AN Latro introduced us to the sexy and dangerous world of the Morgan crime family in Black Collar Empire and the novellas, Black Collar Beginnings: Cuba and Black Collar Beginnings: New York.

Now she returns with Black Collar Beginnings: Manhattan Dry a five part short story about New York’s favorite criminal royalty.

Everything in the Morgan syndicate is poised on the edge of change, and no one understands that more than Caleb. A senior in high school, he’s balanced between a false legitimate life and the deadly one as head of the family’s weapons division.

When an attack comes out of nowhere, the two sides of his world collide and the effects of that will touch everyone in the family…

Black Collar Beginnings: Manhattan Dry Part 5

Catch up on the series now!!

Black Collar Empire

After two years away, Seth Morgan has returned to New York, desperate to honor his father’s dying wish for a unified family. But the heir’s welcome is sadly lacking: his family’s criminal empire is divided, the woman he loves hates him, and his brother Caleb has become a cold stranger.

When a brotherly spat becomes a vicious misunderstanding that ends with Caleb dead, Seth is left reeling, and unsure who to trust.

Emma Morgan grew up while her closest cousin was away. She’s been sheltered her entire life from the realities of their family—something Seth has every intention of changing upon his return.

But not everyone in the syndicate is happy to have Seth home, and there are secrets surrounding Caleb’s murder. The deeper Seth and Emma dig, the clearer it becomes that not everyone shares their dream for the Morgan Syndicate, and not everyone wants the heir to ascend.

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Black Collar Beginnings: New York

Caleb Morgan is the black sheep of the family. Two years of his brother’s absence has left him cold and alone—except for Emma, the youngest Morgan. Because with Seth gone, there is no one else to teach—or protect—their innocent cousin. But teaching isn’t always pretty—not in family who peddles in crime.

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Black Collar Beginnings: Cuba

Alone in Cuba, Seth Morgan isn’t mafia royalty—he’s a thug with a gun, and everything to prove. When the shadowy kingpin behind the Cuban syndicate finally takes notice, nothing in Seth’s world will ever be the same.

Before the Empire, there was exile. A novella, set just before Black Collar Empire.

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Morgan Estates, New York City.

The elevator dings, drawing Caleb’s attention. He stands slowly–a stiff soreness has settled over him that is irritating as fuck. It would probably be gone by now, if he would take it easy and rest but he’s been busy at the office—and learning how much he hates the office—and with his division.

Heels clack on the marble foyer, and his steps slow.

He has no desire to greet his aunt.

A low voice is speaking and his lips twist, bitterly amused. Of course. Beth wouldn’t come to Gabe’s home without Mikie. His father steps out of his office and catches Caleb’s eye. Caleb goes still, waiting, and Gabe nods once in silent approval before he steps into the hall, and his siblings’ view.

“Mikie. Beth. I didn’t realize you’d be stopping by tonight.” Gabe says, warm reservation in his tone.

“What the hell are you doing, Gabe?” Beth snaps.

There’s a quiet gasp, one that stirs Caleb to move despite the silent order to stay out of this. Because only one person in the family makes that noise, and he won’t leave her in the middle of the volatile temper of her mother and his father.

“Emma,” Caleb calls, stepping out of the shadow and into the foyer. His aunt is glaring at Gabe, while Mikie leans quietly against the wall. A quick glance from his uncle acknowledges his presence, but Caleb is focused on the small girl standing between them.

She’s in her Irving Prep uniform, her black Mary Jane’s polished. Knee high white socks emphasize her long skinny legs. Her blue eyes, already big in her pale face, widen at the sight of him.

Belatedly, he remembers his bruises, still dark and vicious looking. He tips his head back, deeper into the penthouse and reaches a hand to her. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s let them talk, huh?”

Emma hesitates for a moment, her wide eyes darting to Gabe for assurance. Caleb doesn’t need to see his father’s face to know it’s softened and warmed—he can see how it effects Emma as his cousin musters a tiny smile and her shoulders relax as she shifts forward, scurrying to Caleb. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and gives Gabe another quick, questioning look.

The subtle approval in his dad’s eyes shouldn’t mean so much. But it always does. It always has.

Emma leans into him as he pulls her deeper into the penthouse, away from the tension boiling in the foyer. Tension he caused by his decision to quit school. To Beth, he’s making the whole family look bad. He doesn’t have to hear the argument to know how she feels about it, just as he doesn’t have to be there to know his dad is defending his decision, despite his own disappointment.

“What’re we doing?” She asks softly.

Caleb looks down at his cousin. The baby of the family and the only one who has only ever sparked his protective instincts. The only one who looks anything like him.

“What do you want to do?” he asks. Emma shrugs awkwardly against him and he grins. “Come on. Let’s find Seth.”

There’s a slight hitch in her stride that makes a laugh bubble in the back of his throat. He swallows it and steers her past the family areas, toward Seth’s bedroom. He knocks once and then pushes the door open and pulls Emma inside. The bedroom is messy and dark. Dirty jeans and shirts take up one corner, a stack of textbooks sit ignored on the desk. There’s a half empty bottle of tequila on the floor by his bed. Two pictures are propped on his desk—a profile shot of Nicolette, and a picture of Gabe and their mother. Two Glocks sit near the photos on his dresser, and Caleb eyes them briefly before focusing on his younger brother.

Seth is sprawled on the bed, smoking a joint. He smiles when he sees Emma, sitting up and dropping the roach in an ashtray. “What are you doing here, Em?”

She blushes, fidgeting as Caleb backs away and gives her space. “Mother came to see Uncle Gabe.”

Seth frowns, his dark gaze darting to Caleb. Caleb doesn’t acknowledge his brother’s silent question, just shifts his gaze to their anxious cousin. She’s watching them, her eyes too knowing for her age.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, softly. Seth shifts on the bed, grabbing her hand and pulling her down to sit next to him, an arm around her waist so she can’t squirm away. Emma goes red, but doesn’t fight the embrace.

“Nothing, Em. Everything is fine.” Seth says.

She elbows him, hard enough that Seth huffs and lets her go. Emma scrambles to her feet, and this time, the red in her cheeks is more anger than it is embarrassment. “Don’t lie!” she snaps, glaring. Seth blinks, startled, and Emma paces away, to stare at the pictures and guns on the dresser. Caleb watches her, and Seth falls silent, waiting.

“Everyone lies,” she says softly. Furiously. “About everything—Isaac and Daddy. Aunt Miriam. Everything.”

“We’re not lying, Em,” Caleb says.

She flicks a look at him, pointedly tracking over his bruises. “Then what happened toyour face?”

Caleb hesitates long enough for her to push her nose up in the air, and say, “See?”

Caleb reaches for his cigarettes. He shakes one out but doesn’t bother to light it. Just having it helps. He doubts anyone else in the family has ever seen it, but she mimics her cousins so closely when she is alone with them, when she feels comfortable and safe. It makes him proud, and yet simultaneously feels like a blow to the chest. He stares at her and shrugs. “I got into a fight, baby. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Her expression eases, and tears fill her eyes suddenly. Caleb reaches for her, and she sniffles as she goes to him, wordlessly nestling against him. Her shoulders shake and he forces himself to stay calm, quietly rubbing her back as she sobs.

“Hey, Em,” Seth says. He moves, crouching next to her. She peeks at him warily, and he gives her a slow smirk. “Come on. I’m gonna teach you to play poker.”

“I don’t want to,” she mumbles, ducking back into Caleb’s shirt. Seth’s hands clench, helpless anger, and Caleb makes a low noise in his throat. Seth glares and straightens.

“Seth is a pretty shitty card player, baby. I think we could beat him.” Caleb coaxes. “And he could use it, don’t you think?”

She sneaks a look at him, and his heart twists. Her big blue eyes are bright and red-rimmed, tear tracks down her face.

“I know what you’re doing,” she mutters. “I’m not stupid.”

Caleb shakes his head slowly. “No. You never have been.”

She flushes, a slow blush that rises across her cheeks until she steps back, and dips her head, letting her red gold hair fall down in a wave. She’s done that her entire life—hidden in plain sight.

It bothers him that she would hide now, from him. From them.

He stands and Emma smoothes her skirt as she stands. “My room,” Caleb says.

She follows him into the hall, and from the front of the penthouse, they hear Beth. Emma flinches as her mother’s shrill voice reaches them, and Seth puts an arm around her shoulders, moving her with the momentum of his body until she’s in Caleb’s room.

Emma sits on the edge of the bed, primly, and Seth laughs, a dark husky noise that makes Emma blush. He hooks an arm around her waist and tugs her deeper onto the bed. “Get comfortable, Em,” he murmurs.

Caleb sends Seth a warning look, and Seth grins. Emma huffs quietly, a little indignation and temper showing before she settles against the headboard, adjusting her skirt neatly. Caleb sits on the end of the bed and shuffles the cards, watching Emma carefully. She’s gotten a grip on her emotions, tucked the sadness away as she sits there with all the grace of a queen. She’s young and awkward still, but she’ll shed that eventually. He can see it already, the hints that will mature into a natural Morgan beauty and charm.

She would break hearts. Vaguely, as he deals the first hand, he wonders if he or Seth will be forced to break bones when some prick hurts her.

They would. Of course they would.

“Promise you’ll tell me?” She asks abruptly. “If things go wrong? If someone is gonna die again?”

Seth sucks in a sharp breath, and Caleb goes still. That’s what this is about. He looks at Seth, quickly. His younger brother has gone still and tense—a sure sign he’s furious.

“Yeah, baby. We won’t lie about that. This is stupid shit—your mom is pissed I’m leaving Irving. But no one is in danger.”

Seth glances at him, startled by the simple truth in his brother’s words, but Caleb keeps his gaze trained on Emma. She deserves this honesty, and no one else will give it to her. She watches him, and her eyes are old—so old. She nods slowly, and Caleb summons a smile. It hurts like hell, the bruises on his face pulling, and the too recent pain of his mother’s death like a perpetually open wound. Momentarily he wants to get that bottle of tequila from Seth’s room just to blunt the trauma, but that would give him away to his ten-year-old cousin.

“Those were accidents,” Seth says, his voice tight and low. “You know that’s different from the family, right?”

She shrugs, and her eyes are cold, and bitter. That is one lesson she will never need to be taught. Beth’s daughter learned it very young. “Doesn’t matter, does it? Dead is dead.”

Seth nods, and there isn’t any of the pompous shit that Caleb has seen so often from his brother. This is solemnity and seriousness—Seth setting the childish bullshit aside for the sake of their favorite cousin, and the confused grief she is facing. Seth glances at his brother. Caleb gives him a slow nod, and Seth goes still, his eyes wide and startled at the rare display of approval – so far from the hard plea atop the Empire State Building. It takes a moment for him to refocus on Emma. “It is. And it fucking sucks, doesn’t it?”

The language, rare from Seth in front of Emma, startles a laugh from her, and Caleb’s shoulders ease. The tight knot of anger loosens a little.

Caleb smiles for his cousin, and deals the cards. “So, black jack.”

Seth scoffs, and Emma’s gaze lightens, going to him. “That shit’s easy, Caleb.”

“We’re starting easy, asshole.” Caleb snaps, without heat. A smirk tugs on Emma’s lips, and her eyes are almost happy as Caleb settles down to teach her the art of gambling.

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AN Latro loves good wine and the ocean, and prefers to write with both. She has a passion for bad boys in books, and stories that make you feel. She can most often be found along the Florida coast.

I was getting ready to spend the single most important holiday of the year alone. Completely and utterly alone.

That meant he wouldn’t be there Christmas Eve. No making Christmas cookies, or listening to my dad sing off-key while my mom bustled around wrapping last-minute gifts. No decorating the tree. No midnight Christmas kiss.

No waking up in Grey’s arms. We were actually going to spend our very first Christmas in different states.

That was until Grey gave me the most unexpected gift of my life.

T.A. Foster met, fell in love with, and married her own Marine fighter pilot. Through deployments, trainings, and sometimes living oceans apart, their own love story continues every day.

She grew up catching rays and waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her husband, two children, and two canine kiddos.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.

On the outside, Alex Conrad has everything. He’s gorgeous, rich, and has just been elected to the United States Senate by the state of Virginia.

But for the past few years, something has plagued Alex. Something has been missing from his life of privilege and opportunity. Something he has never allowed himself to acknowledge, until the night of his election.

Prudence Romaine is seventeen years Alex’s junior. The daughter of a friend whose life had taken a wrong turn, Prudence came into Alex’s life when she was just sixteen. Despite the passage of time and evidence to the contrary, Alex still thinks of Prudence as the little girl he once tried to rescue.

On election night, the sexual tension between Prudence and the senator reaches a tipping point. Prudence has been in love with Alex for some time, and now that she is in a position to do something about it, she has her aim set on Senator Conrad with no plans of giving up.

But Alex is already committed and a scandal is the last thing the newly-elected politician needs. As Alex pushes Prudence away, convinced their relationship can only end badly for them both, Prudence becomes even more determined to have Alex Conrad in her bed as well as her heart.

And Alex? He can only hold out for so long. And once he gives in, the passion they’ve held back for years threatens to undo them. But loving the senator is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Prudence must learn to handle the pressure that comes with being with a high-profile politician, Alex’s jealous ex-girlfriend, and the demands of the people, if she wants to make this work.

Loving the Senatoris an erotic romance aimed at mature audiences and is part of the Capitol Affairs series of novels

An autographed eBook copy of Loving the Senator

Swag pack (Senator Conrad button, Swoon Romance bracelet and bookmarks)

Chapter One

“God, he is gorgeous,” I whispered to myself as the new senator took the stage. The things I thought about doing to him were sinful and possibly illegal.

     As I watched him walk to the podium, I couldn’t help but admire his confidence, masculinity, and mind-blowing presence. He was sex and sin rolled into one perfect package. His good looks were just an added plus to the incredible politician and leader he was. He looked amazing, but he always did with his wavy dark hair, sensual pouty lips, dark chocolate eyes, and a five o’clock shadow perfectly placed on his face. I was so preoccupied with admiring him, I didn’t realize he was staring back at me.

     At that moment, I decided I would not hold back my feelings for him. He was no longer my boss, and we were past the point of any negative press that could hurt the election. I didn’t care if he had a girlfriend, or he was seventeen years older than me. All that mattered then, was that I wanted him, and I planned on doing whatever it took to have him.

     He adjusted the microphone, his eyes locked onto mine, and he winked. I felt myself get wet. It wasn’t the first time he’d had that effect on me, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. My entire body became hot and flushed as he smiled. I stood amongst the crowd, drinking my first, well-deserved glass of champagne. The icy-cold bubbly felt great going down my dry, hot throat. I watched Alex get ready to deliver his acceptance speech to a crowd shouting his name. The temperature in the room seemed to shoot up twenty degrees as he held my gaze. In a room full of people, we only noticed each other.

     “Conrad, Conrad,” the crowd shouted, which brought a bigger smile to his gorgeous face.

     The crowd hushed to a quiet roar as he began to speak.

     “Thank you, thank you. We did it, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped to get me here. Tonight we are winners, and together we make one hell of a team!” The crowd erupted in cheers.

     “I’m honored to represent our state, the great state of Virginia. I want to thank my parents. Though with me in spirit, their values made me the man I am today. Thank you, Mom and Dad,” he said. Alex looked up at the ceiling and blew a kiss as the crowd roared even louder.

     “My faith in God got me through a tough campaign. Thank you for your faith in me.” Again, the crowd cheered.

     Flanked by the American and Virginian flags, Alex looked like something out of a movie. With his signature five o-clock shadow and the confidence of a man who’d been elected in a landslide victory, Alex Conrad looked as if he owned the world. Above him, balloons held by a giant net, waited for release at just the right time. Soon, we’d be swimming in a sea of blue.

     When several of the campaign workers began chanting my name, I smiled and shook my head from side-to-side. He owned this night, and he deserved the recognition, not me. They couldn’t have elected a better man than Alex Conrad. At forty years old, Alex was the new, energetic, young senator everyone seemed to love.

      “I want to thank the leader of our campaign team, Prudence Romaine. For the past year, she worked, went to law school, and spent her spare time getting me elected.” He seemed to chuckle with that comment.

     “She comes from a long line of politicians herself, and I knew she had in it her to take this to the finish line. This was her first campaign, and she did a remarkable job. Everyone, please give her a round of applause.” The crowd erupted in cheers and my campaign workers chanted my name.

     He caught my eye again; I waved as he pointed at me and smiled. His speech went on for a few minutes longer in between the cheering interruptions of the crowd. When he was finished, his campaign song came on. As the song played, and the balloons fell, he walked out into the mass of people wanting to be near him. They congratulated him with high fives and pats on the back. I watched as women swarmed around him to get closer to this magnificent man. The ballroom erupted in utter chaos as Alex tried to make his way through the crowd.

     After about twenty minutes of mingling, he made his way over to me. I stood beneath a campaign sign that said it all “Alex Conrad, the Man Who Can Get it Done.”

     “Prudence, come here and dance with the new senator? I owe this to you, of course,” he said. His voice sounded gravelly and strained from his speech. When I heard him say ‘come’ it made me ache as I imagined clothes- ripping-up against- a-wall-sex.

     He ran a hand through his hair and I felt his gaze slide over me as he bit his lower lip. I couldn’t believe he wanted me to be his first dance as Senator.

     “I’d love to dance with you, Senator. You didn’t have to thank me up there. I didn’t do this. You did it; look around at this crowd. Everyone adores you,” I smiled. Alex took my champagne glass, swallowed the last of it, and set it on the table, never taking his eyes off me.

     He held out his hand, and I nervously grabbed it. My heart raced when he pulled me closer. His hands were so strong and soft, and I caught a glimpse of his very expensive Cartier watch peeking out of his sleeve. I noticed his crisp white shirt, opened at the neck with his tie hanging loosely. He chose a crimson red tie for the evening and it looked incredible against his black Gucci suit. I spotted a few wisps of black hair on his muscular chest sticking out tempting me. His arms came around me and his hands rested on the curve of my back.

     The band started to play one of my favorite old songs, “Unforgettable” as we danced closer.  I wanted to melt into him forever.

     “I love this song,” he whispered in my ear. The wisp of his breath made me tingle.

     “Me too.”

     To be that close to him was something I only dreamt about.  It was only a dance, but to me it was so much more. I wanted it to be more.

     “Thank you for your help with the election, Prudence. I meant what I said up there. You worried me at first, and I was leery of letting you take on such a big job, but you proved you were a Romaine right off. Your grandfather would be proud of you.”

     His hot minty breath was warm on my neck. His skin was hot against mine, and it brought back thoughts of what the two of us could be doing together if we had been alone. Since the first time I met him, I’ve thought of him, dreamt of him, and longed to see him again. Now, seven years later, I danced in his arms celebrating a new chapter in both of our lives.

     “I enjoyed every crazy minute of it, Senator Conrad,” I said.

     Alex’s campaign had been exhausting, and I ran it well, yet relieved it was over. Guided by my wonderful Aunt Toby, this was my first as a manager. He took a chance when he agreed to let me be in charge, and it paid off for both of us in a significant way.

     His on again-off again girlfriend Jade stood close by watching our every move. I saw her out of the corner of my eye, glaring at us over her exotic neon-blue drink.

     Jade Crenshaw, a tall, overly tanned brunette with big brown eyes and legs that went on forever, was his date for the evening. Once a model, and now a professional interior designer, she loved the spotlight and never seemed to be far away from her man. She stared at us with her over- injected, glossy lips in a perfect pout, clearly upset.

     “Your girlfriend is giving you the evil eye,” I said.

     I kept my cheek pressed to him, inhaling his exotic scent; leathery, expensive cologne that fit him perfectly.

     I’d come to know him and his quirks from the time I’d spent around him. He liked black coffee, cold pizza, and cherry seltzer water. He loved vintage Fiats, fine Italian leather boots, and collected old luggage. At forty-years-old, his body looked toned and perfectly muscular, like someone half his age. He was everything I ever wanted in a man, and I was determined to make him mine.

     It didn’t get any better than Alex Conrad, and he had no idea how I wanted him in my bed and in me. While I had him to myself for a moment, I waited for the opportunity to let him know.

     “She’s mad at me tonight,” he said.

     “Were you a bad boy, Senator?” I asked. I tried to sound playful, hoping he would get the hint.

      “I guess, and I will pay for it later. On the most important night of my life, she wants to make me miserable. She hasn’t said a single word to me all night. Not ‘I’m proud of you.’ Nothing.” He sounded upset.

     How could she be so careless with a man like Alex Conrad? She clearly didn’t deserve him. I swallowed hard. He held me tighter, and I let out a soft moan. Go for it. I closed my eyes tight, and did.

     “She should be making this your night. I would love to make this your night, Senator. If things get to be too much with Jade, you know where to find me. I plan on heading home and taking a hot relaxing bath, slipping into something comfortable, and curling up in my bed with a good law book. I would love for you to join me.”

     “Is that a fact, Miss Romaine?” His breath hissed out, as his lips brushed my ear. An uncontrollable wave of arousal pulsed through me.

     “That’s a fact, Senator Conrad.”

     “You have some effect on me, Prudence.”

     There’s no mistaking his rock-hardness, pressed up against me. It was pure heaven.

     I said nothing.

     He had no idea how wet I was getting. On top of that, my nipples came alive inside my bra begging for his touch. But we were still in public and couldn’t get carried away. I stepped out of his hold and cleared my throat.

     “Who would have guessed the little girl I met at sixteen would change my life so completely seven years later?”

       “You have changed my life as well. If it weren’t for you, and my grandmother, there’s no telling what my life may have become.”

     He became silent, maybe lost in the memory. After a few seconds of silence between us, he spoke.

     “The little girl named after two Beatles songs and hated both of them.”

     “Please, don’t remind me,” I said. He smiled at me and held me gaze.

     The way he looked at me was the way I have always wanted a man to look at me or at least, the way I wanted this man to look at me.

     I stared back into his dark, mysterious eyes, and I imagined how good he must be in bed. The way he watched me, and the way his body moved next to mine was a sign of what kind of lover he would be. He had the looks of a politician, but I sensed him being a naughty boy in bed.

     An ache began between my legs where I needed him to be. I wanted to climb into the nearest bed or back room and show him how much I remembered him.

     “Well, I’m not an insecure teenage girl anymore, Alex. I’m not living with my drugged out mother in a rundown trailer either. Thank God, Beulah got me out of there when she did. Those days are long behind me.”

      “How well I’ve noticed,” he said, moving his eyes over my body. My dress showed off my best assets. I felt my breasts swell, threatening to bust out of my bra as he gazed at them.

      “Your grandmother is a wonderful woman, and I’m sure she is very proud of the woman you’ve become,” he said.

     “I sure hope she is.”

      I certainly wasn’t the same pathetic, sixteen-year-old. I had grown up and became a confident woman. I took pride knowing I was well-educated and supported myself. I worked hard to change my life and my future.

     For just a moment, we were in our own world. We looked at one another and whatever else needed saying, we said with our eyes.

     “Alex, I need you over here. They want to take our picture together,” said a very pissed-off-looking Jade.

     She grabbed Alex by the hand that held my waist and pulled him away from me. Cool air hit me as soon as his warm body pulled from mine. The band began playing a fast song, and the dancing kicked up a notch. As he walked away with his six-foot-tall girlfriend shaking her ass, he looked back at me and winked. I stood and watched as she led him across the crowded room.

     I had put myself out there by letting Alex understand what I wanted. Now, it was up to him to take me up on it.

     I became suddenly exhausted. I had been at the law office most of the day, and I just wanted to go home and relax. I threw back one more glass of champagne, said goodnight, and made my way towards the back door. Alex caught my eye and began to make his way over.

     “Prudence, wait a minute,” he yelled as I pulled on my trench coat. He grabbed my coat and helped me get it on, holding up the shoulders as I slipped my arms through the sleeves.

     “Thank you,” I smiled, turning to face him.

     “You leaving so soon?” he asked. He looked so hot I wanted to take him home with me right then. He got close to me again, and the heat rolled off his mouthwatering body.

     “It’s been a long day and a long campaign. I need a hot bath and my comfy bed,” I said, licking my lips.

     “Thank you again for everything,” he said. He looked around and ran his hands through his hair. His good looks once again mesmerized me. We were alone except a few waiters, cleaning up dishes.

     “I loved every minute helping you with this election, and I can’t wait to do it again,” I smiled a seductive smile at him.

     “Are you all right going home? It’s crazy out there. You need to be careful. Let me call you a cab,” he said, inching closer to me.

     That extra glass of champagne gave me the nerve to do what I was about to do. I reached for his tie, pulled him close, and kissed him long and hard. His lips, so luscious and warm; I wanted them all over my body. I took my other hand and let it lightly pass across his cock. He looked stunned and out of sorts. I licked my lips again and said, “Yes, I’m fine out there going home, a cab is not what I need, and you taste delicious. I want to taste the rest of you, Senator Conrad.”

     Wow, I laid it out there. I even shocked myself at what I said and did. My inner vixen came out in full force, and I couldn’t control it. After a few seconds, he finally spoke.

     “Christ, I’m so tempted to leave with you right now. We could sneak out of here together and be alone away from all of this, but what kind of senator would I be?” he asked, looking dark and intent with his hands in his pockets. His shirt, still unbuttoned, his jacket, off, and his hair, now wild from running his hands through it. I looked at his expensive dress pants and noticed I must have done something right. I could take him up on that offer right then and there.

     “My bed is always waiting for you, now or later.”

     I turned and headed towards the exit sign. I looked back, and he was focused on me. I waved and watched him. His campaign song came on, and everyone started chanting his name. Alex insisted on Barry Whites, “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” as his campaign song. As soon as he heard it, he ran off. The crowd cheered for this captivating man and sang along. Not able to take my eyes off him, I watched as he got up on stage, putting on his baseball hat that read “CONRAD.” I couldn’t help but smile. I would’ve done anything for that man. One more glance at me and he winked again, which sent an ache in my body. My senator. God, I wanted him.

     The sensation of his lips was still awake in my mind on the short ride to my condo. The outline of his cock through his pants had me hypnotized. Like my favorite candy, I hungered for more. I wanted to fuck him senseless and taste every sugarcoated inch of him. How could a man so much older than me have such an effect? There has never been a man that shook me up like Alex Conrad. Just thinking about him sent scorching currents through my body. I didn’t even know what my body would do if we had sex. I would probably transcend to a higher plane and orgasm to death.

     Outside, the streets were in an uproar as the new President would soon be elected. People crowded everywhere, inside and out, partying the night away. The streets, filled with policemen directing traffic, and celebrations that carried on into the night. I had to weave and dodge my new VW bug around stop-and-go traffic as I made my way home.

     It felt so wonderful to finally be home. I couldn’t help but smile as I walked in the door to my familiar surroundings and the peace and quiet of my own place. The steamy hot bath relaxed my overworked body as I lay there and let the water jet around. Working a campaign, entailed many long hours of speech writing, and many miles walked canvassing neighborhoods and organizing. My aunt Toby had started the campaign for Alex. After a while, she let me take over when he started soaring in the polls. My Aunt Toby, a congresswoman herself, was a long-time campaign manager. She taught me everything she knew, and I was so lucky to have her as a mentor. Overwhelmed at first, I caught on right away and loved the excitement.

     I enjoyed the quietness of being home alone in my little sanctuary. I sat in the hot water for almost an hour as I listened to Bocelli, and fantasized about Alex.

     After I got out and dried off, I found something sexy to wear in case he stopped by. I wanted to look as hot as possible. I chose a short, black lacy nightgown that pushed my ample breasts up and barely covered my butt. I chose a matching thong, put my hair up loosely, and of course sprayed my bed and myself with my perfume. I climbed in my comfy bed with a law book, and a cup of coffee, fully intending to study. I snuggled in my flannel sheets and tried to read a couple of chapters to stay awake. I looked at the clock. Eleven o’clock. The party should’ve been wrapping up. By midnight, I drifted off to sleep.

     The light streaming into my bedroom window told me morning had arrived, but I needed more sleep. My head pounded from the champagne and not enough rest. Disappointment set in when I realized my bed was empty. He never came. What would he want with a young girl from the other side of the tracks? He remembered where I’d come from, and how miserable my life had been. That had to be in the back of his mind when he decided not to come over. He saw for himself the drugs, poverty, and craziness that consumed my life every day growing up with my mom. I couldn’t compete with that ex-super model, Jade, and I’m sure my age bothered him. As           I do every morning, I turned the news on while I got ready, and I couldn’t believe Alex was the top story. Instantly, my stomach churned

There’s a monster in every closet, and I’m in yours.

My name is Noah. I’m not a nice person. This isn’t cupcakes and candyland, love.

I’ll take you, break you, and offer you to the highest bidder without a second thought. You’re mine now. It’s business, nothing personal. You wouldn’t understand, and I’m not going to explain it. Sorry, love, you don’t mean a thing to me.

Just know that there’s a monster in every closet, and I’m in yours.

Author Note - This dark romance novel contains themes that may be discomforting to some people. If you are sensitive to depictions of violence, then this book is not recommended for you.

Man’s POV = Ethan, Woman’s POV = Cerys

There is a light at the end of every dark tunnel, no matter how dim it may seem.

Co-Writing Master Over You

Hi!  This is going to be a sort of joint post by me (Cerys) and Ethan about our process of writing Master Over You together, and how we did it.  I hope you enjoy!

Cerys ~

Writing together is honestly really hard sometimes, haha.  I don’t know if I’d suggest it for most people, actually.  There’s a lot of planning that goes into it; a lot more than just a regular book.

One thing that helped is that Ethan and I have known each other for a long time and have done things like this before.  We’ve never published them, but sometimes we would do silly back and forth emails with each other where I would play one character and he would play another.  It was really fun, actually.  I enjoyed it.

I think the thing that comes up the most is that the two writers might have a different idea of what the characters would do or how the story will progress.  I’d say that’s probably the main issue with co-writing something with someone.  It can take a lot of planning and work to make sure everyone’s on the same page.  For us, the thing that helped the most is that we created the characters together, you know?  And the story as a whole.  I wrote Angeline and he wrote Noah (and we sort of shared Chastity for different parts), but before all of that we came up with how we wanted them all to be, with the both of us.

Ethan –

What Cerys said is important.  One thing you can see when reading different books by different authors is how their writing style and voice can change a lot.  Sometimes the style and voice changes with the same author and different books they’ve written, too.  If you’re familiar with an author’s style, then it’s easier to know what stylistic choices they prefer to make.  This can help a lot when attempting to emulate another author’s style, or when trying to write something with them in a joint project.

What helped me in writing with her was that we’ve done it before in some capacity.  Besides that, we’ve also read each other’s writing many times, too.  I enjoy her books a lot, and I like hearing her talk about them and what parts she likes.  She gets really excited, and it’s fun to see her smile like that.

I remember when we first shared our writing with each other.  I don’t think it was good.  I know mine wasn’t.  That was years and years ago, though.  We’ve both grown as people and as writers since then.  I don’t think we grew on our own, though.  A lot of my writing choices, and from what she’s said, hers also, were learned from experience through writing and through reading.  Considering we’ve both read each other’s writing a lot, it makes sense that we’d gain insight in our different styles and know how they do or don’t work together.

One other thing that’s important to know is that Cerys acted as a continuity editor, too.  We both edited the entire thing for typos and grammatical errors, but she went through and edited it for style and voice, also.  She made sure to mix our styles together, while still trying to keep them distinct and separate, too.  It’s a difficult task, but definitely important for any authors who decide to co-write a story together.

Cerys

Ethan

He has a penchant for exploring and traveling, with a passion for the unique and interesting. His interests include reading, exercising, laying on the beach, spanking (good girls), romancing, smiling, going for walks that lead to nowhere, hiking, bondage, and one day he would love to travel to Alaska.

His writing delves into the human experience, with a preference towards a psychological thriller twist. He loves mystery, dark romance, and suspense. While some of his writing may be twisted, he believes in romantic true love, above all things. His books include raw, real emotions, good and bad. He believes there is a light at the end of every dark tunnel, and his writing hopes to encompass that.

He loves happy endings, kissing, and a focus on the ordinary turned extraordinary.

The Finnegan brothers are constantly pulling Lena back in. Micah deserves her attention but when Blake calls she will always run to save the day, even against her better judgment.

With the wedding looming and love in the air Lena has to make a decision. Finally be rid of the Finnegan brothers for good and be with the mysteriously attractive Micah, or be thrown back into the madness?

In the end who will she choose?

I sprinted through the night until I came upon a couple from the party.

“What happened?” I gasped through rushed breaths. “Why is everyone standing around?”

The girl looked at me, annoyed. “Because there’s a guy on the roof?”

“What?” I looked past them and saw Zoe and Blake. I ran to them.

“What the hell is going on? And why is some asshat on your roof?”

Blake looked at me. “Where have you been?”

I tried to smooth down my hair. “Doesn’t matter. What is going on?”

Zoe began, “Well, see…”

“The whole time I was fucking her I wanted it to be you. I even said your name.” He shook his head back and forth, clearly disgusted with himself. I didn’t react, hoping that it would continue to calm him down, but he kept going. “I said your fucking name, Lena. I could have any girl in the world and yet I want you! Why the hell is that? Why do you still have this hold on me after all this time?”

giveaway for one (1) ebook copy of Misconception and Deception 

Open internationally.

To Win you just have to like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, Follow the blog and leave a comment in this post.

Morgan Black is a hair stylist by day and hottie writer by night. She walks her dogs in high heels and never leaves the house without red lipstick. She firmly believes in the power of Zen, and does Yoga freely in her backyard, in her favorite set of pumps.

Morgan Black also writes hot vampire erom under M. Black.

 

Travel back to Red Hill on Halloween!

AMONG MONSTERS will be here on October 31st!

Being thirteen has pitfalls of its own, but growing up has never been this hard.

Jenna had promised her mother that if the worst happened during her dad’s weekend, they would meet at Red Hill Ranch. When she finds seven words spray-painted on her dad’s wall the morning after a deadly outbreak, she makes a promise to herself: to get to the ranch with her seven-year-old sister, Halle, and to get them both there alive.

Among Monsters is the companion novella to Red Hill, both exploring from different perspectives what many broken families experience every other weekend: What if your children aren’t with you when the world ends? What would you do to get to them? What would they go through to get to you?

For Jenna, seeing her mother again is worth everything. Determined to keep her promise, she is faced with experiences and decisions that force her to leave her childhood behind.

“So, we’re going?” I asked.

At the same time, a low moan sounded behind me, and something lunged at Dad from around the corner. I didn’t look. I just swung my bat at what I thought to be at head level. It wasn’t like the video games or television shows. I hadn’t seen it coming. No scary music had built the suspense or indicated foreshadowing.

I could hear Dad struggling behind me, but all I could think about was the mouth belonging to the infected coming at me and keeping it away from my skin. The adrenaline made everything both sharp and blurry. In one moment, I was next to its bloodstained clothes and dry, scratchy skin, and the next, it was standing in front of me, reaching out again. I wasn’t quite sure how I’d gotten away.

He was tall. I couldn’t kick his knees out from under him, so I swung the bat as hard as I could. That wasn’t like the video game either. The vibration from the impact traveled up the bat and into my arms, startling me, but the creature fell, and I swung at his head. The bat met his skull with a crack, but I didn’t stop until the bone gave way.

Dad grabbed my collar, and we ran south—away from the school, away from the house. The groans from the infected had attracted more.

“We’ve got to lead them away from the house!” Dad said. “This way!”

We sprinted through backyards, hopped over fences, and dodged plastic pools and swing sets until we made a full circle, sneaking into April’s backyard once we were sure it was clear.

“Oh,” I said, noticing Dad was covered in dark goo.

“I panicked,” he said. “I was trying to get him off me, so I could help you.”

“I held my own,” I said.

“I noticed. You weren’t bit?” he asked.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You?”

Until that moment, I hadn’t been truly afraid. I hadn’t realized that something as simple as a bite could take Dad away from me. He would die, and Halle and I would be on our own.

He pulled open the back door of April’s house, and once it was closed behind us, he hugged me, and I sobbed into his chest.

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