Friday 23 October 2015

Crave - Unedited Deleted Scene

There were a few scenes that were cut out for one reason or another and here is one of them, an exchange between Callum and Carmen at another public function.

*****

A month has passed since Lucia and I got together, and since she had to work tonight, I’m attending a small art gallery opening as a favor to Grant.. He didn’t want to come by himself as there was a possibility of his ex-wife being in attendance and the last time they saw each other in public was not a good scene. Since then, he has done everything possible to avoid a repeat performance.

But that had been the least of my worries. I knew it the moment I saw Carmen Dallas, rumor shark and pain in my ass.

She’s been following me for the past few years. However, since my latest award win, she seems to have made it her mission to ensconce me as prime bachelor real estate. For Ms. Dallas, every aspect of my life has been fair game. She’s been trying to dig something juicy and tabloid-worthy on me for as long as I can remember. Thankfully, since my public life has remained uneventful, she’s had a hard time reporting anything of interest. That was until the baseball game and the fact I had a beautiful—and unknown—brunette on my arm who thankfully still remains nameless to them.

 After thirty minutes, she’d successfully cornered me while I was admiring a beautiful abstract painting of a Napa Valley vineyard at dusk. I’d been mentally scanning my house for the right place to hang the art when she’d sidled up to me, her bright red lips curling into a predatory smile.

“Interesting approach to an atypical subject, don’t you think?” She’d mused as I’d caught her lifting a wine glass to her mouth. Turning fully toward her, I’d studied her trying to work out what her agenda was.

“Indeed. I have to say, I didn’t expect to see you at an event like this.”

Her face had given away a slight flash of annoyance before she’d schooled her expression. “Why’s that, Callum? You think arts and culture are beneath me?”

Her fake scoff had grated on me. “Something like that.”

“You wound me.” She’d reached up and placed her hand on my forearm, her faux laugh rattled around us, insincerity seeping from her pores, only serving to make me feel more on edge. More aware.

I’d politely but assuredly moved my arm away, causing her hand to drop. I scanned the room, looking for an escape. Or to be specific—Grant. Once I’d spotted him near the bar, I’d breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling emboldened and knowing that there was nothing she could or would find out about me, I’d downed my glass and decided it was time to take a stand.

“I sincerely doubt there is anything I could say or do to wound you, Ms. Dallas. I’d even go as far to say that it would be you, or more specifically, your column, that would inflict the most damage between the two of us. Now, I must rejoin my business partner. These events are all about networking, are they not?”

“Now, now, Callum. I thought we were friends.”

I’d tried to stifle the choking noise rising in my throat. I’d leveled her with a look, a knowing, ‘not willing to fall for her bullshit’ kind of look.

“We will never be classed as friends, Ms. Dallas. A drunken attempt to get in my bed does not make us friends. You are on one side of the invisible line; I am on the other. Never the two shall meet.”

“I’m just doing my job, Callum. The public wants to know more about you. The man behind the profile. The man behind the brilliant building designs and mysterious private life. The man that seems to have a different woman on his arm at every event, yet previous acquaintances report has a very healthy sexual appetite. Something very apparent by the frequent change in your plus ones.”

“And this is interesting to you because?” I’d adopted a stoic stance, the one that had served me so well in the past. The same one that had been on hiatus since Lucia had smashed her way through my guard the weekend before. “Carmen, I’m sorry to tell you, I’m still not interested.” I’d known I was coming across as egotistical, but she’d pushed me past the point of self-preservation.

“You are a person of interest. And what the readers want from me, the readers will always get.” The way she’d said it, her eyes flaring to reiterate her point, had unsettled me.

Looking over to Grant one last time, I’d nodded at him as soon as I caught his attention. “As always, Carmen, you’re nothing but eventful. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should really get back.” I’d moved to walk away, only stopping to leave a parting remark. “It’s been a pleasure.”

“Until next time,” she’d replied sweetly, too saccharine-tongued for my comfort. “Oh and Callum?” I’d turned my head when I heard my name, making sure to meet her eyes. “Tell Lucia I said hello. ”
Quick on my feet, I'd thankfully schooled my features to not reveal anything. I hadn’t been able to control the instant rigidity that swept through my body though. Not wanting to be in her vicinity any longer, I’d simply nodded back at her, refusing to dignify her sharp dig with anything other than silence.

Grant had immediately read my mood when I’d got back to him. Despite only being there for an hour, he’d downed his drink and dropped his glass back on to the bar, then clapped me on the back to signal our departure. “We’ve done our duty. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

****

If you haven't purchased Crave yet, you can do so on any platform


Thursday 22 October 2015

Crave is LIVE!!




Title: Crave
Author: BJ Harvey
Genre: Erotic Suspense
Release Date: October 20, 2015



Blurb

I have a craving.

A dark urge I’ve failed to resist despite years of trying to do that very thing.

I’ve forced myself to hide behind a mask, a perfect orchestration to hide my true self.

After I met her, my wants and needs, my inner most desires changed.

She encouraged me to embrace who I truly am, and she was willing to do anything and everything I wanted, giving herself to satisfy my most carnal appetite.

Then everything in my carefully managed world came crashing down around me. A moment in time, a loss of control, and the very thing I cherish was nearly taken from me.

My fate now lies in her hands.

The very life I’ve built for myself…everything I’ve ever done now waits in purgatory, all caused by a lack of focus at a time when my most concentrated attention was needed.

The very thing I crave may now be the end of me.








Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / AU






Excerpt


“What was that thought?” she asks curiously.

I lift my eyes from her hand resting on the black leather seat between us to her face to see a sly smile has appeared on her lips. “What thought?”

“The one that just had dirty written all over it.” Her smile grows wide, her eyes glittering with heat and a touch of amusement at the position she’s cornered me into.

“It’s a thought that would be more suited to the end of the date, if we are following your predetermined description of a how a first date should be, that is.”

Heat overtakes amusement as the air inside the car crackles with the right type of tension, the exact type of mood I have been hoping for and dreading. Our eyes remain locked, like neither one of us is able or willing to look away from the other.

Knowing I’d need to acquiesce, I look back down to where her hand rests beside her leg and bite the bullet, reaching over and lacing my fingers with hers.

“See?” she says as I catch her smile out of the corner of my eye. “Wasn’t that hard, was it?”

“It’s like that, is it?” I say, my voice filled with humor. She leans over, turning her body toward mine and rests her mouth against my jaw, just below my ear.

“If you want something from me, Callum, you just need to ask for it or take it. I highly doubt any of the thoughts running through that very handsome, highly intelligent head of yours could put me off.” Her breath warms my skin, sending the nerve endings into overdrive. “You’re welcome to try though . . .”

Before I can attempt to put my public mask in place, I tilt my head until we are cheek to cheek. Presented with an opportunity, I follow my instincts and graze my teeth slowly against her ear lobe. “I was thinking how your hand would feel touching me again . . .”

Her breath stutters momentarily, before quickening. She pulls back, leaning her shoulder into the seat but not returning to her side. “I’m sure we can arrange to hold hands again, Callum. It’s all part of getting to know each other.”

I mimic her pose, our bodies still close but not touching, as I let out an uncharacteristic chuckle. “You’re trouble with a capital T.”

“And I’m thinking, Mr. Alexander, there’s something about my brand of trouble that you’re drawn to.”



 Author Bio


BJ Harvey is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Bliss Series. She writes contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and romantic suspense.

An avid music fan, you will always find her with headphones on while writing, and the speakers blaring the rest of the time. She’s a wife, a mom to two beautiful girls, and when she’s not writing – she’s reading.

BJ resides with her family in what she considers the best country in the world—New Zealand.
 

She describes her writing as a little swoon, a lot of heat, a bit of drama and a whole lot of love.



 Author Links



Giveaway

Sunday 18 October 2015

Preorder Crave + Bonus Excerpt and Giveaway




Title: Crave
Author: BJ Harvey
Genre: Erotic Suspense
Release Date: October 20, 2015



Blurb


I have a craving. 

A dark urge I’ve failed to resist despite years of trying to do that very thing. 

I’ve forced myself to hide behind a mask, a perfect orchestration to hide my true self. 

After I met her, my wants and needs, my inner most desires changed. 

She encouraged me to embrace who I truly am, and she was willing to do anything and everything I wanted, giving herself to satisfy my most carnal appetite. 

Then everything in my carefully managed world came crashing down around me. A moment in time, a loss of control, and the very thing I cherish was nearly taken from me. 

My fate now lies in her hands. 

The very life I’ve built for myself…everything I’ve ever done now waits in purgatory, all caused by a lack of focus at a time when my most concentrated attention was needed.

The very thing I crave may now be the end of me.









Pre-order Links

AMAZON US / UK / AU






Excerpt

My deepest fear is that my attempt at normalcy with Lucia will put both of us at risk. There is something about her that makes me want to get to know her, be close with her, something beyond the physical connection we have, the intensity of which still has me unsettled and uncertain.

I can’t seem to stay away; I don’t think I want to anymore.

There’s something about her that has me conflicted in the worst possible way. The fantasy of being inside her again, of making her scream in pleasure by my hands always seems to morph into darker thoughts—more sordid depraved contemplations that I have no place in imagining.

I’ve come to the realization that although I want her close, I have to tread lightly.

It’s the best way for the both of us.



 Author Links



Giveaway

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Crave now available for pre-order!!!

Crave has been a while in the making, but it is finally finished and will release on Tuesday October 20th US time. 

It is a standalone (yay!) erotic suspense (oooh) that early reviewers are saying 'keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page.'

And the best news is you can preorder it now!!

Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1L5VJ31
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1Me56h6v
Amazon AU -  http://bit.ly/1QYLLnM
Google Play - http://bit.ly/1WMERpB
Kobo - http://bit.ly/1LxXImj
B&N and Apple are forthcoming

And if you want a sneak peek, head over to Goodreads, add Crave to your TBR and read the first two chapters by clicking "Read Book" - http://bit.ly/CraveTBR