Sierra Cartwright Blog Tour~ Claim

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She Was Single and Lovin’ It!

Sierra Cartwright

Divorce made her what she was today: happily single.

Like me, Mackenzie Farrell had been through a divorce. Also like me, her mother was remarried, and so was her dad. More than once.

Seeing her husband at an event with another woman had devastated her, and she had been trying to remain polite and strong, and that was made slightly easier when Kennedy Aldrich swept her into his arms and out onto the dance floor. She never forgot him or his kindness.

Once her divorce was final, she turned her attention to her work, starting a business and working long hours to make it a success. She only dates on occasion. And she unwinds by playing with different Doms at the local BDSM club, The Hub.

At The Hub’s annual anniversary bash, she runs into Kennedy. The sight of him as a Dom stuns her, making her remember the dance they’d shared. Once again, she’s undeniably attracted him.

When he invites her to scene, every bit of her common sense urges her to run. He’s no ordinary man. He’s devastatingly handsome and attentive. And he’s pictured with a new woman almost every week.

She refuses him, but she hasn’t counted on his single-minded focus. The more she tries to push him away, the more determined he is to claim her. The trouble is, he seems to understand her better than she understands herself. She tries to tell herself she can avoid falling in love, and intends to prove he’s worth the risk.

Here is an excerpt from Claim, enjoy!

Finally, she turned toward him. They were scant inches apart, close enough for him to inhale the floral scent of her and remember the way it had rocked him when it was nuanced with intoxicating musk.

At The Hub and before that, when he’d danced with her at the party, he’d noticed she had blue eyes. Until now, he hadn’t realized how much of her emotions they revealed. Right now, they were frosted, as if she wanted to keep him away.

“Can I be honest?” she asked.

“I’d prefer it.”

“I don’t really date.”

He waited.

“I mean, especially someone like you.”

“Someone like me? I take it that was meant as an insult.”

“No.” Her eyes widened. “What I meant was, you’re complex.”

“I’m listening.”

“You’re a Dom. I enjoy submissive scenes, but I’m far from a real sub.”

“And you’ve decided that’s what I want or need?”

“You’re with a different woman every few months.”

“Weeks,” he corrected.

Her mouth parted. “Weeks?”

Impatience made him short. “If you’re going to believe bullshit, Mackenzie, you might as well believe all of it. I also get angry with my women and lock them into stocks.”

She grinned. “I don’t believe it.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“You’re much too practical, too economical. They’d take up too much space. Why do that when you can just get a foldable St. Andrew’s cross? Put it in the closet when you have guests. Stocks, at best, would be a clothes hanger.”

“You were tempted to call me. And, please, no comments about my colossal ego.”

“Even I wasn’t going to say it was colossal.” She gave a half smile. “Yes. I was tempted.”

“What would you have said?”

“I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“If you had.”

A server walked by, and she handed off her glass, even though it was still half full. But she didn’t uncover the small, artistic lock. “I would have admitted you were right.”

“About?”

“Not the shell, but the fact I keep my distance from men. It’s not that I’m afraid, because I’m not. 

Yes, Brian hurt me, but he’d have had an affair no matter who he married. It wasn’t about me.” She sighed. “I didn’t mean to tell you all that.”

He was glad she had.

“It’s easier to avoid entanglements. I don’t have to answer to anyone. And no one is accountable to me.” She cast a look at the door. “And I don’t have to worry about nonsense like that, the on-again, off-again crap that some people go through. It’s easier to stay off the carnival ride in the first place.”

“And miss all the exhilaration?”

“Is that what you’re looking for? Exhilaration?”

“What can it hurt?” Even as he asked, he knew the answer. He wanted more than an occasional date with her. “We get along well. We have interests in common. You want to have sex with me.”

Her lips parted. “Your ego is beyond colossal. Gargantuan, even.”

“True enough,” he agreed. “But tell me I’m right about that, too.”

“I…”

“At least give me honesty, Zee.”

“You’re wanting something with no expectations?”

“Why not?” he responded easily, wondering who was being dishonest now. What he wanted was a place to start.

“Yes. I wanted to have sex with you.”

“Wanted to?” he asked. “Or want to?”

“Want to.”

“I’ll drive you home.”

“I didn’t mean right now,” she protested.

“When I want something, I think about it, figure out the reasons, decide whether or not it’s worth the investment of time and energy. If the answer is yes, I go after it with single-minded purpose.”

She rubbed her elbow.

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise, that I’ll take care of you, that I won’t take you for granted.”

Blurb for Claim:

This is book two in the Bonds series, see the full series listing here

It had to be her. He won’t be satisfied until he claims her.

Kennedy Aldrich has perfected the art of dodging any romantic entanglement that will lead to marriage. That is until he sees Mackenzie Farrell at a BDSM gathering.

When they meet, he’s entranced by her intelligence and submission, not to mention her stunning good looks. For the first time, he has met a woman who captivates his interest on every level, someone he wants to share his life with.

Mackenzie is overwhelmed by Kennedy’s attentions. A failed marriage taught her to distrust men, and she’s vowed never to walk down the aisle again.

It takes all her resolve to resist the devilishly handsome Dominant. After all, the whole world knows of his legendary reputation with women. Every feminine instinct warns that this man will demand more than she can offer.

But she hasn’t counted on Kennedy’s determination to claim her and prove that love is worth any risk.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of anal play.

Like the sound of Claim? Buy it here.

About Sierra Cartwright:

INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING AUTHOR

Sierra Cartwright was born in Manchester, England and raised in Colorado. Moving to the United States was nothing like her young imagination had concocted. She expected to see cowboys everywhere, and a covered wagon or two would have been really nice!

Now she writes novels as untamed as the Rockies, while spending a fair amount of time in Texas…where, it turns out, the Texas Rangers law officers don't ride horses to roundup the bad guys, or have six-shooters strapped to their sexy thighs as she expected. And she's yet to see a poster that says Wanted: Dead or Alive. (Can you tell she has a vivid imagination?)

Sierra wrote her first book at age nine, a fanfic episode of Star Trek when she was fifteen, and she completed her first romance novel at nineteen. She actually kissed William Shatner (Captain Kirk) on the cheek once, and she says that's her biggest claim to fame. Her adventure through the turmoil of trust has taught her that love is the greatest gift. Like her image of the Old West, her writing is untamed, and nothing is off-limits.

She invites you to take a walk on the wild side…but only if you dare.

You can find Sierra on Facebook, follow her on twitter and check out her page on Tumblr.

Enter Totally Bound’s competition for the chance to win a copy of Claim and two books from Sierra’s backlist:

Totally Bound Competition Link