"Ms. Moore creates scenes that are as spine-tinglingly erotic as they are romantic, and I definitely felt the heat level rise in the room as I read. I Joyfully Recommend Smoke and Mirrors. It's an enchanting, entertaining reunion romance filled with lust, love, and inventive uses for scarves. Simply magic!" Joyfully Reviewed
Blurb:
Love is nothing but an illusion.
Heiress Gabriella Winslow learned that lesson years ago when her magician boyfriend abandoned her, sick and alone, hundreds of miles from home. In the years that followed, she’s tried to forget him and the erotic bondage games they used to play. But the life she’s made for herself since then still leaves her restless and yearning for something more.
Now a successful illusionist, Alexander Black has returned to settle an old score. And to seduce Gabriella. With a blindfold and handcuffs and blood red roses, he entices his former lover and magician’s assistant back to his Las Vegas penthouse. Alex is an expert at smoke and mirrors. If all goes according to plan, she’ll never even know she’s his prisoner.
Here's an excerpt:
Gaby glanced at her reflection in the floor length mirror next to the front door and took a deep breath. She smoothed down her sleek auburn hair and straightened the hem on the short black dress that hugged her curves. She wasn’t going to think about Alex anymore, about the magic they made or the illusions that tore them apart. That part of her life was over.
She met the driver at the door, a short thin man with graying hair and laugh lines around his warm brown eyes. After grabbing her evening bag, she stepped out into the cool evening air. When they reached the shiny limo, the driver cleared his throat. She turned to him.
“My name is Foster. Please forgive me, Miss Winslow, but my employer insisted you wear this.” He looked around as if concerned someone was watching, but she lived alone and the acre of landscaped grounds around her house insured her privacy. She grinned as she wondered what gift Aaron had for her.
Foster opened the rear passenger door and pulled out a padded black leather blindfold.
She gasped. Excited tickles ran through her stomach. She’d expected a corsage or maybe a necklace if he was feeling extra guilty. But this was much more stimulating than flowers or jewelry. Erotic images flashed through her mind, Strong ropes and flickering candles. Wet lips and sweaty skin and moans of passion. Memories she
didn’t want to have, but were strong enough to moisten her panties.
Aaron was full of surprises tonight. Why the blindfold? Maybe he just wanted to surprise her with their destination. He certainly would have no way of knowing the things that used to turn her on.
In her heels, she was taller than Foster, so she simply nodded and bent her head. The diver gently slipped the blindfold over her head. The weight was substantial. The darkness total. A tiny click let her know it was locked on…
“And one more thing, Miss Winslow.” The poor man’s voice was wavering in its apologetic tone. He took her evening bag out of her hand, then grasped her wrist and wrapped a thick cuff, probably padded leather also, around it. He cuffed her other wrist and gently drew her arms behind her and locked the cuffs together. Another click. She should have wondered what Aaron had in mind, but right now she didn’t give a damn. She felt more alive than she had in years.
Her heart raced. How could Aaron know? She’d never indicated to him that she liked anything more than plain, everyday sex. They’d never even talked about bondage in any way. She’d convinced herself that that magical time with Alexander had been nothing but an aberration.
Alex again. Why did he keep popping into her mind tonight? The answer to that was simple. Alex was the only one who had ever tied her up. Who had ever made her feel this way.
”I’ll help you to your seat, Miss.” Foster led her to the limo and settled her into the seat. “Are you comfortable? It will be quite a ride.”
Gaby found if she bent her elbows and tucked her bound hands into the small of her back, she could sit quite comfortably. She kept flexible with yoga classes. She nodded. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
The door slammed shut and Gaby was alone in her darkness. Alone with her bound hands and covered eyes. Alone with her thoughts and memories and questions about her past and her future.
Or was she alone? A faint scent, strangely familiar, drifted by. Was Aaron sitting somewhere in the deep expanse of the long limo? Did he get off by watching her being bound by someone else? The limo started and loud, heavy music throbbed through the speakers near her head.
“Hey!” she called out. “Are you in here? What are you up to? Where are we going?”
When there was no answer, she felt rather foolish. What was she thinking? It didn’t make any sense. Surely if he’d been here, he would have met her at the door. He would have placed the blindfold and cuffs on her himself. There was no reason he’d pretend not to be here.
She was alone as the limo glided through the streets of Los Angeles.
The heavy beat of the music matched the pounding of her heart, throbbing in her ears, traveling through her body. Tingles of anticipation, curiosity, longing, danced along her skin. Where was he taking her? What would they do when she got there?
She hadn’t worn a bra tonight and when her nipples beaded, they rubbed against the dress’s stretchy fabric. Need prickled the sensitive nubs and she rocked her shoulders, trying to relieve the itch. It didn’t help. If her hands hadn’t been cuffed, she would have tugged on them herself. But that was one of the reasons for the bondage, wasn’t it?
Longing. Need. Frustration. Anticipation.
She and Alex used to do that all the time. Tease each other to the point of desperation. She shifted in her seat, trying to relieve some of the tension there as well. But of course it did no good.
Long ago, she’d buried the memories of her two short years with Alex so deep, he rarely crossed her mind anymore. It was the roses and the bondage that made her remember.
And ache for what might have been.
No, it never would have lasted. It had all been an illusion. Alexander Black was now the greatest illusionist in the world. And he’d practiced on her.
If you enjoy a little bondage with your romance, you might want to check out this sensual story. It's only $1.49 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Natasha
Plaything - available now
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com
