Sunday Share: Deadly Obsession, by Kristine Cayne + Giveaway

Welcome Kristine Cayne! Thank you for being here and sharing an excerpt and ebook giveaway of Deadly Obsession.

DEADLY OBSESSION, by Kristine Cayne

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heat Level: Spicy

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

EXCERPT:
“Lift your outside knee and anchor your leg with your foot.” Lauren checked the scene through the camera lens. Then she adjusted the position of his raised knee, angling it toward the edge of the bed.

Although her touch was light, Nic’s skin burned where her hand wrapped around his knee. He wanted her to slide her fingers higher ….

Rein it in, lover boy. With the stalker breathing down his neck, jealous of the women around him, the timing couldn’t be worse. He wanted to get to know Lauren, not get her killed.

Oblivious to her effect on him, Lauren backed away. “Perfect. Now raise your right arm and grab the headboard.” She reached into one of her cargo pockets. “I’m going to hand you a knife. Hold it in your left hand and place the blade flat on your left thigh.”

“Lorna dear, is that really necessary?” Vivian asked, her voice coated with high-fructose corn syrup.

Lauren made a face. “The shot won’t work without the knife.”

Nic glanced at Vivian and frowned. “Lauren knows what she’s doing. She’s a professional.”

Vivian flashed him a broad smile, then turned to Lauren. “Of course she is, darling.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice like venom from a viper’s fangs.

“Viv, play nice.” She wanted the best for him, but if she didn’t tone it down, she’d ruin the shoot.

Lauren unsheathed a long silver bayonet and handed it to him. As he followed her instructions, she checked the composition of the shot. A frown marred her forehead.

“I’m not getting this right, am I?” he asked.

“Almost. But the knife needs to be higher.” As she leaned over his shoulder, she very slowly slid her hand along his leg, pulling his hand higher until the blade lay diagonally along his upper thigh, pointing to his groin. He sucked in a breath. His muscles quivered under the warmth of her hand, so close to where he wanted it to be. “I won’t hurt you,” she said in her low sexy voice.

“Too late for that, ma chère.” He groaned at the thought of her hand on him.

Her face coloring, she snatched her hand back and returned to her camera. “Perfect,” she said, taking shots from different angles. Out of nowhere, a wave of exhaustion crashed over him. He yawned widely and his eyelids drooped. “Hey, Nic. You okay?”

“Just tired. Vivian, could you get me some more coffee?”

“Whatever you need, darling,” Vivian said as she refilled his cup. “How much longer will this take, Lorna?

Rolling her eyes, Lauren turned to Nic. “Just a few more shots, then we’re done.” She walked around the bed. “Lie on your side, please.”

Grinning, he grabbed the pillow and placed it under his head as if settling down for the night. Now that was an idea. He was so damn tired.

“Maybe you could rest your elbow on the pillow and hold your head up?”

Trying to get some more hands-on action, he placed his hand behind his neck, crooking his head back at an awkward angle. When she shook her head, Nic swallowed a laugh. She set her camera on the nightstand and tugged on his shoulder to pull it forward. He resisted and, when she let go, rolled onto his back. Eyes closed, he lay there, waiting.

Lauren shook his shoulder. “Nic.”

He opened his eyes and met her concerned gaze. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d spent most of the night watching TV, but still…

He’d never fallen asleep on the job.

A loud commotion in the hallway startled him. Heart pounding, he jack-knifed in the bed. The door flew open and slammed against the wall. Without waiting to see who it was, he jumped up and pulled Lauren back. With the bed between her and the door, he pushed her to the floor. If the assailant had a gun, she’d be safe. Feet apart, fists clenched, he turned to face the intruder.

Relief crashed over Nic when he recognized several members of the paparazzi squeezing into the room. He helped Lauren to her feet. Her eyes were glazed with confusion. Coming here without a bodyguard had been more than stupid; it had been irresponsible. The reporters would wonder why he’d reacted so aggressively, and he absolutely didn’t want them to catch wind of his troubles with the stalker. He owed it to Vivian to turn this near fiasco into a photo op.

There was only one solution. With a resigned sigh, he pulled Lauren close, crushing her breasts against his chest.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she hissed. “I’m not one of your Paparazzi Girls.”

She wasn’t happy, but what could he do? Nic The Lover always found a Paparazzi Girl when cameras were around. His gaze darted between her and the photographers. He arched a brow.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do it.”

He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm… cherry—his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn’t hesitate.

He dove in. And drowned.

He’d meant this to be a quick kiss, only he couldn’t stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.

A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he’d been nuzzling Lauren’s apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to f*** off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He’d pay for this f***-up and so would she.

(Excerpt from Deadly Obsession copyright © 2012 Kristine Cayne)

~*~

Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.

Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

Deadly Obsession is available in print and/or e-book format at the following retailers:

Amazon ebook (http://amzn.com/B006SP32Q0)

Amazon print (http://amzn.com/0984903402)

Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006SP32Q0)

Barnes and Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-obsession-kristine-cayne/1108117594?ean=2940013699441&itm=1&usri=deadly+obsession+cayne)

Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/119155)

All Romance eBooks (http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deadlyobsession-668769-149.html)

Kobo (http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Deadly-Obsession/book-NknqJYU8LECdKUfPmCdabA/page1.html)

iTunes USA: USA: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9780984903412

Where to find Kristine Cayne:

New Releases List: (http://site.kristinecayne.com/Newsletter.html) or (https://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor?sk=app_100265896690345)
Website/blog at (htttp://www.kristinecayne.com)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor)
Twitter (http://twitter.com/KristineCayne)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428452.Kristine_Cayne)

Awesome excerpt, Kristen!  Thank you very much for being here! Readers don't forget to comment and leave your email contact for your chance to win an ebook copy of Deadly Obsession. Kristen will pick a winner on Wednesday.

Have a wonderful week!

Stacey Joy Netzel