Checking It Twice
Jodi Redford
Tis the season for double seduction.
The only item on Jana Colton's Christmas list this year is Kevin Monahan. Preferably naked in her bed. The delicious, hunky chef has been resisting her forever, but she's pulling out all the sexy stops this holiday. Especially since his acceptance of an out-of-state job threatens to nix her quest to rock his boxers off.
Jana has always been Kevin's personal Kryptonite, but giving in to her isn't an option. Relationships are a four-letter word in his book. He cares far too much for Jana to let his emotional baggage ultimately break her heart.
With the arrival of his best friend, Nick Pappas, the balance of temptation shifts. From their past history of sharing women, Nick knows every dirty trick it takes to lead Kevin astray, and he's not afraid to use them. Particularly since Nick's convinced that Jana is exactly what Kevin needs to be happy and whole.
Their game of seduction quickly snowballs into something that feels an awful lot like love--in triplicate. But with Kevin dead set on leaving Michigan, there's a real possibility it could be a blue Christmas for them all.
**Guest Post**
First off, I’d like to thank Fictional Candy for letting me hang out with you all today.
So I thought I’d talk a bit about exposing ourselves. No, not that kind of exposing ourselves. There will be no gratuitous flashing in this post. You can all breathe a sigh of relief now. Nope, the type of exposure I’m referring to revolves around stripping down our barriers and letting people see who we really are behind these protective shields we oftentimes wear. Honestly, is there any scarier, nerve wracking prospect than baring ourselves to others? Whether it’s a figurative nakedness or the full monty, it can bring with it the same sense of vulnerability. To share our inner most thoughts and fears with someone is something that most of us don’t give up easily. When we’re shining the light on our true selves that spotlight can feel particularly intense and glaring.
As an author, I’m always sharing bits and pieces of myself in my books. Yes, even the scary flawed parts that I’d prefer to pretend don’t exist. To a certain degree, expressing those parts through fiction and another character’s life experience makes it easier when it comes to sharing my vulnerabilities, and in the process I’ll hopefully connect with readers in a way that goes beyond just words on a page. One of the greatest joys I get out of my job as an author is getting an email from a reader and having them share their own experiences with me. In those instances, it’s always a reminder that although it might be scarier than hell to expose so much of myself through my writing, the payoff is always worth it if it means something in the book resonated with a reader.
In my latest book, Checking It Twice, the theme of exposure plays a dominant role with all three characters. For Jana and Nick, who are both exhibitionists at heart, it’s a given that they not only crave baring their bodies and their emotions, it’s an inherent need that makes up a large part of the core of their identities. Kevin, on the other hand, fears exposing the demons that comprise his past, and as a result, he keeps those blinders concealing his inner self locked down tight. But at the same time, his voyeurism is essentially the link that forms his needed connection to others. It’s what draws him to Jana and Nick like a moth to a flame. But it’s also what he perceives as the key to his destruction, since giving in to his desire and love for Jana will mean exposing and confronting all of the very things that he’s struggled to keep under lock and key.
**Excerpt**
Nick shifted his position, his free hand grasping Jana’s
nape seconds before his mouth covered hers in a devouring kiss that was far
wickeder than the one Kevin had walked in on three days ago. He’d witnessed
Nick in action too many times to count and was no stranger to the power of his
seduction. Even so, those past instances were a pale shadow of the raw,
animalistic hunger inherent in Nick’s performance now.
He knew without any doubt Nick was seducing him as equally
as he was Jana. The son of a bitch knew his weaknesses. Knew how to fucking get
him. Much as it infuriated Kevin, he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
Temptation a hypnotic siren in his head, Kevin unconsciously
took a halting step forward, his gut tensing. As if he’d sensed Kevin’s
approach, Nick coasted his hand down Jana’s rib cage and caressed her hip
before disappearing beneath her skirt. A moment later, he awarded Kevin with a
tantalizing flash of Jana’s bare butt cheek.
Lust nailing him square in the groin, Kevin hissed in a
breath. Just like the other night, she was bare-ass naked under the skirt.
Nick released Jana but kept her close, his palm brushing her
waist. He gazed directly at Kevin, the intent in his eyes a silent demand. Play
time.
Kevin swallowed, the unbreakable chain of his addiction
shackling him tight. He took several more stiff-legged steps until he was
standing in front of the two individuals responsible for annihilating his
defenses. Jana’s breath hitched in uneven gasps. “K-Kevin…” Clouds of worry
mingled with the desire dilating her pupils.
As if he’d intuited her hesitation, Nick massaged her
shoulder before lightly kissing her temple. The look he offered Kevin was
substantially less soothing.
“She didn’t know what my plans were tonight. If
you’re going to be pissed at anyone for what’s about to go down, make it me.”
He clenched his jaw. “What makes you think anything is about
to happen?”
“Because I know you. And you better fucking believe I know
myself. This is who we are. A big part of what makes us tick and fulfills us.
I’m not going to deny that part of myself. You damn well shouldn’t either.”
His muscles tensed and rigid, he watched as Nick sipped at
Jana’s lips again before murmuring to her softly and taking her hand. Her mouth
trembling, she gave him one last pleading stare and turned to follow Nick. They
headed toward the wrought-iron stairway leading to the upper level, and Kevin
cursed under his breath. The motherfucker must have reserved one of the private
rooms. Of course he did. There was no way in hell Nick would have risked a
thirty-minute drive that might have granted Kevin a shot at cooling off.
Like a cornered beast, he tracked their journey as they
ascended the stairs. Nick’s palm slid beneath Jana’s skirt again, providing a
longer and even more mouthwatering view of her delectable, heart-shaped ass.
Liquid lust boiled inside Kevin, disintegrating his willpower. No force on
earth would save him now. Balling his fists in rigid defeat, he stalked after
them.
They reached the landing, and Nick glanced back at him, not
bothering to hide the relief and approval evident on his face. “They gave us
room 208.”
Kevin gestured toward the hall ahead of them, and Nick led
Jana in that direction. Once they reached the right door, Kevin slid his member
card into the slot and twisted the handle. He stepped into the room first and
scanned its interior. Far as rooms at Arabesque went, it was one of the tamer
ones. A four-poster bed with black satin sheets that were regularly replaced
with each new occupant. Varying padded cushions in different shapes stacked to
one side on the floor, all used for helping maintain certain sexual positions.
A table occupied the opposite corner, its surface holding a gamut of unused
plugs, vibrators, lubes and condoms. You name it, the club had you covered. The
only major concession to kink was the sex swing hooked to a spring over the
bed. Kevin couldn’t take his damn eyes off it. At least not until Jana and Nick
stepped into his line of vision.
Jana gnawed her lip. “Can I just remind you that I’m the
only one in this room who’s never been in a situation like this before? I’m
kind of lost here.”
Nick hugged her in reassurance. “There’s no reason to be
nervous.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Brushing his lips over hers, Nick halted her troubled words.
His hands drifted to her breasts. Circling his thumbs over her nipples, he
broke their kiss to watch the motion of his fingers. “Are you wearing my
present?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good girl. Do you think we should show Kev?”
Breath hitching in her throat, Jana nodded.
“I do too.” Nick pinched the ends of the bow securing Jana’s
top. Giving a tug, he carefully freed the satin ribbon.
Kevin’s heart raced at the excruciatingly slow unveiling.
Finally the fabric gave, and the soft fullness of Jana’s breasts inched the top
open. Nick slid the garment from Jana’s arms and let it drop to the carpet.
Like a moth drawn to flame, Kevin zeroed in on the small silver hoops and
dangling beads decorating her nipples. His mouth went a thousand degrees of
dry. “Sweet Jesus.”
“No. Sweet Jana.” Giving a hum of approval, Nick gently
tugged the tiny beads, making her nipples tighten. “I knew these would look
fantastic on you. Are you wearing the rest of what I gave you?”
Kevin gulped. There was more? He was never going to fucking
survive this.
At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly,her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she
writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.
She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star. When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.
She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at jodiredford@jodiredford.com and visit her online at
www.jodiredford.com and her blog www.jodiredford.blogspot.com . You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Connect with Jodi:
Website: www.jodiredford.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodi.redford.3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodiredford
Email: jodi@jodiredford.com
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