Long and Short Reviews welcomes Isabelle Lauren who is celebrating the recent release ofCompletely Yours. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of the tours on the stop.
I’m thrilled that Completely Yours is finally published! This is my second full length novel and I had so much fun writing it. It went through so many different iterations based on feedback from my beta readers, but also based on my own shifting perspective on the themes explored in the novel.
In the first few drafts of the novel, Alisha doesn’t realize that she’s bisexual. She is finding it difficult to come to terms with her sexuality, also because her parents are quite conservative and wouldn’t approve of her being bisexual. But as I kept revising the novel, it started to bother me that Alisha’s sexuality should be an issue. There are so many novels out there that deal with people coming to terms with being bisexual, or gay or lesbian. I didn’t want that to be central to the story anymore. There’s enough other conflict in the story that I didn’t need to make bisexuality an issue.
I’m happy with my decision. Alisha, Caroline and Daniel are all very comfortable with themselves and who they are, which makes the contrast between them and how the media treats Caroline so stark.
Caroline is on top of her game. Black Goddess, her company, is opening a store in New York, and a week away from the office is just what Caroline needs. In Toronto, she has to play the role of the prim, successful business woman, romantically linked with her business partner Daniel. But in New York she can be sexually free. It doesn’t hurt that this time, her attractive project manager Alisha is coming with them.
Alisha is attracted to both her bosses, but she is determined not to jeopardise her career. This determination is shaken when Caroline proposes a no-strings attached sexual relationship for the duration of the business trip. Unable to deny her feelings Alisha embarks upon a scorching sexual journey with Caroline.
Daniel is in love with Caroline. Knowing that their romantic relationship is nothing more than a facade with no chance of ever becoming a reality, Daniel decides to quit his job as Caroline’s business partner in an effort to protect his heart. All he has to do is survive the week in New York. But can he continue to deny his feelings, especially when Caroline needs him?
When the media makes details of Caroline’s sexual excesses public, Caroline, Alisha and Daniel must work together to save the future of Black Goddess—and their hearts.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Alisha didn’t hesitate to try on the dress. She stepped behind the screen and pulled her dress over her head. She unclasped her bra and let it fall unceremoniously to the ground. Then she lifted the dress off the hanger. The weight of it surprised her. For such an ethereal-looking gown, it was heavy. The sheer amount of fabric made it difficult to navigate, and she struggled to get it on. Sweat broke out on her skin. Her head stuck inside the dress and she worried that if she moved further, she’d ruin it.
“Caroline? Can you help?”
She heard Caroline’s footsteps and then hands pulled her through the dress. Her head emerged and she looked into Caroline’s laughing face.
“Oh my goodness, I thought I’d tear the dress,” Alisha gasped.
Caroline laughed. “I think Rebekah meant for me to help you into it, but it didn’t occur to me until now; I’m so sorry. It’s a lot more cumbersome than it looked on the hanger.”
Alisha smoothed the dress over her hips and ass. She stifled a giggle. “There’s so much fabric!”
Caroline moved around and zipped up the dress. “Let me look at you.”
Alisha took a deep breath and turned around. She caught her reflection in the mirror and gasped. She hardly recognized herself. The yellow fabric billowed around her like a delicate cloud. She looked petite in it. The pale yellow color enhanced the glow of her skin. Her breasts looked like they threatened to spill out of the plunging neckline, even though everything felt very secure.
“Wow.” Caroline’s voice was husky with lust.
Alisha looked at her. Caroline’s lips were parted slightly, and her eyes roved over Alisha’s body. Heat pooled between Alisha’s legs at the look of naked desire on Caroline’s face. Caroline reached out and ran her hand along the length of the dress. Alisha closed her eyes and forgot to breathe.
“So soft,” Caroline whispered. “The craftsmanship is amazing.”
She was close enough for Alisha to feel her body heat. Her heart was beating so hard she was convinced Caroline could hear it. Their eyes locked, and the temperature seemed to increase a few degrees. The hair on the back of Alisha’s neck stood on end. Without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed Caroline. A small gasp escaped Caroline’s lips, ratcheting up the heat in Alisha’s body. She didn’t want to think about whether this was right or wrong, she just wanted to feel Caroline’s lips part underneath hers, feel the heat of Caroline’s body as it pressed against hers.
She felt she could drown in this kiss. Time seemed to stop—there was only the urgent dance of their tongues, the heat between their bodies and the ache in her sex. She moaned as Caroline’s hand slid lower, cupping her ass through the dress.
Then, as suddenly as the kiss had started, Caroline pulled away. Alisha blinked as if coming out of a trance. Her pulse raced, and her legs threatened to fail her. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, although her heart still felt as if she’d run a marathon. Her eyes focused on Caroline and the reality of what had happened hit her. She backed away, her hand pressed against her mouth.
“I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I don’t know what possessed me.”
Caroline looked as flustered as Alisha felt. She cleared her throat. “Don’t apologize.”
“I need to get out of this dress.” Alisha stepped behind the privacy screen, as much out of a need to change as to recover from what had happened. Her hands shook as she zipped the dress open.
On the other side of the screen, Caroline cleared her throat. “Do you need any help?”
The thought of Caroline seeing her half naked made Alisha break out in a cold sweat. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” Her voice sounded unnaturally high.
She carefully peeled the dress off and stepped out of it. She focused on hanging it back on the hanger and smoothing the fabric down. She did not want to think about what had just happened.
“Do you want to try on any of the other dresses?” Caroline asked.
All Alisha wanted to do was run and hide. Not try on another dress. “No, I think I’ll take this one.”
“It’s a lovely dress, nice choice.”
Alisha marveled at how calm Caroline sounded. Had the kiss not affected her at all? Or did she treat all her employees like this? Alisha dressed as quickly as possible. She took a few shaky breaths before stepping out from behind the privacy screen. What had possessed her? She’d worked tirelessly for fifteen years to get where she was now, and there had been no place in her plans for romance. It was one reason she and Victoria had broken up. Her career always came first. And now she had jeopardized all that for one kiss. A searingly passionate kiss that had made her weak with need, but a kiss that shouldn’t have happened.
Caroline was sitting on a couch at the other end of the room. The stupidity of what she’d done suddenly sank in. The kiss had been a terrible mistake. What must Caroline think of her? She’d ruined her carefully cultivated professional image.
Caroline smiled. “Shall I call Rebekah and tell her which dress you’ve chosen?”
Alisha nodded mutely, not trusting her voice.
Caroline got up and walked to the back of the store. Alisha sank down on the couch. She took a big gulp of water and tried to steady her nerves. She had kissed her boss!
Before she could process this information further, Caroline and Rebekah approached the couch. Alisha got up.
“I’m so happy you loved the dress,” Rebekah said.
Alisha tried to calm her racing heart. “It’s just amazing.”
“I’ll get it sent to your suite.”
Alisha shook her hand. “Thank you so much. You have lovely dresses.”
She hoped Rebekah didn’t notice her damp palms.
Rebekah walked them to the door. She kissed Caroline on the cheek again and hugged Alisha.
“Come by again soon,” she told Caroline.
Caroline nodded. “I won’t leave it this long again. And next time I’ll get something for myself. Alisha’s right—you have stunning dresses.”
Rebekah smiled. “Only the best, darling.”
The car was waiting for them outside. Alisha practically flung herself inside. She wished they didn’t have to go for lunch. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts. But Caroline got in next to her and gave the driver the address for a restaurant. They drove away in silence.
About the Author:Isabelle has been writing ever since she can remember. She’s tried her hand at pretty much any genre, but being an incurable romantic with a filthy mind, she made erotic romance her genre. Her books combine searing sex scenes with deep emotional connections. She loves making her readers hot with her words and is always happy to hear how her books have affected them.
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, or iBooks.
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Thank you so much for having me on your blog. It’s fun to share a bit of my writing process and the thoughts behind my decision to shape the characters the way I have.
Looks like an interesting book.
Thanks for the contest.