Hello everyone and thank you Scarf Princess for hosting me on my blog tour with my Christmas story, For The Love Of Mutt.
Today is my last stop and it's been a blast, as I have shared a little bit about how this story came about and where my inspiration came from.
Now, most of this story is set in a homeless shelter. Why there, you might ask? Well, I grew up in Germany, and my Gran, may she rest in peace, was not a very religious person. However, she always put a parcel together for the less fortunate than us, and we would take said parcel to one of the shelters. She always stressed the importance that no matter how poor you may think you are, and believe me, we never had much money when I grew up, there is always someone worse off than you. It is all too easy to get so caught up in your everyday life that you forget there are people struggling out there—people with no roof over their head, no means to put food on their table, or clothes on their back—and what a miserable time that must make Christmas of all days.
So, when it came to a setting for my Christmas story, the plight of the homeless immediately came to me. Throw in a hot romance and hey presto, this story was born.
As promised yesterday, I leave you with the moment it dawned on Anja, who Mutt is. Things are about to get interesting…
EXCERPT:
"Shower, you say?"
Anja released the breath she'd been holding and nodded.
"I guess that would be a good idea."
"You think? What did you do? Roll in dung?" She slammed her hand on her mouth in horror at her insensitivity, but he just laughed, and murmured something she couldn't quite catch.
"Is everything all right, my dear?" Mary asked.
"Yes, fine. I was about to show him where the showers are. So if you follow me..."
She weaved her way through the throng of people, out into the corridor, and up the steep stairs leading up to the second floor. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that he was following her, so aware was she of his presence. The wooden stairs creaked under her feet, yet he didn't make a sound despite his much heavier frame, his footfalls as light and graceful as a predator's. She stopped at the top of the stairs and watched his silent approach. Again she was struck by the contradiction between his appearance and his commanding presence. A presence that had her leaning towards him, even as her nose protested at the noxious fumes coming off his clothing.
She stepped to the side as he came close and gestured toward the door to the shower units. "Showers are in there. I'll see whether I can find you something fresh to wear. Mary just had a new batch of donated clothes in."
She risked a peek at his face and promptly wished she hadn't. The quiet intensity with which he was studying her did strange things to her equilibrium. She leaned against the wall for some support and breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled, turned, and walked through the open door towards the showers all lined up against the wall. He shrugged out of his jacket as he went and even though she knew he would see her staring if he turned around, she couldn't quite get her feet to move. He discarded the jacket on the floor and toed out of the sorry excuse for shoes he was wearing. The muscles in his back bunched and moved as he made short work of his trousers and Anja barely suppressed a gasp. He wasn't wearing any underwear and he had the most perfect male ass she'd ever had the good fortune to ogle. And Anja was no stranger to ogling. The internet was a wonderful thing, after all.
He was surprisingly clean under the clothes. She heard him whistle as he turned the water on and stepped under the stream. Rivulets of dirt created an intricate pattern on his broad back as the filth washed out of his hair and ran down his torso, over the slim hips, trim ass, and powerful thighs, then down toward the tiled flooring of the wet room. He reached for one of the shower gels stacked along the wall and proceeded to lather up his hair. When heturned around Anja prepared herself to flee, but his eyes were closed, and she stood frozen to the spot, unable to tear her gaze away as he soaped up his body. She followed the movement of his hands with her eyes, and bit her lip when he reached his cock. Thick and long, it hung semi-erect between his legs and hardened under his ministrations.
Groaning, he cupped his shaft. He spread his legs and started pumping in earnest, putting one hand against the wall for support. Faster and faster that hand moved and Anja rubbed her thighs together at the answering ache in her pussy. Who'd have thought that watching a man jack himself off would be such a turn-on? His face contorted as though in pain, his balls drew up, and his thighs shook, until finally with a roar of completion he shot his load into the streaming water and sagged back against the wall.
And still, she couldn't bring herself to move. Now that he was washed free of the grime, she could admire the powerful angles of his face. His shoulder-length hair stuck to his skin and his full lips, partially hidden by his goatee, opened in a fanged smile. A smile she had seen countless times in his other form.
The room spun and this time Anja couldn't hide her gasp when he opened his eyes and he stared straight at her. Mutt's golden eyes glowed and the man's growl travelled across the distance separating them, as he grabbed a towel and stalked toward her.
A homeless shelter at Christmas may seem an odd place to find one's soul mate, but love knows no boundaries - or does it?
Anja has grown fond of the wolf like dog hanging around the shelter. With her soon to be ex -boyfriend putting pressure on her, her canine friend proves to be more reliable than any human could ever be. If only he were more than just a dog.
Helping others is not always easy to do, unless Ethan can do so undercover. However, hiding your true self brings problems of its own. Finding a mate had not been in Ethan's plan of action, but Anja's easy acceptance of Mutt breaks through all of his defenses.
The problem is he is not what he seems and will his deception by proxy prove the end of them before they even have a chance at love?
BUY AT: Breathless Press
AUTHOR INFO:
Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.
There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.
She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
I am giving away two copies of For The Love Of Mutt at the end of my blog tour. Follow me on every stop and every comment (along with your email addy) will give you another entry into the draw—easy peazy!
As well as the two main prices, one random commenter on each stop of my tour will receive an e-copy from my back list. Check it out here. Winners Choice!
Tour Stops Below:
10th December: http://adrianakraft. com/blog
11th December: http://kdgrace.co.uk
12th December: http://www. sizzlinghotbooks.net
13th December: http://smutters.co. uk
14th December: http:// wowfromthescarfprincess. blogspot.com/
I so love this story...Merry Christmas to you :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too, Raven :-)
DeleteWhat a sexy shower scene!!!
ReplyDeleteHeh, yeah it was fun to write ;-)
DeleteWhat a sexy shower scene!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for hosting me here today :-D
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for being here! The book sounds fantastic and I look forward to what you have coming out next. Happy Holidays!
DeleteWow! Love the shower scene! I can't wait to see what Ethan says to Anja about who he is.
ReplyDeleteangiek@cfu.net
Thanks, Angie :-)As to that he has some explaining to do, and there are a few more surprises in store for Anja.
DeleteThis story sounds fantastic. Great shower scene. Can't wait to read the rest of the book.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Thanks so much, Joanne :-)
DeleteThanks for being with me on this tour :-)
ReplyDeleteThe overall winners both winning a copy of For The Love Of Mutt are Joanne and Cherie.
Angie wins a copy of my back list on this blog.
Congratulations to the winners :-)
Hahaha I love the title!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas & congratulations to the winners!
Thank you :-) Merry Christmas to you too!
Delete