of sex and paint. Ten days since Cate had ended their relationship and he could still smell her. Could still smell the last time he fucked her on the day bed in the far corner of his studio.
His cock grew thicker and, with a snarl rumbling up from his gut, he plunged his brush into the glistening pool of crimson paint squeezed onto his palette.
He would fuck her again. If not with his flesh, than with his art. She had always been his muse. Now, she would be his subject. His movement. Van Gogh had his yellow period, XXXXX had his XXXXXX. He, Xander Dupont, would have his Cate Sinclair period.
Sweat trickled down his bare skin in a teasing caress he let his mind believe was Cate’s tongue. Over his chest, his stomach, down to his groin, his ass. He sucked in another breath, tasting her on the air and assaulted the canvas. Wild brushstrokes born from burning need and furious frustration.
Tube after tube of paint oozed onto his palette. Stoke after stroke gave birth to the woman of his denied fantasies – her sublime form curved in beautiful submission, her wrists bound, her legs spread, her sex waiting for him to…
Xander staggered back from the canvas, heart smashing against his breastbone, cock so hard even the air sliding over it made him want to cry with agonized want. Panting, he studied the painting before him.
“She is beautiful.”
The low voice beside him made him jump and he spun around, adrenaline flooding through his veins.
A man stood beside him. Tall and broad and darker than midnight, with eyes the color of melted steel and hair the color of blood.
Xander stared at him, every molecule in his body cowering in petrified fry. “Who the fuck are you? How’d you get in—”
The man waved his hand in a slow arc before Xander’s face and the words died on his lips. “I am Asmodeus, Xander Dupont, and I can give you what you want.” His incandescent yellow eyes flared brighter and he smile, revealing teeth whiter than bone and sharper than daggers. “For a price.”
Xander felt his balls shrivel. Even as something dark and twisted and hopeful unfurled in the pit of his belly. “Wh…what do I want?”
Asmodeus smile widened and he slid his gaze to the painting. “Her,” he said. He returned his burning stare to Xander. “Are you willing to do anything to have her?”
The dark hope in Xander’s gut threaded deeper into his core. Filled his cock with blood and his mind with infinite possibilities. He took a step closer to the canvas, pressed his fingers to the creamy wet surface that was Cate’s thigh. Stroked her painted flesh with his fingertips. “Yes,” he answered, staring at the bound woman of his fantasies captured before him. “I am.”
As I said, I may fail miserably, but in the name of science, I’m going to give it a go. I’m going to attempt to be scary. Really, really scary.
Whose up for it?
This is from my latest wip. It’s a quickie that I hope to submit to my editor by the end of the week.
****
“Before we go any further you have to know, this isn’t a onetime deal. We do this and it’s the start of something. I won’t be your rebound guy. I’ll be the only guy.”
The fierceness of his final words surprised her. Meredith searched his eyes, for what she didn’t know, but suddenly getting into bed with Logan Foster wasn’t just about sex. And she wasn’t sure she was ready for anything more.
“I can’t—“
“I’m not asking you to marry me, Mez. I’m telling you this is more than fucking for me and intend to prove it is for you too.”
“But—“
His mouth crashed onto hers. With ease he slipped his tongue between her lips and stopped any protest she might have voiced. In seconds the decadent delight of Logan’s kiss had her mind spiraling out of control on the road to pleasure. Kissing him was a seductive diversion Meredith willingly followed. He nibbled at her bottom lip, licked the plump flesh before starting on the top one.
Delicious tendrils snaked their way through her. They reached out to touch and seduce every part of her until she was a quivery mass of aroused female. Logan did nothing more than kiss her, his hands holding her head still while his fingers tangled in her hair. Lush heat filled her and overflowed. There was only Logan and what he was doing to her mouth. Her body.
He took her up, drove her to the peak with a determination that bordered on desperation. His mouth ate at hers until breath became secondary. Tongues met and dueled as each fought for what they wanted, what they craved. Slick slides became frantic thrusts and need took hold. Their hips rocked, bumped hard on soft and Meredith felt the first spasms of her second orgasm deep in her core.
She ripped her mouth from his. “More.”
COPYRIGHT © RHIAN CAHILL 2010
****
Rhian
I’ve had a super couple of weeks. Sweet Thursday, book four in my Wild Irish series, is now available at Ellora’s Cave. Keep a tall glass of ice water nearby while reading–it’s a red hot menage. LOL
Blurb:
In high school, Lily was too shy to do anything about her feelings for her best friends, Justin and Killian. Now she’s ready to put to rest her regrets with a proposal that might shock even her oversexed friends—the three of them, together, one night, multiple positions.
K and J are more than a little surprised to see Lily at their ten-year reunion. The plain Jane they remember is now a stunning woman—who wants to have sex with both of them. Who are they to deny her? Even if Killian suspects they might be treading on dangerous emotional territory.
The night stretches into the weekend and, as K suspected, none of them want it to end. But he and Lily know people live in pairs, not trios, and they call a halt now, before it’s too late.
Justin, however, knows a good thing when he sees it. He’s ready to fight for what he wants…what they all need. He just has to convince Lily and Killian that unconventional can also be extraordinary.
Excerpt:
Prologue
Lily lay on the blanket Killian had spread out for them and looked at the endless sea of stars above. She’d returned home following her graduation ceremony with her two best friends, desperate to escape gushing family members and too many friends who were hell-bent on finding the nearest keg party.
“Gotta admit, I never thought we’d make it to this point in our lives.” Killian was stretched out on one side of her, Justin the other. Killian had actually broken a long silence with his comment as they’d all seemed content to merely reflect on what it meant to be finished with high school.
Justin rolled over and propped his head on his elbow. Lily’s breath caught at his closeness and the heat coming from his body. The evening was uncharacteristically cool for Baltimore in June. “I’m pretty sure you mean you and me, K. I don’t think there was any question our Lily would graduate from high school.”
Lily grinned. They’d taken to adding our before her name halfway through junior year. The sound of it never failed to melt her a bit inside. “There wasn’t any question about you guys either.”
“I don’t know. I sort of thought Mr. Laredo was gonna expel us after that senior prank thing.”
Lily giggled at Justin’s feigned fear. He was ninety-nine percent mischief, compared to her less than one percent. She found that personality trait in him irresistible. “There was no way he was running the risk of getting you two back next year. I think of all our classmates, you were the ones with the best shot of walking across that stage regardless of your grades. I’m pretty sure Mr. Laredo was sobbing tears of joy when he saw that diploma in your hands.”
Justin and Lily burst into fits of laughter, but Killian didn’t. “Guess this is the last time we’ll be together for a while.”
Lily sobered up. Leave it to K to bring up the one subject they’d been avoiding since escaping. They’d come here to say goodbye. She’d been looking forward to and dreading graduation for weeks. While she was excited at the prospect of attending college, she hated the thought of leaving Killian and Justin.
Killian was too sweet, too sensitive to let them avoid facing the truth. It was just his way. She adored his strength, his spirit, his innate kindness. She sat up and looked down at his beloved face.
She’d been in love with her best friends for years. She’d never confessed that her feelings ran deeper than friendship because, for one thing, she was too shy and secondly, it was insane. She was in love with both of them and in her silly schoolgirl fantasies, they were always a trio, never a couple. It was an impossibility and she’d used that excuse to hold her tongue.
“We’ll keep in touch.” Even as she spoke the words, she knew the chances of them holding on to each other while half a world apart were slim. She was heading to California and USC, while they’d joined the Army.
Killian sat up as well and nodded. “Sure we will. We’ll email, write, call.”
Justin grinned crookedly. “I suck at writing letters, but I’d try it for you, Lil.”
She laughed. “Thanks, Justin.” She looked at her watch, knew time was running out. It was nearly midnight—her curfew. Her strict parents, though wonderful and loving, had refused to grant her a reprieve even for tonight. “I guess I should go in soon. We’re heading out pretty early in the morning.”
“Fuck,” Justin muttered and Lily frowned.
“Language,” she said without thinking, her admonition the same one she’d used daily in her attempts to clean up his gutter mouth.
“Dammit, Lil.” Killian shook his head. “Who leaves town the day after graduation?”
She smiled sadly. “My dad got it in his head that we needed to take one last family vacation together. We’re hitting the road with all my stuff for college in a U-Haul and the camper. He’s mapped out a three-week excursion. I have a feeling I’m going to see more of the national parks than anyone has ever wanted to see. Chad’s been complaining about taking this trip for months.”
Her younger brother Chad and Killian’s brother, Sean, were best friends as well, and eleven-year-old Chad wasn’t happy about the prospect of spending three prime summer weeks on the road with just their parents and her.
“I don’t see why you had to sign up for a summer-school course,” Justin interjected. “Aren’t you sick of classes? I mean, we just graduated and you’re already getting ready to start studying again. That sucks.”
“I don’t hate school like you. Besides, this bio course is only offered once every two years. It’s a great opportunity. And it’s not like we would have had the whole summer to mess around. You guys head out to boot camp in two weeks.”
Justin shrugged. “Yeah, but we could have planned a senior beach trip together or something.”
Lily laughed. “Like my parents would have let me go to the beach for a week with you two.”
Killian leaned forward. “Your parents like us.”
“Not that much,” she teased. Her parents did like her friends, but only because they’d come to the realization long ago that neither boy was likely to come on to her. The moment the thought flitted through her mind, she felt the same depression she’d been suffering for weeks assail her again. She’d never given either guy a hint of her feelings. Struck by the reality that this could be her last chance, her rationale about not approaching them seemed silly.
Killian and Justin both rose and Killian reached down to help her up as well. “I guess we should go,” he said.
She nodded.
It’s now or never. Do it!
“Well, looks like this is it.” Her voice was rough with the unshed tears she fought to hold in. Her mind was screaming at her.
Kiss them. Tell them. Do something.
Justin reached over and hugged her. It was a strong embrace but a friendly one—nothing more. When he released her, Killian took his place, wrapping her smaller frame in his giant one. Realizing her shyness would never let her speak the words, her hopes suddenly turned to silent begging.
Kiss me. Just this one time, please kiss me.
“I’m gonna miss you, Lil.” Killian stepped away and she knew the moment had passed. Her chance was gone.
“I’ll miss you guys too.”
She watched them leave, waved as they walked away from her. She didn’t allow herself to crumble on the blanket at her feet until she heard their car pull away. Then she collapsed, giving in to the tears. She’d let them leave without telling them what was in her heart, without telling them exactly what they meant to her. She cried for ages and when the tears finally stopped, she sat up sadly.
So much for a new beginning, a fresh start. Now she faced her future with a heart full of regrets.
AND…I’ve got a release date for the sequel to my cowboy quickie Spitfire. Rekindled will hit Ellora’s Cave’s bookshelf on July 9 and I thought I’d share a little inside peek of that story as well.
Rekindled is a standalone sequel to Spitfire.
It’s been a year since her husband’s passing, and running the ranch is taking its toll on Claire Hutchins. Independent as the day is long, she concedes the need for help. She wants a foreman, an employee to run the day-to-day who can handle a woman calling the shots. Someone who won’t give her any trouble…
Who shows up at her door, first in line for the job? Jeb Carter. Ex-high-school sweetheart. Longtime rodeo star. And the one man capable of making Claire’s lust burn out of control…of making her surrender completely.
Trouble has finally come calling…and he’s as irresistible as ever.
Excerpt:
“No. I told you, I need someone who’ll stick around, someone who understands how to run a ranch.”
“Claire, for chrissake, I grew up on a ranch. I may have rejected the lessons and the lifestyle for a while, but I’m not thick. I know how to run a ranch. And I meant what I said earlier, I’m staying. It’s time.”
She fought back the instinct to shiver at Jeb’s comments. She could read between the lines. “I’m not ready.”
“It’s been a year. I know you’re grieving your husband but dammit, I can’t risk you moving on without me. I made the mistake of giving up on us once. I won’t do it again.”
She closed her eyes, turned away. She couldn’t face him or the memories, the years spent wondering what if. “That was a long time ago. I’ve grown up, changed.”
“I’m banking on that.”
She faced him, eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When we dated in high school, you were too young, too innocent to handle what I wanted. I know that. You’re a woman now. My woman.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’ve been mine since the day you gave me your virginity. I let you slip away once. I’ve been a patient man. Stayed away these last ten years while you lived your life with Hutchins. I didn’t make waves, didn’t interfere.”
“I’m supposed to believe you traveled with the rodeo not because you loved every minute of it, but because you were avoiding me? Bullshit.”
“I love the rodeo. And you’re right, I wasn’t suffering riding the circuit, but by God, I suffered every time I came home. Every time I saw you with Hutchins, every time I thought of him sharing your bed at night.”
“Stop.” She put her hand up, anxious to wave away his words. “You and I broke up. We were never right together. You’ve got to—”
Jeb took a step closer and this time she did move back. “We were right. It’s the timing that was wrong. That’s not a problem now.”
“I can’t give you what you want.”
He grinned, running the back of his hand along her cheek. “You’re the only woman who can give me what I want. It’s always been you, Claire.”
He bent forward, his intention to kiss her as clear as the Texas sky. “Please don’t,” she whispered when his lips were a hairsbreadth away from her.
He paused for a moment, but didn’t retreat. “I’ve missed you.”
She closed her eyes and gave in. She’d missed him too. Terribly. She closed the miniscule inch left between them and offered her lips. The moment his touched hers, she was transported to the first time he’d kissed her—the night of the homecoming football game. She’d been sixteen and she remembered how excited she’d been when Jeb asked her to be his date for the dance the following night. He’d kissed her beside the bonfire at the end of the game.
Her first kiss, and it was every bit as beautiful as the one he was giving her now and she felt all those old feelings rekindled. His lips lightly grazed hers, reawakening feelings she thought had died with her husband. Soon his kiss became hungrier, hotter. She reached up, gripping his neck, making her own demands as she pulled him closer. He rasped his tongue against her lips and she opened her mouth, welcoming him in. His grip on her waist tightened and she sucked in a breath as his hands began moving upward, not stopping until he cupped her breasts.
The kiss continued as Jeb tweaked her nipples through her T-shirt. She spread her legs and began rubbing herself against his thigh. Her body was on fire. It had been so damn long since she’d felt the slightest spark of desire. She’d have to change her panties at the end of this interlude. She was too wet, too needy.
One of his hands left her breast, rising to grasp her ponytail. She shuddered when he pulled her head back, directing her with slight tugs on her hair, nipping her neck.
“It’s still there. Still the same,” he whispered against her skin. It had always been this way between them. One kiss and it was as if the entire world had gone up in flames. She struggled to pull away.
“No,” she whispered. He hesitated and she could sense him taking stock, trying to decide if she really meant her refusal. She battened down her hatches and pushed against his chest. “No.” Her voice was stronger this time. “This isn’t the time or place.” She glanced out into the yard, relieved none of the ranch hands had walked by and caught her making out with Jeb Carter in the doorway.
She was just so damn tired. It had weakened her resistance. Next time he tried to kiss her, she would be prepared, stronger, better able to fight him off.
“You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.” He studied her face and she knew he wasn’t discouraged by her pushing him away. If anything, giving in to his kisses had likely fueled his intentions to claim her…by any means necessary.
She shrugged. “It’s been a long month. Hell, a long year.”
He grasped her cheeks in his large palms but made no move to draw her closer. “You’re gonna hire me.”
He was relentless. She chuckled, then conceded. She needed help. “Maybe.”
The grin he offered in reply was cocky, smug, and she knew she’d lost this round. Jeb would get his way. “My duffel bag is in the car. Make room for my stuff in your closet.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’ll stay in the foreman’s cabin and my bedroom door will be locked—every night.”
“Maybe.” He walked back to his car and she wondered what the hell she’d just unleashed.
Wow! Somebody pinch me please. This last week has seen so much go on that my head is spinning. The first book in the Coyote Hunger series, Coyote Home released from Ellora’s Cave, then I got news that the second book, Coyote Wild would be releasing on June 18th. I’ve had some lovely comments from readers about Coyote Home as well and today I got a great review from Siren Book Reviews. Brigit gave Quinn and Rowan’s story 4.5 Siren Stones and she has some really nice things to say about the book too. I can’t decide on my favorite part of the review because I love everything she wrote. *grin* You can check out the whole review HERE but here’s a snippet:-
“Ms. Cahill does a fabulous job of creating characters and a story that draws the reader in and doesn’t let them out. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.”
Can I squee? Picture me doing a happy dance while squeeing. *grin*
It’s kind of hard to concentrate on writing when I’m getting all this great feedback. I love the Coyote Hunger series and can’t wait to see all four books available but I kind of have to finish the other stories yet. Better get going, they certainly aren’t going to write themselves. *grin* I just need to finish the quickie I’m working on and get it sent to my editor. Should be back in the Whispering Mountains by the weekend.
Rhian
