LOOK MA...NO HANDS

Decided to post something a little different.
Why?  Because I can.
It's been a busy, chaotic week and as usual I end up getting screwed over and not kissed first.
Life can be that way but at least some flowers or chocolate after being so rough would ease the pain.
I am a pretty lucky guy. I write sexy, fun, erotic stories and design book covers for some pretty big authors. At times I pinch myself which is silly because I look funny pinching myself on the butt.  
But we all have rough days and I was thinking about what a perfect day would be like.
Other than having Kate Beckinsale give e a full service body massage and oil treatment.

For me a perfect day would be sleeping in, breakfast in bed (waffles and bacon) some really hot sex, going back to sleep, waking up to a double roasted beef sandwich and a Dr Pepper, some more hot sex, watching some zombie movies, a big steak dinner with a baked potato and getting a shoulder massage while watching the game, some more really hot sex then sleeping for 12 hours.

Typical man. Food, Sex, Sleep and Sports.   The order may vary.

What would all of your perfect days be like?                                                            

A peek at A Taste for a Mate by Carrie Ann Ryan

Look what I got for you...

A special peek at A Taste for a Mate.

Chapter 1

The scent of cinnamon and sugar danced on the air as Willow Delton heaved opened the heavy oven door to remove her prized cinnamon rolls. The plump, buttery pastries were baked to perfection, and she set them on the counter to cool. The only thing missing was her thick and creamy frosting, but that would have to wait.

Willow stood back and stared around her commercial grade kitchen. She’d started her bakery from scratch, and it had grown into a successful, albeit small, business. Incredible, really. She’d never thought the day would arrive when she finally had a place to call her own. She was right where she wanted to be. Her favorite part of the day was being able to meet one-on-one with her customers. She loved the looks on their faces when they bit into her temptations, that look of ecstasy not seen on this side of the bedroom door that flashed across their eyes.

Of course, that particular look as the result of a man was long absent from Willow’s face. Too excruciatingly long.

She stood back and closed her eyes, conjuring the memory of her mystery man’s face. The image that filled her mind made her forget the lack of human contact. The thought of his deep, husky voice tickled her spine whenever he spoke. Green eyes caught her in his web with only a glance. She’d fallen for a stranger and didn’t even know his name. He’d come into her store every morning and ordered a cinnamon roll and coffee with only a few words. Then he ‘d pay cash before lifting up the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile and walking out of her store. Was it strange she worried he’d keep walking and never return?

A bell’s tinkle pulled Willow from her reverie and self-pity. As she turned to greet her customer, her heart leapt to her throat. Him. Her mysterious fantasy man. As she tried to regain her senses, she took all of him in. He had to be one of the tallest men she’d ever seen, easily over six and a half feet. The tight black T-shirt he wore hugged his biceps and cut into his muscular physique, while his broad shoulders stretched and strained the seams. His body tapered down to a narrow waist and hips as they met his thighs. His long legs she wanted to grip, encased in worn jeans lead to work boots. Hmm, construction perhaps? She glanced back up his body to his striking face.

He wasn’t beautiful, but he did have a face most women would dream about. A strong jaw and cheekbones gave him an aura of strength, the kind of strength that would be protective. His hair was midnight black and long enough to brush his shoulders, however, today, a band held it back, showcasing his face more. He studied her, his green eyes calm and calculating. Willow let out a surprised gasp at the sexual heat radiating from him. Could she possibly be imagining things?

****

Jasper Jamenson fought himself as he walked into the bakery that morning. This would be the seventh week in a row he’d come here, every day but Sunday. And that was only because the damn store was closed. As good as the cinnamon rolls were, and they were little tastes of heaven, it was the woman behind the counter that brought him there every morning.

Following a particularly bad night in the forest on a hunt, Jasper had been pissed and hungry. Another wolf had tried to play a dominant game, forcing Jasper to hurt him. The stench of the other’s defeat had remained on him, only angering Jasper that much more. The scent of the morning’s freshly baked goods pulled him through the quaint and welcoming door, and the slender goddess who served him brought thoughts of a different form of servicing to mind.

Slightly above average in height – he would guess about five foot seven – she was the perfect height to settle against his body. For someone who owned and operated a bakery, she was as skinny as a rail. However, if he looked close enough he could see the telltale signs possible of curves. And with just a little bit of his help and pampering she would gain some well-needed cushion. No matter what, she’d look amazing underneath him. Her long, light brown hair curled in a bun on the top of her head. His fingers ached to pull out the pins and watch it tumble down her back. Hazel eyes sought him and begged for his protection. Damn, he was willing.

Her look made the wolf within him perk up and growl.

“Mate? I want her”. His wolf paced beneath the surface of his skin, calculating the best way to quickly claim their mate.

What his wolf spoke of was a possibility. There were only a few women in the world through time that carried the scent to signal the potential mating. Unlike his brother Kade, who had met two women recently that carried the scent, Jasper had never in his one-hundred and three years come across a woman who brought forth the mating urge. However, if all encounters were like this one, Jasper didn’t know how others walked away. The urge rode him hard and he fought his wolf for control if only for a moment, something that hadn’t happened since he was a pup.

He mentally spoke to his wolf. “We are not ready for a mate. And a human no less. She knows nothing of us. If, and that is a big if, we chose her to be our mate, we will have to go slowly into this. I don’t want us to scare her. But she is beautiful, no”

His wolf growled in response.

“Do you want to scare her away? Let’s get to know her first, see if she is a good match, other than that incredible cinnamon scent. I’ll talk to Adam and find out everything I can about her. I am the Beta; I cannot put my Pack in jeopardy.”

God, he really sucked at this. This time he needed to put on his big wolf panties and actually ask her out.

“Then we could mark her.”

He snorted at his wolf. Yeah, that was taking it slow.

Jasper shook himself from his inner thoughts and looked into those hazel eyes. The spot of flour on her cheek begged for his hand to brush it way. He fought the urge. No need to freak her out. Her chest moved slowly, her small breasts rising and falling. The cinnamon scent of her filled his nostrils and he took a deep breath, the aroma going straight to his cock. The slight gasp that escaped from her kissable lips almost broke his control, and he fisted his hands to regain it.

“Good morning.” His voice lowered an octave and became a growl. He cleared his throat and started again. “I come here every morning and I don’t think I ever gave you my name. Let me rectify that.” He closed the distance between them so only the counter separated them. “I’m Jasper Jamenson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand in hopes of touching her skin.

Willow blinked up at him and seemed at a loss for words. Her lips opened slightly, begging him to lean down and taste her.

“Uh… yeah… I’m Willow Delton.” She shook her head, gave him a small smile and placed her slender hand in his. He’d been right – her skin was incredibly soft and made him want to take a bite.

“Yes, I know, you own this place.” He gave her hand a squeeze and released her.

“So, Jasper, do you want your usual?” The sound of his name on her lips hardened his cock. Without waiting for him to respond, she turned back to her work-table to ice her cinnamon rolls.

“Sounds good.” He watched as her hands moved swiftly and confidently across the baking sheets. “What time do you get off?”

“Smooth, Romeo. Why don’t you just ask her to bend over the work table for you?”

Ignoring his wolf Jasper continued, “I thought that we could grab a bite to eat tonight and go see to the arts fest they have running in town.”

Oh dear Lord. Why didn’t he ease into this?

“Oh, are you asking me out on a date?” She wrinkled her brow and looked utterly confused at the prospect.

“Yes, I am. I’ve been in here for over a month every morning, and as much as I love your food, I had an ulterior motive.”

Surprise flashed across her face before her eyes lit up with excitement. “I’ve never been to the arts fest in town. I didn’t want to go by myself and didn’t have anyone to go with me.” Her mouth snapped shut at her revealing statement.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head. “So what time do you get off?”

“You really need to stop putting it like that; it gives me ideas.” Again, he ignored his wolf’s sarcasm.

“I close at four and should be done cleaning up by five. It’s only me here today so it’s going to take me an hour to close.”

“What do you say I come back at six and we go to dinner from here?”

Her smile almost blinded him as she nodded before taking off her apron. “Okay. Sounds good. Here’s your breakfast.” She handed him his black coffee and a small brown bag with a pink logo.

Taking everything from her hands, he set them down along with the cash to pay for it. Giving into temptation he leaned over the counter to brush the flour from her cheek.

She jumped and a flash of alarm raced across her face.

Chuckling under his breath, he reassured her. “Just some flour. I’ll see you at six, Willow.” He grabbed his breakfast and walked to the door, taking one last look behind him at the woman who was his mate. He was one lucky bastard.

Whistling a jaunty tune, he walked toward his Jeep, unconcerned and happy while leaving his mate to do her work. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted, and his wolf came to attention. The street was empty but for a few people; nothing looked out of place. Jasper took a deep breath but didn’t detect another presence. With one last look toward his slender brunette, he shrugged off the uneasy feeling and continued to his Jeep.

BUY IT HERE: AMAZON and B&N

Welcome special guest Carrie Ann Ryan

Do you like paranormal? Are you a vampire, or shifter fan? Do you have a preference? Well our visiting author Carrie Ann Ryan does... she is a shifter fan. She not only reads shifters, she writes them as well, as a matter of fact today is her release for her newest book  A Taste of a Mate in her Redwood Pack series.

So my question for Miss Carrie Ann Ryan is "If you were a Shifter, what would you be?"

If I were a Shifter…

 

If I were a shifter…what would I be? Well that’s easy… oh wait. Well it was easy before I started writing and reading about amazing shifters. I mean there are wolves, cats and bears, (oh my!) Sorry I could resist.

            But I were a shifter, I’d have to go with my gut instinct – a wolf. I love them in real life and I write them in my books. Though in the future I’m going write about others, I still feel an inherent connection to the wolf.

            They are beautiful and frankly to most, misunderstood. Some see them as predators and not as caring beings that protect those around them.

            Don’t worry, I won’t get into an endangered species talk – but I will say that the best parts of paranormal romance shifter stories are when the authors take those things and put them in the character.

            I would love to run on four paws, have enhanced senses, and feel like part of a Pack. If I were a cat shifter, sometimes the author has them as solitary creatures and other times part of a pride or jamboree.

            Wolves are Pack creatures – unless of course they are lone wolves. *grins*

            I love the idea of being part of a Pack that will protect and keep you whole. I don’t know why, but that seems intriguing to me. LOL

            If I were a shifter… I’d love the fact that I’d have two halves of a whole. I know that the constant struggle to see which would be stronger and in command is a burden – but I want to know more about it. I want to be able to run in the woods under the moonlight.

            And no – I don’t do it now. It’s cold out there! And kind of creepy.

            Jasper is a werewolf in A Taste for a Mate. He has another soul in his body – his wolf’s. He does struggle with control sometimes – but really only when he’s distracted over a certain mate of his – Willow.

            If you were a shifter… what would you be? Why?

 

A Taste for a Mate - Redwood Pack Book 2  Now Available   Jasper Jamenson’s only responsibility to being the Beta of the Redwood Pack, second son of the Alpha, is to protect the Pack from themselves and the human world. After a century of selfless service, his brother’s new found mating forced him into taking a good look into his life. He isn’t sure he wants a mate, but fate may have other ideas. Willow Delton is a skinny, bakery owner – the type most woman love to hate. Being without family, she finds herself alone to the Greek god with green eyes who saunters into her bakery every morning. Her desire to follow him, to be with him, overrides every rational sense she possessed. Jasper and Willow are drawn together, despite every nuisance that works against them. But evil beyond even Jasper’s supernatural compensation will make war against him, by going after the only thing in his eternal life he desires – Willow. Is Willow’s heart enough to overcome Jasper’s soul to save her life? A fight he cannot win, but to save her life – he must.

An Alpha’s Path - Amazon and Barnes & Noble

A Taste for a Mate - Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website

Blog

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Friend

Goodreads

Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

Don't forget to leave a comment or answer Carrie Ann Ryan's question for a chance to win an autographed bookmark and stop back by tomorrow for a sneak peek at Chapter one of A Taste for a Mate.

The Curse

I was asked what it is like to be outnumbered by women around the house.

Like most men I have zero knowledge of the "CURSE"
You know, when you have the painters in to retexture the walls
Painting the town red
Riding the cotton pony
Or the various other ways you describe your monthly "CURSE".
Well as a man all I know is this.

Women do tend to flow together in groups so once a month I try to take my son and run for the hills.
The wifey and two daughters scare the bejeezus out of me.
I'm scared they'll have a knife after I eat the last morsel of chocolate chip cookies or dare even ask if I can have a single sheet of toilet paper and debate on just using my hand so I don't have to bother any of the females in the house. Leaving the seat up or having bad aim has been known to cause bodily harm.
I hope I don't offend anyone I am just teasing about this... Please, put the sharpened pencil down.

Being around the women at home helps me get a little better idea about some things. Except the little female pacts when you all sit in a circle chanting. I also now now where Steven King has gotten inspiration for some of his novels. It also keeps me in line because it is a constant reminder of who really runs the world.

We all think men do but even President Obama asks Michelle if his tie matches his suit.
And you know she sends him back to put on matching colored socks.

Having Fun Yet?

I have had a lot of fun with my contests and giveaways.
So now I was thinking what else to do.
Be on the lookout for a new giveaway, I like sharing thinks and giving gifts to people.
All the blogging and social network stuff is new and different to me but I have been meeting new people and want to thank everyone for being so open and fun.
Other than the nude photos of me with a blow-up sheep and covered in grape jelly, everything else has been positive.
I do like ending my posts with questions and have had some great laughs from everyone.

I'm doing a gift basket for RT in April and want it to be cool.

What would be great gifts for the basket?

GO TEAM!

 So the NFL Playoffs are this Sunday and my favorite team is playing, San Francisco 49ers.  Since I know they are going to win. I thought why not celebrate and do a giveaway!
   

 

 

VS

Do you watch the Playoffs,Superbowl, just the commercials and halftime show, or not at all?

One lucky winner will win a gift card in the amount of San Francisco 49ers total score (if San Fransisco's score is 28 you win a GC for $28). So be sure to root for the 49ers and watch the score. Leave a comment answering the question and don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you when you win. Contest closes on Sunday at midnight PST, winner will be announced Monday, January, 23.

* Don't forget to sign up for my Kindle Giveaway! Another super easy contest - just sign up for my newsletter http://www.slcarpenter.net/ 

winner will be drawn on 1/22.

A Quickie

I know you all thought I was talking about the "OTHER" kind of quickie.
Had to send a reminder to everyone about my giveaway.
At the end of the week I'm going to draw a name from my newsletter for a new KINDLE eReader.
Wanted to give everyone a chance.

As usual a question for everyone.

Speaking of giveaways, I am going to RT and want to give a basket of goodies.
What would be nice goodies to have in the basket?