by M. A. Ellis
He pulled her tight against his body and kissed her with an intensity she’d never known. It was thrilling. Frightening. And when she tried to pull away it was Trey who clung to her.
“You realize that I can’t let you go, don’t you, Susanne. Not for some grand finale. Not for some other man, though you’ve convinced yourself he can offer you everything you want. There’s only one man who can do that, sugar. And he’s standing right here before you with his heart on his sleeve, a helluva lot better head of hair, and a Texas-sized hard-on.”
She smiled up into his face and traced the sexy contours of his goatee before smoothing her fingers over his mustache.
“Ah, Tex. Those are the words every woman wants to hear when she realizes she’s finally roped her man.”
He tossed his head back and laughed before hugging her close and whispering against her ear. “And all it took was my favorite brand of whiskey and a package of pull-apart licorice.”
“And blackberries, darlin’,” she said with a smile. “Don’t forget the blackberries.”
Devil-tini
This is my take on the drink Susanne created in Shaken and Stirred. While she did not use vodka in her winning libation, I simply cannot partake of anything shaken or stirred without it. Using vodka with a hint of vanilla really mellows the sharpness of the whiskey. And speaking of whiskey, you could probably use your blend of preference, but I’m sticking with the Jack. Viva Lynchburg!
1 ½ oz. Gentleman Jack whiskey
1 oz. vanilla vodka
2 oz. blackberry brandy
3 oz. very cold cola
Using crushed ice, chill your martini glasses.
Mix the Gentleman Jack, your favorite vanilla vodka and the blackberry brandy in a large cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake until your hand appears to be completely frozen.
Discard the ice used for chilling and pour the ingredients of the shaker into the glass. Add the cola and garnish.
*Note for the daring: if you’d like to take a chance at feeling the true power of carbonation, add the cola before you begin shaking the drink. It will make your martini ice-ice-baby-cold but please divert the lid away from the glasses or anything else fragile. Without a firm hold, your shaker cap might channel a great blue whale and suddenly BLOW.
Susanne’s Lasso Garnish
Cherry-flavored, pull-apart licorice
Blackberries
Like any first attempt at bondage, this could take a few tries to get it right. If you master it the first time around, it might be time to investigate your kinky side!
Cut one length of licorice in half. Gently make a loop nearly the size of your berry of choice and tie a simple double knot. Ease the berry into the loop and lower it into your martini, allowing the long length of licorice to hang over the side of the glass.
About the Author
M.A. Ellis is a firm believer that everyone should pursue their dreams…no matter how long it takes to achieve them. She wrote her first short story, What I Want To Be When I Grow Up, more than a few decades ago. It was read by a total of seven people. (For those who are interested, the answer to that intriguing statement was a toss-up between a veterinarian and a nun.)
Thanks to the encouragement of a creative writing guru at Northern Kentucky University, she stepped out of her neat little writing boundaries and penned an erotic poem, which ultimately led her to the vastly stimulating world of erotic romance. It’s a vocation she truly loves—equally as rewarding as furry, four-legged creatures and a heck of a lot more entertaining than Friday nights at the nunnery.
When not devoting her time to crafting tales of hot encounters and steamy romances that always have a happy ending, M.A. concentrates on the delightful task of honing her master baking skills, eagerly focusing on the realms of cheesecake and chocolate which are, in her humble opinion, the only ‘C’ words that matter.
She lives in northwestern Pennsylvania where temperatures rival those of Ice Station Zebra a good portion of the year—making it the perfect arena for devising stories where one spark can ignite a welcomed inferno.
M.A. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by M.A. Ellis
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology
Hallow’s Eve Hunk
Love’s Ally
Love’s Choice
Seducing the Siren
The Cake Babe
Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com