Release day! Today it’s my pleasure to feature Deacon by
Cheryl Douglas, Starkis Family, Book 1.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Date of Publication: June 15th, 2015
Number of pages: 158
Word Count: 74k
Cover Artist: Fantasia Frog Designs
Book Description
When Deacon Sarkis sets his sights on the gorgeous young
model gracing the pages of his glossy catalogue, he knows he has to have her.
One problem. She’s not available. But that won’t stop Deacon. He’s a man used
to getting what he wants and he wants Mia.
Mia is stunned when she receives an email from the elusive
billionaire who owns the lingerie company she models for. He tells her he’s
intrigued. He’s not the only one. But she knows she’d be a fool to throw away
an eight year relationship for a brief affair with the head honcho. He doesn’t
do relationships and she doesn’t do casual sex. It seems they’re at an impasse.
Who will come out on top in this battle of wills? The
dominant one or the woman intent on teaching him the meaning of submission?
Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win a $25 gift card.
Book Trailer
Excerpt
I barged into Deacon’s office
at eight o’clock that evening. Since his silver Lamborghini was one of the few cars left in
the parking lot, I wasn’t too concerned about interrupting a meeting.
He looked up from his computer
when I stormed in, and a smile quickly replaced his scowl. “They let you in without
clearance?”
I plopped down in the seat across
from him, trying not to notice how tempting he looked with his sleeves rolled up and
no tie on. “The receptionist who usually guards your castle left for the day, and the security guard
at the front desk has a crush on me, so he didn’t ask any
questions.”
He frowned. “Which security
guard is that?”
I spotted a stress ball on the
corner of his desk. I doubted he used it; it looked like a promo item Alabaster’s gave away. I
whipped it at his chest. “You’re not serious.”
He laughed, catching the ball
before it hit him. “You have a pretty good arm.”
“Shut up, Deacon!” The nagging
voice in the back of my head reminded me I was talking to my boss, but I told her to mind
her own goddamn business and go back to sleep. “I’m pissed at
you.”
He leaned back, kicking his
feet up on the desk as he tossed the ball from one hand to the other and squeezed it. “Do
tell.”
“You told Eleni about us.”
“So?”
“So you had no right to do
that!”
He seemed totally unfazed by my
anger, which only incensed me further.
“She’s my friend. I should have
been the one to tell her, when—or if—I decided there was anything worth telling her.” That
got his attention.
When he pinned me with that hot
gaze, I feared he would demand I bend over the desk and take my punishment like a brave
girl.
“I asked you not to tell
anyone, including Eleni. You didn’t, and I appreciate that. Now that
you’re single, I’ve decided
it’s time your best friend know about our… relationship.”
The way he said relationship
made me feel as though he had been seeking a different word but come up short. Arrangement,
perhaps? Was that what this was to him?
Not willing to let him have the
last word, I said, “We’re not in a relationship. We’re still getting to know each other. If
I like what I see, I might
agree
to date you, though not exclusively. I’ve been tied down too long to
get serious again so soon.” I swallowed, averting my eyes when the thin skin across his
knuckles turned white from the pressure he was inflicting on the ball. “Let me get this straight. You might
agree
to date me—though not exclusively?”
I was almost afraid to push him
further, but if I backed down, that would set a precedent for all future arguments. “That’s
right. If you have a problem with that, we can part ways now and—
”
He planted his feet on the
floor and made his way around the desk slowly, like a panther preparing to devour its prey.
He gripped the armrests of my chair, his face a fraction of an inch from mine. I held my breath—waiting,
praying, and trying to predict what he might do next. Pushing him had been a very bad
idea.
“You
really think that’s an option?” he whispered.
About the Author
When one door closes, another one opens. I closed the door
to my business for the last time in 2011, which left me with a decision. What
now? Find another location and move my nutrition business, go to work for
someone else, or take a chance on my dream? I chose the latter and I’ve never
looked back!
I’ve always loved reading and writing, but it wasn’t until I
jumped in with both feet and decided writing would be my career, instead of
just a hobby, that my muse woke up from her deep slumber.
It was like someone flipped a switch inside my head and
stories just came pouring out. At the end of the day, I would often look at the
keyboard and wonder, ‘Who the heck wrote that? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure it wasn’t
me!’
I don’t write books. I tell stories, or rather, I allow my
characters to tell their stories through me. I’m not a plotter, never have
been, never will be. Why? Because I have no idea how the story will evolve and
it’s not my place to manipulate it. My job is to get to know these characters,
figure out what makes them tick, then follow their journey wherever it takes
me.
When I’m not writing, I’m daydreaming. Thankfully, I have an
understanding husband and son who know I’ll re-join the land of the living just
as soon as my muse decides it’s quitting time. I don’t work for myself. I work
for her. She’s the boss. And I’m okay with that.
1 comment:
A fun post thank you.
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