Monday, June 20, 2011

Excerpt Monday

Welcome to Excerpt Monday! My name is Juniper Bell, and my latest release is Restraining the Receptionist from Samhain. Here's the blurb and an ADULT excerpt.

Every deal has a loophole.


Restraining the Receptionist

© 2011 Juniper Bell

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Warning: NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Restraining the Receptionist:

My unpredictable number one boss showed up in a new mood the next day. I’d never seen him light-hearted before. Now that I had an idea about his history, not a big surprise. But that’s exactly how he seemed when he breezed into the office. He wore casual clothes, blue jeans and a light blue open-collared shirt that made his eyes look like summer without the smog.

“I’ve got no pesky clients today, luv,” he told me, without pausing by my desk to check my outfit, which he usually did. “I’d like you to order us a picnic lunch.”

“Huh?”

“Picnic. You have those in America, right? Or are they banned in the great state of New York?”

“We have them, but you can’t even spread out a blanket without kicking aside a stray used needle or two.” As soon as I said it I remembered the heroin. “I…I’m sorry,” I stammered.

But my thoughtless reference didn’t make him miss a beat. “A little local color will add to the experience, I’m sure. Handle the details and we’ll go around noon.”

Did a picnic violate the terms of our deal? Ethan and I would be doing something outside of work, just the two of us, something intimate. Almost like a date. But he hadn’t suggested anything physical. It was lunch. We both had to eat, right? It seemed perfectly harmless.

Since I was working from the company petty cash fund, I called up the neighborhood yuppie café where they served giant organic sandwiches. On my budget, I would have gone for a Subway footlong. But Ethan would no doubt demand something better.

We held our picnic on a concrete bench in a sweltering park a few blocks away from the office. Dog walkers and stroller-pushers, listless from the heat, wandered by now and then, but otherwise we were alone. The humid heat pressed on us like a steam iron. My hair stuck to my cheeks as I bit into my upscale sandwich.

Ethan didn’t comment on the slabs of free-range chicken that had probably been hand-raised and read bedtime stories before being slaughtered and inserted into a sandwich. He did remove the unruly mound of bean sprouts and toss it to a nearby pigeon. The pigeon pecked at the stuff, clucked scornfully and waddled the other direction.

I couldn’t help giggling at Ethan’s wounded expression. “I wouldn’t take it personally,” I told him. “He’s a New York pigeon. He’s used to eating dog crap.”

He chuckled. “Have you lived here your whole life, Dana?”

The sheer ordinariness of the question unnerved me. “Well, except for that semester abroad in Paris, and the year I spent in Fiji with the Peace Corps. I’m joking,” I added, when he didn’t laugh.

“Oh. Well, I’m certainly familiar with your sense of humor, but I confess I don’t understand the joke. You could have done those things.”

I let out a spurt of laughter that startled the pigeon. “I had other things to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like dodge my father’s fists after a drinking binge.”

“Ah.” Ethan didn’t show sympathy or disapproval or anything else. He chewed on his stack of multi-grain goodness. “And your mother?”

“No clue. My father always said she ran away, but for all I know he has her body dismembered in a freezer somewhere.”

That earned me a sharp taste of Blue Fury.

“I’m kidding. I have a dark sense of humor. My father’s not that bad. And my stepmother would have gone for poison instead.”

A crack of laughter from Ethan. “You really are something, you know that? You fascinate me.”

I filled my mouth with sandwich so I didn’t have to answer that. I was very much afraid the fascination was mutual. We settled into a munching, digesting kind of silence. He had one ankle crossed over the opposite knee, and occasionally his bent leg would brush against mine. Every time it happened, a little jolt of awareness zinged straight to my groin. Did he know it was happening? Was he doing it deliberately?

“Your knee keeps touching me.”

“Does it?” He didn’t move away.

“That’s against the rules.”

“So sorry.” But he didn’t look sorry. He looked entirely unconcerned, even though he moved his knee away. “One of these days we must write these rules down. For instance, is all physical contact forbidden while Simon is away, or only that of a sexual nature?”

Lord, why did he have to say “sexual” with that spark in his eyes and that slant of his eyebrow? It wasn’t fair, damn it.

“Another example. I’ve been longing to tell you how delicious you look today and how the shadow of your nipples through the fabric of your blouse keeps drawing my eyes. But is verbal praise also off-limits, since I’d be unable to keep it G-rated, I’m afraid?”

“You can’t see my nipples through my blouse!” I looked down to make sure.

“Oh, yes, I can. I know what they’re doing right now. They’re just beginning to stir to life. You’re probably feeling a pleasant prickling as they become engorged. I’ve realized something about you, you know. The sound of my voice has a powerful effect on you.”

So right he was. I tried to block out his voice. Might as well try to stop the Hudson River.

“In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I could bring you to orgasm just with my voice. I wouldn’t have to touch you at all. All I’d have to do is tell you what I wanted to do to you. I’d tell you how much I want to bend you over this bench and take you in the open air. Or how much I’d like to tie you to that birch tree over there, open your blouse and bring you to orgasm with my fist up your cunt. Sure, someone might see. For instance, those three fellows playing Frisbee over there. It’s entirely possible they’d start to notice when I tied your hands behind the tree and ripped off your blouse. Maybe they’d even come running to your rescue.”

His gravelly voice hypnotized me so I could practically picture the scene. My body melted into a shivery puddle of craving.

“And then, of course, I’d have no choice but to invite them to join us, either as witnesses or participants. They look like red-blooded, able-bodied, clean-cut gentlemen, nothing to fear. I’d have to convince them you were willing. More than willing. Eager. I’d have to show them how wet you already were, just from having your breasts exposed. You like being exposed, don’t you?”

“Stop,” I murmured. This was going into an area we’d never touched. Other men had had no place in our games so far.

As soon as I told him to stop, he did. And as soon as he did, I wanted him to start again. After all, what was the harm? He was going there in imagination only.

“Well…” I cleared my throat. “Would you let them touch my breasts?”

“I’d give them a chance, see how they behaved. Not just anyone gets to touch my Dana. Our Dana, I should say.”

I winced at the reminder of the absent Simon. But I was too caught up in Ethan’s hypothetical scenario to be bothered for long.

“Our Dana’s luscious nipples deserve nothing other than sweet tender care. Long, lingering suckles. Perhaps a man to each nipple, and one to jerk himself off as he watches. That should get you started, I’d say. You’d be making those adorable little whimpering sounds. But perhaps I’d begin to sense that you want more, that you need the grip of cold metal on your flesh.”

The image made my belly clench with need. My nipples were as hard as the bench we sat on. I thought I would suffocate if this went on much longer. I turned a pleading look on him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of nipple clamps.

This was way over the line, totally against our rules, but I banished that thought from my mind. I nodded, biting my lip. I didn’t care who watched as he reached inside my blouse and fastened the silver clips to my nipples. The sweet pain of it made me sag against him and sigh. Exquisite relief flooded me. I leaned against him as if he were a boulder. When I looked down, the clips were clearly visible through my blouse. But I didn’t care. Ethan would take care of me.

Click here to buy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and love,

Juniper

Friday, June 17, 2011

Weekend News Update

I'm thrilled beyond belief that RESTRAINING THE RECEPTIONIST has reached the #1 spot on the Samhain bestseller list! Thank you so much to the readers who made that happen. Love you! It's still available at a reduced rate of $2.45 for a few more days right here.

In other news, GO WILD has been reviewed by Whipped Cream and received 5 cherries. Here are some choice bits from the review:

Lars is one of the most gorgeous and darling athletes I’ve ever read about...I’m surprised this novella didn’t burst into flames as I flew through the pages. Each love scene was blistering and unique...I would recommend this book to someone looking for a scintillating novella.

And here's the link to the full review.

They sent me this cute little button. GO WILD will be part of the "Best book of the week" contest this weekend, so stop by and vote if you feel so inspired!


And my third news item: my Ellora's Cave editor has contracted GO DEEP, the next story in the Wild, Alaska series. The release date has yet to be determined, but I should be able to post the cover soon.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Release Day for Restraining the Receptionist

It's here! Restraining the Receptionist, the sequel to Training the Receptionist, is now available for download at the Samhain site and at Amazon for Kindle. Here are the links.



And here's the blurb. I hope you enjoy the next installment in the story of Dana, Ethan and Simon.

Restraining the Receptionist

Every deal has a loophole.


…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Product Warnings

NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.



Friday, June 10, 2011

Restraining the Receptionist at Samhain



Did you know that you can pre-order Restraining the Receptionist -- or any other book that catches your eye -- at the Samhain bookstore, and save? Yes, it's a new feature, and a great one in my opinion. Here's the link. Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

First Review for Restraining the Receptionist

With the release of Restraining the Receptionist less than two weeks away, I'm already getting reviews. (I'm not sure why! I don't usually get reviews before the book comes out.) I especially love this review from Whipped Cream Reviews. Here are a couple snippets and the link to the full review.

If you have read the first book in this series than you must read this latest installment of Dana’s adventures with Simon and Ethan. Restraining the Receptionist takes you on an emotional ride that never slows down. Dana must take a hard look at herself and her feelings for these two men. Will she choose to stay or will she choose to go? ...

Juniper Bell writes an emotional, sexy story full of love and trust. ... This was a wonderful story and I cannot wait to see just what Ethan and Simon have in store for Dana next.

You can read the rest here.

June 14, here we come!

Love, Juniper

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

New Review and Blog Hop Wrap-up

I'm still recovering from the fabulous Year of the Rabbit Blog Hop. I hope you got a chance to check it out ... there were some great stories and lots of hellacious mancandy. Congratulations to my winner, PATRICIA! And thanks to everyone who voted for my story as their favorite ... I placed second, which is a thrill.

Now, on to something even more thrilling. GO WILD received a wonderful review today from Lea at Blackravens Reviews. I'm posting it here, or you can click over to the site for more.

Lea’s Review:

I will begin by saying that Juniper Bell is one of my personal favorites among the up and coming sensuous romance writers. She writes in a style that is uplifting and enjoyable with both humor and passionate sexual elements interwoven in her books, while also offering an undercurrent of a moral to the story or, at the very least, something to prick your conscience to think about a situation in a new way.

In Go Wild, Lars and Katia are deeply in love. Katia sees their relationship as perfect just as it stands but Lars wants to make their commitment permanent by getting married. Katia refuses, and Lars simply doesn’t understand why Katia doesn’t want to marry him. It takes time and effort to figure things out, but once he understands the reasons behind her hesitancy, his winning competitive spirit as an Olympic athlete comes to the fore and he decides on a plan to show Katia the error in her thinking.

While light and sexy on the surface, there is a deeper side to Go Wild that explores the ways we sometimes allow our past to determine our future; how we permit opinions and perceptions heaped on us by others throughout our lives to wound us and become part of how we define ourselves. In Katia’s case it takes some thoughtful planning on the part of her lover and his friends to help her see the light. It is a powerful message that instead of reacting in anger or dismay over a misunderstanding, with perseverance, trust, an open mind and true love there is way to heal and move on.

In this story, Wild Nights is a festival held in the town in Alaska where Katia and Lars live. It provides the perfect background for this lesson in love. Knowing that Juniper Bell lives in Alaska, I wonder whether there is a Wild Nights festival in her area. If so, I would certainly appreciate an invitation to visit.

Go Wild is sure to be enjoyed by all who appreciate a well told story with wonderful steamy sex scenes with multiple partners and an HEA ending.

Rated 5 Ravens by Lea!

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As you can imagine, I'm pretty excited about this review! Thank you to Lea and Blackravens Cafe.

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Friday, April 22, 2011

Year of the Rabbit Blog Hop


Welcome! I'm Juniper Bell. The Year of the Rabbit starts off with a bang at the condo of Komo Brown, the most sought-after man in Chicago. What else can you expect when a picky former archeologist, a horny movie star, and a cantankerous accountant are thrown together? Meet Komo:


Let me also introduce the famous and horny Cherie St. Clair...













and the cantankerous but loyal Tomako.





And, of course, the Rabbit.


And so our story begins...


Bloody footprints. What a way to start the weekend.

Komo drummed his fingers on the glass patio door. It offered a lovely view of the snowy courtyard along with the aforementioned set of bloody prints. Not a typical sight in downtown Chicago, but then again, few sights at the home of Chicago’s most sought-after gigolo could be called typical.

Bloody footprints. What to do?

He could call the police. Unfortunately, a certain world-famous member of the female sex, currently tied up in his bedroom, might object to a sudden invasion by law enforcement.

He could follow the footprints as far as they led. If he found himself in the vicinity of a dead body, well, being dead, it would be in no particular hurry to be discovered. If it was only wounded, the inevitable call to the authorities would be required.

His client had been waiting too long already. She didn’t deserve to be cheated out of her happy ending by the noisy arrival of paramedics.

He let out a low whistle. Instantly his cantankerous servant, who never seemed to sleep, glided to his side. Tomako kept her head bowed, her body in its usual humble stance.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get to the bottom of those, would you?” He gestured to the red marks on his courtyard tiles.

“Yes, sir.”

“If you need my help, you know where I’ll be.”

He saw the dark fans of her eyelashes quiver against her ivory cheeks. For months now, he’d been desperately lusting after her. But how could he despoil someone so tender, so vulnerable? He hadn’t even wanted to hire her, but she’d threatened to take a job as an accountant at a nearby brothel if he turned her away.

Brusquely, he waved his hand in dismissal. He’d been away from the bedroom too long. He’d left Cherie trembling on the edge of orgasm for hours now. She’d paid good money and deserved her satisfaction.

Nice work if you can get it. Though sometimes he thought his previous career as an archeologist might be preferable. As a gigolo, his pickiness tended to keep his income in check.

With a sigh, he ambled back to the bedroom. Cherie’s pornographically spectacular body lay spread-eagled on his black satin sheets. He estimated that 65% of her was in its original state. The rest had been altered for her movie-going audience. Cherie could get any man she wanted, but she couldn’t be bothered to offer an orgasm in return. So she brought her horny self to him whenever she was in town. He assumed others tended to her needs in the other major metropolitan areas.

Though blindfolded, she sensed his arrival and moaned loudly. She arched her chest, thrusting her plum-sized nipples toward him.

“Now, now. All in good time.” He soothed her with a long stroke of his hand across her breasts, down her perfect, flat stomach, to her pink sex. He palmed her pussy, preparing for her final descent into orgasmic bliss. She writhed like an animal. This was a job, no doubt about it. Cherie left him cold, though of course he managed to fulfill his professional obligations.

Though lately, only by picturing a certain cranky servant had he managed to do the deed. Fantasies of Tomako’s slim, lithe body produced instant arousal. He ought to pay her extra for her unintentional fluffing services.

“Master?”

Tomako stood in the doorway, as if he’d conjured her with his lewd visions. And damn, hadn’t he told her not to call him master? It inspired far too many lusty impulses.

“Yes, what is it?” Then he saw the gun in her little hand. It shook slightly. Her dark eyes were wide with shock, ink blots against her bloodless face.

“I took care of the ... problem.”

“You did?” He made a gesture meant to be calming.

“One of her fans.” She waved the gun wildly at the bed.

“One of my fans was here?” Behind the blindfold, Cherie looked absurdly pleased.

“He went crazy. He had a rabbit.”

“I had a bit part in Fatal Attraction, as a child.” Cherie frowned. “Maybe the rabbit was a tribute.”

“Shut up, you! You nearly got that poor bunny killed.” A sob shook Tomako’s slender frame. “I love rabbits, they’ve always been my favorite animals. I relate to them.”

Komo didn’t like the feel of this. “Tomako, hand me the gun. Why do you have a gun, anyway?”

“It was his. He was going to kill you. I couldn’t let him.” The gun shook like a leaf in a gale.

“Of course you couldn’t. Is, um, is he okay?”

“I left him out in the snow. He’s really mad.”

Relief whooshed through Komo. At least his faithful servant hadn’t killed a man in his defense.

“The blood was fake,” she added. “He wanted to lure you outside, kill you, then have his way with what’s her name.”

“Cherie St. Clair,” said the movie star, sounding irritated. “If no one’s going to get me off, could someone get me out of here? The last thing I need is paparazzi showing up.”

“Shut up!”

Komo stopped in the middle of taking off Cherie’s blindfold. The movie star blinked, adjusting to the light and the strange scene. Komo straightened up and took a step toward Tomako. He had to get that gun from her before she did something crazy.

“Are you coming to kiss me?” God, the wistful look in her eyes.

“No, I’m coming to take the gun away so we can all relax.”

“Oh no. I’m not giving up the gun. You think I’m just a quiet little girl, don’t you? Someone no one ever notices?”

“I never even knew you existed until now,” said Cherie. Komo had to admire her cheek, still tied up but just as snippy as ever. He tossed a pillow over her sex.

Tomako ignored her and pinned her wide dark eyes on Komo. “Is that how you see me? A little nothing? A little scared rabbit?”

“No, of course not.”

“Don’t humor me. Tell me the truth.”

“You want the truth?”

She nodded bravely, but couldn’t hide her fearful wince.

“I think about you all the time. I think about your dark, satiny hair and the way you walk, like silent music. I think about what’s under that coat you wear. Take it off, now.”

A flush of color swept her face. As if transfixed, she took off her coat, transferring the gun from one hand to the other. The body underneath was just as graceful and sensual as he’d dreamed. She wore a simple white t-shirt and black cotton pants, like what a dancer would wear while running errands. He ravished her with his eyes. When he met hers again, the look in them made his heart clench. Hope against hope, exquisite vulnerability.

“Is that what you wanted to hear? That I’d rather lick your little toe than give a movie star one more multiple orgasm?”

“Hey! I will be demanding my money back, FYI.” Cherie wriggled against the silk ties at her wrists. They didn’t give, of course. He was a professional.

Komo ignored her. “That my idea of heaven would be feeding you strawberries in a hot tub, licking a stray drop of juice off your nipple, watching you tremble and sigh? That I wonder all day long what you’re doing here, why you work for me, where you came from? That I want to know everything about you, that I hope you feel something for me…”

“I do,” she said fervently. “I do, I do.”

The universe fell into sweet, singing alignment as their eyes met and clung. Neither moved. Neither breathed. Komo barely noticed that Tomako had dropped the gun. She stood awkwardly, arms dangling, as if unsure what was next.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” snapped Cherie. “Why don’t you take your shirt off and be done with it?”

Time for her to go. Dragging his eyes away from his lovely Tomako, knowing the two of them had all the time in the world, Komo crossed to the bed to untie Cherie.

The movie star gathered her clothes but didn’t bother to put them on. Naked, she strolled to the door, tossing Tomako a mocking look as she passed.

“It is the Year of the Rabbit, after all. But that’s okay.” She twitched her hips as she made her exit. “At least someone’s getting a happy ending.”

The End.

Thank you so much for reading! Here's the link to get back on the tour bus. I hope you have a great time on the Year of the Rabbit blog hop. Tons of prizes are up for grabs, including a Nook and your choice of ebook from my backlist. My next release is June 14 from Samhain -- "Restraining the Receptionist." If you'd like to check out the blurb, just scroll down. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Easter!

Juniper Bell