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Pepper Winters
Cristin Harber
Aleatha Romig
L.P. Dover
Zoe York
Geneva Lee
Carmen Jenner
Kendall Grey
Chelsea Camaron
Amity Cross
J.L. Berg
Elisabeth Grace
Tia Louise
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Lisa Swallow
Elizabeth Otto
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Juliana Haygert
Claudia Bradshaw
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Not the end...
Copyright
Dear Reader,
When we conceived of the idea for Skip to the Good Part 2: 20 Authors Reveal Their Steamiest Scenes, we knew it was going to be hot, and we were bowled over by the variety of submissions. The things that connect our selections are the quality of the writing, the unique voice of the characters, and the authenticity of the scenes.
We’re thrilled to bring you New York Times best-selling authors Pepper Winters, Cristin Harber, Aleatha Romig, L.P. Dover, Zoe York, and Geneva Lee, and USA Today best-sellers Carmen Jenner and J.L. Berg. We also think you’ll discover some brilliant new (or new-to-you) authors in this mix.
Thanks for reading,
Heidi Joy Tretheway and Katherine Ernst
Editors at Jasper Ridge Press
Skip to the Good Part: Volume 2 is just the beginning.
Grab Volume 1 now, available only for a limited time. It features scenes from Raine Miller, Kendall Ryan, K. Bromberg, Carly Phillips, Denise Grover Swank and S.L. Scott. You can also preorder Volume 3, out January 2015.
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Tears of Tess
Monsters in the Dark, #1
Pepper Winters
Q’s domain.
The décor screamed hunter; an insight into his wishes, desires to ravage and ruin. The huge room announced how much he loved to control and dominate. He brought me here to do anything he wanted. How many other girls have been in his space?
I scowled, ignoring those thoughts. Tonight was about Q and I. Past and future didn’t belong in this exquisite present.
Sitting at the end of the monstrous black-covered bed was a mirrored chest. Studded with silver rivets, it reflected my tussled hair and trembling form.
My heart raced, absorbing so much at once.
Q came up behind and slapped my ass. “Stand in the centre of the room.” The scent of alcohol warned Q’s inhibitions were completely gone. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed until he was sober.
When I didn’t move, Q grabbed my throat, sending arcs of fear and want through me. “Obey, esclave.”
He let me go and I scampered to the centre of the room. My feet sank into thick, silver-white strands of the carpet. Facing the magnificent fireplace, I noticed carvings of foxes hunted by hounds, and deer impaled on spikes. At first glance, it was pretty and fanciful. But when studied, it writhed with hunger to kill and maim.
A sliver of terror darted down my back; I looked behind for Q. He stood by the wall, pulling on a lever.
Tinkling sounded from above, and I craned my neck as chains with leather cuffs descended.
My throat closed. Panic flared, turning my heated blood into a volcanic eruption.
Q’s hot form pressed behind mine. I trembled as he rubbed his erection against my ass. “Put your hands up, esclave.”
I agreed to do anything he wanted, but I didn’t have the courage to go through this again.
Shaking my head, I whimpered, “I’ll do anything but this.”
He sucked in a harsh breath. “You’re disobeying?” His tone held nightmares. “I’ll punish you if you don’t put your arms up immediately.”
I bit my lip. The force of the command buckled me, and I slowly raised my arms. Everything Q was about to do would put my entire mind-set to the test. I would either fall headlong into love, or break completely. I wanted this to hurt. I wanted to feel every inch. I wanted to remember it for the rest of my life. And if it meant tying me up again, so be it.
My eyes fluttered closed as Q secured my wrists in the leather cuffs. When the last buckle was tight, I whispered, “I have one request, if I may, Master?”
Q pressed his face against my neck, licking the bite he’d given earlier. “One request and no more. Make it count.”
I trembled and opened the remaining barriers inside. This request was for me. Only for me. “I want you to call me Tess.”
He froze, cock hard against me, chest against my back. A minute ticked past before he murmured, “You want to link your name to this? But you fought so hard to keep it from me.”
I nodded, swallowing as he rocked his hips once, causing me to sway forward in the bindings. “I know. But I want you call me by my name. I want to know you own me.” My core clenched and I moaned as Q found my breast, twisting my nipple so hard it erupted into flames.
“As you wish, esclave. Every time I call you Tess, remember I can do anything I want to you. I fucking own you.”
“Yes.”
“After tonight, every time I say your name you’ll get wet for me. I not only own your body but your identity, too. Do you deny it?”
“No, I don’t deny it. I’m yours. Through and through.”
With another twist of a nipple, Q strode toward the fireplace. I stood meekly in my cuffs, watching.
He didn’t load the fire with logs or fumble with matches. One click and gas flames roared, immediately searing.
Q faced me, running hands over his head. He shed the remaining tipsy haze, cloaking himself with sovereignty. Stalking forward, he pulled silver scissors from a pocket.
I gulped and didn’t say a word as he stopped a breath away. Snipping the scissors once with a tight smile, he grabbed the hem of my t-shirt and cut.
The blade tickled my stomach, up between my breasts, until the collar broke apart and it hung in tatters. Q clenched his jaw, cutting away my bra and shorts. With a hot look beneath heavy eyes, he snipped my knickers and watched as they fluttered to the floor.
I stood in naked glory, spreading wings of fearful happiness.
Gathering the ruined clothing, he threw them in the fire. The smell of burning filled the room and the drunken lust on Q’s face magnified to desperate proportions.
I couldn’t stop how fast I breathed, and hated when Q disappeared behind me. I heard the sounds of latches being undone and a heavy lid creaking open. Things tinkled and clanked, sending my imagination into overdrive. I strained to look over my shoulder, mouth hanging open at the toys and apparatus in the mirrored chest.
Silence descended, apart from the hiss of flames; I grew more and more uncomfortable. Anticipation played with my mind. What am I doing? I don’t want this. I don’t want pain and humiliation. I should say the safe word and admit this was a huge mistake. I shouldn’t be chained, naked, allowing a man to do anything he wanted. He could kill me and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
A slithering sound came from behind, and I tensed. I didn’t want to know what it was. Q paced behind, footsteps almost silent on the carpet. “Seeing as I’ve got you in such
a compromising position. I’m going to use it to my benefit.” His voice was gravelly with sin.
Oh, God. I wanted to ask what he meant, but he stopped directly behind, a few metres away. Why was he so far?
“How long have you fantasised about being fucked? Tortured? Used completely?” He stressed the word fuck; it resonated with erotic waves in my belly. It had to be the most graphic, raw question anyone ever asked.
But it was also a question begging for a lie. I couldn’t tell him that ever since hitting puberty I craved something I didn’t know. I gave myself orgasms to thoughts of domination and fear. I pressed lips together, not answering.
Out of nowhere, my shoulder blade licked with the pain of a thousand bees. The snap and crack of a whip echoed around the room.
I cried out, jerking in the restraints.
He fucking whipped me! The pain radiated along my back, warm, hot, biting. My stomach tangled with regret. I didn’t sign up to be hit and abused. I signed up to be fucked ruthlessly. Tears erupted as another crack and kiss of agony landed. My spine screamed and the wetness between my legs increased.
“Answer me, Tess. How long? How badly? I need to know.”
I whimpered, hanging my head. “All along. My mind’s been sick for as long as I can remember. It horrifies me. I can’t control it. It ruined my relationship with a sweet man, all because I need to be fucked, rather than made love to.” The truth cascaded off my tongue in one seamless stream. “I need it. So bad you have no idea.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I have some idea.” The whip struck again, licking with agony.
“Stop!” I cried, letting tears run free.
“Does the whip make you wet? Make you desperate?”
“Yes! Shit, yes. So much.”
Q laughed, it was dark and edgy, and so full of need, my heart twisted. He needed to inflict pain—I couldn’t take that from him.
The whip cracked again, but instead of tensing and bracing, I welcomed the lash. My body melted into acceptance and flesh became pliant.
“Tell me your darkest fantasy,” he ordered, pacing, the slither of the whip trailing soft footsteps.
I moaned, images flashed into my head of hair fisting, spanking, and bondage. He knew what I liked—he knew. But I didn’t know what he liked. I curled my bound hands. “Everything you do to me is a fantasy. I want to know yours. How dark do you want? How much further would you go?”
Q hit lower, licking my lower back and ass. “You aren’t allowed to ask questions.” Every strike burned, but rather than cripple with abuse, it changed me. I became a phoenix with a flaming back, welcoming the whip’s kiss. My body accepted the lash, not on my back, but in my core. Heat cranked to bonfire.
“Please, I need to know. Please…”
Q stopped whipping. I didn’t think he’d answer, but his breath kissed my neck, whispering, “You aren’t ready to hear the depths of my depravity, esclave.” He spanked my ass with one firm, biting hand. I groaned.
Even though the pain was multi-dimensional and I equally enjoyed and hated it, I tried to get free. It wasn’t the whip punishing—it was being held in perfect submission. I couldn't retaliate. I couldn’t twist or run. I could only hang and accept whatever Q gave.
Q backed up, murmuring, “Your skin is beautiful whipped, Tess, blooming pink and red. I think a few more colours are needed. Perhaps a deep maroon.”
The crack gave a second warning, before an intense sting buckled my knees; I swung in delirium. The lash held pent up emotion. Fear overrode again. Gone were the tantalizing questions, this was pure violence.
“This is for making me so consumed by sin, I can no longer think straight.” Q grunted as he connected with flesh. I sobbed, wailing for him to stop. The crisscross burns stripped me to my soul.
Q threw the whip at my feet, cradling me in his arms. “It’s OK … stop crying.” His linen suit rasped against my tender back as he soothed. The throbbing heat kept time with my heartbeats. I sucked heavy lungfuls of air. Is it over?
“You’re fucking with my mind,” I breathed through my tears.
Q’s hand headed down my belly, inching lower until he cupped me. “No, I’m fucking for your mind. I told you, I want to own you—body, heart, everything.”
I moaned as he circled my clit, nibbling my ear. “Tell me. Did you like being whipped?” He thrust a finger inside with no warning, arms banding tighter as I bucked in surprise. “Tell me the truth.”
I couldn’t think straight; I mumbled, “I didn’t like it, but I liked giving you what you need. It made me wet knowing you enjoyed it.”
“You think you didn’t enjoy it… but your body bent to the whip. Listen to what it’s telling you. Let it be your master.” Q sucked in a breath, finger pulsing inside before withdrawing. He brought his hand to my mouth. “You’re wet. So wet. Suck my finger, Tess.”
I opened, welcoming. My nose was stuffy from crying and I couldn’t get enough breath, but his taste of citrus mixed with me and the pain he caused branded with lust.
I rocked into his erection, silently pleading.
He stepped away, leaving me hanging like the captive I was. Q was wrong when he said being owned by him wasn’t romantic or sexy or fun. I’d never felt this way. This uninhibited. This free.
The world went black as Q fixed a blindfold over my eyes, tying it securely. His fingers grazed my neck, sending goosebumps and shivers skimming over my nakedness. I grew too hot thanks to the fire and perspiration dotted my upper lip.
“I’m going to take control of you now, Tess.”
I nodded erratically, heart beating wildly out of control.
Q grabbed my breast with one hand. Something sharp pinched on my nipple. I wished I could see what it was. Cupping my other breast, the weight of whatever he clamped dangled with an uncomfortable sensation.
Q murmured, “J'adore tes seins.” I love your tits.
The same pinching weight attached to my other nipple, sending shooting stars of need through an invisible link to my core.
I pulsed in time to blood throbbing in my nipples and whip marks. I whimpered as pain blossomed as more blood rushed.
Q grabbed the back of my neck, smothering my mouth with his. His tongue wrangled mine into yielding, our breaths mingled.
I moaned, becoming drunk on the taste of him.
Breathing hard, he stopped kissing me, and something soft and leathery danced along my stomach. I clenched, trying to figure out what it was. I hated the blindfold—the lack of eyesight. It made everything so much more aware, anxious, and sensitive.
Q sucked in a breath. “Every welt I give you makes me so fucking hard.”
I groaned as leather bit into my stomach, right on my pubis. I tried to double over but the restraints kept me arched—available for whatever torture he planned.
“You want to know how dark I’ll go? I want blood. I want you sobbing at my feet. I want you in fucking tatters. Does that scare you?”
Another strike, this time just below my breasts. My rib injury flared with pain, and the nipple clamps jiggled as I twisted, trying to run. I couldn’t deny the tension of being completely at his mercy made my pussy throb, but I couldn’t understand why. Why did being a submissive turn me on? Why did inflicting pain turn Q on?
My voice was barely audible. “Yes, it scares me. Deliciously terrifies.” My honesty shocked both of us. Breathing hard, I asked, “Why do you want to hurt me, maître?”
Q lashed out, slapping my cheek with a gentle palm. It didn’t hurt, but tears oozed beneath my blind fold. “I revoke your permission to speak.”
I hung my head, chastised. Guess, I wouldn’t know.
Q paced in a circle around me, dragging the flogger over my skin. “It’s not about hurting you, sweet Tess. It’s about branding you. Your skin is pure as snow, and I get to mark it.” He flogged my ass again. It caught a whip mark and blazed with agony. “It’s the wrongness, the rightness, I need your pain.” He whispered in my ear, “I’m invincible when I hu
rt you.”
Images of dark terror filled me. Every muscle in my body screamed to run. The safe word danced on my tongue. I’m stronger than this. I invited this. I won’t say it … not yet.
Q hit me particularly hard. It made the bee sting seem like a giant wasp, but I didn’t make a sound.
He groaned, tracing a finger over the new injury. “So fucking perfect.”
I breathed shallowly, wanting to see. Needing to see.
“You deserve a reward, Tess,” he said it so sweetly, as if I was a good girl and earned a lollipop. But his domination made me very aware I wouldn’t be getting an ice cream.
The pain once again morphed to tenterhooks of passion, and I welcomed the burn. Welcomed the marks Q branded.
He ripped the blindfold off, kissing me, holding my hair so I couldn’t move away as he fucked my mouth with a tongue that wouldn’t let me breathe.
I gasped and choked, but the moment he left, I wanted more. I wanted to die with him kissing me.
With glinting pale eyes, Q folded to his knees in front of me. “Put your legs over my shoulders,” he demanded.
I blinked. “My legs on your shoulders?” I flushed with embarrassment at the thought of him so close to my pussy—spread and exposed. I was so wet it trickled down my thigh. I shook my head, unable to be so vulnerable.
Q reached and slapped my ass. His hand connected with whip marks; I yelped.
“Do as I command, Tess.” He stressed my name and it did exactly as he wanted. It reminded me he owned me, therefore I had no choice.
Hesitantly, I cocked one leg, placing it on his shoulder. His eyes dropped to my centre, face darkening with need. Self-consciousness painted my cheeks. When my other leg stayed firmly planted on the ground, he glared. “You have two legs. Put them on my shoulders.” His voice rasped, chest working hard.
His passion granted a burst of feminine courage. Jumping, I shifted my weight to the cuffs and I straddled Q’s shoulders—suspended, completely at his mercy. His arms came up to hold my ass, biceps clenching. He didn’t tear his gaze away from my pussy. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” He kissed my inner thigh in a fleeting move, breath hot. “Here’s your reward for letting me hurt you.” His voice deepened to brimstone and my head snapped back as his mouth latched onto my clit.
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