New book from Changeling!

Hey, y'all!

I have to tell you how excited I am to debut my Soul Debt story this week. It's called Opportunity Knocks, and it's all about Jordie, a rock star with writer's block. At least until his annual visit from a demon gets his creative juices going again. Mal's not just any demon, though, and he's worked hard to get Jordie's case!

Here's the cover!

And here's something spicy to help you love it!

Mal kissed the back of Jordie’s neck. “Shall we get started?”

“Sure.” One day this part wouldn’t be weird, right? The demons were always different, so there was this bizarre getting to know you--

“You’re thinking too much.” Mal turned him around and kissed him hard on the mouth. None of them had ever kissed him before. It was like being touched by a live wire, but without all the badness and only the wonderful shock. He reached up and grabbed Mal’s shoulders, bare and sun-warmed under his hands.>p> Mal hummed, tongue fucking Jordie’s lips, fingers digging into his ass. They moved together, his back landing against the wall as Mal pressed against him. He could feel the heavy, fat cock on his hip, letting itself be known.

“Please.” He hated begging, but that was exactly what he was already doing. It had taken, what, three seconds to get there?

Mal’s laughter was at least more husky than mocking, and the fingers around his cock felt perfect. They rocked together for a moment, just jonesing on the touching. It would get way more intense and he knew it.

“Quit anticipating. Just let it happen.”

Like he could do that. Still, that touch was so fine, so good, and he arched into it, asking for more. His breath started to come hard and fast. Jordie shook, a song beginning to blossom in the base of his skull. Thank-- well, not God. No, this was demon born, but he didn’t care. He had to be able to make music. Had to. It was the biggest thing in the universe, more necessary than breathing.

“Better, huh?” Mal breathed against his ear, so hot, like fire.

“Better,” Jordie agreed, pressing back, demanding more. The magic swirled around them. It was crazy, how this worked, how fucking sexy this was. Those hot demon’s hands slid over his skin, stroking, stoking the fire.

His clothes fell away, almost scorched as they fluttered to the ground. Jordie let his skin rub Mal’s, feeling like he might go up in flames. Fuck, he knew he’d been hot for it before, but this... This was fiery.

“See? All you have to do is let go, baby.”

***

And here's where you can buy it!

XXOO

Julia

RT 2013

So, we made it to RT 2013 in Kansas City. We being me and my girl, BA Tortuga.

Kansas City is surprisingly nice. We didn't get out of the hotel much, but I enjoyed the people and the BBQ greatly.

We got to see everyone. I mean it. All the people. If I try to mention all by name I will no doubt miss someone, but I want to thank everyone who stopped to chat, hug, eat, and sign and receive books.

A huge thank you to Tara Lain from Ellora's Cave for arranging the EC party on Wednesday night. We had a blast.

A big thank you to ARE for the Thursday expo

Thanks to Cheryl Dragon for clue-ing us in to the Signing at the Plaza Saturday afternoon

The best part, though? The fangirling I got to do Saturday at the Giant Book fair. I deliberately didn't sign so I could go. I got to see Jude Devereaux and Maya Banks, Janelle Taylor and Sylvia Day. I got to jump and squee at my friends' table, making lots of other people look and wonder who they were. Sadly, Karen Robards was a no show, as I really wanted to thank her for the hours of pleasure she's given me as a reader, but all in all, it was a blast.

Next year is in NOLA, and I can't wait. Y'all should come with.

XXOO

Julia

now for something completely different

I was sitting and reading Bon Appetit the other day, and there was one of those little boxes, you know, info chunking instead of articles.

The window box talked about why this particular guy hated B&Bs. I read about how he didn't want to eat breakfast at 7:30 with 10 strangers, and about how he wanted to check into a hotel anytime after 2, not between 4 and 4:30. He didn't want to be chastised for not eating the scones or for getting back past curfew.

Y'all, I was so excited to see someone else who didn't like the B&B experience. Our last one, while very pretty and clean, served us coddled eggs and a dry piece of Udi's toast after claiming to be gluten free accommodating. Worse, she told us she was sorry we missed out on the cookies, as she made great ones. Even though my partner and I and another guest not in our party were GF, she made no attempt to even put out fresh fruit when everyone else got brownies and cookies and homemade bread...

Give me my hotel, where I don't feel like I'm tiptoeing through someone else's life.

Doesn't mean I don't have the coolest idea for a B&B storyline, though...

It was just fun to see someone else say the same thing.

XXOO

Julia

so busy!

but I'm working on my newsletter, gearing up for Romantic Times, and getting ready to adventure!

I love adventure

Today I am listening to the wind, waiting for the Voice to come on, and typing with a punctured finger

Mwah

Julia

This is how a whole week slips by

It's called recovering from vacay, and from a new eating plan introduced by the doc. Sugars down!

My newest release is called Incomparable.

It's my first Bloodrose solo release since Lean on Me.

Here's the cover, which I think BC did a fab job on

And here's a bit to get you going

Nikolas had to admit the new bar manager intrigued him. Three weeks the man had been there, and he was a model of efficiency. Ashe knew every bartender, server, security guard and performer by name. The man knew the drink menu by the second night, and by week two he had added three new cocktails that were flying off the liquor shelves.

Ashe was also very attractive, almost bear-like with his shaggy, dark gold hair and big, soulful brown eyes.

The most intriguing thing, though, was how Ashe treated Nikolas. Like he was just like everyone else.

Not that being treated like everyone else was bad. On the contrary, Nikolas found it utterly fascinating. Ashe didn’t stare, he didn’t try to pick Nikolas up, and he didn’t offer to do shows with him. All Ashe did was serve him a drink now and then and tell him goodnight when he left. Nikolas wended his way to the bar a half hour or so before opening, wearing the robe Cady had pressed on him, not wanting him to ruin the intricate gilding the man had done for Nikolas for tonight’s show. The robe was soft enough to absorb any extra paint and powder, but not rub it off like his street clothes would.

“Hey, Nik,” Ashe said, smiling at him when he sat down. “How goes? Coffee or bourbon?” How neat was it that Ashe remembered what he drank? Coffee when he was doing a scene with spanking or whipping, bourbon where he was doing bondage or anything else requiring stillness.

“Bourbon, please. We’re doing ropes tonight.”

“Yeah? Isn’t that uncomfortable?” Ashe set out a short glass and poured two fingers of bourbon into it. The man had the most perfect pour. Apparently overpour had gone down a ridiculous sixty-five percent since Ashe had taken over the bar. Jonny had said he’d thought his bar staff was close to perfect, but with Ashe on the job, they were models of efficiency.

“It’s actually kind of Zen.” It wasn’t as amazing as being beaten, which Nikolas found utterly perfect, calming, even, but it settled him anyway. He loved bottoming. Nik didn’t consider himself a sub. He wasn’t interested in service at all, had no desire to kneel next to someone all night with his hands behind his head.

Beatings and ass play and stuff? He loved that, and he excelled at it to the point where all the other performers sniped about him behind his back and the customers got a little… gushy sometimes.

Ashe laughed. “I think it would drive me nuts. Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Their fingers touched when Ashe handed over the glass, and Nik felt a little jolt of awareness.

Too bad Ashe seemed unfazed. He really did.

“Can I ask you something?” Nik said, staring at the way light glinted off the liquid in his glass.

“Sure.” Ashe started stacking clean glasses on a rubber mat.

“Are you straight?”

“What?” Those brown eyes met his, Ashe frowning a little.

“Are you? I mean, I know the ‘Rose is mostly a gay place, but no one would hold it against you if you were into the ladies.”

Ashe laughed, the sound more surprise than anything, Nikolas thought. “No. I’m queer as a three dollar bill.”

“Oh.” Nikolas deflated a little. Wow. That was somehow more of a bummer than if Ashe had said he was straight.

“Why?”

Nik tossed back his bourbon before answering. He needed a little time to collect his thoughts. “You never hit on me,” was what finally came out, and he winced because that sounded so fucking conceited.

“Well, that’s not because I’m straight or because you’re not the most stunning man I’ve ever seen.” Those smile lines fascinated him, the way they creased the skin on either side of Ashe’s mouth.

“No? What is it, then?” Nik was truly interested. Ashe was the first guy in ages who called to him that way.

“Well, everyone has told me you don’t date co-workers.”

Huh. He sat up a little taller. True enough, but “everyone” didn’t need to be making his decisions for him. “What if I decided to make an exception for you?"

***

Thanks for reading, y'all! Find Incomparable here!

Not dead!

I swear, I've just been out of town

Tune in this week for my newest release!

xxoo

Julia

What I'm working on right now

A Bloodrose story is in final proofing for Torquere!

From the unproofed copy

Nikolas laughed, the sound light, unforced. “And I wondered if you were straight. So, this is the getting to know you portion of the evening, right? What else do you want to know?”

Ashe didn’t even blink, didn’t think. He just blurted out, “Why do you do what you do?”

The long look Nikolas gave him was as direct and as serious as the silence that came with it. Then those inky lashes fell over Nik’s eyes. “Why does anyone do their job? I’m good at it.”

“I’m sorry.” Ashe didn’t know what else to say, since it seemed to be a sore spot. “I mean, I’m a bartender because I don’t have the attention span for anything else. And because I like to sleep in.”

“Really?” Nik glanced back up at him, a smile beginning to form on his beautiful mouth. “Lazy and bartender don’t go together.”

“Hey, I never said I was lazy.”

“And I’m not a slut.” The flat words surprised him, did make him blink now.

“I never said you were. I mean, I didn’t mean to give that impression.” Ashe tried hard to get the words in the right order. “I guess it just doesn’t jive with what I know about the lifestyle. Which is, admittedly, not much.”

“What do you mean?” Now Nik sipped his coffee, meeting his gaze directly, which he guessed was an improvement.

“Well, I thought subs liked to have one Master, or whatever.” He’d read books. Real ones, not those terrible ones that treated BDSM like a full contact sport. Working at the Bloodrose had been hugely educational.

Nikolas’ frown cleared up, a smile glinting in those clear gray eyes. “Well, see, that’s just it. I’m not a sub.”

“Uh…” He had no idea what to say to that. Nik let people tie him up, beat him, bind his cock, put plugs in his ass. How was that not subby?

“Seriously.” Leaning forward, Nik lowered his voice. “I’m a bottom, right? I like spanking and assplay and stuff, but I’m not interested in service. I have no desire to sit naked at someone’s feet all night with my hands behind my neck or something.”

“Okay.” Ashe was totally out of his league. As in, he’d never thought of his own sex life in more complicated terms than whether he liked to pitch or catch.

Ashe was a pitcher.

Hope I piqued your interest!

XXOO

Julia