Excerpt from 'Yes or No'

Martha sipped her herbal citrus tea, her nightcap of choice when she wanted—needed—to get a decent night’s sleep. The pungent aroma of lemon and apricots teased her nostrils and the tart heat slid down her throat. She clasped her mug between both her hands as she read the advert again.

It was a reputable online fetish site, one she used often. She occasionally interacted with others in the community there, but most of all she valued their absolute discretion when she needed to do a spot of shopping. She had bought things from time to time and they always arrived in the post packaged in respectable brown cardboard. Her collection now ran to a vibrating butt plug, a couple of electronic toys, lube and on one occasion, she had splurged on a rather splendid G-spot USB-rechargeable rabbit vibrator. It had proved a tad awkward when she’d tried to take that particular item through the automated baggage check at Manchester airport on her way to Ibiza, but the security guard had been very polite about it. He’d wished her a nice time and re-zipped her case for her.

She grinned, remembering. She had had a nice time—plenty of sun, sand and solitary orgasms in her five-star hotel room overlooking the Mediterranean. But that had been over six months ago and she hadn’t had a sniff of any action since. It was true she had been busy with work, but that was no excuse, not really. Her battery-operated boyfriend sat unloved in her bedside drawer along with her other fetishy bits and pieces.

Martha yawned, the herbal tea doing its work well. She shut down her laptop, set her empty cup aside and settled herself against the pillows.

It was only an advert, but a girl could dream.

As she lay, floating in that half-conscious existence between sleeping and waking, Martha rehearsed—and not for the first time—her own ideal sexy fantasy. She visualized the man—it had to be a man, she’d determined—who was a massive part of the turn-on for her. Her Dom would be a stranger or someone she did not know well. He would be handsome—of course—stern and demanding but not cruel. And he would be knowledgeable. He would know a woman’s body better than she herself did. He would understand her responses. Everything he did to her would be deliberate, controlled, purposeful. She would be helpless, vulnerable but utterly safe in his expert hands. 

Excerpt from 'Cruise Control'

Daniel surprised me with my present as I sat eating breakfast in the conservatory. “Happy birthday, darling.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek and set a plain white envelope in front of me.

“Thank you.” I’d been dropping hints about the stunning diamond earrings I’d seen in the window of the jeweler’s shop on the high street, so I tried to hide my disappointment as I placed my coffee cup back on the table. Using my butter knife, I slit open the envelope. Inside was a printed sheet of paper. I glanced at it, realizing it was some kind of travel document. Once I’d skim-read it, I cast my gaze up to Daniel’s handsome, impassive face. He was the master of giving nothing away. “This is a…cruise ticket.”

“That’s right.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say.” Of all the things Daniel could have bought me, this was the most unexpected. I only wished it was more welcome.

“I thought it would be nice to have a few days away. After all, when was the last time we took a holiday together?”

I considered his question for a moment. “I don’t remember, unless going up to Edinburgh for your sister’s wedding counts.” He shrugged in a way that suggested it didn’t, and I went on. “But why a cruise? You know how I feel about those things. They’re what you do when you’ve retired—when you have the time to spend a couple of weeks doing nothing but ballroom dancing, playing bingo and watching awful cabaret nights hosted by some comedian who won a TV talent show thirty years ago.”

“This won’t be like that, Lily. It’s a three-day trip down the Seine to Rouen and back. And there’s an option to spend an evening in Paris. We could have dinner in an intimate little bistro or wander along the riverside by Notre-Dame. The city is so beautiful when it’s lit up at night.”

A stop-off in Paris, I had to admit, did sound romantic. “I suppose that isn’t so bad.” I glanced back to the ticket. “But this says we’re scheduled to depart this evening.”

“That’s right. So hurry up and finish your breakfast, because you have some packing to do.”

Immediately, my thoughts raced to what I’d need to take with me—and not just in terms of what I planned to wear. This would be the perfect opportunity to catch up on a couple of manuscripts that needed to be assessed.

As if he’d read my mind, Daniel added, “And no taking any work on this trip. This is all about us, not our jobs. Understand?”

I nodded and popped the last bite of croissant into my mouth. He might have won this round, but he wasn’t going to get his way for the whole weekend. I was sure of that.

Excerpt from 'Just You and Me'

“So many playmates, but not the one I want,” Ryder muttered as he read the personal ads on the bulletin board. If he were writing his own advertisement, he would’ve said something along the lines of Wanted—a lover and a sub who can handle me. Same woman preferred. Must be willing to work with me, but rein me in, too. He snorted as he gazed out at the people in the main playroom of Exposed. The guests and members were great people, but in his six months there, he hadn’t found the right sub. Well, no… He had an idea of who he wanted, but he hadn’t had the chance to talk to her.

He leaned against the bar and toyed with his bottle of water. Just thinking about Cat sent the blood rushing below his belt. The sweet woman with the long blonde hair came to mind often. He wanted to caress her curves and sample her mouth. He’d heard she was into pain play and he’d watched a couple of her demonstration scenes. She turned him on and had him ready to combust each time he saw her. If she’d participate in a scene with him, he’d show her a good time. Hell, he’d show her she might be a good match for him, too.

Damian, one of the other Masters, strode up to him. He nodded once. “Ryder.”

“D.” Ryder stood tall. He hadn’t been at the club as long as Damian and was expected to defer to him. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Damian said, “but I’ve got a problem. There’s a writers’ group coming in at seven and they’d like a demonstration. One of the authors set it up with Sean, but the bastard left last week. He never bothered to let the group know that he wouldn’t be able to do the demo.”

“What does it involve?” He finished his water.

“Wax play. I don’t do that with Missy.” Damian notched his chin in the air. “You’re not coupled up. I’d ask you, but you don’t have a sub.”

“I can find one.” He knew who to ask. “Pencil me in for it.” He left the empty bottle on the bar. “I’ll do it.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.” He clapped Damian on the shoulder. “We’ll be there.”

“I should ask who you’ve got in mind, but I trust you,” Damian said. “I’ll have the playroom prepped. Playroom one. The supplies will be there and ready. All you have to do is show up. Is there anything you want in particular?”

“I’ll text you once the sub agrees.”

“Good.”

“Thank you.” He left the Master at the bar and headed toward the office. He’d wanted an excuse to speak to Cat and now he had one. He ignored the others in the room. Right now, the only one who mattered was her. A woman in a latex dress winked at him. He nodded once, but kept moving.

“But, Master,” she said, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

He frowned. He wasn’t even sure who she was, yet she’d waited on him? “I’m sorry. I’m not looking for a sub right now.”

“Sir.” She reached for him, but he sidestepped her. Besides her not being Cat, he wasn’t in the mood for someone so pushy. He ducked into the hallway leading to the office and paused to compose himself. He had to think before he spoke. If he demanded her submission, Cat wouldn’t work with him. He knocked on the door.

“Come.” 

Excerpt from 'His Lucky Day'

Kat had been methodical in her preparations. She’d researched Stephen until she knew his weaknesses, then she’d devised her plan. Ever since she’d met the tall ex-Marine at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—AFWA—annual meeting, he had become an obsession that she couldn’t afford at this point in her life. Her time was precious. With her doctoral thesis deadline fast approaching, she needed her wits about her. Instead of focusing on her paper, all she could think about was the firm jaw and challenging eyes of the local fish and game bureau chief.

In the agency’s parking lot, she leaned against her truck’s fender and went through her checklist one last time. Everything was accounted for. A smile lit her face. Twenty-four hours from now she’d have her life back.

She’d met his type before. Their confident swagger and hint of intelligence usually hid one of three things—a misogynist, a braggart or a bore. All she needed was to find which category to file the sexy man in, then she’d be able to concentrate again.

She stuffed the list into her pack and entered the lobby.

“Good morning,” the receptionist greeted Kat.

The perky blonde with her sun-kissed waves held in place by a thick hairband set Kat’s teeth on edge. So the man likes a bit of eye candy in his office. Strike one. “KT Riley to see the bureau chief.”

Eye Candy’s perfect smile disappeared as her mouth formed a hard line. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t see you on Dr. Andersen’s schedule.”

“Could you please let Stephen know I’m here? I only need a few minutes of his time.” She didn’t know him well enough to call him by his first name. They’d only spoken a few times, but she could repeat each conversation almost word for word. His deep baritone voice had a way of reaching inside her and curling her toes.

“One moment.” The blonde spun her chair around and headed deeper into the office.

Kat couldn’t hear the receptionist but she could understand Stephen clear as a bell. “About five foot eight, brunette, green eyes?”

He remembers me.

“Let her through.”

It took a bit of doing, but Kat maintained a professional mask as Miss Eye Candy led her into the bureau chief’s office. As soon as she entered, he stood and reached out to shake her hand.

“Ms. Riley, this is an unexpected pleasure. How can we be of service?”

“It’s good to see you again, Dr. Andersen.” She couldn’t help but notice the way his hand engulfed hers. She wasn’t a demure woman by any stretch, yet next to this man, she felt petite and feminine. It was distracting.

“We don’t stand on ceremony here. Please call me Stephen.” He waved her into the chair opposite his.

Excerpt from 'Bound to Happen'

The line at The Mudhouse was out the door. For the first time since Jaymie and her best friend had opened the little café six months ago, she was convinced it was going to be a hit. It didn’t hurt that it was crazy-hot out and they were offering large iced coffees for only two dollars a cup.

The crowds were larger on the weekend when the city people from Toronto drove up to their cottages on the lake. Even though she had studied in Toronto and forced herself to work there for a few years, she would always be a townie and proud of it. She hated the city, hated the late hours she’d put in at the magazine, resented the commute from downtown to the suburbs where she’d lived with another graphic designer and two additional roommates.

She’d been biding her time, skipping the parties and the clubs and saving her pennies until she could move home to Port Ellis. That she’d opened a coffee shop and bakery was entirely an accident of fate. It had been her best friend’s idea. Mel’d had the know-how and Jaymie’d had the capital. After finding what Mel called the perfect location, it had all fallen into place with ease.

The Mudhouse was located on Founders Street, the town’s main road. The shop itself was, to put it plainly, a hole in the wall—or maybe a closet. The coffee bar and bakery case were on one side with a row of tables against the other wall. The front of the café was also wide open to the sidewalk, with doors that could be retracted for the summer. What had convinced Jaymie that the location would work was the large deck off the back. It was the width of their shop and half of the florist’s next door and had direct access to the boardwalk.

“You’ve done a good job at reinventing yourself here,” Mel said, passing her a cup of iced tea.

“You mean co-owning a café when I neither bake nor drink coffee?”

“Ssh, we aren’t telling the townsfolk about that. We’ll lose the true coffee aficionados if they discover you scorn them.”

“I don’t scorn them or the coffee,” she insisted, sipping her mango-pomegranate iced tea. “I just don’t worship at the altar of the bean.” They served a large selection of fair trade organic coffees, but Jaymie had made sure they also had the largest tea selection in Port Ellis.

“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Mel took a large gulp of her iced coffee.

They leaned against the back railing, watching as their well-trained staff moved people through the line quickly. Their pastries were all homemade. That was Mel’s passion, and while it would be better if they had a commercial kitchen on the premises, her partner seemed content to bake at home. Jaymie hoped they might one day be able to take over the florist shop next door and turn it into the kitchen of Mel’s dreams, but that was a long way down the road.

As director of finance, Jaymie was well aware of their fiscal realities. She also handled their human resources and marketing needs—all roles that did not require her to get up at the crack of dawn. She was not a morning lark.

Excerpt from 'Black Ice'

Dear DareToSpankMe.com,

I challenge you to find me a plus one for Saturday night.

I have two VIP tickets to the sold-out Rocks Off gig in Hammersmith. Unfortunately, the lady I bought them for now prefers my best friend’s brother. Her loss… He’s personality deficient and allegedly even less exciting in bed. I’m on the band’s after-show party list—equals two karma wins for me.

Can someone save me from a solo show? Or hitting the bar like a sledgehammer?

Amusing, interested replies encouraged—extra points for banter. Who’s game? I’m waiting and my wallet’s ready for the bar tab.

#freeticket #notastalker #RocksOffChallenge

Username—BlackRunSkiFreakDom

* * * *

I’m Jaye Ripley and it started with a slippery Dom’s dare.

Yes, I know how bad that sounds. I usually only lurk on the spanking site and had never dared to interact before. But it was one of those stupid moments when your brain should opt for prudent sanity but said ‘fuck it’ instead. I blamed the open bottle of red wine and my inner speed-freak going on a bender.

I should’ve turned off the laptop and diverted my attention. But Mr. BlackRunSkiFreakDom was too enticing. Was it a line or was he for real? And why was my pussy tuned in to his wavelength, refusing to listen to reason?

He could be a serial Internet rogue with a scary record. But I’d been dumped without answers myself once. I empathized with his plight, so I posted my reply.

Hi, Ticket-and-Karma-Blessed Guy,

I’m a Londoner and I’m free on Saturday, so I’ll be your plus one. Just don’t expect me to fancy you. I’m off men forever and I’m so serious about it that I’m getting a ‘No Men Zone’ tattoo done soon. Pick me for the ticket and I’ll send selfie proof.

I’ve also just filled in my convent application form. But before I go there, I’d like a last night of wild rock and banter. We both deserve a curtain call. Bring it on!

If this is a sympathy sex attempt, you are so not going to score! And I mean that.

#RocksOffCrazy #whatamIdoing?

Username—DaringSassyManHater

P.S. I am honestly off men—and I know karate!

Twenty minutes later, he’d messaged my site account. My heart galloped when I clicked on his BlackDom address line. He told me we were on and asked me to bring along karate belts. Nice touch!

BlackRunSkiFreakDom said there had been a hundred and seven replies. Mine passed on good punctuation. I’m a college English lecturer. Then again, maybe he was lying and I had been the only idiot to answer?

To think that I lecture students about avoiding risky situations… But, to date, my patented ‘always be sensible and say no to fun’ technique hasn’t worked. And I was going to take three mobile phones for safety.

Sometimes thrill-seeking feels risky but right. My wish for a fantasy date with a mystery Dom was finally granted.