Recently Sirens Call Publications released it’s first romance/erotic anthology titles He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. True to form, we’re going to bring you guest posts from most of the authors who contributed stories, letting them share the inspiration behind what they wrote. Next up, we have Stephanie Nett who wrote Ruby.
Stephanie is a single mother with two children aged 12 and 2. She loves to write as well as read genres of all kinds. She recently started her own business Gemini Moon Media (geminimoonmedia.com) where she promotes and reviews media of all kinds as well as the actors, writers, musicians, and artists that create the media. In the near future, she will begin interviewing as an added way to promote their works. Look for more from her in the future as she is constantly writing. Stephanie can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
A Few Words on Ruby: Inspiration
I have been sitting here trying to think of what the inspiration behind Ruby was. In a way, it was a story that just came to me. I caught the open call for submissions the day it was due and spent the next six hours just writing what flowed from my mind. I had a man in my head who fit the description of him and Ruby was someone I have been before, having had a few “friends with benefits” encounters over the years. None of them ended the way Ruby did. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. I always found myself wondering what I did to drive the person away. I realized after writing Ruby that it was never entirely my fault. It just wasn’t the right time or place for a relationship to develop.
Now that I’m older and a bit more mature, I am not even sure I would ever enter into a relationship like Ruby had. My heart is a bit more fragile now. But that doesn’t mean I don’t dream of a man falling head over heels in love with me and realizing he couldn’t live without me. Perhaps that is just the vision of the knight in shining armor every little girl dreams of.
Seeing Ruby in print gave me inspiration to write more of what I feel and of what I dream. Someday, there may be a sequel or a prequel ready. I am a single mother of two (a 13 year old son and a 3 year old daughter) so my time to write can be limited. But inspiration can hit at any time.
***
All little girls, and some little boys, know the game He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. Each one who plays hopes to end on the He Loves Me petal. But how many of us really find that perfect mate? That one partner who will love us unconditionally for the rest of our lives? How many of us really live the dream, and how many live through the heartbreak of ending on the He Loves Me Not petal?
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is an anthology of ten stories told from ten different perspectives on love and romance. Some have happy endings, while others end in tears, on a note of desperation, or even a new beginning. A few of the stories are fantasies come true, some steamy encounters of wanton lust, and others still are tales of woe – but the one thing they all have in common – they answer the age old question; does he love me, or does he not?
Featuring:
North Star – Rhiannon Fox
Glynnis – Julianne Snow
The Headless Ladies – Brenda Moguez
Keeping Distance – Alex Chase
Don’t Call Me When He Tries To Kill You – Kerry G.S. Lipp
Freefall – Kate Monroe
Living in the Shades – Vincent Ashcroft
Ruby – Stephanie Nett
Control – Ara Lynn
Railroaded – O.M. Grey
Purchase Links:
Amazon: US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India, Mexico
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And now it’s time for an excerpt…
Why did I do this to myself? Why, when I knew what I truly wanted, did I let him take advantage of me? It wasn’t as if we were in love. He would disappear for months at a time; I wouldn’t hear from him until one day he would text me saying he needed to see me. And, of course, I would let him come over.
I stared at the ceiling, listening to his quiet breathing next to me. My body quivered from the memories of his touch, my skin tingled, my loins ached. I wanted more; I wanted him. But I knew when he woke up, he would say goodbye and go back to his life, leaving me wanting and waiting for the next call.
He wasn’t the most handsome man, but, in his own way, he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His sense of humor made him even more attractive. What kept me wanting him the most was the way he could ignite the fire inside me with just his touch.
My mind raced as my body throbbed. The heat from his body almost left me breathless. I wanted to touch him but I didn’t want to wake him just yet. Because, if he woke that meant he would be leaving soon after. Sighing, I closed my eyes and let the memories take over.
***
The text message came early the afternoon before; earlier than it normally did. It surprised me when I read it. He had been in town the last couple of days and finally had some free time. He wanted to see me. I knew what he wanted and seeing me wasn’t on that list. He wanted the hot, passionate sex he could only find with me.
As my heart raced, I spent too much time getting ready to see him. I bathed, primped and pampered myself to show him just what he’d been missing all those months. The dress I chose to wear accentuated my tiny waist and my firm breasts. He told me once he liked my breasts. So what better way to remind him what he’d been attracted to when he first met me.
I very slowly pulled on thigh-high stockings and the matching panties and bra I chose. If only I didn’t spend so much time on my appearance when I saw him, maybe he’d have just left after our first couple of times together.
With my hair styled and the makeup carefully applied, I sat back to wait. It wasn’t long before my doorbell rang. Casually, I stood from my chair and brushed down the front of my dress. Even though we’d had numerous encounters in the past, I was still nervous. It happened every time I saw him. I think, maybe, I was in love with him. But I knew it would never happen. I don’t think he felt the same way about me.
I opened the door with a smile. Damn, there he was, standing on my front step. I had to lean against the door frame to keep from falling. I said nothing, only moved to the side to let him in. He said nothing in return as he slipped past me, barely brushing against my arm. Taking a deep breath as I gathered my bearings, I turned to follow him.
He moved down my hall to my bedroom. No words had yet been spoken. Nothing needed to be said. I knew what he wanted. He turned to me in the bedroom and just stood there. I reached behind me and slid the zipper down on my dress, letting it fall to the floor. My chest heaved as he let his eyes drift down over me. I’d worn my best lingerie knowing it was his favorite.
Don’t forget to join us tomorrow to learn about the inspiration behind Living in the Shades by Vincent Ashcroft!
The Sirens Song 