Cynthia Rayne's Blog

Kinky Security is coming!

Okay, so that’s a double entendre. The series is set in a bondage club called Edge run by a mysterious man named Finn. It will feature military heroes, danger, and some kinks.

I’m very excited about this sexy, suspenseful series which is coming your way in September. Check back for more details!

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The post Kinky Security appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

“I think cupid threw up on this place.”

Maeve Kent smothered a laugh with her linen napkin. She was at a board member’s wedding reception, seated at a small candlelit table near the fireplace.

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad.”

Jim O’Neal merely raised a disgusted brow in response.

“Well, maybe you have a point.”

Maeve had never been accused of being a romantic, but even Romeo and Juliet would find the reception hall over the top.

The tables were swathed in white linen and littered with little crystal bowls filled with red rose petals and floating candles. Papier Mâché heart boxes, emblazoned with the couple’s names had been filled with red jelly beans. Even the chairs had been draped in white and tied with huge red bows. Ice sculptures of cupid dotted the room, along with entwined hearts and other romantic images.

With the red dresses, ties, and cummerbunds, the wedding party resembled a gaggle of preening birds with scarlet plumage. Even the bride’s dress had a huge crimson crinoline beneath her skirts and a matching satin bow around her waist.

The food was romantic, too.

The first course was tomato soup with a crème fraiche heart floating in the center of the bowls. And the cake was red velvet, cut into the shape of a heart.

“It’s like a love shrine or something,” Jim whispered against Maeve’s ear, sending a prickle of awareness down her spine.

“Perry is just a loving husband, catering to his new wife’s every desire.” She deliberately scooted her chair away.

Their board member, Perry Jackson, had just married a young woman a quarter of his age.  Like her dearly departed father, Reggie, Perry had a thing for younger women. Then again, who didn’t? A younger woman might as well be number one on the mid-life crisis checklist.

Jim made a face.  “And apparently her tastes are tacky.”

Since she’d taken over the company a year ago, following her father’s death, Jim had been her right-hand man.  He was the chief financial officer, while she had assumed the role of chief executive officer.

These last few months he’d been invaluable, pitching in to help wherever he could. They’d spent a lot of late nights at the office together, getting things done.

And an attraction had reared its ugly head.

Jim was thirty-four years old, single, educated, and wealthy. At six-foot-four with an athletic frame, he was a good-looking man. Jim had a tumble of dark brown hair and warm hazel eyes. His body was sculpted, too. He had broad shoulders, lean hips, and a killer butt.

And, yes, she noticed.

To make matters worse, he wore a black tuxedo which hugged his body in all the right places.

She’d seen more than one woman give him the eye at the reception. And, he’d definitely noticed their interest.  Jim screwed a new woman every week. He was a genuine catch, who had absolutely no intention of being caught.

Although, this wasn’t a date.

Maeve had been crystal clear about her intentions. She didn’t mix business and pleasure. This was simply a show of support for their board member, nothing more. Perry had controlling interest in Kent Bourbon, and she wanted to keep him happy, which meant coming to his wedding and making nice.

“Well, at least it isn’t going to last much longer. Perry and Kiki have a flight to Hawaii to catch.”

“I can’t believe her name’s Kiki.”

“I know. Why not Candy? Or Lolita? It’s like her parents wanted her to be a stripper or a—”

“Bimbo?”

“Shh. Lower your voice.”

Jim chuckled.

Maeve scrolled through her text messages. Her sister, Amy, said she’d be attending the event but she hadn’t shown up yet.

I don’t know why I’m surprised.  Amy’s the kind of girl who’d arrive late to her own funeral.

Maeve took a sip of her special “sweetheart” drink, a pink concoction made with bourbon, strawberry puree, and peach schnapps. It tasted like a fancy pants version of a wine cooler, and it was borderline disgusting.  She took a bite of the gummy heart candy garnish, which had been lanced with a swizzle stick.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have much choice.

The only drinks served at the bar were romantic love-themed cocktails. Maeve had donated several cases of liquor to this event. And frankly, the mixed drinks were a crime against humanity.

The drinks weren’t the only things she found nauseating. Across the room, Perry fed Kiki a choice piece of lobster and then she  gave him a buttery kiss.

Maeve cringed. Ugh. Kiki was only a year or two older than Amy and Perry was sixty-eight. It was like watching a grandfather get handsy with his own granddaughter.

And yet, they seemed to be in their own little world—touching, talking and sharing food. Maeve couldn’t help but be a bit envious, of their happiness, at least.  It’s not like she wanted her own geriatric sugar daddy.

She glanced out the window and silently willed this night to end.

Outside, rain danced in the wind. With the fire snapping and popping behind them, she felt like they were in a cozy little den, even though the reception was being held in a gilt ballroom.

“I wonder how much this little shindig is costing him,” Jim said.

It was Perry’s sixth marriage, and he was celebrating as though it were his first.

She shrugged. “The man’s a billionaire, he can afford it.”

“Yeah, well I think it’s a waste of money. I grew up poor and throwing a boat load of cash away on a lost cause is disgraceful.”

“I didn’t know that.” Maeve was surprised. Jim didn’t speak about his past much.

“Know what?”

“That you were poor.”

Jim sighed. “Yeah, well, I’m not anymore. No point in talking about it.  I went to college, and then business school. After I landed a job at your dad’s company, I worked my way up.”

Maeve had a newfound respect for Jim. She came from wealth and privilege, just like Reggie had. Although, he invested his inheritance in Kent Bourbon and Reggie ran the company until the day he died.  At least he wasn’t a member of the idle rich.

“I give this three months, tops.”

“Come on. Don’t be cynical. Maybe this marriage will stick.” The odds were slim, but not impossible.

Maeve didn’t begrudge other people their shot at marital bliss.  Although, she thought settling down was a one-way ticket to Snoresville.

“Yeah, third time’s a charm. Number six is just insane.” Jim downed his glass of strawberry champagne and set the glass down with a thunk.  He’d had a little bit too much to drink, and Jim was bordering on crabby.

Although, she supposed he had a point.

If they didn’t get any business opportunities out of this, it would be a waste of a perfectly good Saturday night. She could be having a drink with the hunky male underwear model she’d met on a business trip last week.

Maeve checked her phone once again.  Still no reply from Amy.

Where the hell are you?  You’re supposed to be here 3 hours ago.

When she graduated college in the fall, Amy would be joining Maeve at the helm. There were several other board members here this evening, and it would’ve been an excellent opportunity to introduce her in a social setting, where there wouldn’t have been much pressure.

Maeve couldn’t wait for Amy to get started at the company.  She was looking forward to dividing the responsibilities evenly.  Frankly, she wasn’t sure how Reggie had done it on his own.

Jim scratched his chin. “How long should we stay?”

“It should be over in an hour. In the meantime, let’s represent the company and make a toast.” Maeve tapped her butter knife against the glass, to gain everyone’s attention. The people around her joined in, and she stood as the couple exchanged another kiss.

“To the bride and groom. Perry, I’ve known you for many years, and I’ve never seen you this much in love. Congratulations.” She lifted her glass, and the other guests joined in.

“And to you, Ms. Kent, the new CEO of Kent Bourbon.” Perry raised his own drink in return. “Thanks for the fantastic bourbon you donated to a terrific cause.

The crowd clapped and whistled, before returning to their meals.

Maeve turned to Jim who gave her a bow. And then Maeve headed over to the front table, to shake Perry’s hand. It never hurts to add the personal touch.

Perry grinned. “Thank you for coming.”

“My pleasure. I don’t want to spoil your evening with shop talk,” Maeve said, pausing to glance at Kiki, who was busy photographing her meal, “But I’m working on a new marketing proposal. After you get back from your honeymoon, I’d love to schedule a meeting with you and get your feedback.”

“Sure. Call my assistant, and she’ll set it up.”

“Fantastic.” Maeve was ready to take her seat, when he squeezed her hand.

“And don’t worry.”

“About…?”

“Our profits may be down, but I have every faith in you.” Perry returned his attention to his wife. “You’ll pull us out of this downward spiral.”

Stunned, she could only stand there a few seconds, before remembering where she was. Maeve slunk back to her table and sat down again.

“How’d it go?”  Jim asked.

After she explained, he shook his head. “Well, that was awkward. Maybe he had too much to drink.”

“Yeah.” She swallowed.  “I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure the board just gave me a warning.”

“Are you okay?”

“Um sure.” Maeve pasted on a fake smile. “Why don’t you go mingle?  Maybe ask one of the ladies for a dance?”

She wouldn’t mind a few minutes alone to pull herself together. Maeve had been pushing herself for months, and evidently, she was failing.

Panic was starting to creep in. When she applied herself, Maeve was a Type A personality and success had come to her easily.

“Because weddings are romantic.” He said the word “romantic” as if it should have four letters. “I don’t want to give a girl the wrong idea.”

Jim removed a little piece of paper heart confetti from his hair and flung it to the floor, before wiping his hand on his lapel, as if he’d been contaminated by love.

Translation. He knew Maeve didn’t have any expectations.

Jim never dated any woman longer than a few days, and his exploits were legendary. Some women thought they could somehow change him, coax him into a real relationship, but it never worked. Jim had two categories for women: sexual playmate and friend.

When she’d first taken over the company, he’d asked her out several times, until she’d sat him down and laid down the law.  She had a feeling not many women turned him down.

Maeve snickered. “What are you…? Scrooge?”

“Scrooge is about being stingy at Christmas.”

“Fine. You’re the Love Scrooge then.”

“I proudly wear the mantle.” He smirked. “Of course, if a woman was only looking for fun, it would be another story.”

“Did you try the dessert? It’s sugary, but not bad.” Maeve took a bite so she wouldn’t have to comment on his not-so-subtle invitation.

“And she oh-so-carefully changed the subject.” His lips curled into a smile.

Even his freaking teeth were perfect.  And I bet the rest of him is too. How is that fair? 

She sighed. “We’ve had this talk before, Jim, and my opinion hasn’t changed.”

Jim was more valuable to her in the office than her bed.  She literally couldn’t do this job without him.

There’d been a steep learning curve when she took over, and she wouldn’t know what to do without Jim’s help.  At the moment, Kent Bourbon consumed all of her free time.  She assumed it would get easier, once she got a handle on things.

Unfortunately, her dedication meant she didn’t have much of a social life.  Work had become her number one priority.

So, Jim’s offer of free and easy sex was a bit too tempting.

“Well, it’s a damn shame.  You and I could have a fling.  It might be just what the doctor ordered. It could ease our stress, help us focus on the job.”

Damn, he almost made fooling around with him sound reasonable.

“No, thank you.”

“Okay, but you’re missing out.” Jim waggled his brows.

And then she noticed Frank Deville eyeing her across the room.

Oh crap.

The Kents and Devilles had a complicated history, to say the least.

And he’s on his way over here.  Perfect.

“Incoming,” Jim muttered.

“Yeah, this night is just getting better and better.”

Maeve stood to face him.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here.” Frank towered over her. He was a distinguished older gentleman in his late sixties with a shock of silver hair and snapping blue eyes.

“I just came to support my board member.  It isn’t about you, or me, or our family drama.  I don’t want any trouble.” Deville and Perry were old friends, going back decades.

“That makes one of us.  Your father was a real bastard.”

“My father is dead, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not him.”

“People are starting to gawk,” Jim said, his voice low, but intense. “This is neither the time nor the place for a confrontation, Mr. Deville.”

“Why shouldn’t I make a scene?” He glared at her. “Your father broke up my marriage, screwed my wife and then discarded her, and then he stole my business.”

“Bought.  Not stole.”

“Yes, at far below market price.”

This was an old argument. And as far as Maeve was concerned, Deville’s beef was with Reggie. Not her. She didn’t feel like hashing it out.

“He’s not to blame for your poor management style.” She was sick to death of defending her father.  Yes, he was a flawed man in many ways, but she loved Reggie, and always would.

“My poor management…” Deville broke off, his face going red. “I was running a company when you were in diapers.”

“I take it back.” She tossed back the rest of her sugary drink, needing some liquid courage.

“Take what back?”

“I never want to have this discussion with you.  I’m sorry you lost the business.  However, you built a new one in a matter of a few years and seem to be doing fine.” She nodded across the room, at an elegant older woman.  “And you married someone else. Congratulations.  Now, get the hell over it.”

“Yes, I pulled myself out of the ashes.” His eyes narrowed.  “But will you be so lucky?”

Unease curled in the pit of her stomach. “What do you mean?”

“Rumor is, your board members aren’t happy with the way you’re running the company.”

Had he somehow heard Perry’s comment? Or was he trying to rattle her cage?  She glanced at Jim, who looked away.

“Leave,” Jim said to Deville. “Now.”

With a parting sneer, Deville walked away, but Maeve doubted she’d heard the last of him.

“Okay, now I’m getting worried. What was he talking about?”

Jim glanced around them uneasily. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“No, we’ll discuss it now.”

“Look, I know things have been hard lately, and I hate to add to your troubles, but I heard a rumor. I didn’t think twice about it until tonight.”

“What kind of rumor?”

“Deville is buying up shares.”

She felt sick all of a sudden. The sugary liquid in her stomach sloshed around, and she held back a wave of nausea.

“You think he’s planning to take over the company?”

“If this is true? Yeah, he might be planning a hostile takeover. What if he’s hellbent on destroying your father’s legacy?”

“This is insane. Reggie’s dead and buried.”

“Yeah, but he publicly humiliated Deville. He lost everything, including his reputation.”

She supposed it made sense. Deville wanted to burn what remained of Reggie’s life down to the ground.

She sat there in silence for several minutes, trying to come up with a plan.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet. Our profits have been down, but not by much.” She’d figured it was a hiccup, and their stock would go up. “And I thought the board was going to give me the time and space I needed to get up to speed and formulate new initiatives.”

Maeve had to flesh out some ideas and sit down with them at the next meeting. With any luck, she could gather their opinions, and create some buy-in.

But would it be enough to save her job?

As if she didn’t have enough to worry about.

What if she lost Reggie’s company?  Maeve would never forgive herself. At this rate, Maeve was going to drive herself insane, contemplating all the “what ifs” if she didn’t stop.

“Hey, we’ll get through this.” Jim grasped her hand, and for once, she didn’t pull away.

“You think so?” Because she wasn’t very hopeful. This had all the makings of a disaster.

“Yeah, I do.” He stood, tugging on her arm. “We’ll work on the problem tomorrow. But for now, let’s try to enjoy ourselves, anyway. Care to dance?”

Dinner was nearly over. The band played “Isn’t She Lovely?” and a few couples had moved onto the dance floor, including Kiki and Perry.

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, it’s only a trip around the floor, and I promise to behave myself.”  This would be an exercise in torture, but she found herself nodding and going along with it.

Jim pulled her close, and Maeve tensed.

Maeve hated to admit it, but the man could move.  And she fit easily, comfortably into his arms.

Dear God, he smells so good. The scent of pine and musk and man all wrapped up into one heady mixture.

If I don’t have sex soon, I’m gonna lose my mind.

Before her father’s death, she’d had minor responsibilities at the company and a lot of free time she’d frittered away. She’d been wined and dined by handsome, accomplished men.  Her nights were spent having fun. Lately, she curled up with expense reports and human resources files.

Maybe Amy and I aren’t so different.

He tugged her closer, and she hissed out a breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

He chuckled knowingly.

“I’m not sleeping with you.”

“I didn’t ask.” Jim pulled back so he could look down into her eyes, and his hands rested on her sides.

“Not this time, no, but you already have. Repeatedly.”

“Come with me.”

And then he pulled her down the hallway into a secluded corner. Maeve was about to protest when he pressed her against the wall.

“God, you look beautiful,” Jim murmured against her neck. He nuzzled her, kissed the space just below her ear.

And, just like that, her willpower crumbled.

She leaned into him, closing her eyes and let herself go. He wound his arms around her waist.

“This waiting game we’re doing drives me mad.”

“We’re not waiting,” she muttered. “This is going nowhere.”

“Oh really? This certainly feels like somewhere to me.” He pressed in against her, settling Maeve more firmly against his body. She could feel his warmth, his strength.

It would be so easy to tumble into bed with Jim. And she could forget her troubles for an hour or two. Despite her best intentions, Maeve was curious. Or maybe she was just sad and needed a pick me up. Sex always relieved her tension and served as a break from her troubles.

Maeve leaned into his embrace and let him fondle her, touch her breasts through the fabric of her dress.

And what about the fallout?

This would be really messy.

“Jim, come on, cut it out.” Maeve pushed him away, but he didn’t let go.

“I want you so badly. You’re driving me wild,” he muttered, lost in his own persuasions. “Come home with me.”

“I can’t.”

Jim kissed her neck, tempting her with the promise of an easy orgasm. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, letting it take her over. He pushed her bodice down, and more of her breasts were revealed to his avid gaze.

“I want to fuck you, Maeve.” He stared down at her, his eyes glittering in the darkness.

“Jim, we shouldn’t—”

To silence her, he brushed the pad of his thumb over her mouth, once, twice.

“Come on.” And then he started dragging her to the back exit.

A ripple of unease swept through her. Why was he so intense about this all of a sudden?

She shook her head. “No. Stop.” Maeve slapped at his hand, pushing him back.

He gripped it tight. “Are you some kind of tease?”

Stunned, she could only stare at him. And then down the hall, Deville loomed, watching their every move, like a hungry hawk watching tasty mice.

“Let. Go.” Maeve added a little steel to her voice.

Jim did, instantly.

“Maeve, I—”

“We’ve got company,” she hissed.

He whirled to see Deville, who walked off, but he’d seen them in a compromising position.

Oh shit.

Maeve clasped a hand over her own mouth. A tawdry office romance between the CEO and CFO looked bad. Really bad. Maeve had a morality clause in her contract. Basically, she could be fired for bringing unwanted publicity or shame to the company.

And while her father had wild affairs, he’d never screwed around at the office. Not to mention, Reggie was a man, and he was considered a “stud” while the board would think she was a “slut” instead.

Could this night get any worse? Scratch that. Maeve didn’t want to know.

“He didn’t see anything.”

“Because I stopped you. And by the way, no means no.” Jim had gotten overly presumptuous.

He pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

“Yeah, well, you did.”

“Again, I apologize.”

“We can’t do this. Ever. Understand?” she snapped. Maeve felt like slapping him, but it would be a step too far. She still had to work with the man.

“Yes, I do.”

Maeve blew out a breath, calming down.

He lifted a shoulder. “Although I’m disappointed. I figured if we kept it discreet and casual, it wouldn’t be an issue.” He wore a little boy pout on his mouth. “I’m not such a terrible guy.”

Her anger evaporated like so much smoke.

It was hard to stay mad at Jim. They’d both had a lot to drink, and they’d been pushing themselves for months. They were on edge, and out of sorts.

“I never said you were.”

He beamed. “Wanna kiss and make up?”

“Do you ever stop?”

“Nope.”

Maeve would be willing to bet a hundred bucks he was hard and ready for her.

Don’t think about his dick. He’s your employee, for pity’s sake.

“Sorry, but I made myself clear. Let’s never talk about it again.” Maeve pushed a hand through her hair. “I’m gonna go to the restroom. I’ll meet you back at the table.” And she got the crap out of there before she made another mistake.

Maeve headed to the ladies’ room. Once inside, she splashed some cool water on her face and glanced in the mirror. Her normally pale skin was flushed a hectic red.

She glared at her reflection. You’re doing a shitty job of keeping this professional.

And Maeve knew who was to blame for her scandalous behavior. Amy. If Amy had been here, this evening wouldn’t have been so awkward. They would’ve had a third wheel to cool the sexual tension.

She checked her phone again. Still no message.

Wait until I get my hands on her.

“Is everything all right?” Jim asked, as she joined him at the table once more.

“Yes, it’s just fine.”

“And we’re okay…?”

“Of course.” She glanced out the window. “Looks like everyone’s gathering outside to see the newlyweds off.” Once Perry and Kiki left, she planned on going home, taking a hot shower, and crawling into bed.

“Then we’d better join them.” They both ambled out the door onto the patio. The wedding planner handed them two mesh nets full of birdseed. And then they waited awkwardly for the couple to appear.

Jim frowned. “Hey, I thought Amy was coming.”

“I know. I’ve been messaging her, but she hasn’t responded.”

“Hmm. When’s the last time you talked to her?”

“Last Sunday.” They typically checked in once a week.

“I’m sure she just forgot about it.”

At one time, Maeve had been a free spirit as well.  She’d gotten kicked out of three boarding schools, nearly flunked her freshman year of college, and got fired from a series of summer jobs.  By the time her sophomore year rolled around, Maeve had come around.

She’d buckled down, gotten better grades, and managed to graduate with a decent if not stellar GPA. And Amy would, too. Eventually. Although, she’d better hurry up. Amy was in her senior year of college. It was time to get serious and make school a priority.

Maeve frowned.  “Maybe I should check on her?”

“She’s probably at a party or a friend’s house.”

“Yeah, she’s somewhere having fun.”  Amy had an impressive social life, and she Instagrammed every second of it.

Hmmm, speaking of…

Maeve scrolled through the app on her phone, searching for pictures of Amy, but her sister hadn’t posted any new images since Sunday. That, too, was unusual.

And now I’m worried. 

Their father was gone, and their mothers had never been in the picture, which left Maeve as the only parental figure Amy had.  At 21, Amy was technically an adult, but since Amy was still in school, Maeve felt responsible for her.

“You’re anxious, aren’t you?” Jim watched her carefully.

“Yeah, but it would be rude to leave before the bride and groom.”

“Nonsense.  I’m sure Perry will understand.  Don’t worry about a thing, Maeve, I’ll make your apologies. Go track down your sister.”

“Thank you.” Spontaneously, she looped an arm around his neck and kissed Jim’s cheek.

When she pulled away, his eyes were hooded, and a muscle worked in his jaw.

“If you need anything, I’m here for you. Let’s get together for dinner this week.”

“Sure.” I’m gonna regret that.

But she’d worry about it later.

Maeve had a terrible feeling she had much bigger problems.

What if something happened to Amy?

Black as Night will be out June 25th.

The post Black as Night Chapter One appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Hey there, Dixie Darlings!

On June 25th, I’m releasing Black as Night, Nox’s book. Hold onto your drawers, because it’s a sexy one. I had a lot of fun spending the month of May with Nox.

These past few weeks have been interesting in Romancelandia. So, let’s talk about the latest indie publishing scandal. You’ve probably heard of #cockygate, but have you heard about #tiffanygate ? Wanna read up on these? Check out this post.

Apparently, this is a wild time in publishing. Those other controversies are on the road to being handled, but let’s talk about book stuffing, the latest issue. This sucker is a huge problem and everybody’s talking about it.

What is page stuffing or book stuffing?

This happens when a Kindle Unlimited author slaps other books as “bonuses” into a new release to increase the page count. KU authors are paid per page. There is a communal pot of money and it’s divided up evenly, among the authors

These KU scammers will put “sneak peeks” of upcoming books in the back, so readers will flip the pages to read it. And bam! They’ve had 1,000 extra page reads, nobody actually read. By the way, this is against Amazon’s Terms of Service. but Amazon doesn’t enforce the policy.

Heather explains it better than I ever could. Go to 11:09, to get straight to the point.

What can we do?

If you don’t like this practice, consider reporting it to Amazon. Scroll to the bottom of the book’s page and let Amazon know, it’s been stuffed. [image error]

And then mark the issue as violating Amazon Terms of Service. 

[image error]

Indie publishing has only been around a few years, so it’s experiencing growing pains.  Issues like this are bound to crop up. I’m happy to see indie authors succeeding, but I don’t think you have to engage in scuzzy practices to do it. By the way, check out all those hashtags above on Twitter, there are a lot of authors sounding off about it. I’m hanging out in the #cockygate #pagestuffing #tiffanygate hashtags.

What do y’all think? I’ve gotta say, it pisses me off…

The post June Blog Post appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Okay, so before we get started, I should warn you this is rant-y and contains adult language.

Between this situation and #cockygate which you should check out, I’ve had one hell of a month. I’m not directly affected since I don’t have a “cocky” book, but if we’re trademarking titles now…? Holy shit.  What the hell? I’ll just trademark “biker” or “billionaire” or maybe “love”, how about that?

Yes, I’m kidding.  Anyway, let’s get started.

So, on April 23rd, I received a nasty gram from Amazon about my book, Black and White.

Hello,

We found that one or more books you’ve published don’t meet the KDP Select content guidelines. Books enrolled in KDP Select must be exclusive to Amazon in digital format during the entirety of their enrollment in the program.

Black and White: Black Star Security (ASIN:B07B6RRXBF) is available on: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/black-and-white/id1372791951?mt=11

You can copy and paste the entire URL above into your web browser to see where your books were found. You can also do an online search for your book(s) to discover where else it may be available.

In order for any book of yours to remain in the KDP Select program, we’ll need you to ensure that it is exclusive to Amazon within five days from the date of this email. If, after this five-day period, your book(s) is still not exclusive to Amazon, it will remain for sale on Amazon but will be removed from KDP Select. Upon its removal, your book(s) will no longer be eligible to earn a share of the KDP Select fund and any scheduled Kindle Countdown Deals or free promotions will be canceled.

Please note that continued violation of the program’s exclusivity requirement may result in the additional loss of KDP Select benefits, including participation in Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL). To ensure KDP Select benefits are not revoked, please be sure that all of your KDP Select-enrolled books are exclusive to Amazon in digital format at the time of enrollment.

Check out this page to learn more about the KDP Select guidelines:

https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=200798990#eligibility

You may reply to crm-exclusivity-compliance@amazon.com if you have any questions regarding this email or believe this decision has been made in error.

For all other KDP questions visit: kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/contact-us

Thank you for taking the time to ensure your book(s) meets the requirements of the program.

Best regards,

Amazon KDP

http://kdp.amazon.com

My favorite part of this? It’s a form letter and it ends with best fucking regards after dropping a bombshell on me. And I love how Amazon just assumes I did it, without asking.

So, yeah, I clicked the link and there was my book on Apple. It has since been taken down.

I’m still speechless. A fucking book pirate uploaded B&W and tried to make money off my work. It’s like somebody stealing your paycheck. That takes some balls. And stupidity. To upload a book, you have to give your information (SS#, name, DOB, etc.). Nothing like waving at Apple and saying “Hey! I committed a crime and here’s my name and address…”

It can take one to two weeks for a book to be uploaded to Apple.  Since my book was ready to go on Apple on April 16th, I’ve got a pirate on my ARC list.

My Solution

I’ve taken measures to protect my ARC by defacing it. I’m going apologize in advance to everyone, because it’s going to make the book annoying to read. I don’t have much choice though.

Okay, end of rant. Thanks for listening to me vent.

The post F&ckin’ Pirates appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Hey there, Dixie Darlings!

So, Zane’s book, In the Black, will be out May 21st. I hope you enjoy it. Like all of the books in this series, this one was personal.  Ready? We’re about to get deep again.

So, domestic violence is a hot button issue with me. This book has abuse overtones, but we don’t spend much time with Ellie and her bastard of a boyfriend. Mostly, because it rattles my nerves. My grandmother, the one who came from Tennessee had a hard life. She grew up poor, lost her dad when she was a young teenager, had to leave school to take care of her siblings, and then ended up in an abusive relationship with my grandfather.

My grandfather was a real piece of work.

He was both physically and mentally abusive to my mom and my aunt, as well as my grandmother. And yet, he was kind to me. Loving even. I grew up hearing horror stories of the things he did.  One night, my grandfather beat my aunt so bad she had to go to the hospital. And then he came after my grandmother, but my mother stopped him by threatening him with a knife. It was an ugly, horrific episode that my mom still has nightmares about.

Their marriage effectively ended that night. Although, the legal proceedings took time.

As an aside, my mom is a badass. Some people get afraid when they’re pushed. She gets angry. And then she gets even. I love her to pieces.

After my grandmother left, things weren’t easy. She didn’t have a high school diploma and she’d never worked outside of the home, but she escaped. I’ll never understand why my mom continued to have a relationship with him, or why she fostered a bond between my granddad and me.

I both love and hate him, which is confusing to say the least. He took me to my grandmother’s wake. Everyone else had gone ahead. I was in kindergarten and didn’t really grasp what was going on. By the time we got there, people had expressed their grief and I was coming unglued. It’s the first death I experienced and I was really close to my grandma. I just didn’t understand. And my grandpa explained it to me. He let me cry and told me he missed her, too. If it weren’t for him, I never would’ve gotten through that day.

See? That’s confusing as hell, isn’t it? I’m convinced most people are a mixture of both good and bad.

Anyway, I infused some of this tension into In the Black. Zane reminds me of my mother in many ways. Like her, he has a deep well of rage for the injustices he suffered as a child, and hasn’t quite come to terms with it.

Next month, Black as Night will be coming out. I hope you’re ready for Nox’s book. He’s one of my favorite characters in this series.  This one will have angst but it should be sexy, too.

And I already have 3 scenes written, because he basically wouldn’t shut up while I was trying to write Zane’s book. I’m not complaining. That’s a good problem to have.

Until next month…

The post May’s Post appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Apologies, this hasn’t been proofread yet.

A few days ago…

A spider crouched in the corner.

As a rule, Elinor King hated spiders, loathed them with a fiery passion. She wouldn’t call it a phobia, exactly, but they bothered her.  It was a black fuzzy one, too, the kind that jumped.

Her skin crawled as she imagined it landing on her.

She tried not to think of it as a bad omen, a portent of things to come. Ellie had a lot on her mind at the moment and a terrible feeling of foreboding, which she couldn’t shake. It was much easier to focus on the problem at hand.

Namely, a spider in need of squashing.

Ellie slipped off her sneaker and approached it slowly. The spider darted to the left, evidently sensing her movement. Ellie stopped, standing perfectly still, waiting for it to relax again so she could pounce.

Unfortunately, the delay gave her time to think.

She lived on the second floor of a low rent apartment complex. And her place faced a swimming pool in the center.

Outside young children splashed and played, kicking their feet as they learned how to swim. They sounded happy, without a care in the world.

Ellie was a hot mess.

She hadn’t been sleeping much, things were tense at work, and worst of all, Ellie had some nagging doubts about her live-in boyfriend, Dave Miller, she couldn’t lay to rest.

Things between them were bad to begin with, but not crappy enough to leave. They hadn’t made love in weeks, argued about money all the time, and she wasn’t happy anymore.

Ellie was about to take it to a whole new level.

Dave liked to run her down in front of his friends. Whenever she confronted him about it, Dave said he’d been joking and suggested she should lighten up. Only, Ellie didn’t find it funny. And he continued to do it, even though she’d told him several times it bothered her.

It was only a matter of time before this thing ends. Who knows? Maybe tonight was the night.

It was nearly six o’clock. Dave would be arriving any second now. When he got home, things would change between them. She had to ask him a critical question. One Ellie feared she already knew the answer to.

She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and turned her attention back to the matter at hand.

Ha. Gotcha, Charlotte.

Only this wasn’t a friendly arachnid weaving messages into her web.

The spider settled once more. With a war cry, Ellie swatted it with her shoe a couple of times, and then picked up the corpse with a paper towel. Ellie deposited it in the garbage can, washed her hands, and examined the rest of the room for more insect intruders.

There must be more of those furry little bastards around here somewhere.

She’d spent more than one sleepless night on spidey patrol.

Just then, Dave walked in the door. And Ellie immediately tensed.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hey,” Ellie replied awkwardly.

At one time, she would’ve wrapped her arms around him, kissed him, eager to be back in his arms again. The hours they spent apart had felt like years. Now, she couldn’t wait to get away from him.

He was a handsome man with light brown hair streaked with blond, hazel eyes, an inch under six feet tall. Dave was fit from spending so much time working outdoors.

Since losing his full-time job as a corrections officer, Dave worked as a landscaper part-time, and his skin was tanned a golden brown. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a green polo shirt. It was stained with sweat under his arms and down the middle of his back.

Shortly after they’d moved in together, he’d been let go due to budget cuts. He’d gone from making thirty thousand a year to barely making ends meet. It was one hell of a pay cut, but he hadn’t been able to find a gig in his field.

Dave had tried everything. Every Sunday morning, he poured over the classified section. He’d registered at every single employment site he could find online. And he’d had a handful of interviews, but no offers.  Since their income had been cut in half, they’d had to tighten their belts.

Ellie suspected he resented the money she made, although he’d never directly said so. It had never mattered to her, who earned more, or who did what. She’d seen it as contributing to their household.

Evidently, Dave was keeping score.

His eyes narrowed. “Why are you lookin’ at me like that?”

This was her opening. All Ellie had to do was say the words, but she choked.

Once I start this dance I’ve gotta finish it.

“Nothin’. Um, I killed a spider.” She nodded to the paper towel laying on top of the garbage.

He nodded.

At one time, he would’ve laughed, teased her about being afraid of a little bitty bug.

There hadn’t been much laughter between the two of them lately. Ellie missed the sound of it, the connection with him, a shared future and dreams. They’d been a couple, but now they felt like roommates and every day they drifted even further apart. He barely noticed her anymore.

In the early days of their relationship, she’d asked Dave to kill the creepy crawlies, but he’d insisted on teaching her how to do it herself. It sounded silly, but Ellie had wanted him to take care of it. In a strange way, protecting her from gross bugs was chivalrous, but Dave didn’t see it that way.

Zane killed your spiders. You didn’t even have to ask. Ellie deliberately shoved the sly inner voice away.

“How was work?” she asked, floundering for something to say.

“Backbreakin’, as usual.”

All trace of humor drained from his face.

Ellie winced.

Just like that, Dave was icy once more.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat in a recliner in front of the television. When Dave wasn’t at work, or in front of the boob tube, he spent time with his friends. All of them were former military guys. They’d had a couple of cookouts and a card night, but Ellie didn’t like them much, which was strange.

Elie’s father was a career Navy man, and her brother, Tommy King, had been a SEAL until he’d retired to join the Black Star Security team. She’d grown up around military men, but Ellie didn’t like these guys. Something about them was off, although she couldn’t quite put her finger on what exactly.

At first, she’d tried to discourage Dave from hanging out with them.  All they did was complain and whine about the government. Some of the things they said bothered Ellie, but Dave defended them.  They’d had a massive argument about it, so she’d given in.

And when he’d started spending more and more time with them, she’d been grateful for the reprieve. It got him out of the house. Anything was better than one of their screaming matches.  Or the chilly silence.

And lately, he’d gotten even more distant.

“Can we talk a minute?”

“Can’t it wait?” He already settled on ESPN. “I just wanna watch the game.”

No, it can’t. It’s time.

“No.” She stepped between him and the TV.

For once, she wouldn’t allow him to ignore her. Ellie needed some answers.

Dave sighed. “Fine. What is it?”

Now or never. Come on, do it.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Remember how my master keycard went missin’?”

Ellie worked for Lawson Chemical, and security was tight. Lawson was a multinational conglomerate, which manufactured everything from household cleaners to pharmaceuticals.

They also had a lot of government contracts, in addition to private research and development. She’d been working on the Anubis Project for a year, which had come from the Department of Defense, and those DOD guys didn’t mess around.

Three days ago, she hadn’t been able to find her swipe card.  Ellie kept it in a special pocket in her purse, so she wouldn’t lose the damn thing. Securing the card was even part of her nightly routine. When it went missing, she’d ripped the house apart, as well as her car, and the office searching for it.

And she hadn’t told anyone at work it had gone missing.

Ellie was scared to lose her job, so she’d kept it quiet. The government had impressed upon them the importance of security before she’d been hired for the project. And once she found out what Anubis was all about, Ellie could see why.  They’d actually said if she lost the key card, Ellie should come straight to human resources, instead of her supervisors.

In other words, she’d be fired.

“Yeah?”  He shrugged, as though it didn’t matter.

“I found it when I got in my truck this morning.”

The swipe card had mysteriously shown up on the floorboard, peeking out from beneath the floormat, which didn’t make any sense. She’d covered every square inch of it, multiple times.  There’s no possible way she missed it.

Ellie hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him earlier. Dave had left for work two hours before she did, which was strange. His shift hadn’t started until ten a.m. It was yet another bizarre coincidence.

“That’s great news.” His expression was smooth, blank.  “I knew you were dreadin’ the Friday morning meetin’.”

Whenever she met with her supervisor, Ellie had to show him the key card, as an added safety measure.  She’d been counting down the days, like a condemned woman. Ellie had been a basket case all week, convinced she’d be fired.

And since her income covered the essentials like rent and groceries, they’d be out on the streets unless she found another job fast. They didn’t even have an emergency fund in place.

And then, like a miracle, the swipe card had just shown up.

She’s been too relieved, to think about it much, until later in the day. Her supervisor had left the lab, just before the end of work and his face had been pale, sweaty. When Ellie had asked him what was wrong, he refused to answer and muttered something about “calling DC” to inform them about a matter.

And now her imagination was on overload—the card’s mysterious departure and return, Dave and his friend’s views of the government, and their interest in her research.

It all added up to something unthinkable.

“Yeah, I’m relieved I found it.”

“I’m sure.” Dave offered a small, tight smile.

She bit her lower lip. Once she said this, Ellie could never take it back.

“What? Is there somethin’ you wanna ask me?”

“Did you take it?”

“Why on earth would I want your lab key?”

His reply had been automatic, as though he’d rehearsed it. Dave wasn’t upset, hurt that she suspected him? His reaction didn’t ring true.

“An excellent question. Maybe because of what I’ve been working on…?”  

He didn’t speak, and she waited impatiently for him to respond.

Please let me wrong.

“Oh? And what have you been doin’?”

She sighed. “You know I can’t talk about it.”

She’d only applied to work on the project because it came with a big pay raise. The announcement had been purposely vague, and Ellie hadn’t known what she was getting into until it was too late.

At the time, keeping her missing card hush hush had seemed like a smart move, but now she was regretting not reporting the theft. If Ellie was right, and she was 99% percent sure she was, losing her job was the least of her worries.

The government was developing a new nerve agent.

Ellie had some ethical concerns with the government developing a chemical weapon but couldn’t do anything about it. It’s not like she was heading the project and could shut it down. Going up against the United States government was a losing proposition. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life on the run like the female version of Snowden.

“What exactly are you accusin’ me of?”  He stood, towering over Ellie, trying to intimidate her.

“I think you took my key. What are you and your friends up to?”

They’d been thicker than thieves lately. If she happened to walk in the room when they were talking on the phone, Dave refused to speak until she left. Most of the time, they met somewhere else, and Dave had been purposely vague when she’d asked questions.

She’d known something was up, but Ellie hadn’t investigated. And now something awful had been set in motion. Ellie just knew it.

“What are you and the government up to?”

“You know I can’t talk about it. Did you take my card?”

Dave set his jaw and didn’t respond.

“Was it Marshall? Does he have some kind of twisted plan?”

If the rest of his friends were sketchy, Marshall was unhinged. She’d heard him rant saying blood needed to be spilled, and another revolution was necessary. He trusted no one, never met a conspiracy theory he didn’t like, and was super secretive, too.

The guy gave her creeps.

“Leave it alone, Ellie.”

“I can’t. Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“My boss was leaving the containment lab this evening, and he looked shaken.”

“Is he gonna call the feds?” Dave asked, not even bothering to be casual about the question.

“Why? Are you worried?”

They glared at one another. And then he whipped out his cell phone and texted somebody. Marshall?

Alarm bells rang in her head.

“Who did you text?”

He refused to answer.

“Dave, what have you gotten yourself into? What have you gotten me into?”

If he’d used the key card in the middle of the night, no one would have been at the facility. The custodians finished their work around 9 in the evening.

And it was only a matter of time until the FBI figure out her card had been misused if they didn’t have the information already.  Since Ellie hadn’t reported the missing key, it looked as though she were in on it.

Oh, God. This can’t be happening.

Her knees turn to jelly, and she sagged against the wall. And to think, she’d been stressed about being fired.

“Dammit. Answer me, Dave.”

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Yes, you do. I can see it on your face. Don’t lie to me. Whatever it is, tell me. I can take it.”

He clenched a fist. “I said, leave it alone.” Dave was angrier then she’d ever seen him before.

She took a step back. Dave could be emotionally abusive, grouchy, moody, but he’d never scared her until now. He wouldn’t physically hurt her, would he?

“Tell me what you did.”

Dave stood there, seething, lip curled.

“Did Marshall put you up to this? Look, we’ll go to the FBI and tell them everythin’ we know.” Hopefully, it would be enough to keep them out of jail.

“No, we won’t. You’ve done nothing wrong.”  He took a step closer.

“But you have? Oh, my God.” Ellie closed her eyes. The room was spinning around her, rotating so fast, Ellie couldn’t catch her breath. “I can’t believe you’d do somethin’ so stupid. If—”

“Enough! Stop talking!” He roared, advancing on her.

She was stunned into silence. Dave had the strangest expression on his face, and she didn’t understand it. It’s almost as if he were silently pleading with her.

“Fine, if you won’t do something, I will.” Ellie headed for the door, but he snagged her arm.

“I can’t let you do this.”

“Let go of me,” Ellie tried to shake him off, but couldn’t break Dave’s hold on her.

Her purse, was all the way across the room, with her cell phone inside it. Assuming he released her, there’s no way she could call for help before he caught up with her. Besides, even if she did, it would take the police at least ten minutes to get here.

“Or what? What are you gonna do about it, huh?”

Not a damn thing.

She wasn’t strong enough to stop him, and they both knew it. This was one fight, she shouldn’t have picked.

“I’ll tell you exactly what you’re gonna do. Nothin’. When the FBI questions you, you’ll tell them you don’t know a damn thing, because you don’t.”

“Stop it.” She’d had enough of his crap. “I’m walkin’ out, and you’re—”

“You don’t wanna push me.” He said it with a quiet sort of menace. “Not now.”

“How can you talk to me like this?”

Dave shoved her.

Tears slid down her face, and she stumbled away from him, unable to believe her own ears. It’s like she didn’t know him at all.

“I’m tired of the way you talk to me. I’m the man of this house, not you. Or have you forgotten? I’m sick of not bein’ respected.” A white line formed around his mouth. “No, I’m sick of you.”

Ellie didn’t even think about it, she just hauled off and slapped his face.

They both stood there in stunned silence. The palm of her hand burned, and she’d left a small pink mark on his cheek.

And then his lips twisted.  Dave grabbed Ellie by the shoulder, yanking her closer.

“No, Dave, stop. You don’t wanna do this.”

But he backhanded her, sending Ellie stumbling against the wall.

“The hell I don’t.”

She tried to run, but he placed an arm on either side of her, pinning her. Dave got in her face. His lip curled. It was almost a snarl.

Ellie swallowed, gripped by panic.

Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

She trembled, trying to pull herself together.

“Dave, please…”

“Are you afraid?”

“Yes.” It galled her to admit, but she’d never had anyone treat her this way, speak to her like this. She’d never seen him so volatile and didn’t know what to expect.

“What are you gonna do, if the FBI questions you?” Once again, he tried to communicate something with his gaze she didn’t quite understand.

“I won’t lie for you.”

He sighed in sheer exasperation. “I’m givin’ you an out, take it.”

She gulped. “What are you saying?”  Had he just threatened her?

“Don’t make me do somethin’ we’ll both regret.”

Ellie gathered all her strength. “I want to leave. Now. Let me go.”

He seized her once more, slamming her back into the wall.  Dave was much bigger than her, and he tossed her around like a rag doll, slapping her face, roughing her up. She didn’t stand a chance against him.

“No, please don’t! Stop!”

“Make me.”

Ellie tumbled to the floor and tried to crawl away, but he seized her by the ankles, yanking her back toward him. Dave flipped her over, and he straddled her body, pinning her to the floor, while she tried to scratch and claw his face. He seized her wrists in one hand and bashed in her nose with the other.

And he didn’t stop hitting.

Until she blacked out.

***

Ever so slowly, painfully, Ellie picked herself up off the floor. She hurt everywhere, feeling like a big bruise.

Instantly, she was on guard, but there was no sign of Dave anywhere. Nothing but silence in the apartment and scream of sirens in the distance.

Thank God.

She limped to the window and looked outside.  It was dark, and Dave’s car was gone.

How long have I been out?

Ellie didn’t have a clue, but she had to get out of there. She needed to be somewhere safe, where Dave wouldn’t follow her. Right now. Ellie needed to see Tommy.

Without thinking, Ellie grabbed her purse and ran for the door.

In the Black will be out on May 21st.

Read more about it here.

The post In the Black Chapter One appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Author’s Note: Apologies, but this hasn’t been proofread yet.

“How’ve you been, honey?” Magnus Butterfield asked.

“Just fine, sugar, thanks for askin’.”

Savannah Summers pasted on a smile, even though she inwardly seethed.

Magnus treated her like a stripper at a bachelor party.

Thankfully, she’d practiced slathering honey all over her words when necessary, or “sugar coatin’ as her momma called it. It was all part of her public persona, a bubbly, sassy Southern belle, and it worked like magic on men.

Savvy, Magnus, and his son, Nathan, were in her dressing room backstage. Nathan stood beside his father’s chair, awkwardly sneaking glances at her beneath his lashes.

She could hear the low rumble of the crowd in the distance, like a gathering storm. It sparked a thrum of excitement in her as well, and Savvy was eager to get on the stage.

Performing for a crowd was an addiction, a drug, and she was a junkie. Savvy craved the spotlight. Performing was everything to her. Better than the very hottest sex she’d ever had, the tastiest meal, or even the blackest, richest cup of coffee.

Nothing stimulated her senses in the same way.

Savvy wanted to push Magnus and Nathan out the door so she could have a few moments to collect her thoughts. This was the first night of her European tour, and she needed to focus.  Before she sang, Savvy had to get her head straight and slide into the zone. A concert was like an athletic event, or running a marathon, only she had to sing and play the guitar the entire time.

Unfortunately, Magnus had other ideas.

Magnus leered. “I’m goin’ to Greece next week, why don’t you come with me? All you need is your bathin’ suit.”

While he played grab ass on his yacht in the Mediterranean Sea? Gee, no, thanks.

Unfortunately, Magnus was a big deal in the music industry, an executive with a lot of power and influence and she couldn’t afford to make an enemy of him.  He was in London vacationing with his son and asked for last minute tickets to her show, so her manager had gotten him a pair of choice seats. Her tour manager held a few back for VIPs, so it hadn’t been a huge deal, but it made Magnus feel like a big shot.

“I’d love to, but I’m completely booked for the next three months.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Ain’t it, though?”

“Well, don’t be so standoffish like Nathan over here.  Let me give you a squeeze.” He patted his knee, as though expecting her to climb on for a horsey ride like a little kid.  “I ain’t seen you in a month of Sundays.”

Before releasing her first album, she’d sung at his wife’s birthday party.  Savvy had been new to the industry and laughably naïve. Since then, Mrs. Magnus #4 had divorced him, probably because the man couldn’t keep his hands, and other body parts, to himself.

After she’d finished performing, he’d cornered her on the back porch. Thank God, her manager, Adam Campbell, had interrupted them.  And now Magnus was like a flea, she just couldn’t shake.

Magnus was in his late fifties with thinning gray hair and a sizeable girth. As her momma would say, Magnus would eat anything that didn’t eat him first. And he was old enough to be her grandfather, but the look in his eyes wasn’t familial.

Ewww.

“Dad,” Nathan said, his eyes rounding.

Nathan was only 19 years old. Nathan was thin and stood an inch or two over five feet.  His mother was Magnus’s third wife.  Savvy couldn’t remember the woman’s name.  They came and went so fast she couldn’t keep track.

He had a trust fund larger than the annual budget of most states.  Last year, he had dropped out of college after only one semester.  If he’d ever held a job, she wasn’t aware of it.

Then again, he didn’t need to work.  Must be nice.

Nathan had asked her to go for coffee a few months ago, and she’d obliged him to be polite.  Although Savvy had just turned 30 years old, she’d felt like a cougar.  Savvy supposed he was nice enough, but she wasn’t interested in him that way.  He’d asked her repeatedly to go for coffee again, but Savvy said she was too busy.  Eventually, he’d gotten the hint.

Besides, business and personal affairs don’t mix.  She’d blended the two before and put her career in jeopardy.  Savvy learned from her mistakes and refused to make the same one again.

“Aww, don’t worry, Nathan, he’s only bein’ friendly.” She ran a hand down her sparkly blue dress. “I don’t wanna wrinkle this, so let me hug your neck instead.” She looped an arm around Magnus in a loose embrace.

Savvy wished could tell him to take a flying leap off the nearest cliff. Evidently, #metoo hadn’t reached Nashville yet. 

Before she could squirm away, Magnus planted a hand on her ass. She removed his big paw and stepped a couple feet away. Nathan lifted his shoulders, in a show of silent sympathy.

Right then, there was a knock on the door, and Adam slipped into the room, along with his new fiancée, Emerald Price.  They’d been dating a bit over a year and had gotten engaged on New Year’s Eve.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Savvy should be gettin’ ready for the show.” Adam gave her a conspiratorial wink, behind the Butterfields’ backs. “However, we’re havin’ an after party at the Regent, if y’all wanna drop by.”

“We’d love to.” Nathan stood and grasped Savannah’s hand.  “I’m so glad we got to see each other again.”

Savvy hugged him.  “Yeah, it was nice to run into you both.”

“Maybe we could go for coffee after you get back to the States?” His brows rose hopefully.

“It sounds like fun.  I’ll give you a call when I’m back in Tennessee.” It was a vague response, but polite.  Savvy was proud of herself.

“I love hearin’ you sing.” He’d come to a lot of her shows in the surrounding area—Tennessee, Indiana, and West Virginia.

“Could you save me a dance tonight?”

“Of course, sugar.”  After she did a show, Savannah was always wired. They danced and sang, partying until dawn.

“I’ll see you later, Miss Savannah.” He surprised her by bowing low and kissing her fingers like a courtier, flirting with royalty. It was a southern custom to call someone Mr. or Miss coupled with their first name, as a show of respect.

“See you later, enjoy the show.” She patted his hand fondly.

Magnus stood, balancing on his diamond-encrusted pimp cane.  “I’ll catch you later, young lady.” He leaned down to kiss her, and she pivoted, so his lips landed on her cheek, instead of her mouth. He grunted with disappointment but shuffled out the door with his son.

As soon as they left, she sagged against the wall in relief. Savvy hastily swiped at her cheek, as though trying to get the germs off.

“They seemed nice,” Emerald said.

Are you freaking kidding me?  Savvy glared at Emerald.

“Yeah, they’re both real characters,” Adam said agreeably.

With a roll of her eyes, Savvy took another sip of her chamomile tea, laced with honey. She drank it to soothe her throat. Savvy refused to lip-synch numbers on stage. She believed in putting on a live show, even though it took a toll on her vocal chords.

Adam had brought Emerald along with him on this trip, and the woman was getting on Savvy’s nerves. Savvy thought Emerald sounded like a hooker’s name and the woman’s outfit proved her point.  She wore a skin-tight black dress with a marabou feather collar.  There were even matching feathers on her spiked heels.

Emerald was a tall redhead in her mid-thirties with a fantastic body and a killer rack. Her family came from old money. Her granddaddy had built up a multimillion-dollar construction business.

Like Nathan, Emerald had never done an honest day’s work. Privately, Savvy thought she was only after Adam for his music contacts in this town, but it wasn’t her business, so she kept her mouth shut.

“Yes, well, they insisted on comin’ back to pay their respects.”  Adam rubbed his hands together. “Are you ready? Do you need anythin’?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Savvy sat at the brightly light makeup mirror, taking in her reflection.  There had been dark circles underneath her blue eyes, but the makeup artist had done wonders with a tube of concealer.

Tour were grueling affairs—one city, right after the next, without any stops in between. Most of the time, Savvy was too jetlagged to know whether she was coming or going.

Savvy was pretty, but she was far from a great beauty. She had long blonde hair which came down to the middle of her back, a heart-shaped face, and she was cute. Savvy was only five feet three, so most folks were much taller than her.

She glanced at the door expectantly.

Unfortunately, Adam didn’t take the hint. He stood there staring at her, as though about to say something. Adam was handsome with sandy blond hair and brown eyes. He was just over six feet with broad shoulders. He had a thing for expensive suits, and he wore a blue silk one tonight.

She wasn’t even sure why Adam had gone out on the road with her in the first place. He was her manager, not her tour manager. There was a significant difference in responsibilities.

Maybe he was just worried?

Savvy was the highest earning star he represented. Or, at least she had been, until her current album, Saturday Night Sparkle, nosedived on the charts. Savvy still couldn’t figure out what it happened. The record label had put a lot of promotional effort behind it, but it hadn’t taken off.

He tilted his head to one side. “Feelin’ rested? Ready?”

“Yeah, I got this.”

She had a case of butterflies, but it was a nervous sort of excitement, like waiting in line to ride a roller coaster. She couldn’t wait to get started, and the anticipation was a bit nerve-racking.

Emerald yawned loudly.

She was obviously bored and played around with her phone. Savvy didn’t understand the attraction. Emerald was a real piece of work. She had the newest iPhone and carried a leather bag worth $25,000.

Who would spend that much?

“I’m glad to hear it. In the next couple of days, I’d like to sit down and have a talk with you.”

She nodded. “Sure, I’ll make time.” It was a bit like going to the principal’s office. At least, he didn’t want to discuss it now. “And I know what you wanna discuss.”

Adam surprised her, by cupping her cheek. “Don’t worry about it. Everything is gonna be okay, I promise. Just focus on the show. I want you to knock ‘em dead.”

Their relationship might be antagonistic at times, but it was always constructive. They’d had arguments about everything, concert venues, the content of her albums, the clothing she wore to events. The push and pull between them had a purpose.

She grinned. “I will.”

Emerald cleared her throat loudly, looking pointedly at Adam’s palm on her cheek. Adam dropped his hand, as though he’d been burned.

Okay, time to wrap this up.

“If you don’t mind…” Savvy began.

“Right, of course.” He clasped his hands together. “Is if okay, If I send Gloria in,  to touch base with you.”

“Sure.”

Gloria Andrews was her new backup singer. She replaced Angela Walker who’d fallen and broken her leg during rehearsals.  They’d hired Gloria couple of days before going to the United Kingdom.  Gloria was a studio musician and sang backup vocals on Savvy’s very first album. Savvy didn’t know her very well, but she never missed a cue, had a clear voice, and a positive attitude, which went a long way with her.

Adam walked to the door and motioned. “Gloria, come on in.”

Gloria headed inside and leaned against the wall. She was five and a half feet tall, with a riot of dark brown curls, which framed her rounded face. She had mischievous dark brown eyes and a small frame. They were roughly the same age.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it.” Adam glanced at Emerald expectantly.

“I’ll be there in a minute, honey.”

“Sure, I’ll check in with the band, baby.” Adam disappeared down the hall.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Emerald got in Savvy’s personal space, standing behind her, and placing a hand on each shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doin’?” Emerald spoke quietly, but her voice was laced with venom.

Gloria watched from the corner of the room, wide-eyed, but quiet.

“Excuse me?” Savvy raised a brow.

“I know the two of you used to fool around, but it’s over.” She flashed her sparkly diamond engagement ring.  “Got it?”

Her cheeks reddened, but not from embarrassment. Savvy worked hard to keep her name out of the gossip pages, and she was furious with Adam for sharing the information.

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” Savvy stood and whipped around. She only came to Emerald’s chin, but Savvy did her best to look intimidating. “But we’re agreed on one thing, Adam is your fiancé, and my relationship with him is strictly professional.” She smiled, as sweet as her momma’s pecan pie. “Now get your bony ass out of my dressin’ room.”

Gloria coughed, but it sounded suspiciously like a snicker.

“Well, I never…Adam’s gonna hear about this!”

“Fine by me.”

In a huff, Emerald stomped to the door.

“Oh, and another thing?” Savvy drawled.

“If you ever speak to me like that again, we’re gonna have a serious problem.”

She sashayed out of the room, presumably to find Adam.

Savvy slammed the door shut behind her. “Ugh. Have you ever met such a raging bitch?”

Gloria licked her lips. “Um, she’s…”

She sighed.  “I’m sorry for puttin’ you on the spot.”

After all, I’m her boss.  What do I expect her to say?

“Well, I don’t wanna speak out of turn.” She paused, evidently searching for the right words. “He doesn’t seem so bad, but she’s…” Gloria trailed off, too polite to finish the sentence.

Fortunately, I don’t have the same problem.  

“A pain in the ass?” Savvy supplied.

Gloria laughed.  “You said it, not me.” She placed a hand on her hips.  “Did you see her bag?”

So, it wasn’t just me.  “I know, right?”

“I could put the money to better use.” Gloria shook her head. “I could pay my rent for a year, buy groceries, use the cash for utilities. You name it.”

They both laughed.

Gloria seemed real, down to earth. Savvy never wanted to turn into one of those famous people with a terrible reputation. She tried to keep herself as grounded as possible. A lot of people in Nashville had carefully crafted a persona, a squeaky clean public image.  But they rarely lived up to those lofty expectations.

Savvy had sticker shock when it came to finer things.

A lot of her Nashville peers had fancy bags, expensive shoes, and enormous mansions.  She’d grown up poor and parting with a big chunk of money bothered her on a fundamental level. Savvy worried one day the windfall would end, and she’d be left with nothing. So, she spent wisely, saved a lot of her earnings, and invested a lot of it.

“Now you think I’m a diva, don’t you?”

“No, not at all. And, if you are, then I’m one, too.”

It was nice to have someone to talk to.  Savvy spent a lot of time surrounded by an entourage.  It was easy to be lonely, even in a crowd. There was always someone around—backup singers, members of the band, assistants, you name it.

And yet none of them were her friends, they were employees or colleagues.

Although she felt like an ass for whining about it. After all, she’d signed up for fame, and she had to accept the whole package. If she didn’t want to deal with being a celebrity, she should’ve stayed a waitress at The Spicy Spot, slinging hot chicken, a local delicacy.

She’d come to Music City with stardust in her eyes, convinced it would only take her a few months to get her big break. Then again, she’d been eighteen and thought anything was possible.  During the day, she worked at the diner, and every evening she played at open mic nights. It had taken two years of barely scraping by before she caught a break.

“I suppose we should get down to business, Gloria.  How are you feelin’ about the show tonight?”

“Great. I’ve been studyin’ the sheet music, gettin’ up to speed.”

“Wanna go through the openin’ number again?”

“Absolutely.”

Savvy started singing her debut hit, What He’s Done. Gloria joined in, and she had a smooth alto tone, which blended perfectly. They swayed together, keeping time by tapping out a rhythm against their legs.

She sang from the diaphragm to give her voice more power. She prided herself on how long she could hold a note. Savvy had a wide vocal range, and she could hit the higher registers like a soprano, as well as lower alto tones.

“Excellent. You’re ready to crush this concert,” Savvy said, once they finished.

“Thanks.” Gloria headed for the door. “Well, I should head out and give you some privacy.”

“You can stay if you want.” Savvy was enjoying her company.

“Sure, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.”

Gloria took a seat next to her at the lighted mirror and brushed some powder on her nose.

And then there was a knock on the door.  “Ms. Summers? I have a delivery for you.”

Savvy sighed. “Who is it?”

“Davis Flower Delivery. I have a bouquet for you. Security waved me through.”

How sweet.

Had her record label sent flowers?

“Want me to let him in?” Gloria asked.

“Please.”

A man in a pair of khakis and polo shirt, embroidered with his company name on the pocket walked in. He had a clipboard under one arm along with a bouquet of forsythia and sunflowers in a glass vase, which he set on a nearby table. Those were her two favorite flowers. There was a thick envelope on a plastic holder, attached to the container.

“I need a signature, confirming they were delivered.” He held out his clipboard.

Savvy glanced at Gloria. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” She hastily scribbled her name.

“Okay, thanks.” Savvy reached into her purse and handed him a tip. “Any idea who sent these?”

“Let me see.” He flipped through some pages. “Mr. Smith. I can’t tell you any more than that. He paid cash.”

Hmm. Sounds like an alias to me.

“Good luck tonight.”

“Thank you.”

The delivery guy shuffled out.

“Wanna see the card?” Gloria asked.

“Sure. Why not?”

Savvy opened the envelope to reveal a card with a large heart in the center. It was the type of thing a man might give his sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, and it wasn’t signed.

What the…?

The interior of the card was filled with a hastily written scrawled. Savvy tried to read it, make sense of the note, but the sentences were dense and floated from one topic to another. She snatched a phrase here and there: love you so much, why haven’t you responded, I need you.

Savvy dropped the card, and it fluttered to the floor. Gasping, she pressed a hand to her mouth.

Suddenly, she thought about John Lennon being gunned down outside of the Dakota in New York. And Selena was murdered by the president of her fan club.

She stared at the flowers as though they were a nest of vipers. Savvy had the urge to tip them right out of the window.

Gloria frowned. “Savvy, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” She shook her head, to scatter the dark thoughts.

Savvy couldn’t afford the distraction right now and needed to keep both their heads in the game. If her focus was split, she’d do a terrible job, and she didn’t want to disappoint anyone, least of all her fans.

She tucked the card into her purse for safekeeping. After Adam talked her about the terrible sales numbers, she’d have a serious discussion with him about security at her events. The deliveryman shouldn’t have been waived through the line.

But what if some crazy obsessed fan is out there in the audience? Just waitin’ for me to step on stage.

No. Don’t think about it. You’ll work yourself into a panic.  

“Savvy? Are you positive nothing’s wrong?” Gloria searched her face.

“Yeah, absolutely. I was just thinkin’ I’m overdue for some fun. You can totally say no, but do you wanna hang tomorrow?”

Sometimes, she snuck away from all the madness.  Savvy tucked her hair underneath a baseball cap, pulled a hoodie over it, along with some shades, and blended into a crowd, as best as she could. Although, she looked a bit like the Unabomber.

Gloria nodded. “Yeah, that sounds fun.”

“Excellent. We could sit at a café, have some coffee and order pastries, maybe watch the world go by.” Savvy couldn’t remember the last time she’d just enjoyed herself, sat still, present in the moment, instead of thinking ahead, worrying about her to do list or the next item on her agenda. “If we’re feelin’ real adventurous, we could sightsee a bit.”

“I’d love to. I’ve never been to London before.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll sneak away for a couple of hours tomorrow.”

This was the third time she’d been to the UK, and Savvy hadn’t seen anything besides the venue and her own hotel room, and she’d love to go sightseeing. Savvy wanted to visit Big Ben, London Bridge, the tower, and Buckingham Palace.

A guitar riff sounded in the distance.

“Well, I gotta go, there playin’ my song.” Gloria pointed to Savvy. “Or actually, they’re playin’ yours.”

They hurried down the labyrinth of hallways backstage until they waited in the wings for their cue.  Once again, excitement crackled in the air.  

Screw it.

She put the demented fan out of her mind. The music filled her head, pushing away all the doubts and the fears. Music had always been a comfort, the place she’d turn to when the world roughed her up.  Nothing else mattered.  Not stalkers, and definitely not the amount of money in her bank account.

“Are you ready?” Gloria asked.

“Hell yeah.” Savvy grinned. “Bring it on.” I’m gonna blow the roof off this place tonight.

Gloria walked onto the stage, to join the other backup singers and the crowd cheered.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Savannah Summers!” The announcer said, and her fans erupted into enthusiastic applause. It was like being enveloped in a wave of warmth, and the love was a welcome balm to her soul.

Savvy stepped into the hot glare of the spotlight, and the beam followed her as she moved across the stage.

She waved to everyone. “Thank you, London! I’m so happy to be here. How y’all doin’?”

They clapped and whistled in response. Behind her, the band started up, and the audience shouted, ready to get started.

Savvy focused on the joy.

She grabbed a guitar from a stagehand and played her opening number, Baby, I Can’t Quit you. The audience sang along with her, and they knew every word by heart.

When Savvy reached the chorus, the other singers crowded around Savvy, and they danced together. The moves were carefully choreographed and went off without a hitch.

Now, it was a matter of muscle memory, and she did the steps without thinking.

After three up-tempo numbers, she moved into a slow song, a ballad, it was so sweet and gentle, it could be a lullaby. The audience quieted down, lifting their cellphones to illuminate the sea of faces smiling back at her.

She stood beside Gloria. They crooned, harmonizing, taking the song to the bridge. And then the fiddle player took over, playing a tender tune.

Savvy tugged the microphone away from her mouth, and Gloria did too.

She bent to whisper in the other woman’s ear, “What a fantastic group. They’re eatin’ it up.”

“Yeah, they love it.” Gloria’s eyes danced.  Evidently, performing gave her a high, as well.

She surveyed the crowd, drinking in their reaction, filing away the mental picture for later, making a memory.

And then came a muffled dart-like sound.

It had been so close, but Savvy thought she must’ve imagined it.

Savvy turned to see a red dot between Gloria’s brows, almost like a laser beam.

Another thwap.

And then Gloria fell to the ground.

The rest of it happened in agonizing slow motion.

There was a gaping hole in Gloria’s skull, right between the eyes. Her head had cracked open like a ripe watermelon.

Savvy was startled to see red droplets all over her hands and face, dripping down her arms. The blue sparkles on her gown illuminated the crimson, gave it a gruesome sheen. For a moment, she stared, not really processing what she was seeing.

The audience scattered like ants at a picnic.

Like an idiot, Savvy didn’t run or hide. Couldn’t move.

No, this can’t be happening.  I was just talking with her.

Another shot rang out.

The next thing Savvy knew, she was squashed beneath a bodyguard as he tackled her. Three more of them surrounded Savvy, dragged her to her feet, and then carried her into the wings.

Savvy glanced behind her to see Gloria’s bloody body abandoned on the stage.

And she screamed.

Pre Order Blck and White

The post Black and White Chapter 1 appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

Happy April everyone!

I was beginning to think winter would never end. Although, as I’m writing this, there is snow on the ground in Ohio. I’ve just finished King’s book, and I’m starting Zane’s. Black and White has echoes of both my grandmother and grandfather. Writing it, stirred up a lot of memories for me.

We’re about to get deep. Are you ready?

I associate music with my maternal grandmother. Growing up in Tennessee, she didn’t have an easy life. Her dad died when she was a young teenager. She dropped out of school and took over the role of mother while her mom worked two jobs to support the family. Then her high school sweetheart died in Pearl Harbor. Music was her solace, and she loved to sing along to the radio.

I must’ve gotten that gene from her because I sang in my high school choir. In her teenage years, she had an obsession with Frank Sinatra. In her later years, Johnny Cash was her favorite. She had a jukebox in her house, and she’d play his songs over and over.  Back in the day, my mom and grandma took a road trip to the Grand Ole Opry  The Man in Black was playing and my grandmother had a ball. By the way, if you haven’t seen Walk the Line, you should watch it. It’s all about his romance with June Carter.

In high school, I was visiting Las Vegas with my best friend and her family. We were having the best time (shows, a bit of illegal gambling, and running around the town without parental supervision). Anyway, when I was checking in with my mother, my aunt was on the other line. My grandfather had “lost it” in her words, and she needed my mom’s help immediately.

My relationship with my grandfather is complicated. He only had a 2nd-grade education and worked on his family’s farm to help support them. Incredibly, he lifted himself out of poverty. He joined the military, married my grandmother, and they both moved out to California. He was stationed there, loading ships for the war effort. Afterward, he got a factory job making good money in Ohio.

He was a man of many contradictions. Sometimes, he brooded in a darkened room, staring out the window, smoking a cigarette. My mom said he often fell into deep, unsettling depressions. And he could be casually cruel during those dark times. Some of the things he said to her, she can remember word for word. Other times, he was charming and whimsical. He loved to memorize jokes and make me laugh. I never really knew what I’d get.

After his second wife passed away, it triggered a breakdown. He had to be hospitalized, for fear he’d hurt himself or someone else. When everything was settled, my grandfather was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My mom and aunt finally had answers to some lingering questions. Although, the medication he took had terrible side effects. And my grandfather was a cantankerous old guy anyway.  The last year of his life was difficult.

I told you it was deep, and I delivered. There was something therapeutic about writing this book, and I’m glad I didn’t shy away from difficult topics. I can’t wait for you to read Black and White!

Until next time…

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Hey ya’ll!

Who doesn’t love a giveaway? To celebrate Black and Blue, I’m giving away a prize pack (a copy of B&B, a KY necklace, and a Starbucks gift card).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Black and Blue Giveaway appeared first on Cynthia Rayne.

So, I suck at social media. There, I said it.

I’ve realized that I haven’t been reaching out to y’all as much as I want to. In an effort to connect with readers and other writers, I’m going to be more present on social media channels. You’ll be seeing some changes in the upcoming months.

One of those is a personal monthly blog post. Since I love the written word so much, this seemed like a natural choice. I was the girl in school who got straight A’s in English class and always won the spelling bee. Except for once, but we won’t talk about that, cause I hold a grudge.

So, I’m writing this at 4:30 in the morning. I’m not a morning person by any means, but I’m much more productive if I can get my ass out of bed by 5 am. So here I am, with a coffee mug as big as my head, typing away. And yes, it’s a Christmas one, but it’s the right size! Hey. At least I didn’t leave my tree up.

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So, this month I’m reading High Voltage by the amazing Karen Marie Moning, and I’m giving Trickery a try. I haven’t started Trickery yet, but I’ll let you know how it goes. It’s one of those reverse harem books.

I’ve been reading KMM’s Fever series for the past 12 years. High Voltage is about Dani and the lethal yet urbane, Ryodan. I stayed up until midnight reading it; the book was that good. Because I’m not the night owl, I used to be.

I’ve found that I read more non-fiction than fiction since I started writing professionally. I’m not sure why. Maybe I get my daily fix of fiction by writing?

Oh, and yes, I’ve got two Kindles. Priorities.

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So this is one of my fur babies, Moon, who has never met a box he didn’t like. I rescued him from a Dumpster. I can’t believe someone threw him away like garbage. He was barely a pound, covered in filth, and crying. So, I took him to the vet that day, and he slowly got better.

And now, he’s 14 pounds and spoiled rotten. Moon is my writing buddy. I’ve got an L shaped desk, and he cuddles beside me while I’m banging out my 4,000 words a day.

Moon is a mixed blessing. He’s 50% snuggly and soothing, and 50% wild child. He loves to put his toy mice in my shoes, knock stuff off shelves (apparently it’s entertaining?), and demand food at two in the morning. All I can say is, he’s lucky he’s so damn cute.

So, I love owls. You’ll find them all over my apartment. I’m not sure why they are so appealing to me. Maybe it’s the association with wisdom?  I’ve got mugs, knick-knacks, necklaces, you name it.

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Well, that’s all for this month. I’ll catch you again in April. Look for Black and White on April 16th. So far, I’m loving King’s book. He’s such a big softie.

And, oh yeah, I love ya like biscuits and gravy…

~Cyndy

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