I was a bad girl last week…cutting off the excerpt right before things got good. I’ll be better this week…or worse, depending on your point of view. The winner, by the way, of last week’s Wednesday contest (a copy of all three St. Lyon witch books!) is #17, Kara! Kara, please email me at julie at julieleto dot com and I’ll get the books out to you right away.
Next month is the official print release of SOMETHING WICKED This is a continuation of Josie and Rick’s story from SOMETHING WICKED, which will be released by Harlequin Blaze in February (though it is likely available from eHarlequin right now.) This is the third and final installment in my St. Lyon Witch trilogy. Last week, I gave away a copy of WITCHY BUSINESS and STRIPPED, the first two stories…and I’m doing it again! Just post a comment and I’ll announce the winner on Sunday!
And now…for the rest of the excerpt…
Her nipple was soft and warm beneath his tongue at first, her skin sweet to the taste. Buoying her flesh in his hand, he suckled her softly, careful not to pluck or prick, but to arouse her as she slept. Soon, she cooed, but did not wake. He loved her other breast with equal care, the bud tightening between his lips.
He glanced at her face. Her lids danced with the dreams playing through her mind as he pleasured her. He wished he could look into her mind and see what fantasy kept her in slumber, but the lure of her sensuous body drew him back to her body. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the necklace nestled in the hollow of her throat. Had it just flared with warm, scarlet light or had it been a trick of the candles in the haze of his need?
God, how he wanted her. Desire surged through him, working out every kink and sore muscle. He realized then that his need for Josie transcended mere sexual attraction. She was a balm for him. A salve. She smelled of natural oils and herbs, scents he associated with the reverence and spiritual healing. She looked like an angel. The symbolism should have sent him running, but on his knees, he could do nothing more than worship her.
He untied the knot on her robe and ran his fingers lovingly along the bare flesh of her waist, stomach and thighs. He lit another candle, then another, lining the tapers along the table behind the couch until her body was bathed in a golden glow. The curls at the apex of her thighs, pale, but thick, shimmered from the firelight. He kissed a soft path from her navel to her sex, allowing her flavors to sit on his tongue before he took a second taste.
Exercising every ounce of willpower, he kept his tongue lax and lazy. He wanted his mouth to be a whisper against her sensitive flesh, a promise of delights that would not yank her from her dream-filled sleep. After a long minute, her clit finally swelled to a delicious point he could not help but suckle. By now, her sleepy moans had increased, though her eyes remained closed. Her hands had drifted to her breasts, her fingers mimicking the soft brush of his mouth over her nipples.
He stripped off his shorts and then gently kissed her face. First above her eyelids, then on each cheek and finally on her mouth. When her tongue twined with his and her hands slid into his hair possessively, he laid his body across hers.
“Rick,” she breathed, shifting her hips instantly so that his penis pressed against her. “I thought I was dreaming.”
“You are,” he reassured, then plunged inside.
Her hot flesh surrounded him and he responded with slow, rhythmic thrusts. He lifted off her high enough to watch as his sex disappeared inside hers, then reappeared, every nerve ending rejoicing in the slick, snug joining. He slid his hand down her thigh, hooked his fingers beneath her knee and lifted so that he could drive deeper and longer, even as he struggled to keep his tempo slow and steady.
Her orgasm started the minute he looked back into her flashing eyes. He gave her one quick kiss, but the moment she buckled and tried to increase their speed, he pulled back.
“No,” he said. “Nice and slow. I want to feel every inch of you. I want to burn you into me. You’re light, Josie. Light to my darkness. I need you.”
Her eyes flashed, but she didn’t speak. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, but he swiped his tongue across her mouth.
“Look at me,” he said with a growl. His cock had hardened to the sweetest pain he’d ever felt. His balls were thick and heavy. If she touched them now, they might be the size of boulders. But he had to hold back, just a little longer, to bring her the pleasure she deserved. The pleasure he prayed would make her remember him forever, no matter what happened next.
Was it pride? Selfishness? He didn’t care.
Because he wouldn’t forget her. If he hadn’t before they’d made love, he doubted now that he ever would.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Warm wishes for a Happy Birthday go out to Plotmonkey pal Cher Gorman today! We hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Man another great excerpt. You’re killing me here.
I’m going to be M.I.A. for the next several days. Plotmonkeys & friends, stay safe and warm. It’s been brutally cold and snowy out there.
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Hope you are going somewhere warm Stacy!
Love the excerpt and
cher!!
I hope a get a great present like this on my b’day too!!
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Great excerpt Julie!
to Cher! I hope that you lovely ladies are having fun plotting more wonderful stories for us to enjoy!
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Good exerpt, Julie….hopefully, you are all having fun!
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LOVE the excerpt! Fabulous!
Thank you for the birthday wishes Plotmonkeys and everyone :-)
Cher
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This is
and I want, want, want!
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:angelbanana
Thank you so much!! I can’t wait for my books to come.
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Loved the excerpt.
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Awesome excerpt Julie! It is 2 degrees above zero here in Northwest Indiana and snowing. Your excerpt warmed me up! Hope the weather is better in your area!
Send some warm weather my way would ya?
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What a fabulous excerpt!
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Congrats Kara on your win! Happy B-day Cher! Another great taste of something I want to get my hands on! :flower4you:
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Hi, everyone! The other Plotmonkeys have all been delivered to the airport and I’m home, unpacking and trying to get my life in order as quickly as possible so that I can get to work! Carly, Janelle and Leslie each plotted one book, but I plotted FOUR! Three novellas and a Blaze. I’m so excited about them and I can’t wait to get to work!
Kara, I’ll get your books out soon…I received your email. I hope you enjoy them!
Silver, serves that guy right for trying to read over your shoulder. I hope you have a great week here…the weather is gorgeous…a little nippy (50s today, probably down to the 40s tomorrow before it starts to warm up to the 60s for the weekend) but the sky is blue and the sun is bright. We had a ruby red sunset last night and the PMs were probably going to kill me because I kept making them go to the window to see it. We were west facing!
I have so much to catch up with everyone…will do next week! Hope you missed us all. The others have long flights ahead, especially Janelle, so you might not hear from them for a few days.
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Julie, all these giveaways are super! Thanks.
Sounds like the “Plotting” was great for you. Good luck with the writing when you get down to work.
Cher”
Have a wonderful day. 
:present1:
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Love it all
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What a way to wake up! I have to know what happens next. Julie you are a tease! Glad you made it home okay and it sounds like you all had a great weekend.
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Happy Birthday, Cher!
Love the excerpt and the giveaways, Julie!! LOL.
Pat Cochran
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This is a great excerpt! I can’t wait to read the rest!
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What a great excerpt, Julie! I’m really looking forward to reading this one.
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Happy Birthday Sher!
Great excerpt! I’m really looking forward to reading Something Wicked!
Stefanie
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spicy hot! I’d love to win it!
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Thanks for the excerpt. Happy Birthday, Cher.
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I can’t wait to read the rest!!
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Thank you, Julie for the birthday wishes. :-) It especially means a lot coming from the Plotmonkeys.
Thank you to all of the Jungle Babes for the birthday wishes as well.
Julie, I’m so glad that the girls are safely on their respective planes and winging toward home. It sounds like everyone had a very productive retreat. Especially you! Plotting 4 books! Wow! Great job!
Heard from Brenda today on my characterizations for a new Blaze project. She gave me the green light! Keep your fingers crossed that I get it “write” this time. :-))
Have a good one all. I’m off to get a massage for my birthday. He He :-))
Cher
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Thank you for the great excerpt.
The weather in Minnesota is brutally cold and it is a great day to be inside with a cuddly afghan, a hot cup of coffee and a wonderful Blaze story to read…love this line of Harlequin’s books. The temperatures seem to want to stay below zero and that doesn’t include the wind chill…January is turning into a brutal month for the midwest.
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Congrats Kara!
I’ve just started Something Wicked, but already love it!
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Happy B-day Cher! Hope you have a fun filled day!
Love the fact that you are plotting away!
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What a great excerpt! I can’t wait to read more. Thanks for the giveaway!
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Boy! Thanks for that, Julie! This is a lovely mid-week treat!
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Happy Birthday Cher! Hope you enjoyed your massage!! Another great giveaway! As well as a great story to look forward to! Keeping my fingers crossed in Massachusetts!
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Julie you made me want to read more then cut me off
Oh well, it’s yet another book on my wishlist!
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This is just unfair. All of the excerpts make me want the book now…I don’t want to wait.
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Thank you for the wonderful excerpt!
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Thanks for the excerpt! Books are a great thing to have when the temperature is zero outside! :freezin
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Hope everyone has a safe, warm and fun weekend
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Another great excerpt! Hope you had a fabulous birthday, Cher!