Today I've got Measha Stone here with book three of her Windy City series. But before we get into the meat of the story, I asked her if she believed in Prince Charming. Romance authors often embrace the concept, but not the reality.
She said, "Yes! Everyone’s version of what he looks like is different, but he’s
out there. For some, he’s an Alpha male
that won’t give an inch and is unreasonably strict, to other’s he writes poetry
and sings her sonnets- and anything in between. I lean toward the relentless
Alpha myself, and have been lucky in that department."
She's a girl after my own heart.
He wasn't
asleep. He was standing in the middle of the room, exactly where she had
stomped away from him, holding his belt in his right hand. Her eyes darted to
the loosely hanging leather at his side and then his expression. Dark.
Extremely dark. His lips were pursed his jaw set tight, and his eyes fixated on
her with a sternness she hadn't believed him capable of until that moment.
"Uh-um." She
stammered standing just outside the bathroom staring at his hand that was
swinging the belt and casually tapping it against his leg. "Uh." What
was wrong with her? Why couldn't she get a full word out, and why wasn't he saying
anything?
"I think I've been
pretty patient. I haven't demanded anything. I haven't encroached on your
plans, have I?" His voice held steady, no tremor or indecisiveness to
it.
She swallowed. "Well.
No, not really."
"I haven't told you what
to do, what to wear, where to go, anything like that?" He took one step
toward her and her stomach twisted.
"Not really." She
had to be honest. Other than his lines of questioning he hadn't really made her
do anything. Other than making her leave her apartment, which she had to be
honest, wasn't exactly the worst thing.
"Yet, when I try having
a conversation about your health, your wellbeing—you feel it's respectful to
blow me off and stomp away. Slamming doors." His tone didn't waiver, but
the volume had lowered. She found herself holding the hem of her shirt with
both hands, and twisting the fabric with her fingers.
"Not when you say it
that way," She tried a smile, a little humor. It didn't faze him or deter
him, he took another step toward her. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket
anymore, she noticed. His button down shirt that was neatly tucked into his
beltless slacks had been rolled up at the sleeves. She wanted to bolt back into
the bathroom but her feet were being entirely too uncooperative.
"Alex." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I told you. I'm not good at
this." His raised eyebrow told her it might not have been the best tactic.
"Good at what? Being
respectful?" The slapping of the belt against this leg became more
intense.
"The full time
submissive thing. I'm not good at it. I told you that." She really wished
he wouldn't take another step. One more and he'd be within touching distance
and since her feet still wouldn't obey her, she was sure he'd grab her.
"When we talked about us
becoming a couple, us doing this, I told you I would help you with that."
He reminded her with a calm in his voice. He looked upset yes, irritated even,
but not angry. Not out of control anger. She knew he was in complete control of
himself, and even her with the way he kept looking at her. It was as if running
wasn't an option, her feet understood that before her brain did, apparently.
The bastards.
"Well, yes. I
remember." Her answer came softly. He had said that, and she had agreed.
She had always enjoyed the submissive side of herself. Not just sexually. She'd
had enough play time at the dungeons to know she loved the kiss of the flogger,
but it was when the scene ended that the real cravings began. She'd seen
couples at the parties, even at Top Floor. The caring between the partners, the
love, and respect the dominants showed their subs, and it was reciprocated.
That's what she craved. The dominance that continued after the flogging.
And here it stood. Right in
front of her holding a leather belt.
"Have you ever been
spanked, for punishment?" He asked, not moving toward her any more.
Blurb:
Alyssa Sanders has taken care of
herself since she was too young to do so. But she’s all grown up and ready to
get her life on the right track. She
heads to Chicago with her life savings and a few prospects. She expects to get
a job, find an apartment and get on her way of settling down. What she doesn’t
expect is to find her new boss not only severely attractive and Dominant, but
the son of an old friend.
Alex Trebelli would do anything for
his father, so when he’s asked to escort an old friend’s daughter to dinner he
doesn’t hesitate to agree. Except the daughter isn’t the small town young woman
his father described. She’s all grown up, full of beauty and curves, and a
submissive nature that draws out his dominant side.
When Alex explains he won’t be her
friend, he can’t just be her friend, he wants more, he wants to be her
dominant, her boyfriend, she has to decide if she’s going to take the leap.
She’s never been good at a full time D/s relationship, but Alex makes her feel
safe and secure. She finds him easy to be with, even when he’s being
overprotective and bossy.
Can she manage to put aside her fears
of failure, and self-doubt and give them a real chance, or will she chose the
safer route and keep clear of his sexy smile, and dominant ways?
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
Measha Stone lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with
her husband and their children. She is a member of Romance Writers of America,
and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Creative Writing from Southern
New Hampshire University. Her vanilla writing has been published in the online
magazine efiction and the DuPage Writers Group annual journal Possibilities. When she’s not writing,
she’s reading and spending time with her kids- who are just as creative and
crazy as her.
Social Media
Twitter: @measha_stone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meashastone/
Blog: https://www.meashawrites.com/blog
Hi Kathryn and Measha, ooh, this sounds hot! Enjoyed the excerpt, love his dominance and the hot cover :)
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz