Sleepy...and Sleepless

Blah. Insomnia strikes again. LOL

I just can't sleep. It's quite pitiful, actually. Typically if I can't sleep, I do something around the house--clean or whatever. Usually that helps--whether it tires me more or clears my mind, I don't know. But tonight I am just too darned tired to get up and do something. hehehe

So I'm on the computer. I actually got a lot of stuff done on here. Got my files cleaned up and even wrote a bit. We'll see how much I like what I wrote after I get a few zzz's in. At this moment, though, I'm happy with the words I got in. LOL

I'm working on a short right now--a menage. It's going well. It gave me some headaches in the beginning. The two heroes are friends, best friends, in fact, but they were not cooperating. Finally I stopped fighting them. And surprise, it started to flow. Damned me. :-)

The other manuscript I'm working on is the next in my Fey series. That isn't giving me any trouble. Leilen, my hero, has been bugging me to have his story told for a while, so he's very chatty. Although some of the secondary characters in this story are trying to grab my attention. I keep telling them it's not their turn yet. Funny, they're not so patient. ;-)

I'm so excited about this series--there are a lot of fun things coming up for my Faeries and I can't wait to share them with others. :)

Okay, it's time to try to go horizontal for a couple hours. Keep your fingers crossed for me. LOL

~J

Night of the Senses ~ NOW AVAILABLE

Today, Night of the Senses is available! Woot! This is an anthology to which I contributed, along with Desiree Holt, Victoria Blisse, Sierra Cartwright, Ashley Ladd, Kim Dare.

My story, "Sweet Urges", centers around the sense of taste. It was a blast to write and I had so much fun with Jace and Carly. Here's the blurb:

After lusting after her friend, Jace, for years, Carly summons up the nerve to seduce him. But what if the experience isn't what she imagined? Can she hang on to their friendship after a night in his arms?

Carly has a mission - seduce her friend Jace Thomas. For years, she has wanted him. His dominating ways in the bedroom don't deter her in any way. In fact, she craves discipline and punishment at his hands.

While attracted to Carly, Jace has vowed never to act on that attraction, certain she would want nothing to do with his preferences in the bedroom. When Carly sets out to seduce him, he gives in to temptation, but holds back. He is shocked when Carly is furious with him afterwards.

Unsure how to act after their night together, the two friends avoid each other. Can they repair their friendship and go back to the way things were? Will that be enough for Jace and Carly?

And an excerpt:

Jace awoke slowly, stretching lazily. He reached an arm out and felt…nothing. Where was she? He opened his eyes and immediately calmed. There she was, getting dressed a few feet away. She was bent over, pulling her panties up her legs, presenting him with an enticing view of her ass. Jace closed his eyes momentarily as the urge to redden the sweet cheeks overwhelmed him. God, what he’d give to warm the pale skin with the palm of his hand, over and over. His cock came to attention at the thought.

He shifted the comforter so his hard on wouldn’t be so noticeable and watched as Carly finished dressing. When she headed for the door without even a glance in his direction, he frowned.

“Where ya going, Car?” he asked, sitting up.

She froze in the doorway and turned slowly. “Home. I have things to do.”

Her cold tone deepened his frown. What the hell was going on?

“What’s wrong?” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, forgetting about hiding his erection.

Her gaze lowered to his crotch and her lips parted slightly. Then she shook her head and looked him in the eye. “Nothing’s wrong. I just have things to do, that’s all.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Carly. I know you. Do you regret last night? Is that why you were trying to sneak away before I woke up?” He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. Dammit, after all the years of wanting her in the worst way, this was not how he’d pictured the morning after.

“I wasn’t sneaking away,” she snapped, running hand through her tousled hair. “And no, I don’t regret anything. I just…” she trailed off.

“What?” he barked. “If you didn’t enjoy it, you did a damned fine job of faking it. Fuck, your pussy was clamped so tight around me… I know you came. And came hard.”

“For crying out loud!” She threw her arms up, exasperation clear on her face. “Yes, I came, Jace. You made me come harder than I ever have before. Are you happy now? Is your male ego intact?”

Anger coiled inside him. What the fuck was this? “My ego? Dammit, Carly! You came to me. You wanted this.”

“No!” She stomped her foot. “I wanted you! And you held back.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on. You think I don’t know about…about what you like in bed?” Her face reddened as she continued to shout at him. “Was I just a pity fuck for you? Take poor Carly to bed and make her come. She hasn’t had a man in a while.”

Jace stared at her, dumbfounded. “A pity fuck? That’s stupid.”

“Is it?” Her voice was quiet now and Jace’s gut ached when he saw tears in her eyes. “You weren’t with me the same way you were with other women. What else am I supposed to think?”

“Carly.” He stepped forward and held out a hand, trying to wrap his mind around what she was saying. “You wanted…”

She shook her head and backed away. “It’s fine, Jace. We’ll just forget this, right? Thank you. Thank you for making me come. You’re a great friend.” Her voice broke and she turned and ran from the room.

Jace stood for a moment, staring at the empty doorway, before sinking onto the edge of the bed. Well, fuck.

~J

Good day

Wooohoooo, heat wave in Minnesota! It was lovely today, and the snow's melting. :) We're supposed to stay in the high thirties for a couple days--I just don't know how I'll handle that after all the subzeroes. :)

Today was great. My neice and nephew visited, and I don't get to see them nearly enough. My brother and I only live a little less than 2 hours apart, but with all of our kids, it's tough to find time to visit. I was so happy they came and snapped a gazillion pictures. My mom sees them less than I do, so pictures were a must. Plus my girls and my neice are the only granddaughters so we just had to take a girl pic. :)

To make everything even sweeter, the hubby took all the kids shopping. You just know that birthday money is burning a hole in the oldest kiddo's pocket. hehe So I am home...alone...in the peace and quiet. *content sigh*

I'm taking the easy (aka lazy me) route for dinner and just popping in some frozen pizzas. The kids will love it. LOL Then, I'm holing myself in my room and writing. I'm *this close* to finishing the menage story. If I can get a few solid, uninterrupted hours of writing in, it'll be done, done, done. :)

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. :)

~J

Random thoughts...

LOL No snarky comments about how all my thoughts are random. :)

This week has been good. I've definitely caught up on my sleep. I napped off and on all day yesterday. *sigh* I love a good nap.

I'm almost caught up on my work for the day job. Still not exactly where I want to be, but close. Have I mentioned how much I love my job? I get to work at home--in my flannel jammies if I want. :) I have an awesome boss who is very understanding when something happens with the family (like the sickies). Can't beat that. And I make my own hours for the most part. Very cool when you have a young family.

I have most of the house clean for the birthday party this weekend. Though that will be my focus tomorrow. The kids' room will even be clean. We are switching rooms around. See, we have 3 rooms for 4 kids. So half the year, the girls get their own rooms, and the other half the boys do. Now is the boys' turn for their own rooms, so they are stoked about that.

Writing is happening in small spurts lately. Not surprising with everything else going on, but I'm hoping for some solid writing hours next week. I'm finishing up a novella-length menage story--which I am loving. I have completely and utterly fallen in love with the heroes. In my mind, the heroine is pretty damned lucky, though at times, she'd disagree with me. :)

I'm also working on the next book in The Fey series. That has been a hoot to write too. Lots of twists that I didn't expect, but that's a good thing. :) I think they make the story even better. Let's hope my editor agrees. hehehe

So I'm off to finish up a project for the day job, then it's to bed with me. :)

~J

Catching up...

...on sleep. LOL After being sleep deprived while the kids were sick and then having the lovely bout of insomnia, last night I slept like the dead. You have to understand, I'm not one of those people who fall asleep easily (though my husband belongs to that club). No, I lay there thinking about things. About the things I need to accomplish the next day, whether around the house or for work, or both. :) About the story I'm currently working on. About everything! It takes a while for my brain to slow down and realize it's time for sleep.

Last night, omg, my head hit the pillow and next thing I knew the alarm was going off and the kids were getting ready for school. LOLOL And I felt semi-normal today. I think once I get another good night's sleep, I'll be back to normal. Tonight will be another in bed by midnight occasion. Quite shocking. :)

Good news, all are healthy in the house and doing great. Bad news (okay not BAD, but oy vey), we're having people over next weekend for a b-day party for the kiddo and his cousin. That part isn't the bad part, the part that has me groaning. No, it's the getting the house clean. Now, my house isn't trashed by any means. It's been worse, let me tell you. However, it's definitely not company clean. And I have to get it company clean. Not because of anyone else. Goodness knows every single one of the family would understand if the house was messy or a bit cluttered, but *I* couldn't stand it. I'm just weird that way.

So on the to-do list this week: Clean house. *whimper*

Night, all.
Hugs,
~J

Insomnia Sucks

LOL I guess the title sums it up. I have yet to go to sleep. Normally if I'm up at this hour it's because I'm working or writing. Not this time though. I just can't sleep, and it's not from lack of trying. I *did* try to work a bit, but I'm so blasted tired, my mind is foggy. So I couldn't even focus on what was on the screen in front of me.

Add to that, I have to have the kids up and be out of the house in...oh, about an hour and a half. Urgh. Though one of my daughters is up and around. How I gave birth to a morning person, I will never know.

Later today, we're off to my sister-in-law's engagement party. Should be fun. :) Her fiance is awesome--she found a keeper. My kids adore him and he plays a mean game of cards...so all's good. LOLOL

Hopefully, I'll get to fit a wee nap in there somewhere...and hopefully my body will cooperate and SLEEP!

~J