Marcia James Explores Love Unleashed

Thanks, Savannah, for hosting me on the blog tour for All Romance eBooks’ (ARe) “28 Days of Heart” campaign!  I’m thrilled to be one of the 28 authors who donated sexy, romantic stories for this American Heart Association fundraiser.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of woman, and February 5^th is National Wear Red Day, which builds awareness of this disease.  I’m wearing red today, including my Go Red For Women pin.  The pins are free from: www.GoRedForWomen.org.

Due to Valentine’s Day, February has long been associated with matters of the heart.  So this month is the perfect time to treat yourself to ARe’s sensual stories that will warm your heart (and other body parts!), while raising funds to fight heart disease.

Love Unleashed is my contribution to ARe’s 28 Days of Heart: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveunleashed-402754-149.html.  A sexy contemporary, the story features an estranged couple who are reunited with the help of a stray dog.  As with all of my “hot, humorous romances”, Love Unleashed’s canine character is a Chinese crested hairless dog.  “Cresties” can be so comical-looking, which is why I chose one as my author logo.

My logo is based on Smokey, the undercover DEA drug-sniffing dog from my comic romantic suspense, At Her Command (Cerridwen Press): http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-athercommand-398877-152.html.  When DEA agent Dom Petracelli goes undercover at a sex club in At Her Command, having a fly-weight, tiny partner like Smokey created lots of comic possibilities.

Charlie, the crestie in Love Unleashed, is a homeless dog who’s fostered by the radio disc jockey hero as part of his plan on wooing back his former lover, the director of an animal shelter.  Of course, the little pooch worms his way into the hero’s heart while playing matchmaker to the still-in-love couple.  The idea behind Love Unleashed began when a friend complained that her boyfriend wasn’t wild enough in bed.  When my story’s hero finally unleashes his inner sexy beast, the couple gets a second chance at their happily ever after.

Here’s the blurb and an excerpt from Love Unleashed.

Go Red!

– Marcia James

www.MarciaJames.net

Love Unleashed blurb:

His best laid plans…

            DJ “Rabid Ron” Hart has a grand scheme to win back the woman he loves. It involves an animal adoption fair, a goofy hairless dog named Charlie and an offer she can’t refuse.

Her hidden desires…

            Cara Wilson has fantasies she’s never admitted, and her ex-boyfriend still features in her erotic dreams. If only he didn’t keep his bad-boy urges so tightly leashed.

Tonight they’ll learn that winning sometimes takes losing control.

Love Unleashed excerpt:

Cara took a deep breath. “We had some great times, but it just wasn’t working.”

            “That a bullsh*t answer.” He gave her arm a little shake. “I think I deserve the truth.”

            Dammit. Why couldn’t he just let it go? “I’m thirty-one. My biological clock isn’t ticking yet, but it’s foolish to stay with someone I’m not compatible with.”

            “Define ‘compatible.’” Dropping her arm, he ran his hands through his hair, the gesture one of pure aggravation. “We got along great, didn’t we? One minute you were practically living here, and the next you were gone. I need to know what happened.”

            Her stomach twisted. This wasn’t fair to Ron. Even if he hated her afterward, he had a right to know why she’d left. But once it was out, any feelings he had for her would truly be dead. “Yes. We got along great everywhere but in bed. You’re just…too nice for me.” She turned and walked out of the kitchen.

            “What the f*ck? Too nice!”

            She rounded to find him right behind her. “Stop yelling.”

            He gritted his teeth, but his angry voice was lower when he continued. “Too nice? I was so careful with you—”

“Did I ask you to be careful?” Hell, she wasn’t a bad person. Why did she have to justify her needs? Her frustration unleashed her temper. “You treated me like a porcelain doll, like I’d break if you looked at me cross-eyed.”

            He leaned closer, his arms folded over his chest and his expression thunderous. “I’m over a foot taller and one-hundred pounds heavier than you. What was I supposed to do, body slam you to the floor and screw you senseless?”

            “Yes!” God, it would have been wonderful if he’d been more sexually aggressive. “Anything but the same old lovemaking. I can count on my fingers the number of times we did something beside the missionary position.” Cara dreaded his contempt, but she needed to finish this. “I loved you, Ron, but I can’t commit to a man whose lovemaking is so…”

            “So what? Boring?” He was being sarcastic, but his mouth dropped open as something in her eyes must have confirmed his comment. “This is crazy. I put you first, made sure you came every time. Do you want a selfish bastard who just cares about his own needs?”

            He crowded her personal space, and Cara’s anger spiked in self-defense. “You can be generous in bed and still open to new things. Selfish and daring aren’t synonymous.”

            “So you want what?” His lips twisted. “Some guy who’ll treat you like a slut?”

            There it was. The disdain she’d been expecting. “Yes, if that’s what it takes to add spice to my love life.”

For several seconds, she squeezed her eyes shut. He was so close, his musky scent was making her mouth water. God help her, fighting with Ron was turning her on. What a rotten time for her libido to resurface. Too bad they hadn’t had this argument when they were dating. And whose fault is that, she reminded herself.

            “You want spice or kink, Cara? Just how far are you willing to go? Should I get a copy of the Kama Sutra?”

“I’m not ashamed of my desires. How about you?” She was sick and tired of men scorning her for having a strong sex drive. Cara balled her hands on her hips and leaned closer. “You’re the one who’s repressed. Why keep such a tight leash on yourself? I’m not going to faint if you give into your urges.”

            His pupils dilated and his jaw clenched, but she wasn’t afraid. Ron would never hurt her, she knew that in her heart, but he might finally let his inner-caveman out. And if he threw off his good-boy manners and didn’t despise her for her fantasies, there might be a chance for them after all.

            Ron’s gaze dropped to her mouth. His voice deep and sensual, he asked, “You want me to give in to my urges, Cara?”