(If you’re looking for my SFRB Showcase excerpt, please go here.)

Today I have author Suz DeMello as my guest, with an excerpt from Naughty Balls, her story in this  Valentine’s Day boxed set. Welcome! A few question fors Ms. deMello:

Veronica: What prompted you to start writing?

Suz:  I had long felt a creative wellspring within me, and had sought to express myself in various ways. Nothing felt right, nothing seemed to work for me untiI found writing romance.

Veronica: Which five people (real, fictional, historical) would you invite to dinner and why?

Suz: I’d invite famous partiers: Shakespeare, Caravaggio, Bill Maher, Seth Rogen and James Franco. Let’s have fun!

 Veronica: Which word or phrase do you most overuse in a manuscript? (I confess to “that” being my worst word LOL)

Suz: Unfortunately, I often begin a line of dialogue with “Well….” I have to go through each manuscript to make sure that doesn’t happen too often!

Quickfire  Questions:

Must watch TV Show:  Game of Thrones

Music  on repeat:  Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off”

Favorite Movie:  Potter 3

Cats or Dogs? Dogs. No, cats. CatsnDogs, a new species.

Favorite Flower: roses

Tea or coffee: loose tea

Sweet or spicy: spicy

Morning person or evening person: evening (not late night).

Last meal on Earth would be: steak salad (BTW I am a vegetarian, but we’re talking about a special occasion!)

Favorite Perfume: Joy

Book or books I reread most often (up to 3, any genre): Pavane by Keith Roberts (a very evocative, beautifully written alternate history); LeGuin’s The Farthest Shore; Heyer’s Regency Buck, a classic Regency romance.

Veronica: How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book?

Suz: Prosecco and chocolate

Veronica: What are you working on next?

Suz: Victorian erotica

Veronica: Where can your Readers find you online?

–Website: http://www.suzdemello.com

Here’s the description of the boxed set (Suz’s excerpt below):

Twelve Naughty Valentine’s Short Reads including Contemporary, Dark Fantasy, Menage, M/M, M/M/F, M/F/M, New Adult, Paranormal, Shape-shifter, Steampunk & Time Travel from Amazon bestselling authors.

NAUGHTY BALLS by Suz deMello
Two college basketball players find themselves alone on V-Day evening. (M/F)

LOVE POTION #69 by Alexa Silver
When Keith and Jenna accidentally fall under the spell of one of her Valentine’s Day love potions, lust is in the air!

MY VALENTINE LOVERS by Nicole Austin
All I want for Valentine’s Day is to get barbed by a feline shifter and act out a few of the naughty twin fantasies getting me hot and bothered.

VALENTIME by Belle Scarlett
Valerie buys a South Carolina plantation and discovers a Valentine addressed to her from a previous owner who bids her to return to him in 1865.

DELIA’S HEARTTHROB by Regina Kammer
Gadzooks! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching – what’s a scientist to do? Edward knows naught of romance. Can steam power prevail over chocolates to win Delia’s heart?

TWO INTO ONE GOES GREAT by Lynne Connolly
A booker at a top model agency learns she’s anything but ordinary when two sexy photographers point their lenses—and more—at her.

UNDER THE HOOD by Lainey-Jo Charles
How do you choose between an online crush you’ve never met and a secret crush that you have? Maybe you don’t have to…

BUY ME A ROSE by Francesca Hawley
Jessica and Nathaniel Whitewolf celebrate their thirtieth anniversary as True Mates but they’ve lost their bond. Now a hot couples’ retreat will get it back.

CHOCOLATE-COATED REUNION by Berengaria Brown
Jake refuses to talk to Matt after he was very late on Christmas Eve. Matt’s determined to reconnect with Jake on Valentine’s Day.

CUPID’S CURIOUS CASE by Marianne Stephens
Alan’s last job as Cupid 84 involves neighbor Amy and a special box of candy. Both secretly desire the other. Can they find true love?

FIFTY SHADES OF VALENTINE’S DAY by Katherine Kingston
Dumped on Valentine’s Day! Melissa only thinks the day can’t get any worse. Until she damages her hot neighbor’s car, and he demands unexpected compensation.

THE REAPER’S VALENTINE by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Sometimes a Reaper has to do what a Reaper does. It would be wise for a life-mate to remember that!

Suz: The short story is about two college basketball players who find themselves alone on V-Day evening. (M/F)

“I tell you what.” He was already close, and shifted so he was even closer.

I stared at his chest to avoid getting trapped by his gaze again. Not the best idea to avoid distraction. His chest was ripped like the rest of him and shiny with sweat. Not gross sweat. Sexy sweat.

I wanted to lick it.

I blinked, startled by the thought.

I wanted to lick Orlando Havens’ chest.

Actually, I wanted to do a lot more than lick Orlando’s chest.

He put a finger under my chin and raised my head so I’d have to look him in the eyes. His gaze was curiously intense. He said, “If we’re gonna play, someone oughta pay.”

I scrunched my eyebrows together.

He went on, “Let’s make a bet. You win, you get my manager’s name and number. I win, I…get…you.”

“You…what?” I was so far out of my depth I was drowning.

He grinned at me.

I breathed, felt, thought, then breathed again. Heavily. “That’s not exactly Sophie’s choice,” I said slowly. “But it’s a tough one.”

“Yeah?” His smile was a little smug and a lot sexy.

OMG. I realized with more than a little surprise that he was really interested in me. Not only as an athlete, but as a person.

As a woman.

Who’da thunk it? Not me.

I found myself grinning. “This is great. I win either way.” I looked him in the eyes again and allowed my eyelashes to flutter. “Don’t I?”

“So do I. I reckon I already won.”

“How’s that?”

“I didn’t know you liked me.”

My mouth dropped open. “Of course I do. Who doesn’t?”

He humphed. “A lot of people. And a lot of folks just wanna use me. You better look out for that, too, girl.”

“If anyone’s using me, I haven’t noticed.”

“You just got here, l’il Ms. Freshman. Come March Madness, people ’round here are gonna notice you even if you don’t bother noticing them. You’re gonna get hit on like you’re a punching bag.”

“Hm.” Nerves twitched in my belly. Starting to sweat, I unzipped my hoodie. “What do I do about it?”

“I’ll watch your back if you watch mine. If you want.”

“Oh, I want.” I again looked him square in the eyes. “I definitely want.”

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Available on Amazon