Untamed is now available for purchase through Whispers publishing at www.whispershome.com under new releases! Wahooo!!! I am sooo excited. I'd love to hear what you thought of it good, bad, or indifferent. Drop me a line once you read it and let me know what you thought. Thanks and thanks to all for the support!!
~Naomi
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
My novella, Untamed: Dacien & Tia to be released soon!!
Untamed: Dacien & Tia is being released through Whispers Publishing this coming Friday, September 26th!!! I am sooooo excited! A big thank you to those of you who have continually checked in while awaiting it's release date.
Check it out below and let me know what you think. Thanks and I'll write more very soon.
~~Naomi
Tia Matthews celebrates her new job by going to a late night ‘Salsa’ party with co-workers. Though something about the evening doesn’t feel quite right, she stays and decides to enjoy herself.
She should have trusted her instincts.
One year later, Tia has settled into her new life with all memories of that night erased. Then she crosses paths with an attractive, emerald eyed stranger who, for reasons she can’t explain, is familiar to her.
Dacien Hunt has emerged from the shadows after keeping silent watch over the strong-willed beauty, shielding her from memories of that long ago night, and from those of his breed who seek to silence her…forever. When Tia is attacked, Dacien steps in and as their passion grows, so does his desire to find a solution to the impossible demands of the renegade leader of his kind. But it may already be too late.
The breed is closing in…
She should have trusted her instincts.
One year later, Tia has settled into her new life with all memories of that night erased. Then she crosses paths with an attractive, emerald eyed stranger who, for reasons she can’t explain, is familiar to her.
Dacien Hunt has emerged from the shadows after keeping silent watch over the strong-willed beauty, shielding her from memories of that long ago night, and from those of his breed who seek to silence her…forever. When Tia is attacked, Dacien steps in and as their passion grows, so does his desire to find a solution to the impossible demands of the renegade leader of his kind. But it may already be too late.
The breed is closing in…
Friday, August 22, 2008
Updates and Wonderful News!
Hello everyone and thank you for being so patient and supportive!
I've been working my way through an emotionally draining issue for awhile now and believe me when I tell you that, it really sapped my creative flow. I just couldn't get it together. But I'm back now and have been writing steadily and brain storming. I have so many scenes for so many stories swirling around in my head that remembering them all long enough to put them on paper is proving difficult to say the least.
Now for my news.
A tentative release date for Untamed: Dacien and Tia has been set for September 26th!!! YEAH!!!!! As you can imagine, I am very excited. Say a prayer and keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.
Oh, and by my next post, which will be soon, I'll put up a portion of a new story that I think you'll enjoy.
~Naomi
I've been working my way through an emotionally draining issue for awhile now and believe me when I tell you that, it really sapped my creative flow. I just couldn't get it together. But I'm back now and have been writing steadily and brain storming. I have so many scenes for so many stories swirling around in my head that remembering them all long enough to put them on paper is proving difficult to say the least.
Now for my news.
A tentative release date for Untamed: Dacien and Tia has been set for September 26th!!! YEAH!!!!! As you can imagine, I am very excited. Say a prayer and keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.
Oh, and by my next post, which will be soon, I'll put up a portion of a new story that I think you'll enjoy.
~Naomi
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Great News!!
I've been offered a contract on "Untamed: Dacien & Tia!!" I've recently begun doing edits on it so it may be a minute before it's published. However, I will post info on the release date once I have one. Thanks to all who've been so supportive!
In between edits, I'll be finishing 'Rachel's Wolf' and will continue working on, 'A Pirate in her Past.' 'Pirate' is my time travel romance. I've written nine chapters of it already and more ideas are coming at me all the time. I hope to have it finished in the next two months so I can submit it. I can hardly wait to share Pierce and Lynnette's story!
In between edits, I'll be finishing 'Rachel's Wolf' and will continue working on, 'A Pirate in her Past.' 'Pirate' is my time travel romance. I've written nine chapters of it already and more ideas are coming at me all the time. I hope to have it finished in the next two months so I can submit it. I can hardly wait to share Pierce and Lynnette's story!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Right Time
It's nearing the middle of May and a lot has happened since my last post!
Instead of going down the laundry list, I'll just mention two of the most exciting. First, I had a ball at Romance Slam Jam in Chicago the weekend of May 2. It was so exciting to finally put faces to the names of people I've been talking to for so long! Between activities and spending time with friends, I had a blast all weekend . Plus, every author I met was refreshingly down to earth. I tell you, I've already begun saving my duckets b/c I'm definitely going to RSJ in L.A. next year!
Also, I've submitted my first completed novella, Untamed: Dacien and Tia to a publishing house. Say prayers and cross your fingers that all goes well!! Here's a excerpt. Good or bad, let me know what you think.
~Naomi
UNTAMED: Dacien and Tia
By Naomi James
Prologue
The three story red brick building bore no name and sat solitarily on the corner of State Street as if it had materialized out of thin air. Spider-web like cracks ran the length of the structure and sections of bricks were either broken or missing completely. Several windows had been destroyed and the rest were painted black to allow light neither in nor out. No sound came from within making it appear for all the world to be deserted.
If not for Jaden’s insistence that Salsa Night was indeed going on inside, Tia Matthews would have written it off as another disappointing Friday night and gone home. Instead she pushed several thin braids behind her ear and continued walking down the long sidewalk toward the large structure.
The night air whistling around them was chilly for late spring and Tia shivered, vigorously rubbing her hands up and down her cocoa hued arms. Glancing down, she stopped to straighten the spaghetti strapped knee length dress before hurrying to catch up to the others. It was Lydia, the first person she’d befriended since relocating two months earlier, who had insisted Tia wear the little black dress to show off her curves and shapely legs.
Tia surveyed the little group. There were five of them in all. In addition to Lydia, Jaden, and herself, there was Nakia and Corey who had relocated from Memphis and Houston respectively and were in the same project management training program as she.
Aside from Jaden, they would all have to endure one final relocation before settling in their chosen cities. Jaden, a Chicago native, was the night’s entertainment coordinator. Thus far he was failing in that capacity.
“Come on Teeta,” Lydia’s sultry, voice called out the pet name as Tia fell into step beside her. “You look fabulous, little sister. Don’t worry!”
Tia smiled at the compliment.
“I swear, the Night Scene Today email said ‘Festival Friday’ is happening here tonight.” Jaden insisted, gaining their attention as he stepped over long unused railroad tracks while crossing the street.
“Well it looks like whoever placed the ad, changed their minds and didn’t tell anyone,” Tia countered. “Tell me something. If ‘Festival Friday’ is happening tonight, where are the cars?”
“…and why isn’t there any music?” Lydia added, pulling her chestnut hair out of her eyes.
“That’s what I’m saying…” Tia continued. “It doesn’t make any sense. Where are the people? There should be someone around, aside from us,” She said, beginning to feel anxious and more than a little foolish for going along with her over zealous new acquaintance’s idea of a fun night out. Then again, it wasn’t as if she wouldn’t have gone out with them anyway. They were a good group of people to be around. Clubbing just wasn’t her thing…not anymore.
A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Back home, her girlfriends had ‘kidnapped’ her for one last night on the town before her job change.
Her smile faltered.
At times, she longed for the simplicity of home and missed her family and friends. Melancholia attempted to settle over her as memories jockeyed for dominance in her mind. Tia shook herself free of her gloomy thoughts.
Okay, get it together. You’re twenty-seven, single, and reasonably attractive with a great new career. Enjoy it!
“Tia has a point,” Nakia said softly, effectively pulling Tia back into the conversation. “Where is everyone?” She stopped in her tracks, staring pointedly at Jaden, which was surprising because she was usually the most laid back person in the group.
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “They’ve probably found some other place to park, that’s all.”
“If something doesn’t happen soon, I’m going home,” Lydia announced. “…so what are we going to do people?” Having stopped as well, she folded her arms and leaned on one hip.
“Come on guys. Let’s at least check the place out before we give up.” Jaden looked among the group for an ally.
“Nah…this whole set up doesn’t feel right.” This coming from Corey, who until now, had silently observed the exchange. “This has M.D.K. written all over it.”
“What is M.D.K.?” Tia asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Murder, Death, and Kill…” Corey supplied. “Don’t you watch horror movies?”
A shiver snaked down Tia’s spine. “No and by the sound of it, you shouldn’t either…fatalistic Freddy.”
Nakia turned her face away.
Lydia laughed out loud.
“Well, I don’t care what ya’ll say, anyone riding with me had better come on if you’re coming,” Corey warned, his long strides carrying him back the way they had come.
Jaden jogged the last several feet to the door and raised his hand to knock. The door swung open to reveal the sound of meringue music and laughter coming from within.
An attractive sable haired man with ice blue eyes, a shock of white at his temples, and a tanned complexion stood just inside the entrance. He smiled broadly and spread his palms wide.
“Welcome friends. I am Andre, your host for the evening. Please…join us.” He moved aside to usher them inside, even calling out to a reluctant Corey to join the festivities. While the others stepped over the threshold, scoping out the scene before them, Tia hung back, still feeling a little uneasy.
“Come on.” Corey said, looping his arm through hers to pull her forward. “If I’m going in, you’re going in.”
Once beyond the door, Tia extricated herself from Corey and playfully pushed him in the direction of the others. She tapped Andre’s broad shoulder to gain his attention before he could get swept back into the dancing crowd. His piercing gaze swept over her appreciatively and she suddenly felt silly about her lingering apprehension.
“Yes…?” He tilted his head and waited.
“The cars…” Tia blurted. “There were no cars when we pulled up. Where did all of these people park?”
His brow furrowed. “Did you not see the drive leading to the underground parking garage?” He yelled to be heard over the music that seemed to swell with the pulse of the crowd.
“I…I guess not,” she conceded. “What about the music? We couldn’t hear it outside.”
Andre eyed her strangely. “Sound proof doors,” he responded, walking away before she could question him further.
“Are you satisfied yet, Ms. Columbo?” Jaden teased having overheard the exchange.
Tia smiled up into his laughing eyes.
“Yes Teeta, we’re inside now. Let’s have some fun!” Lydia shouted, snapping her fingers to the beat. “Hey…I think I see the father of my future children.”
The smile Lydia flashed the gentleman in question was purely catlike, matching her green eyes. She smoothed her palms along her curve hugging, violet dress, and licked her lips. She winked at Tia and Jaden. “See ya.” She sauntered away, swaying her hips purposefully as she approached the attractive stranger who, if eyes could tell the tale, was just as interested in her as she was in him.
Shaking her head in amusement, Tia moved to the side as one by one her new friends paired up with dance partners and twirled to the beat.
“Tienes gusto de bailar?” A deep voice murmured in her ear.
“Excuse me?” Tia turned, seeing first, loose fitting black slacks and a cream colored polo shirt. She looked higher into the man’s serious brown eyes.
“Forgive me, Senorita. I am Fernando. I say…would you like to dance,” his heavily accented voice shouted.
She smiled and placed her hand in his. “I would love it.”
Tia decided to relax and go with the flow, laughing delightedly as she was spun onto the dance floor.
Regrettably, it was a night she would never forget.
Chapter 1
Early November
One year later
Buzzzzzzz
Tia started as the cell phone vibrated loudly, clanging across the table. The dour faced librarian looked away from her monitor to throw a dirty look her way.
“Sorry…,” she mouthed snatching the phone and flipping it open. She cupped a hand over her mouth and the receiver. “Hello?”
“Tia?” It was Kelli, her closest friend from home.
“Hey girl, what’s up?”
“Where are you?” Kelli questioned.
Tia frowned in confusion. “I’m at the library. Where are you?”
“I’m at your apartment.”
“What…!” she shrieked looking at her watch. She received another hostile glare from the librarian but ignored her as the time registered in her brain. Nine twenty-six! Sweet Lord…! She’d been at the library for over five hours!
“Crap! I’m sorry Kel.” Balancing the phone between her shoulder and cheek, Tia frantically shoved papers and books in her bag. “Sit tight. I’m on my way.”
“Don’t worry about it. Your landlord let me in, after I passed a round of twenty questions,” Kelli laughed.
“Good…ok…I’ll be there in forty minutes or so.”
“Alright…see ya then.”
Tia flipped the phone shut and hurried from the library, stopping only long enough to drop off one partly read Ancient Cultures book at the front desk.
She glanced at her watch again…nine twenty-nine. If she hurried, she’d be able to catch the nine forty-five home.
Tia dashed out the door and down the sidewalk with her bag dangling precariously by one strap. She awkwardly stuffed papers and a book inside as her heels clicked nosily upon the pavement. People openly stared but she didn’t have time to care. She deftly dodged rack after rack of late fall sidewalk sale leftovers as store clerks rolled them back inside for the night.
Hopping to the left to avoid another rack, she spun around, side-stepped again, and continued on her way. The heavy bag jumped from her shoulder to the bend of her elbow. Tia slowed enough to check its contents, making sure nothing had fallen out, but didn’t stop. Righting it once again, she looked ahead, ran smack into a clothing rack, and landed in a tangled heap while her papers floated lazily to the ground. As she rolled onto her back, a bra plopped across her face. She burst out laughing and couldn’t seem to stop.
Working ninety hours in five days had left her incredibly fatigued yet sleepless and it appeared the absence of sleep had finally gotten the best of her. Now she lay in a pile of clothes guffawing like a lunatic and she had no one but herself to blame for her exhaustion. The overtime pay was incredible. So instead of sleeping in on her off day,
she’d felt compelled to work a few hours before heading to the library to research everything she could about ancient cultures. Tia had no idea why she’d developed a sudden interest in the subject and at the moment, she didn’t care.
Eyes brimming with tears of mirth, she sat up and attempted to straighten the pile around her. The proprietress began screaming at her, alternating between Korean and English while snatching fallen articles from the ground.
Tia sobered quickly and scooped up an armload of clothes. “I’m sorry…” she began.
The tiny woman merely sneered at her and snatched the articles from Tia.
Angrily waving away Tia’s attempts to help, she shouted, “No…no..you go now! You go!”
“Alright…I’m going,” she relented, shifting to her knees to stand.
A large hand with long tanned fingers reached down to her as an undeniably masculine voice chided gently, “You should try to be more careful...”
The rich timbre, laced with a Scottish brogue, floated around her, compelling her to turn albeit awkwardly since she was on her knees.
Tia looked up past slate colored slacks, past his navy dress shirt, and higher. Lord, he’s tall! Yet between the street light shining brightly from behind him and her current position on the ground, it was impossible to discern his features.
She placed her hand in his and was pulled to her feet. The man didn’t release her, instead keeping her fingers clasped gently yet firmly in his. “Thank you…” Tia said looking up into long soot colored lashes that rose and fell over hypnotic emerald eyes. Inexplicably, those eyes darkened to a deep forest color. Something primal and wild flashed within their depths yet it happened so quickly Tia wondered if she hadn’t imagined it. It didn’t matter, she couldn’t have torn her gaze away if she’d wanted to…and she didn’t want to.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as his sensual mouth spread to reveal even white teeth. There was something about this man; something dark…dangerous…familiar, though for the life of her she didn’t know why.
Tia stepped back uneasily, reclaiming her fingers from his grip. Without a word they retrieved her things. As they worked, she chanced side glances at him trying not to notice how his shoulder length black hair swayed toward her as he moved. His hand brushed hers once and the jolt that shot through her caused her to jerk away.
She stumbled sideways.
The man eyed her curiously as he steadied her.
Tia lifted her bag onto her shoulder, her hand automatically covering the strap to hold it in place. “Thanks again.” Was that breathless voice really hers?
He inclined his head but said nothing.
The proprietress shouted again, “Hey Jade eyes…you wan move you big foot? Be happy I not make you buy!” The second the man lifted his foot, she snatched the item away and continued to rant, stopping from time to time to rail at them both.
Tia released a breath in one harsh puff as the stranger’s eyes slid from hers to stare at the irate woman. Incredibly, the proprietress went from screeching harpy to doe eyed flirt. Tia watched in amazement as the woman grinned and giggled like a school girl as she set about cleaning the rest of the mess.
A soft breeze swirled by, causing several of Tia’s braids to fall over her shoulder and sway forward. The man’s head snapped in her direction, his viridian gaze locking onto hers. His nostrils flared, catching her scent; a light mixture of warm vanilla coupled with a hint of jasmine. He inhaled deeply, pulling his plump lower lip into his mouth.
Transfixed, Tia watched the tip of his tongue glide across it as if he could taste her there. Goosebumps broke out all over her flesh as she wondered what his tongue would feel like gliding over her bare skin. What? No...stop it.
His deep voice penetrated her brain, startling her. “You’re going to miss your train.”
Gasping, Tia flicked her wrist out in front of her. “Nine forty-two…?! Damn!” Without a backward glance, she turned and sprinted down the sidewalk.
\*****
Thank goodness for crowds and troublemakers. Had both not been an issue when she arrived at the station, Tia would have missed the train. She loosed a small sigh of relief and waited patiently for the police to escort the irate man from the platform. The waiting crowd was unusually large for this time of night which was fine with her. Considering the darkness, she felt somewhat safer among them anyway.
As she waited for the train’s doors to open, her thoughts strayed to the attractive stranger with the panther like eyes. He’d looked at her like a starving man spying the last tasty morsel on earth. Her body tingled all over again just thinking about it. Who was he? Would she ever see him again? She hoped so…
“You left something.”
Tia whirled around.
There he stood as if plucked straight from her increasingly wicked thoughts. He held the thick book of poetry out to her but Tia didn’t reach for it. She couldn’t, captivated as she was by the heat radiating in his eyes as they traveled the length of her.
Clearing her throat, she finally managed to retrieve the heavy book from his grasp. When she did, his index finger extended to stroke the back of her hand.
Tia’s eyes shot up to his as her heart-rate doubled.
His unwavering stare met hers.
She flushed and looked away. “Thanks…” she murmured granting him a brief smile before turning her back to him self consciously.
“You’re most welcome Ms…?”
“Tia…” she responded over her shoulder, purposefully withholding her last name. There was no time for further conversation. The crowd surged forward as one and piled into the waiting car. Tia ended up standing at the very rear of the tightly packed car but she really couldn’t complain. At least the many vents were working. Thank God. In fact, they worked a little too well. But again, she couldn’t complain. She tilted her face to the ceiling to receive the cool blast gratefully. A movement from behind caught her eye.
She glanced over her shoulder. He stood directly behind her and he was watching her.
Her head whipped back around her eyes darting back and forth nervously.
What is he doing here?
For some unknown reason his nearness unnerved her; not in a creepy way but in a pleasant, anticipatory sort of way. Still, she became fidgety, unable to decide what to do with her hands. She settled for placing one on the wall for balance and holding the straps of her bag to her shoulder with the other.
Tia shifted from foot to foot. “Oh sorry…” she said over her shoulder after her movement unintentionally brought her foot down squarely on top of his.
“You’re fine…” he assured her in a sensual whisper that rumbled across her skin. The faint caress of his breath on her ear made her shiver.
The car came to the first of its many stops to admit even more people. Tia sucked in a quick breath as the crowd crushed against her. She took a careful step backward in order to preserve the inch of space between herself and the passenger in front of her. The move brought her skirt clad bottom into direct contact with her mystery man’s slacks covered front. When had he become her mystery man? Embarrassed, Tia inched forward and received a dirty look from a balding, rotund man who glared at her as if she had just spit on him. Refusing to be intimidated, she returned his glare with one of her own until he again turned his back to her.
The overhead lights flickered on and off sporadically as the car lurched into motion. At times, the lights flicked off for long seconds at a time, plunging the group into near total darkness before shining brilliantly once again.
A woman shrieked unnecessarily, drawing an irritated glance from a frazzled mother who had only just managed to get her fussy infant to sleep. Other passengers alternately grumbled and chuckled in their conversations as they were knocked together.
The car shifted again.
Tia’s heavy bag dropped from her shoulder to the bend in her elbow and she lost her grip on the wall. She would have fallen against the hostile man in front of her had the stranger’s arm not shot around her waist to steady her against his solid form.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured smoothly.
The heat of his body penetrated her thin blouse as surely as if his bare flesh touched hers. Tia turned her head to thank him but was shocked to silence when his body subtly rubbed against her own. It was a slow, deliberate, and thoroughly arousing act. Her breathing quickened but she didn’t move away. The heady aroma of the masculine cologne…she sniffed…Curve…invaded her senses as the hard planes of his chest pressed against her from the base of her neck to the middle of her spine. She felt him shudder as he straightened; his body never breaking contact with hers.
He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.
Her eyes met his and held; dark brown to deep emerald, captive in a spell neither wanted to break. His lips hovered mere inches from hers, and a quiet rumble arose from his chest vibrating against her back. She relaxed against him, experimentally rubbing her hair against his shadowed cheek.
Without warning, his fingers splayed wide over her belly and his arm tightened like a steel band, pressing her bottom flush against his erection.
Tia gasped and the lights flickered out.
The stranger covered her mouth with his and she froze, trying to steel herself against the deliciously decadent sensations sizzling through her. She whimpered as his firm yet soft lips skimmed over hers, tasting, urging a response from her. Her eyelids fluttered shut in response to the gentle coaxing of his kiss. The hand at her waist stroked her belly methodically in an attempt to bend her to his will.
It was insane to allow, no encourage this man, this stranger to kiss her like this, touch her like this but she was powerless to stop it. His fingers were working their magic on her as if they had done so countless times. Still, a tiny voice in the back of her mind admonished her for what she was doing, especially with so many people close by. Had she been thinking clearly, she would have pulled away immediately and fled as far from him as the train car would have allowed her to go.
Tia decided then and there that she was not herself. Instead of being chagrined by her lapse in judgment, she reveled in the feelings he invoked. She’d never done anything like this before nor felt so responsive to anyone. The experience was hot…exciting and the darkness surrounding them made it even more so, though at this point she doubted she would have cared had the train stopped and a spotlight blazed in their direction.
The stranger’s lips left hers to trail along her neck. He paused to push her braided hair to the side, growling softly as he suckled and nipped at the sweetness there.
As Tia leaned against him, her bag fell…forgotten, to the floor. She tilted her head, allowing him greater access to the skin he sought and pushed her fingers deep into his ink black hair even as his hands slid upward to knead her full breasts. Soft mewling bubbled up from her throat as she arched into his palms.
The lights flickered, injecting a small measure of awareness.
Tia came to herself as his lips pulled from her skin, her body ablaze from where he had caressed her. Her breasts felt heavy; her panties moist with want.
The lights came on and her eyes flew open. She snatched her hands down as the stranger nonchalantly covered her front with a trench coat she hadn’t realized he had.
The car screeched to a halt into yet another station, and a small portion of the crowd disembarked. An audible sigh of relief permeated the air as most of those in front of Tia moved forward.
“Stay where you are,” his whispered voice commanded.
Startled, her gaze flicked from his chiseled jaw to his eyes. Though outwardly he appeared detached and collected, his breathing rasped hotly in her hair and his bulging erection pressed insistently against her bottom. She turned her head forward again, secretly thrilled not to be the only one affected by their encounter.
The man continued to caress her belly while his other hand traced a path to her thigh, drawing lazy circles under her skirt before inching, with agonizing slowness under the elastic of her lacy bikini panties.
Tia held her breath, her eyes darting around frantically but she needn’t have bothered. No one paid them the least amount of attention. As casually as she could, she angled her hips backward, away from his questing fingers. The action only served to press her bottom more firmly against the unyielding length of him. He angled his hips forward in response and she shivered.
The train lurched and immediately entered a tunnel. Darkness descended and Tia felt blinded. For now, she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.
The stranger gripped a handful of her braids and tugged her head backward to recapture her mouth. Using his foot, he nudged her feet apart. His tongue pressed into her mouth at the same moment he wrenched her panties aside and pressed two fingers deeply into her slick warmth.
On a strangled cry her eyes rolled skyward and her head fell against his broad shoulder; her knees buckling beneath the onslaught of sensation. One arm held her steady as his palm patted her mound; his long fingers pushing in and out of her.
Tia moaned raggedly and the stranger swallowed it, grinding his pelvis against her backside.
A hot knot of pleasure formed deep in her belly and coiled tighter and tighter.
The kiss deepened and she suckled his tongue, bringing it deep into her mouth to duel with hers. His hand increased its pace and she bucked against him, clutching and scratching his arm. Faster and faster his hand slapped her wet flesh as he ground against her from behind, bringing her to the very edge of ecstasy.
Tia stiffened suddenly and her mouth fell open in a wordless cry. The hand around her waist flew up to cover it, effectively muffling her screams. Panting breaths gushed from her nose as wave after wave of spasms crashed over her and lights blazed from behind her tightly clenched eyelids. Only when the last tremor ebbed and she sagged against him did he pull his slick fingers from her body. Within seconds the overhead lights flicked on and the car squealed to a halt, signaling her stop.
Still shaking and breathless, Tia bent to collect her forgotten bag. When she straightened, the man pressed his lips to the thundering pulse at the base of her throat and placed a finger over her lips when she would have spoken.
Unbidden, his voice came to her mind though Tia was sure his lips never moved.
Go straight home. Do not linger.
The doors opened.
Open your door for no one, Tia…NO ONE. Go now!
The urgency in his voice propelled her forward. On unsteady legs, she pushed through the throng of people pausing only once to glance over her shoulder. The stranger stood just inside the entrance of the car watching her from behind the glass. His tongue flicked out to swirl around one finger then up the other, licking them clean. Tia turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Instead of going down the laundry list, I'll just mention two of the most exciting. First, I had a ball at Romance Slam Jam in Chicago the weekend of May 2. It was so exciting to finally put faces to the names of people I've been talking to for so long! Between activities and spending time with friends, I had a blast all weekend . Plus, every author I met was refreshingly down to earth. I tell you, I've already begun saving my duckets b/c I'm definitely going to RSJ in L.A. next year!
Also, I've submitted my first completed novella, Untamed: Dacien and Tia to a publishing house. Say prayers and cross your fingers that all goes well!! Here's a excerpt. Good or bad, let me know what you think.
~Naomi
UNTAMED: Dacien and Tia
By Naomi James
Prologue
The three story red brick building bore no name and sat solitarily on the corner of State Street as if it had materialized out of thin air. Spider-web like cracks ran the length of the structure and sections of bricks were either broken or missing completely. Several windows had been destroyed and the rest were painted black to allow light neither in nor out. No sound came from within making it appear for all the world to be deserted.
If not for Jaden’s insistence that Salsa Night was indeed going on inside, Tia Matthews would have written it off as another disappointing Friday night and gone home. Instead she pushed several thin braids behind her ear and continued walking down the long sidewalk toward the large structure.
The night air whistling around them was chilly for late spring and Tia shivered, vigorously rubbing her hands up and down her cocoa hued arms. Glancing down, she stopped to straighten the spaghetti strapped knee length dress before hurrying to catch up to the others. It was Lydia, the first person she’d befriended since relocating two months earlier, who had insisted Tia wear the little black dress to show off her curves and shapely legs.
Tia surveyed the little group. There were five of them in all. In addition to Lydia, Jaden, and herself, there was Nakia and Corey who had relocated from Memphis and Houston respectively and were in the same project management training program as she.
Aside from Jaden, they would all have to endure one final relocation before settling in their chosen cities. Jaden, a Chicago native, was the night’s entertainment coordinator. Thus far he was failing in that capacity.
“Come on Teeta,” Lydia’s sultry, voice called out the pet name as Tia fell into step beside her. “You look fabulous, little sister. Don’t worry!”
Tia smiled at the compliment.
“I swear, the Night Scene Today email said ‘Festival Friday’ is happening here tonight.” Jaden insisted, gaining their attention as he stepped over long unused railroad tracks while crossing the street.
“Well it looks like whoever placed the ad, changed their minds and didn’t tell anyone,” Tia countered. “Tell me something. If ‘Festival Friday’ is happening tonight, where are the cars?”
“…and why isn’t there any music?” Lydia added, pulling her chestnut hair out of her eyes.
“That’s what I’m saying…” Tia continued. “It doesn’t make any sense. Where are the people? There should be someone around, aside from us,” She said, beginning to feel anxious and more than a little foolish for going along with her over zealous new acquaintance’s idea of a fun night out. Then again, it wasn’t as if she wouldn’t have gone out with them anyway. They were a good group of people to be around. Clubbing just wasn’t her thing…not anymore.
A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Back home, her girlfriends had ‘kidnapped’ her for one last night on the town before her job change.
Her smile faltered.
At times, she longed for the simplicity of home and missed her family and friends. Melancholia attempted to settle over her as memories jockeyed for dominance in her mind. Tia shook herself free of her gloomy thoughts.
Okay, get it together. You’re twenty-seven, single, and reasonably attractive with a great new career. Enjoy it!
“Tia has a point,” Nakia said softly, effectively pulling Tia back into the conversation. “Where is everyone?” She stopped in her tracks, staring pointedly at Jaden, which was surprising because she was usually the most laid back person in the group.
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “They’ve probably found some other place to park, that’s all.”
“If something doesn’t happen soon, I’m going home,” Lydia announced. “…so what are we going to do people?” Having stopped as well, she folded her arms and leaned on one hip.
“Come on guys. Let’s at least check the place out before we give up.” Jaden looked among the group for an ally.
“Nah…this whole set up doesn’t feel right.” This coming from Corey, who until now, had silently observed the exchange. “This has M.D.K. written all over it.”
“What is M.D.K.?” Tia asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Murder, Death, and Kill…” Corey supplied. “Don’t you watch horror movies?”
A shiver snaked down Tia’s spine. “No and by the sound of it, you shouldn’t either…fatalistic Freddy.”
Nakia turned her face away.
Lydia laughed out loud.
“Well, I don’t care what ya’ll say, anyone riding with me had better come on if you’re coming,” Corey warned, his long strides carrying him back the way they had come.
Jaden jogged the last several feet to the door and raised his hand to knock. The door swung open to reveal the sound of meringue music and laughter coming from within.
An attractive sable haired man with ice blue eyes, a shock of white at his temples, and a tanned complexion stood just inside the entrance. He smiled broadly and spread his palms wide.
“Welcome friends. I am Andre, your host for the evening. Please…join us.” He moved aside to usher them inside, even calling out to a reluctant Corey to join the festivities. While the others stepped over the threshold, scoping out the scene before them, Tia hung back, still feeling a little uneasy.
“Come on.” Corey said, looping his arm through hers to pull her forward. “If I’m going in, you’re going in.”
Once beyond the door, Tia extricated herself from Corey and playfully pushed him in the direction of the others. She tapped Andre’s broad shoulder to gain his attention before he could get swept back into the dancing crowd. His piercing gaze swept over her appreciatively and she suddenly felt silly about her lingering apprehension.
“Yes…?” He tilted his head and waited.
“The cars…” Tia blurted. “There were no cars when we pulled up. Where did all of these people park?”
His brow furrowed. “Did you not see the drive leading to the underground parking garage?” He yelled to be heard over the music that seemed to swell with the pulse of the crowd.
“I…I guess not,” she conceded. “What about the music? We couldn’t hear it outside.”
Andre eyed her strangely. “Sound proof doors,” he responded, walking away before she could question him further.
“Are you satisfied yet, Ms. Columbo?” Jaden teased having overheard the exchange.
Tia smiled up into his laughing eyes.
“Yes Teeta, we’re inside now. Let’s have some fun!” Lydia shouted, snapping her fingers to the beat. “Hey…I think I see the father of my future children.”
The smile Lydia flashed the gentleman in question was purely catlike, matching her green eyes. She smoothed her palms along her curve hugging, violet dress, and licked her lips. She winked at Tia and Jaden. “See ya.” She sauntered away, swaying her hips purposefully as she approached the attractive stranger who, if eyes could tell the tale, was just as interested in her as she was in him.
Shaking her head in amusement, Tia moved to the side as one by one her new friends paired up with dance partners and twirled to the beat.
“Tienes gusto de bailar?” A deep voice murmured in her ear.
“Excuse me?” Tia turned, seeing first, loose fitting black slacks and a cream colored polo shirt. She looked higher into the man’s serious brown eyes.
“Forgive me, Senorita. I am Fernando. I say…would you like to dance,” his heavily accented voice shouted.
She smiled and placed her hand in his. “I would love it.”
Tia decided to relax and go with the flow, laughing delightedly as she was spun onto the dance floor.
Regrettably, it was a night she would never forget.
Chapter 1
Early November
One year later
Buzzzzzzz
Tia started as the cell phone vibrated loudly, clanging across the table. The dour faced librarian looked away from her monitor to throw a dirty look her way.
“Sorry…,” she mouthed snatching the phone and flipping it open. She cupped a hand over her mouth and the receiver. “Hello?”
“Tia?” It was Kelli, her closest friend from home.
“Hey girl, what’s up?”
“Where are you?” Kelli questioned.
Tia frowned in confusion. “I’m at the library. Where are you?”
“I’m at your apartment.”
“What…!” she shrieked looking at her watch. She received another hostile glare from the librarian but ignored her as the time registered in her brain. Nine twenty-six! Sweet Lord…! She’d been at the library for over five hours!
“Crap! I’m sorry Kel.” Balancing the phone between her shoulder and cheek, Tia frantically shoved papers and books in her bag. “Sit tight. I’m on my way.”
“Don’t worry about it. Your landlord let me in, after I passed a round of twenty questions,” Kelli laughed.
“Good…ok…I’ll be there in forty minutes or so.”
“Alright…see ya then.”
Tia flipped the phone shut and hurried from the library, stopping only long enough to drop off one partly read Ancient Cultures book at the front desk.
She glanced at her watch again…nine twenty-nine. If she hurried, she’d be able to catch the nine forty-five home.
Tia dashed out the door and down the sidewalk with her bag dangling precariously by one strap. She awkwardly stuffed papers and a book inside as her heels clicked nosily upon the pavement. People openly stared but she didn’t have time to care. She deftly dodged rack after rack of late fall sidewalk sale leftovers as store clerks rolled them back inside for the night.
Hopping to the left to avoid another rack, she spun around, side-stepped again, and continued on her way. The heavy bag jumped from her shoulder to the bend of her elbow. Tia slowed enough to check its contents, making sure nothing had fallen out, but didn’t stop. Righting it once again, she looked ahead, ran smack into a clothing rack, and landed in a tangled heap while her papers floated lazily to the ground. As she rolled onto her back, a bra plopped across her face. She burst out laughing and couldn’t seem to stop.
Working ninety hours in five days had left her incredibly fatigued yet sleepless and it appeared the absence of sleep had finally gotten the best of her. Now she lay in a pile of clothes guffawing like a lunatic and she had no one but herself to blame for her exhaustion. The overtime pay was incredible. So instead of sleeping in on her off day,
she’d felt compelled to work a few hours before heading to the library to research everything she could about ancient cultures. Tia had no idea why she’d developed a sudden interest in the subject and at the moment, she didn’t care.
Eyes brimming with tears of mirth, she sat up and attempted to straighten the pile around her. The proprietress began screaming at her, alternating between Korean and English while snatching fallen articles from the ground.
Tia sobered quickly and scooped up an armload of clothes. “I’m sorry…” she began.
The tiny woman merely sneered at her and snatched the articles from Tia.
Angrily waving away Tia’s attempts to help, she shouted, “No…no..you go now! You go!”
“Alright…I’m going,” she relented, shifting to her knees to stand.
A large hand with long tanned fingers reached down to her as an undeniably masculine voice chided gently, “You should try to be more careful...”
The rich timbre, laced with a Scottish brogue, floated around her, compelling her to turn albeit awkwardly since she was on her knees.
Tia looked up past slate colored slacks, past his navy dress shirt, and higher. Lord, he’s tall! Yet between the street light shining brightly from behind him and her current position on the ground, it was impossible to discern his features.
She placed her hand in his and was pulled to her feet. The man didn’t release her, instead keeping her fingers clasped gently yet firmly in his. “Thank you…” Tia said looking up into long soot colored lashes that rose and fell over hypnotic emerald eyes. Inexplicably, those eyes darkened to a deep forest color. Something primal and wild flashed within their depths yet it happened so quickly Tia wondered if she hadn’t imagined it. It didn’t matter, she couldn’t have torn her gaze away if she’d wanted to…and she didn’t want to.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as his sensual mouth spread to reveal even white teeth. There was something about this man; something dark…dangerous…familiar, though for the life of her she didn’t know why.
Tia stepped back uneasily, reclaiming her fingers from his grip. Without a word they retrieved her things. As they worked, she chanced side glances at him trying not to notice how his shoulder length black hair swayed toward her as he moved. His hand brushed hers once and the jolt that shot through her caused her to jerk away.
She stumbled sideways.
The man eyed her curiously as he steadied her.
Tia lifted her bag onto her shoulder, her hand automatically covering the strap to hold it in place. “Thanks again.” Was that breathless voice really hers?
He inclined his head but said nothing.
The proprietress shouted again, “Hey Jade eyes…you wan move you big foot? Be happy I not make you buy!” The second the man lifted his foot, she snatched the item away and continued to rant, stopping from time to time to rail at them both.
Tia released a breath in one harsh puff as the stranger’s eyes slid from hers to stare at the irate woman. Incredibly, the proprietress went from screeching harpy to doe eyed flirt. Tia watched in amazement as the woman grinned and giggled like a school girl as she set about cleaning the rest of the mess.
A soft breeze swirled by, causing several of Tia’s braids to fall over her shoulder and sway forward. The man’s head snapped in her direction, his viridian gaze locking onto hers. His nostrils flared, catching her scent; a light mixture of warm vanilla coupled with a hint of jasmine. He inhaled deeply, pulling his plump lower lip into his mouth.
Transfixed, Tia watched the tip of his tongue glide across it as if he could taste her there. Goosebumps broke out all over her flesh as she wondered what his tongue would feel like gliding over her bare skin. What? No...stop it.
His deep voice penetrated her brain, startling her. “You’re going to miss your train.”
Gasping, Tia flicked her wrist out in front of her. “Nine forty-two…?! Damn!” Without a backward glance, she turned and sprinted down the sidewalk.
\*****
Thank goodness for crowds and troublemakers. Had both not been an issue when she arrived at the station, Tia would have missed the train. She loosed a small sigh of relief and waited patiently for the police to escort the irate man from the platform. The waiting crowd was unusually large for this time of night which was fine with her. Considering the darkness, she felt somewhat safer among them anyway.
As she waited for the train’s doors to open, her thoughts strayed to the attractive stranger with the panther like eyes. He’d looked at her like a starving man spying the last tasty morsel on earth. Her body tingled all over again just thinking about it. Who was he? Would she ever see him again? She hoped so…
“You left something.”
Tia whirled around.
There he stood as if plucked straight from her increasingly wicked thoughts. He held the thick book of poetry out to her but Tia didn’t reach for it. She couldn’t, captivated as she was by the heat radiating in his eyes as they traveled the length of her.
Clearing her throat, she finally managed to retrieve the heavy book from his grasp. When she did, his index finger extended to stroke the back of her hand.
Tia’s eyes shot up to his as her heart-rate doubled.
His unwavering stare met hers.
She flushed and looked away. “Thanks…” she murmured granting him a brief smile before turning her back to him self consciously.
“You’re most welcome Ms…?”
“Tia…” she responded over her shoulder, purposefully withholding her last name. There was no time for further conversation. The crowd surged forward as one and piled into the waiting car. Tia ended up standing at the very rear of the tightly packed car but she really couldn’t complain. At least the many vents were working. Thank God. In fact, they worked a little too well. But again, she couldn’t complain. She tilted her face to the ceiling to receive the cool blast gratefully. A movement from behind caught her eye.
She glanced over her shoulder. He stood directly behind her and he was watching her.
Her head whipped back around her eyes darting back and forth nervously.
What is he doing here?
For some unknown reason his nearness unnerved her; not in a creepy way but in a pleasant, anticipatory sort of way. Still, she became fidgety, unable to decide what to do with her hands. She settled for placing one on the wall for balance and holding the straps of her bag to her shoulder with the other.
Tia shifted from foot to foot. “Oh sorry…” she said over her shoulder after her movement unintentionally brought her foot down squarely on top of his.
“You’re fine…” he assured her in a sensual whisper that rumbled across her skin. The faint caress of his breath on her ear made her shiver.
The car came to the first of its many stops to admit even more people. Tia sucked in a quick breath as the crowd crushed against her. She took a careful step backward in order to preserve the inch of space between herself and the passenger in front of her. The move brought her skirt clad bottom into direct contact with her mystery man’s slacks covered front. When had he become her mystery man? Embarrassed, Tia inched forward and received a dirty look from a balding, rotund man who glared at her as if she had just spit on him. Refusing to be intimidated, she returned his glare with one of her own until he again turned his back to her.
The overhead lights flickered on and off sporadically as the car lurched into motion. At times, the lights flicked off for long seconds at a time, plunging the group into near total darkness before shining brilliantly once again.
A woman shrieked unnecessarily, drawing an irritated glance from a frazzled mother who had only just managed to get her fussy infant to sleep. Other passengers alternately grumbled and chuckled in their conversations as they were knocked together.
The car shifted again.
Tia’s heavy bag dropped from her shoulder to the bend in her elbow and she lost her grip on the wall. She would have fallen against the hostile man in front of her had the stranger’s arm not shot around her waist to steady her against his solid form.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured smoothly.
The heat of his body penetrated her thin blouse as surely as if his bare flesh touched hers. Tia turned her head to thank him but was shocked to silence when his body subtly rubbed against her own. It was a slow, deliberate, and thoroughly arousing act. Her breathing quickened but she didn’t move away. The heady aroma of the masculine cologne…she sniffed…Curve…invaded her senses as the hard planes of his chest pressed against her from the base of her neck to the middle of her spine. She felt him shudder as he straightened; his body never breaking contact with hers.
He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.
Her eyes met his and held; dark brown to deep emerald, captive in a spell neither wanted to break. His lips hovered mere inches from hers, and a quiet rumble arose from his chest vibrating against her back. She relaxed against him, experimentally rubbing her hair against his shadowed cheek.
Without warning, his fingers splayed wide over her belly and his arm tightened like a steel band, pressing her bottom flush against his erection.
Tia gasped and the lights flickered out.
The stranger covered her mouth with his and she froze, trying to steel herself against the deliciously decadent sensations sizzling through her. She whimpered as his firm yet soft lips skimmed over hers, tasting, urging a response from her. Her eyelids fluttered shut in response to the gentle coaxing of his kiss. The hand at her waist stroked her belly methodically in an attempt to bend her to his will.
It was insane to allow, no encourage this man, this stranger to kiss her like this, touch her like this but she was powerless to stop it. His fingers were working their magic on her as if they had done so countless times. Still, a tiny voice in the back of her mind admonished her for what she was doing, especially with so many people close by. Had she been thinking clearly, she would have pulled away immediately and fled as far from him as the train car would have allowed her to go.
Tia decided then and there that she was not herself. Instead of being chagrined by her lapse in judgment, she reveled in the feelings he invoked. She’d never done anything like this before nor felt so responsive to anyone. The experience was hot…exciting and the darkness surrounding them made it even more so, though at this point she doubted she would have cared had the train stopped and a spotlight blazed in their direction.
The stranger’s lips left hers to trail along her neck. He paused to push her braided hair to the side, growling softly as he suckled and nipped at the sweetness there.
As Tia leaned against him, her bag fell…forgotten, to the floor. She tilted her head, allowing him greater access to the skin he sought and pushed her fingers deep into his ink black hair even as his hands slid upward to knead her full breasts. Soft mewling bubbled up from her throat as she arched into his palms.
The lights flickered, injecting a small measure of awareness.
Tia came to herself as his lips pulled from her skin, her body ablaze from where he had caressed her. Her breasts felt heavy; her panties moist with want.
The lights came on and her eyes flew open. She snatched her hands down as the stranger nonchalantly covered her front with a trench coat she hadn’t realized he had.
The car screeched to a halt into yet another station, and a small portion of the crowd disembarked. An audible sigh of relief permeated the air as most of those in front of Tia moved forward.
“Stay where you are,” his whispered voice commanded.
Startled, her gaze flicked from his chiseled jaw to his eyes. Though outwardly he appeared detached and collected, his breathing rasped hotly in her hair and his bulging erection pressed insistently against her bottom. She turned her head forward again, secretly thrilled not to be the only one affected by their encounter.
The man continued to caress her belly while his other hand traced a path to her thigh, drawing lazy circles under her skirt before inching, with agonizing slowness under the elastic of her lacy bikini panties.
Tia held her breath, her eyes darting around frantically but she needn’t have bothered. No one paid them the least amount of attention. As casually as she could, she angled her hips backward, away from his questing fingers. The action only served to press her bottom more firmly against the unyielding length of him. He angled his hips forward in response and she shivered.
The train lurched and immediately entered a tunnel. Darkness descended and Tia felt blinded. For now, she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.
The stranger gripped a handful of her braids and tugged her head backward to recapture her mouth. Using his foot, he nudged her feet apart. His tongue pressed into her mouth at the same moment he wrenched her panties aside and pressed two fingers deeply into her slick warmth.
On a strangled cry her eyes rolled skyward and her head fell against his broad shoulder; her knees buckling beneath the onslaught of sensation. One arm held her steady as his palm patted her mound; his long fingers pushing in and out of her.
Tia moaned raggedly and the stranger swallowed it, grinding his pelvis against her backside.
A hot knot of pleasure formed deep in her belly and coiled tighter and tighter.
The kiss deepened and she suckled his tongue, bringing it deep into her mouth to duel with hers. His hand increased its pace and she bucked against him, clutching and scratching his arm. Faster and faster his hand slapped her wet flesh as he ground against her from behind, bringing her to the very edge of ecstasy.
Tia stiffened suddenly and her mouth fell open in a wordless cry. The hand around her waist flew up to cover it, effectively muffling her screams. Panting breaths gushed from her nose as wave after wave of spasms crashed over her and lights blazed from behind her tightly clenched eyelids. Only when the last tremor ebbed and she sagged against him did he pull his slick fingers from her body. Within seconds the overhead lights flicked on and the car squealed to a halt, signaling her stop.
Still shaking and breathless, Tia bent to collect her forgotten bag. When she straightened, the man pressed his lips to the thundering pulse at the base of her throat and placed a finger over her lips when she would have spoken.
Unbidden, his voice came to her mind though Tia was sure his lips never moved.
Go straight home. Do not linger.
The doors opened.
Open your door for no one, Tia…NO ONE. Go now!
The urgency in his voice propelled her forward. On unsteady legs, she pushed through the throng of people pausing only once to glance over her shoulder. The stranger stood just inside the entrance of the car watching her from behind the glass. His tongue flicked out to swirl around one finger then up the other, licking them clean. Tia turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Holy Smokes! It's almost March!
I can hardly believe it! March is right around the corner and I can't WAIT until it gets warm. For the last month or so this weather, along with bronchitis has really dampened my creative flow. Nonetheless, I've made a promise to write more everyday. Now, if I can just decide which of my works will be a free read I'll be doing ok.
On another note, I have finally finished the edits for Untamed: The Story of Dacien and Tia. Keep your prayers lifted and your fingers crossed for me as I work on getting it published.
Naomi ~~
On another note, I have finally finished the edits for Untamed: The Story of Dacien and Tia. Keep your prayers lifted and your fingers crossed for me as I work on getting it published.
Naomi ~~
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year and Blessings to all!!!
It's hard to believe another year has gone by so quickly! There were a lot of ups and downs in 2007 but I'm looking forward to what this coming year has to offer.
Thank you for your comments on Rachel's Wolf! I'm glad you're enjoying the free read. I will be submitting it once I've finished tightening it up a bit.
Since this is the first time I've posted any of my writing for public review, I don't have any other stories up...yet but I will be posting others in the future.
Keep checking. I'll have more R.W. up by the weekend.
Naomi
Thank you for your comments on Rachel's Wolf! I'm glad you're enjoying the free read. I will be submitting it once I've finished tightening it up a bit.
Since this is the first time I've posted any of my writing for public review, I don't have any other stories up...yet but I will be posting others in the future.
Keep checking. I'll have more R.W. up by the weekend.
Naomi
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