Breathe With Me

Breathe With Me

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

My interview with Striker from ROCK THE HEART!

 




First, I’d like to thank Michelle Valentine for loaning Striker to me for a little while. I know she’s got big plans for him, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to stare at him for a while. I mean, lick him. I mean, pick his brain.
Ahem.

Kristen: Hey, Striker, thanks so much for meeting with me tonight after your show. It was freaking awesome! Can I buy you a drink?

Striker: Thanks, love. I’m a bit old fashioned. Allow me to do the drink buying. *Flags down the bartender*

Kristen: I must admit, I’m a bit nervous. You are my first rockstar interview. Please be gentle with me. *Kristen smiles shyly and bites her lip*

Striker: I would never be rough with a beautiful flower such as you. *Winks at Kristen* Why don’t we start with one of your questions, and I promise to be gentle.

Kristen: First, I’d love to know what draws you to your music? What inspires you?

Striker: I love a dark, dirty beat. There’s something in a screaming guitar that speaks to my soul and things pour out of me that even I didn’t expect.

Kristen: Does that mean that you’re dark and dirty?

Striker: *Tilts head and offers Kristen a sexy, slow grin* You can call me that if you like.

Kristen: If I were to turn on your iPod right now, what song would be on queue?

Striker: I’ve been listening a lot to Evans Blue lately. They’re bloody brilliant.
 

Kristen: How long have you been with Embrace the Darkness?

Striker: *Puckers lips and looks up at the ceiling* I joined Embrace the Darkness when I was twenty, so about seven years ago.

Kristen: All of us girls want to know, handsome, what music do you most enjoy making love to?

Striker: *Chuckles* Anything with a saxophone solo is sexy. It reminds me of undressing a woman very slowly, and making love is something I prefer to take my time with.

*Kristen smiles and gives Striker a flirty wink* What a coincidence.

Striker: Is that so?

*Kristen nods and Striker grins*

Kristen *clearing her throat*: I’m loving what I can see of your body art. How many tattoos do you have? *Kristen is staring at his hands and forearms*

Striker: *Pulls up sleeves a little to allow Kristen a better look* I’ve lost count after twenty. I consider my body an artistic canvas—another way to express myself. When something inspires me, I usually get a tat to remember the moment the spark came to me. 

*Kristen is listening intently, her chin propped in her hand, with a dreamy smile on her face*

Kristen: This is not a question, but I have to tell you, your accent is sexy.

Stiker: *Lips pull into another sexy grin* That’s what all you American girls keep telling me. Believe me, I’m not complaining about the attention, I just find it odd. Everyone where I’m from speaks like I do. It’s flattering.

Kristen: Is there a special someone in your life right now?

Striker: *Shakes his head* No. Not at the moment. But she’s out there somewhere, I know it.

Kristen: And what are you looking for in that special someone?

Striker: An intelligent lady, who is at home with herself. I love a woman who isn’t afraid to drink alone in a bar. Confidence is sexy. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt if she’s a beautiful girl, much like yourself.

Kristen: I know you’re a busy guy, and I won’t take up any more of your time with nosy questions. We’ll leave the rest to everyone’s imagination. I can’t think of any other way that I’d prefer spending my birthday. Thank you for being so honest and charming.

Striker: *Reaches out and takes Kristen’s hand and raises it to his lips* Anytime. Shall we go find ourselves a sax solo? Let’s celebrate your birthday properly.

Kristen: *Blushing* I thought you’d never ask. I'd love to get a closer look at those tats.
Striker: Oh, I think, since it's your birthday, you can more than look, love.

Thanks again, Michelle, for loaning me Striker. I’ll return him to you in one piece. Probably.
 
 

I would love to gift a copy of ROCK THE HEART to one lucky reader! Leave a comment below about this interview and I will choose a random winner tomorrow, November 28th!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Under The Mistletoe With Me teaser 11/25/12

This teaser is from Under The Mistletoe With Me, a novella, releasing December 15th. This is not a final draft, and may be edited or deleted before publication.
 
 
I set my phone on the table and look up as my adorable waiter has a seat across from me.

“Hi there, beautiful.”

“Uh, hi. Can I help you?”

He laughs and sips on a glass of water he’s brought with him. “I just thought I’d spend my break time with a beautiful woman.”

What the hell?

“I’m Scott,” he continues and holds his hand out for me to shake.

“Stacy,” I respond and shake his hand.

“Great name.” He flashes another smile, and I see two deep dimples wink at me from each cheek.

He’s adorable.

What is he doing here?

“So, why are you here alone?”

“She’s not.”

We both turn our heads at Isaac’s cold voice. He’s glaring at the poor kid.

“Oh, sorry man, didn’t know she was taken.”

“Right. The wedding ring wasn’t a clue?” Isaac asks sarcastically, not taking his intimidating gaze away from Scott’s face as he hastily climbs off the stool.

“I was too blinded by those amazing hazel eyes and wavy auburn hair to notice her hands, bro. You’re a lucky guy.” He winks at me, grabs his water and is gone, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.

Isaac takes the seat Scott just vacated and glares over at me.

“What did I do?” I ask innocently.

“Do you have to make yourself look that good in public?” He’s dead serious.

I glance down at my white button-down blouse and dark denim jeans.

“I’m not dressed up,” I reply.

“You don’t have to get dressed up. Now that you’re not pregnant anymore, I’m gonna have to kick ass again.” His eyes soften and he takes my hand in his, linking our fingers.

“Yeah, right.” I laugh and toss my hair over my shoulder. “Besides, you didn’t have anything to worry about. That kid was way too young for me.”

“He was old enough.”
 
 

FIGHT WITH ME teaser, 11/24/12

This is a teaser from FIGHT WITH ME, releasing January 4, 2013.  Remember, this is not a final draft, and may be edited or deleted before publication. This is intended for adult readers.

“I don’t do well with half-truths, Nate.”

“Look, I’m sorry.  I wanted to be here with you today.  It’ll be fun.  My dad owns the place, he was my trainer and my manager when I fought, so of course this is where I work out.” He shrugs and looks around the gym.

I eye him for a moment, enjoying the view.  “Where do you want to start?” I ask.

“You still want to work out?”

“Yes, we’re here.  Let’s go.”

“Okay, let’s warm up with the jump ropes and see what you can do.”  He grins and leads me over to a matt, handing me a jump rope.

Should I mention to him that my brother Will used to make me train with him for football season? 

No.

Nate sets his watch timer for two minutes and I jump easily, using the form my brother taught me.  Nate watches me, also jumping with ease. I’m hardly panting when the two minutes are up, and inside I’m smug.  I keep a bored, bland look on my face. 

“Next?” I ask.

“You’ve done this before,” he murmurs.

I shrug and drop the rope on the mat.  “What’s next, ace?”

“Can you do a pull-up?” he asks, his eyebrow raised.

“I can do one or two,” I respond and smile.  I have to call Will later and thank him profusely for being such a hard ass on me.  Thanks to him, exercise comes easily to me, and my body is in excellent shape.  I love to sweat.

Nate guides me over to the metal bars. 

“Do you need a boost?” he asks.

I look up at the bar.  It’s probably about seven feet off the ground.  “I think I got it,” I respond.

“Ladies first.”  He motions for me to go first.  I rub my hands down my pants, then hop up, gripping the bar.  I find the space between my hands that I like and begin to pull myself up, using a style Will taught me that he uses in Crossfit.  As I come down, I push in an arc away from the bar, then swing back up, pulling the bar under my chin. 

God, this feels fantastic!  I manage twenty pull-ups, then drop to the mat, shaking my arms and panting.

“Your turn,” I plant my hands on my hips and look up at Nate, who is gazing at me with a huge smile plastered on his handsome face.

“What?” I ask, but I know I just shocked the shit out of him.  I glance around to find all the men in the gym are watching me, their mouths dropped.

“Who trained you?” he asks.

“My brother.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.  “Your turn, ace.”

“Okay,” he’s still smiling as he leaps up and easily begins raising and lowering that sexy body up and down on the bar.  His arms – holy Moses, those arms – flex and bunch with each repetition.  I wish he’d take his shirt off so I can watch his chest.  He effortlessly executes forty pull-ups and then drops to the matt.

“Not bad,” I smirk and jump back up, gripping the bar.  I begin the push and pull again, loving the burn that’s moving through my arms, shoulders and back.  After twenty I drop back down to the mat.

Without speaking, Nate hops up and completes forty pull-ups.

“Warmed up?” he asks, panting and sweating and I just want to lick him.

“Yes.”

“I want you in the ring.”

I raise an eyebrow at him.  “There’s quite an audience here right now, Nate.”
 
 

Friday, November 16, 2012

FIGHT WITH ME Teaser


“This is nice.” 

Nate’s running his fingers through my hair.  We are lounging on the plush sage green couch in the living room.  Nate lit a fire in the beautiful stone fireplace, and it’s warm and comfortable.  After our run on the beach I took a shower while he fixed lunch, then he joined me.

“How did your kitchen get stocked?” I ask and close my eyes, loving the way his fingers feel in my hair.

“I made some calls,” he murmurs.

“Must be nice to have minions.”

He chuckles and tugs playfully on my hair.  “I don’t have minions. I have millions.”

I hear the playfulness in his voice, but I keep my eyes closed.  I don’t want to know how much money he has.  I know he’s excellent at his job, and he is clearly wealthy. 

“None of my business,” I murmur.

“Don’t go to sleep on me.”

“You like it when I go to sleep on you.”  Hmm… he’s still playing with my hair, and the fire is warm.  “I don’t remember the last time I was this relaxed.  We have to come here often.”

“We can come here whenever you want, baby.”

Nate turned on the satellite radio while he was fixing lunch, and the music is flowing through the whole house through the sound system.  Jason Mraz is singing about not giving up and I smile.

“I love this song.”

“You do?”  I feel him reach for the remote and he turns up the volume.

I open my eyes and look up into his handsome face.  How did I get this lucky?

“You spoil me you know.”

“I hope so. That’s the goal.” His thumb brushes across my cheek. 

“You don’t need to.  I’m happy with just you.”

“This is me, baby.”

I sit up and cup his face in my hands.  His hair is still tied, and my fingers are itching to run through it.

“Can I take your hair down?” I ask.  His eyes flair.

“You can do whatever you want.”

I pull the tie out of his hair and run my fingers through the thick, ink black softness.  “Don’t cut it.”

“Okay.”  His arms are wrapped around me, and his eyes are traveling over my face, patiently watching me as I touch his hair, his face, his shoulders.

“You’re so handsome,” I whisper.

Nate leans down and lays his lips over mine, just resting them there, breathing me in.  I never knew such a light touch could be so intimate.  Finally, he kisses me sweetly and pulls back.

“I have something for you.” He whispers and I grin.

“It’s about time, ace.”  I quickly straddle his hips and settle my center over his crotch.  “This morning feels like days ago.”

Nate laughs up at me as he cups my ass in his hands and pulls me closer.  “Well, that’s not exactly what I meant, but I love the way you think, baby.”

“Oh,” I kiss his cheek and nibble over to his ear.  “What do you have for me?” I whisper.

“On second thought,” he wraps his arms around my middle and before I know it I’m on my back across the couch, tucked under him.  “This is an excellent idea.”