There’s nothing like a snowy winter’s day to make a woman even more sentimental. What better time than February to find a folder of old Valentine’s cards and romantic mementos? I tugged open the ends of the scarlet ribbon and spilled the contents. Crooked red hearts shot through with squiggly arrows peeked up at me from one page—a page of white tablet paper my grade-school crush had covered with images and words revealing that he wanted to be my Valentine. The silver plastic Indian-head ring he had slipped on my index finger during one recess lay underneath other Valentine’s cards and letters from years past. I found a cute parking ticket one boyfriend had tucked underneath my wiper blade that told me how many kisses he wanted in payment. Payment for what, you might ask? Payment for speeding into his heart. Pink construction-paper hearts streamed across a golden-thread-wrapped cord. Those were the hearts I’d hung from my rear-view mirror after the third date with a man I thought I’d marry some day. Didn’t happen, but we remained good friends for many years afterward. Nearby lay an empty miniature Whitman’s sampler inside of which I’d tucked the fortune from my cookie the night my at-the-time Valentine and I dined on cashew chicken and shrimp-fried-rice. The fortune read: “Someone special will come into your life when you least expect.”
Love and romantic commitment are often explored in the stories I’ve written and published. In real life, I’ve run the gamut from…
Puppy Love that made me tongue-tied, weak-kneed, and at a loss for the proper words…
To a more mature love built on faith, respect, sharing and caring…
Whether your Valentine’s Day begins with …
Love
Laughter
Chocolate
Or a Kiss
Whether you find a Frog Prince…
Or spend the day with your handsome hero…
Always remember true love isn’t simply for romance novels. A loving bond can and will withstand many trials and the test of time.
In my latest erotic historical romance novel, TORMENTED, Eve and Charles savor a delicious and amorous moment while he feeds far more than her appetite. The following scene is one of my favorites of those I’ve written. May you enjoy the following passage and many loving moments with those who are special in your life.Excerpt – TORMENTED (MUST-READ from Dark Angel Reviews)
Click here for more information about TORMENTED“You are tired. Save your strength. I will feed you.” Rich as the rum custard soaking the golden-brown bread, his words could calm any savage.
Yet they only goaded her heart to a wilder gallop.
He remained unblinking, snatched her spoon and scooped a small portion of pudding. Moving the spoon to the opposite side of the bowl, he dredged the morsel in the melting cream before raising his hand.
She shut her eyes. Her heart thumped harder, making a racket Charles certainly heard. His deeper, bolder breaths overpowered her shallow ones.
He moved so fast.
Faster than any man she’d ever met.
Fast as a wild animal fleeing its foe.
And his gaze struck bone.
Something about Charles bore closer consideration and a measured approach.
“I don’t want to feed your fear, only your appetite,” he said and tapped the spoon against her lips.
Not polite, refusing his hospitality. She opened her mouth. As the spoon advanced and caressed her tongue, what must have been his pinkie played twice over her lower lip.
She pulled the dessert from the spoon and his hand retreated. But not before the faintest of moans rattled in his throat. The fire in her belly flared to between her legs. How sweet, his treat, as the creamy sauce and softened bread covered her palate.
As her lips closed, an image of him played against the blackness of her eyelids. The flavors settled and filled her entire mouth. She chewed and swallowed. Though she could feed herself without dropping any food, Charles’ steady hand was welcome. Her fingers remained folded together. At least that way they didn’t fumble and fuel the tingling that cascaded from the bottom knuckles to the very tips.
“More, Eve?”
Maybe he’d feed her hunger for knowledge? “How long have you lived here in New Orleans and cared for its people?”
The soft scraping of Charles tracing the spoon around the pudding bowl’s rim. “Many years.”
Her damp fingers pleated the napkin on her lap and she glanced at him. “When younger did you suspect you’d enter a healing profession?”
The twinkling of countless stars settled in his eyes. “From the time I removed the first burr from my pet spaniel’s paw. Seven years old and somewhat of a surgeon.”
A gentle shake settled the napkin over her legs. “My father frowned on having animals in our home but he gifted me with a trotter on my tenth birthday. I enjoy riding horses.”
“As do I. Zephyr is the name of my spirited mount. He delights in nipping and throwing my stable boys. And then there’s Janus, my carriage horse.” Charles laughed, eyes closed and head tipped back at a jaunty angle.
“Your brothers and sisters must have held you in awe.”
A tic pulsed in his right cheek. “Only a sister, Cecile. She was born two years before me. On the day after Christmas. Mama and Papa called her their miracle child. Her love of music matched mine. Have you any brothers or sisters, Eve?”
Visions of the family library flitted past her mind’s eye. “None. Books proved my constant companions. I enjoy sharing many of the things I’ve learned with my pupils in Boston.”
His gaze narrowed and his free hand lay on top of hers. “Do you miss Boston when on such voyages as the one to the Transvaal?”
“My father and Edward often journey alone.” No amount of squirming unseated his hot touch. “Actually, I won’t be accompanying them anymore. This past trip proved tedious and I’m far happier remaining behind in Boston.”
He removed his hand and played the spoon over her mouth again. “More?”
Quite a persistent man, her potential healer. She jerked forward and settled. How could she refuse his offer the way her mouth watered for more?
His feeding her wasn’t doing any harm.
At her nod he slipped another spoonful between her lips. Some of the custard dripped down her chin. His warm finger swiped it away. Charles’ soft sucking filled her ears before the silence between them resumed.
He’d licked his finger clean. The fire spread higher and claimed her breasts.
Her next swallow freed a giggle.
Charles patted her hands. “Still more?”
“Yes.” What was she saying? Countless church bells pealed in her brain.
She pushed the chair away from the table. Charles’ laughter held her in place.
A buzzing filled her brain. Back and forth. Good pummeled Evil. Evil returned with a jab to Good’s jaw.
And she hadn’t done anything except sit here and let him feed her bread pudding.
He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.” With his free hand he dunked his spoon into the refreshment. Softened from its soaking with rum custard, the remaining piece of pudding split. Charles let go of the spoon and the handle clanked against the side of the bowl.
She claimed the fallen spoon and lifted the custard to her lips. “No need for an apology. Your willingness to help me means a lot.”
She drifted her gaze from the bowl to his face and back again.
Waste not, want not.
He patted the back of her upraised hand. “Don’t worry about wasting food. Your comfort is more important.”
Not only was he incredibly striking but also incredibly astute.
Somewhere someone hummed. Or could she simply be hearing things?
He pulled the bowl and spoon away and set them near his left hand. “You can enjoy some fresh, warmer pudding later. You’re tired.”
Without further ado Charles stood, helped her up and scooped her into his arms. Her breath huffed out and hit his cheek. There she dangled, becoming smitten with a man whose will couldn’t be broken. Silent and his breathing measured, he retraced their steps and headed straight for the staircase.”
Wishing you all much love and happiness,
Shawna MooreTORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave (MUST-READ from Dark Angel Reviews)
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Coming in 2009 to Ellora's Cave ExotikaShawna's MyspaceHelle's Myspace
My February Harlequin Intrigue, Circumstantial Memories, is in book stores this week and that means promo time. The biggest promotion I'm doing is a book signing at my local Borders this Saturday - Valentine's Day! I had postcards printed and I slapped labels on the back with my website and the place and time of the book signing. I then left these cards in a few coffee houses, including Starbucks' bulletin board, at the Borders, and shoved into the January Intrigues at book stores! I also handed them out to friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and other soccer moms. I'm hoping for a good turn out, since it's a local signing. I had a bunch of people at my first book signing, but that was for my very first Intrigue and the excitement has worn off a little for my third (for them, never for me!).
