Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my book blitz for the .99 sale on A Measured Risk, Regency Risks
Book One.
I am giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. To enter, please fill out the
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On Sale .99
at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
June 20-22, 2014
A MEASURED RISK
By Natasha
Blackthorne
Book one in the Regency Risks
Series
He is her most dangerous
temptation, the only man she has ever trusted and now he is demanding her
submission. Dare she take the risk?
Emotionally scarred in the
horrific accident that took her husband’s life, Lady Cranfield is imprisoned by
her lingering terror of horses and carriages. She longs to be closer to the
fascinating Earl of Ruel, as she senses intuitively that he might be able to
teach her how to overcome the terrors that hold her in bondage.
And now she’s willing to risk
almost anything—her reputation, even her virtue—to find out.
But what Lord Ruel proposes
startles her.
When the shy, studious and
socially awkward young widow approaches him, Lord Ruel instantly senses she
will be the sweetest, most submissive experience of his life—but first he must
gain her complete trust. Lord Ruel makes Lady Cranfield a non-negotiable offer:
His help in return for her submission and obedience.
But Lady Cranfield grew up
neglected by her ducal parents, raised by servants and then later ignored by
her handsome, charming husband. She’s learnt to protect her heart at all costs
and she trusts no one but herself.
How can the jaded Earl of Ruel break through Lady Cranfield’s
self-defences and show her how to love when he himself has spent his life
avoiding that tender trap?
Erotica Romance ~ Light
BDSM ~ Rubenesque / BBW ~ Regency Historical ~ Shy Heroine ~ Novel Length
86,000 Words . Contains graphic erotic descriptions and frank sexual language.
As a work of historical romance fiction, A Measured Risk is not
intended to be an accurate portrayal of modern BDSM lifestyles.
Excerpt from A
Measured Risk
©Copyright Natasha
Blackthorne 2012, 2013
For Adults 18+ Only
She backed all the way into the bookcase.
“
Why did you run away?” His deep voice settled in her belly, rich and
warm, like crème brûlée on a cold winter’s night.
“
Because I wanted you to follow.” She tried to sound sophisticated and
seductive, but her voice choked off on the last word.
Ruel placed his hand on the shelf above her head and blocked her path to
the door. His tall, solidly muscled body leaned over her, surrounding her with
the sumptuous, sinful scents of tobacco, Scotch whisky and something masculine
and undeniably dangerous. A slow, sensual smile stretched his hard mouth.
He appeared different. Softer. More approachable.
At the change, her insides seemed to flip over.
“
Well, sweeting, getting us off alone was a very inspired idea.” He
touched one of her fallen ringlets. “I am bored to distraction with endless
talk of hunting and fencing.”
As he slowly wrapped the curl around two fingers, he brushed her
collarbone. Fiery sparks tingled down her spine, so intense that she shivered
and her nipples beaded, pressing against her stays. By some instinct she hadn’t
even known she possessed, she arched her back, presenting herself for his
assessment.
His eyes shone so vividly blue against his bronzed face that they
resembled cornflowers. She swallowed tightly and wished for a long drink of
claret. This more personal side of him suddenly seemed far more hazardous than
his usually fierce exterior.
Well, no matter. There was nothing to fear. She would allow only as much
contact as need be to get to know him a little. Since being torn from her
lonely yet secure life in Ireland and thrust into Society at age sixteen, she’d
spent her time allowing people only as near as was comfortable. She was an
expert at emotional evasion.
It should be easy to regain her control.
But now, as rays of the late-afternoon sun played over his pale hair,
turning it the colour of winter wheat, all her carefully rehearsed words flew
from her mind.
Say something—anything—else he will think you’re a bird-wit.
An intimate smile, one that invited her to play, tugged at his mouth.
“
In a situation like this, alone with a gentleman, it’s perfectly normal
for a lady to feel some apprehension.” His hushed voice, barely audible above
the piano and boisterous singing from down the corridor, accentuated their
isolation. His gaze became so piercing that she had to lower her eyes.
He brushed his fingertips over her cheek. “She will invariably ask
herself if he will try to kiss her.”
She jerked her eyes back to his face. God, he couldn’t mean to—not yet,
surely… Peculiar, heated chills swept over her. She tried to take a step back,
but found her arse flush against the bookshelf.
He leaned closer; so close that his Scotch-scented breath tickled her
face. “And just in case you are wondering, Lady Cranfield—the answer is most
assuredly yes.”
She should demand that he put his arm down so she could pass by and
leave. She really should. But she couldn’t stop looking at his hard mouth and
wondering what it would feel like upon hers. He was so close to her that his
breath blew on her lips. If she moved but a fraction, she’d be kissing him.
Kissing him.
Dear God. Her breaths began to come very fast and short. Her throat went
tight with a suppressed moan.
His eyes burnt as brightly as aquamarines. He looked so fierce. If he
kissed her, if he dared… Oh God, it would be so harsh. That cruel-looking mouth
could express itself no other way.
Excitement rushed through her, sending tingles to every point of her
body, even her toes.
But no, he wouldn’t. Not yet.
He kept leaning closer. He didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he seemed to
focus all the harder upon her.
Her heart pounding, unable to move away, she braced herself for his
assault.
His lips brushed hers, barely. A gossamer caress.
He lifted his head.
It was done.
Ended.
And it hadn’t even begun.
He held her chin, appearing so cool, so unaffected. His kiss had seemed
to sear her. An urge to put her fingers to her lips arose in her. She resisted
it, for it would give away too much of how she was affected.
Never show your feelings.
He traced his thumb along her lower lip, slowly, deliberately, as he
studied her with eyes that now glittered with something powerful and predatory.
Heat pooled in her pelvis, low and spreading even lower.
She went weak all over, as if she’d lain in a sunny window seat for too
long. Her knees almost buckled. She forced them to lock. To be strong.
It should not have affected her so profoundly. It had been just a
peck—not a true kiss at all. William had poured out all of his skill upon her
and hadn’t garnered even a tenth of the reaction in her that this man’s peck
had.
Ruel traced her jaw line with his fingertips. Unthinkingly, she leaned
in to his touch.
“
Of course, once he has kissed her, then it’s his turn to wonder…” His
voice sounded unnaturally loud in her ears. “How will she respond? Will she
withdraw, or can he ignite some hidden fire?”
She sensed that he was toying with her. She didn’t understand
flirtation—why had she imagined she could carry off this ruse? Was he making
advances in order to have a laugh with Francesca and her simpering friends
later? Hurt blossomed in her chest. She resented him for that. She ought to
feel indignant, superior, uncaring—anything but hurt.
“
Please don’t make sport of me.”
She cringed. Was that quavering, pleading voice really hers?
An infinitesimal pause. “Now, why on earth would I do such a thing?” His
voice was as smooth as velvet.
“
To please your vanity,” she replied, trying to regain her wits.
“
Here.” He placed her hand to his chest. The contours of his muscles were
hard, powerfully developed. Even more so than she’d expected. His body heat
radiated through the satin and, beneath her hand, his heart’s beat was rapid
and strong.
“
Is that vanity?” He put a finger under her chin, giving her no choice
but to face him. “Is it?” He gentled his grip.
The warmth in his voice settled over her like luscious hot chocolate.
Melting her insides to quivering burgoo, rendering her speechless, unable to
move.
“
My dear, lovely Lady Cranfield, I am going kiss you again.”
About Natasha
Blackthorne:
Escape into the past with
intensely erotic, emotionally driven love stories. Natasha Blackthorne writes
character-focused historical erotica romance featuring strong internal
conflicts. Her stories are most frequently about the intimate journey of the
characters as they learn to open their hearts to love.
Her heroines are not
perfect ladies. They are wildflowers and wallflowers who enjoy flirting with
the forbidden. Whether they are bold or shy, her heroines’ strong desires and
deep emotions drive the plot and drive their heroes to the point of no return.
Connect with Natasha Blackthorne:
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