Will she be taken to task or get away with acting like the spoiled brat she is?
Candace McKenzie did everything she could think of to sabotage her brother Chas’ wedding to Babe, a little nobody who came from nowhere. If it was going to embarrass Babe, Candy was all in. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, the marriage went on as planned. Now, certain people think Candy should pay the price for her actions.
Mark Schaller grew up with Chas and remembers Candy as his little tag along sister. He has also watched her grow up into a beautiful woman with an entitled attitude. When he takes her home after Chas’ wedding, sparks fly. He couldn’t be more surprised when he decides to take her in hand, Candy’s life will change forever.
This is book three in the Sassy Girls series but can be enjoyed independently.
Publisher’s Note: This contemporary romance features humor, sensual scenes and power exchange. If these offend you, please do not purchase.

Excerpt:
“Now there’s something you don’t see every day,” Mark Schaller remarked as he walked up the sidewalk toward the reception hall. “It has legs, well feet, but there doesn’t appear to be a head.”
“Kind of looks like a giant floating marshmallow,” Jeb, one of his best buddies agreed with a smirk. “Wonder who’s under there.”
“Shut the hell up and help me,” the marshmallow demanded as she tripped on a small crack. “I can’t even see where I’m going,” she hissed loudly as she recovered her balance.
“Gee, I don’t know,” Mark drawled, pausing and rubbing his chin. “It sounds a lot like Candace, and if it is this is no more than she deserves. After all, from what I’ve been told she’s the one who picked out that white monstrosity. What do you think, Jeb? Do we help her?”
“Well, Chas is our friend and it wouldn’t do to let his little sister smother, and that could happen if she falls,” he pointed out thoughtfully, “especially on his wedding day. It would sort of ruin the whole occasion, don’t you think?”
“Are you two imbeciles going to help me or stand around running your mouths?” Candace demanded in a frustrated and heavily muffled voice. One visible foot stomped.
“I guess we’d better,” Mark finally said with a sigh.
“Not that she deserves it,” Jeb added, reaching out to pluck the heavy bridal gown out of Candace’s arms. “Imagine putting a little thing like Babe in a dress that weighs more than she does. It was spiteful of you, Candy and just plain mean!”
“Yes, it was,” Mark agreed as he gathered up the dragging fabric and followed Jeb. “Does your brother realize what you’ve done?” he asked over his shoulder as they moved toward Candace’s blue Mercedes.
Candy remained quiet and popped the trunk open on her vehicle.
“I can see that he doesn’t, but he soon will,” Mark promised as he and Jeb stuffed the dress into the back end of the car. “You’ve been a class A brat about the wedding, and what’s worse you acted like you were oh so helpful and supportive. What’s your problem with Babe anyway?” he asked sternly as he straightened up and closed the trunk lid.
“I don’t have a problem with her,” Candy snapped back.
“You’re lying. For some reason, you don’t like her, either that or you’re jealous that you’re not the apple of your brother’s eye anymore, Babe is,” he suggested smoothly.
“That’s not true,” she insisted. “Chas loves me, he always has, and he’d do anything I asked,” she continued, her face flaming.
“Except maybe walk away from the women he loves,” Mark pointed out. “By the way, what’s Babe wearing now that she’s shed of this thing?” he asked giving a short, disgusted wave toward her car as they headed back to the reception hall at a brisk pace.
“Marla bought her a dress,” Candy sneered. “All the way from Paris,” she continued in a sing-song voice, “and made by a famous designer she patronizes. Her Majesty outdid herself this time, most likely trying to one-up me again.”
“It’s not hard to do,” Jeb inserted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Candy demanded. Stopping to turn on him, she planted her hands on her hips.
“Well, you’ve done a dozen little things to sabotage this wedding, all quietly of course and behind the scenes. Marla was on to you from the first, she’s good at spotting that sort of thing; it’s right up her alley,” he said with a chuckle. “Thankfully, she did everything she could to minimize the damage. In fact, I think you’ll be quite surprised by the subtle changes she’s made to your reception plans.”
“How do you know all this?” she asked with a red-faced gasp.
“Crunch is pretty proud of her; he likes to brag,” Mark replied with a grin, referring to Pete Benedict another good friend and a local deputy sheriff.
“Marla’s a snake and always has been,” Candy hissed.
“So one viper recognizes another?” Jeb asked coldly.
Candace didn’t answer. She swiveled on her heels and rushed toward the hall.
Mark and Jeb followed slowly.
“Do you think we said too much?” Jeb asked.
“No, she had it coming and more. That little brat needs someone to rein her in. Chas has babied her since the day she was born and if he’s not careful she’ll be a constant interference in his marriage. I hope her antics today wake him up.”
“You’re not interested in her, are you?” Jeb asked curiously.
Mark snorted.
“Are you kidding? Whoever takes her on will most likely live to regret it. Oh, she’s pretty enough, but she comes with too much drama and she’s spoiled rotten. Besides, I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize my friendship with Chas.”
“What could you possibly do that would affect your friendship?”
“I imagine if I gave that meddlesome little brat the spanking she deserves, Chas wouldn’t take it too kindly.”
“Why not? He spanks Babe when she needs it,” Jeb replied in surprise.
“Sisters and wives are two different breeds. While Chas has no problem taking Babe to task when necessary. He might not feel the same way about someone taking his sister in hand no matter how badly she deserves it. After all, to my knowledge, he’s never taken her over his knee even when she got into that huge mess in college and ended up getting expelled. It cost him a small fortune to keep her name out of the paper.
“No, I’m steering clear of that particular female. I’ve sort of got my eye on Josie from the diner,” he admitted. “She’s sweet.”
“And comes with a ready-made family,” Jeb pointed out. “Not to mention there’s an ex-husband floating around and she appears to be afraid of him. Are you sure you want to step into the middle of that mess?”
“No, I’m not sure, just keeping my options open. Come on, let’s go and toast Chas and his new bride,” Mark said opening the heavy glass door.
“Sounds good to me. Jeanine had to work so I’m on my own today. I plan to have one hell of a good time. I even got my beard trimmed for the occasion,” Jeb said with a wicked grin as he tugged on his full red beard. “Lead on McDuff.”

Candy's Comeuppance is now available on Amazon.

Mail-order mayhem…

Captivated by the idea and freedom of mail-order marriage, Amelia heads west to marry. Horrified to discover that her new husband had proposed to so many women before her, she sends a letter to her friends back home, telling them of her dreadful mistake.

Grace and Effie set out to rescue her in Seattle, even if that means finding themselves in a heap of trouble and being chased down by a Pinkerton.

Join Amelia, Grace, Effie, Suzanna and Martha in this complete collection of the Marriage Market series. Fall in love again and again with each couple as they experience commitment, love, loyalty, and a firm hand over the knee!

Publisher’s Note: This steamy Old West romance contains elements of domestic discipline.

Amelia
Fresh out of Mrs. Pettigrew's School for Young Ladies, Amelia Westcott and her two best friends are ready for adventure.  Suddenly a life filled with social obligations and meaningless gossip seems unappealing.  On a whim the girls investigate the phenomena of young women heading west to marry, and Amelia is captivated by the freedom such a decision offers.
Hugh Jordon needs a wife.  The severe shortage of women in the Pacific Northwest makes advertising for a bride seems reasonable. As long as he finds a wife who is the exact opposite of his tempestuous mother, he’ll be well satisfied. Studying the applicants, he chooses one that seems to best fit his needs, and delegates his head clerk with the critical task of sending polite rejections to the others. Unfortunately, most of them never get the letter Hugh anticipated and soon the brides descend, all expecting to marry the same man!
 Amelia is horrified, and realizes that the adage "marry in haste, repent at leisure" has never been more true. How could he do that to her? What sort of man was he, to propose to so many women? She simply must have their wedding annulled and return to Massachusetts at once.
Hugh has other ideas. In his opinion, the perfect place for his bride to learn about faith, loyalty and commitment is in his home and over his knee!

Grace
Grace Wentworth and Effie Lane are cautiously optimistic when their dear friend Amelia decides to travel west to become the bride of a man she’s never met. Despite their misgivings, they’re stunned when Amelia writes to inform them she’s made a dreadful mistake in marrying Mr. Jordon. Determined to rescue her dear friend from the clutches of a scoundrel, Effie makes plans to leave for Seattle immediately. Grace plans to follow when she can escape the ever watchful eye of her mother.
However, everything changes when Grace is forced to accept the proposal of a cruel and violent man. Suddenly, her mother’s wrath doesn’t even compare with what she would face as Horace Remington’s wife. Throwing all caution aside, she flees with Effie, even knowing her mother will most likely hire a Pinkerton man to find her – which she promptly does.
She just never expected to fall for him.
For Jonah Blackthorn, apprehending a runaway socialite seems like an easy assignment. Locating two young, inexperienced women should take him no time at all, and the five thousand dollar reward offered by the frantic fiancé will go a long way, as Jonah has plans to leave the agency and begin a new chapter in his life.
What he doesn’t plan on is being outwitted by the brats – or the fact that Effie Lane isn’t relying on her wits alone to get them safely to Seattle. He also didn’t expect to come to care for the redhead traveling with her gun-toting friend. When he finally catches up with them, he’s going to give Grace the spanking of a lifetime – or kiss her senseless. Maybe both.

Effie
Euphemia Lane had a feeling from the get go that Samuel Jordon was going to give her trouble. In his rude letter, he threatened to spank and disarm her should she show up in Seattle with her pistols. However, his warning doesn’t deter Effie from her mission. Come hell or high water, she and Grace are determined to travel to Seattle to rescue their friend, Amelia. How was she to know that Amelia’s letter was a huge mistake or that Horace Remington would follow them and nearly kill her? And there was no way she could have anticipated what would happen once she and Grace arrive at the Jordon home.
Never would she have imagined that she would receive her very first spanking at the hands of her nemesis. It was galling to say the least, and to top it all off, he relieved her of her pistols after she destroyed a treasured family heirloom and shot Horace. Now she is in Sam’s protective custody until the Marshal determines she had acted in self-defense. The problem seems to be: who is going to protect her from Sam?
Samuel Jordon is so angry when Marshal Cole Hadley sticks him with Miss Lane that he sees stars. In his opinion, she is a sassy-mouthed witch hiding in a sweet little body. His determination to be firm yet detached lasts all of two days. Who knew one little drop of frosting on one luscious lip would change his life forever? What kind of young woman can turn a well-balanced, confirmed bachelor into a perverted fiend who can’t keep his hands off her?
In this, the third book of her Marriage Market series, Stevie MacFarlane has taken her writing to a new, even more erotic level. If spanking and other explicit content offends you, please do not purchase this story.

Suzanna
Seattle hasn’t been the same ever since dozens of women responded to a letter for a mail-order bride. In the fourth book of the popular Marriage Market series, the mail-order mayhem continues. Suzanna and Charlotte, two southern belles who couldn’t be more different, both answered the same ad seeking a husband.
Raised in a world of wealth and privilege, Suzanna feels entitled and will do anything to get what she wants. Charlotte, sweet and generous, falls in love with the man Suzanna has tricked into marriage. Nothing goes as planned for either of these women, yet somehow they both get what they deserve. It’s complicated.

Martha
Martha Jonas can’t seem to help feeling a bit sorry for herself. Ever since the accident that nearly took Euphemia and Suzanna from them, the men are more determined than ever to assert their authority. Even her gentle Ethan, the man she plans to marry, has put his foot down, telling her what she must and must not do. It’s appalling! The very idea that, as her husband, the big Swede would feel justified – no, worse than that – entitled to pull her over his lap and smack her bottom when she displeases him is simply too much to bear.
Perhaps she won’t marry at all. Yes, she is on the other side of twenty-five, but she’s also smart, talented, and turned a tidy profit with her dress shop in Philadelphia before she foolishly replied to that darn advertisement of Hugh’s. He’d wanted a bride… one. He got dozens of offers, which, of course, made the women-hungry men of Seattle happy, but didn’t do much for her. Many of the other applicants were younger, prettier, and often so flighty she wanted to box their ears.
Martha didn’t see herself as silly. An independent woman was not a good match for a dominating man. Not at all, and Ethan was becoming more so by the day. No, she would not marry. The money she had in the bank would help her get started and her friends would help. The new Ladies Aide Society would give her plenty to do outside of her shop and she would dedicate herself to serving those women less fortunate than she, and to shutting down Seattle’s saloons. While Martha was a novice to the Temperance Movement, Clara Webster, another unmarried bride, seemed to know exactly how to proceed.
That, of course, is before all hell breaks loose.
In the space of a few days, everything changes. The men find out about the secret plans for ‘that temperance nonsense.’ They are not amused. Jane’s children go missing on their way west, and their escort turns out to be less than desirable. Dr. Martin is furious. She does not come home that night. Clara Webster falls into the hands of Lucas Armstrong, the owner of The Bucket of Blood, one of the most notorious saloons in Seattle. Mary disappears entirely, and Ethan finally decides he’s had enough of Martha’s wishy-washy attitude toward marriage. With Amelia, Effie, Grace, and Tempest already in trouble and Suzanna off on her honeymoon, Martha works frantically to put everything to rights. Elinore is no help. She has her hands full trying to manage her Mr. Ferguson while he’s determined to keep Ellie from damaging his business. Come along for the ride. Will the last bride bow to convention and accept the love and authority of the man who offers what might be her last chance for wedded bliss?

From The Author:
This series is one of my favorites. It came out of a spark of an idea and took off with a vengeance. One of my favorite characters is Tempest, the matriarch of the Jordon family. Originally her character was going to be a complete bitch, but as I wrote about her, I came to understand her and she developed into a wonderful character who stole my heart and added so much to the story.  She's a remarkable older woman who will make you laugh and have you rooting for her even though she is not one of the brides, but a long-married woman.

Each book has more than the title bride.  There's Molly, who lies about her past.  Jane, an older widow with two children. Alice, a widow with a young daughter who manages to make a difficult journey and still find love.  Charlotte is amazing and catches herself an accidental husband and so many more who will make you laugh and wonder how it will all work out.

So travel back in time, an era where woman had to be tougher than they looked and smarter than they let on.  I hope you enhoy the series.

Hugs,
Stevie

Isn't this guy too cute for words?  I just love having him on my cover and he's perfect to portray Hunter in my new novel, Suzie Q.

It's a sequel to Assignment: Trouble. I had no intention of writing a sequel but after a while I got to thinking, what happened to Hunter?

He's the agent who came to J.R's and Joy's rescue when they were in deep trouble.  I liked him right off. He was such a nice guy and helped out his best buddy even though he was having troubles of his own.  It seems he spanked his girlfriend and well, he didn't really know what he was doing.

I sort of felt bad for him, I mean after all, she was a bit of a handful, but still, a guy shouldn't go ahead and start whacking away on a ladies behind if he has no clue how to go about it.

So he screwed up, big time and it wasn't looking like Suzie Q was going to forgive him any time soon.

Eventually it ate at me long enough.  I had to know if Hunter was able to redeem himself and if Suzie Q was ever going to forgive him, so I had to write their story. 
Anyway, it will be released next week by Blushing Books and I hope you all like it. Gee, he's cute!

Hugs,
Stevie

 I'm happy to announce that on March 22, 2019 my entire Sugar Babies, Inc. series will be available on Kindle Unlimited.
Along with getting a pretty new cover, readers will be able to read all four books.

As an author I think we all have certain favorites and Sugar Babies is one of mine.  I'm prone to write series; there are always other characters popping up as I write clamoring for their own story and that is what happened to me while writing this series.  In fact I've just finished a book, Baby Cakes, that has characters from both the Sugar Babies, Inc. series and The O'Malley series which will be coming out in April 2019.

Truthfully, I doubt you've seen the last of either of these series. The characters sort of hang around in my mind waiting for their turn. Sound a little nuts? Lol. Yeah, it does to me too, but there you have it.

Sugar Babies, Inc. is a set of four complete novels.  Take a peek inside a unique match-making enterprise where you’ll find love comes in all shapes and sizes. It has nothing to do with wealth or position, luck or skill, it simply happens and for the most unlikely people.

A Sweet & Sassy Match
A corporate attorney, Sam made more money than he could spend. Still single, he watched quietly as his associates’ marriages crumbled. It seemed there was always another beautiful gold-digger ready to take whatever the first, second or third wife left up for grabs. He knew there were good women out there. The problem was they worked in coffee shops and school lunchrooms, as bus drivers and mechanics – hardly likely to meet a man who could provide them with security, love and guidance.
And so Sugar Babies was born. Sam resigned his position and set up a matchmaking service. While scouting out a new location for a branch office, he meets Johanna Maxwell. Jo is beautiful, hard-working and everyone's best friend. She’s the one everyone can rely on, but the only person she doesn't take care of is herself. Sam falls hard, but can he convince her that his business is legitimate? More to the point, can he convince her that when he pulls her over his knee, it's out of love?

Excerpt: Johanna and Sam first date
When their waiter came to clear away their plates, Jo asked for another glass of wine.  Sam looked at her in surprise and instructed the waiter to bring them coffee.
“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Sam asked, choosing to ignore, for the moment, Jo’s mutinous expression as she picked up her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“Yes, so?” she asked, pulling out a twenty dollar bill.  “I can buy my own wine, Sam, if it’s a problem.”
“Buying you a glass of wine isn’t a problem, Jo.  The problem would be in sending you home drunk, and you’ve already had three glasses.  Now put your money away and stop trying to push my buttons.  Believe me, you won’t like the results.”
“Push your buttons?” Jo gasped, the slight buzz she had making her voice louder than she intended.
“Yes,” Sam insisted firmly just as the waiter appeared with the coffee.  Sam thanked him and slid Jo’s coffee closer to her.  “Now be a good girl and drink that.  Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing?  You’re curious, Jo.  Wondering about that spank I gave you earlier?  Wondering if I truly mean everything I’ve told you tonight?  You’re thinking only a crazy woman would agree to the kind of dynamics I’ve described.  After all, what woman would want a man so totally devoted to her that he paid attention to every little detail of her life?  What woman would want a man who knew her so well that nothing slipped by him?  If she were upset or angry or hurt, he would know it and do everything humanly possible to help her. 
“A man who would care for her as if she were the most precious thing in his world, because she is.”
Jo squirmed in her seat.  It was clear he meant exactly what he said.  Butterflies danced in her tummy as her heartbeat thumped at her temples.  Her panties were damp and it appalled her.  God, yes, she thought him attractive, but now doubly so.  She couldn’t imagine someone taking care of her for a change, and it was a heady thought and oh so tempting. She actually couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked her what they could do for her.  Had there ever been someone to hold her when she cried, or to reassure her when she was worried or weary?  Her hands trembled as she picked up the coffee cup and obeyed him.  Jo knew she’d had too much to drink, but hadn’t been able to stop herself from ordering another one.  This evening was nothing like she had expected, and she was truly rattled.  After several sips of the strong brew, she pulled herself together.

Excerpt 2: Mike and Brandy
Brandy slowly released the breath she’d been holding and dropped her arms in defeat.  The robe slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.  She didn’t try to cover her breasts or her rounded tummy with her hands, although that’s exactly what she wanted to do.  Instead she stood frozen as twin tears trickled down her cheeks.
Mike put his large hands on her shoulders and steered her to the cheval mirror in the corner.  Standing behind her, he saw the pain she was in and moved her hair, kissing her shoulder and wrapping his arm around her from behind, supporting her.
“Open your eyes, Brandy,” he ordered gently.  “Tell me what you see.”
“I can’t,” she whimpered, the tears now dropping from her chin to her breasts.
“Yes, sweetheart, you can.  Now please do as I ask.”
Brandy opened her eyes, but she couldn’t see anything except a blurred reflection.  Reaching for the tissues, Mike dried her tears.
“Please stop crying and do as I’ve asked.  Be objective and fair.”
Looking at their reflection Brandy finally answered.
“I see an older woman, much older than me, who is soft and flabby and I see a man who is handsome and strong.”
“And what is that man doing, Brandy?”
“He’s looking at the woman, pitying her,” Brandy whispered.
“Brandy, do you need glasses?”
“No,” she sniffed, “just for reading.”
“Let me tell you what I see and then maybe we’ll try again,” he said, holding her eyes in the mirror.  “I see a woman with glistening auburn hair.  She has lovely gray eyes that are shining right now because they are full of tears.  The man holding her is much larger that she is.  The skin of his arm is darker and thicker than hers. Her skin is like porcelain, almost translucent.  She is delicate and fragile and very, very precious to the man.  I can tell this by the gentle way he holds her.”
He picked up her arm and curved it up to his neck holding it there gently.
“See her arm, how softly curved it is?” he asked her reflection.  “It’s made that way so that when she holds him, it is with tenderness.”  Letting it slide slowly back down, he put both arms around her and lifted her breasts.
“See these breasts, how perfectly they are formed?  See how full and supple they are?  Look at the delicate veins that run just below the surface of her pale skin,” he continued, stroking each breast down to the nipple.  “Each nipple hardens under his touch, preparing for his mouth and lips.  The man enjoys how his woman responds to him.  You can see it in his face, his eyes, can’t you?”
“Yes,” Brandy whispered, mesmerized by his tone, by his touch.
“Maybe in time, there will be a child nursing at these breasts, but the man doesn’t care.  He will share the bounty of these beautiful breasts with his child,” he told her, kissing her neck.
Reluctantly, he released her breast and moved his hands lower, sliding them down her sides and over her hips.
“These are her hips.  They are wider than her waist and they give her that cute little wiggle when she walks.  See how smooth the skin is, how they fit perfectly in his hands.  There are bones under there, and they serve their purpose, but he doesn’t need to see them, feel them.  No, they are padded and welcoming when he takes her.”
“This is his home,” he whispered, sliding his hand down her tummy and cupping her womanhood.  “It’s where he lives, where he most wants to be.  It’s warm and wet and so very exciting when he penetrates her.  These thighs are not concave,” he continued, stroking the inside of her thigh.  “They are rounded and comforting when they wrap around his waist, pulling him deeper into her.”  Turning her sideways, he kept one hand cupping her and traced from her shoulder to her back with the other.
“This is her backbone, her spine,” he told her, gently touching each vertebrae.  “Do you think he is counting them when he is plunging into her from behind?”
“No,” she whispered.
“That’s right, he’s not.  He’s looking at the beautiful skin of her back, her softly rounded shoulders, and kissing her neck.  Maybe he will sink his teeth into her shoulder, like a stallion now and then, just to show her who’s boss, but he’s not counting her bones.”
Sliding his hand down farther, Mike cupped her bottom firmly and grinned.
“This is her bottom.  See how full it is?   See the man’s smile when he touches her there?” he asked.  “It gives him great pleasure to be able to touch his woman’s ass.  It’s made for stroking, and kissing and nibbling and sometimes for spanking, and Brandy,” he told her tipping her chin up with one finger.  “That’s exactly what you are going to get if you ever say another bad thing about this beautiful body.”
“Oh, Mike,” she whimpered before turning into his arms and sobbing her heart out. 
Mike held her and rocked her gently in his arms, stroking her back and smoothing her hair. 
 

Match Me If You Dare
Marcus learned two important lessons in life: trust your gut and never hide your true nature. The first made him a best-selling author, and the second kept him single. Dragging his twin brother Ty to a match-making party was a split-second decision. 'Perfect woman' was an oxymoron and if such a creature existed, he wasn't interested. If nothing else, the party might help get a certain redhead out of his head.
The 'Luck of the Irish' eluded Susan, and she didn't expect that to change. Running into Sam Barringer, CEO of Sugar Babies, Inc. on her bike was an accident, but her life quickly changed once she agreed to let Sugar Babies, Inc. find her a match.
Kelsey feels old, ancient at times. Somewhere along the way, all the joy has been sucked out of her. The last traces of her black eye had finally faded. Now if she could find a match who didn't scare her half to death, she just might survive!

Excerpt 1: Susan and Marcus
“I assure you, I can hold my liquor,” Susan replied, flustered and embarrassed.
“And I can assure you, she cannot,” a deep voice spoke from behind her left shoulder at the same time a large male hand settled on her bare nape.
“What the hell,” she growled, turning and locking eyes with the man of her dreams, and her nightmares.  Her eyes traveled from the top of his dark head to the toes of his black boots enjoying every inch in between as she whispered, “Boots.”
“Pardon me?” he asked, amused.
“Nothing,” she shot back.  “I can’t believe there are two of you, as if one wasn’t enough.”
“Marcus,” Ty acknowledged with a nod.
“Ty,” Marcus replied.  “I see you’ve met my little bookstore muse.  Perhaps you’d like to introduce us since I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind.”
“Certainly. This is Miss Susan Shaughnessy, and this is Miss Kelsey Reed.  Kelsey, this is my brother, Marcus.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. McCarthy,” Kelsey replied with a smile, reaching out her hand.
Marcus took it and bending slightly, kissed the back softly, “A pleasure, Kelsey.”
Susan couldn’t help but notice the gentleness with which Marcus treated Kelsey and suppressed a pang of jealousy. Turning back to the bartender, she stood as tall as possible and fixed him with a stare. 
“Still trying to rule the world with a pair of shoes, I see,” Marcus noted, looking down at her feet.
“I am not trying to rule anything,” Susan insisted.  “I like high heels, so sue me.  Now about that drink…”
“There’s dancing out on the veranda.  I think you and I will take a little stroll out there,” he informed her firmly, taking her arm, “and have a little talk.  How tall are you anyway, without those weapons?”
“I’m five feet eight and hardly what you would call short,” she sassed grumpily, forced to go with him or make a scene.
“You’re also a liar.  Now what’s the truth?”
“Okay, if you want to get nitpicky about it, I’m five four.  There, does that make you happy?  Do you have a height fetish or what?” she hissed as he guided her out the French doors.
“As if happens, I do have a fetish, but it has nothing to do with height.  I enjoy spanking naughty young ladies who misbehave.”
“No kidding,” she shot back as he twirled her into his arms and began to move to the slow, soulful music.  “Who would have guessed it, I mean with you being here and all?”
“Funny,” he replied, snagging her closer.  “What brings you to a Sugar Babies party?  You’re obviously not submissive.  Are you hoping to be their first dominant female?” he asked, smiling. Not that she could see it.  She was much too close to watch his face. 
Susan struggled slightly, trying to put a little space between them but he was obviously not having it.  They were pressed together from her thighs to her breasts, so close she could hear his heart beating.  Damn, why did he have to smell so delicious?
“Money,” she answered shortly, finally relaxing in his arms.  There was no point in fighting a losing battle, and Susan did not like to lose.
“Well, at least you’re honest about that,” he murmured into her hair.
“I want you,” he told her simply, as if he had the world by the tail and had only to state his desires to achieve them. 
It was true; she felt him against her belly, hard and apparently unashamed of it.  Truth be told, she was quite wet herself.  Imagine responding to his caveman approach, she thought in surprise. If ever a man needed to be taken down a peg or two, this was that man, she decided. 
“Why me?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.  For some reason this guy was getting to her.  “Why not Kelsey or someone similar?” she asked, genuinely curious. 
“Apart from the obvious?” he asked, as his erection became even more prominent than it had been.
Good grief, she thought, how much bigger would it get?  Sighing, she decided to just enjoy the sensation of being blatantly desired, as tremors rocked her core.
“Yes, apart from the obvious.”
“Kelsey’s a charming little girl and I expect she will need some minor correction from time to time.  She will be compliant for the most part and a sweet little bundle to come home to.  I’m sure my brother is making his move, even as we speak.  Ty’s a gentle man unless something riles him and then he can be a force to be reckoned with, but I doubt Kelsey has the disposition to truly make him angry.  I, however, have a darker side to my nature.”
“Do tell,” she drawled sarcastically.  “Is there more?”
Marcus laughed with a rich deep rumble in his chest that weakened her knees, and she found herself clutching his shoulder. 
“Of course there’s more.  Do you think I’m so shallow that I would pick the first girl who agreed to be spanked?”
“How would I know?  You’re here for exactly that and I’m here for the money.  I think it’s pretty clear what we both want.”
“What a cynic,” he said, shaking his head.  “All right, allow me to elaborate.  There have been a number of women in my bed over the years that enjoyed a little slap and tickle, so to speak.  I want a relationship, a woman who will be a partner.  If I were looking for a one-night stand believe me I could find it or buy it.  No, I want a relationship that is long term.  I am a dominant man, I admit it, and I have no desire to spend months courting a woman who will run screaming to her mama the first time I correct her poor behavior.  It’s best to be upfront and open about what I expect.  I will be the undisputed head of my own home, no exceptions.  My woman will be loved to within an inch of sanity in the bedroom and cherished and protected outside of it as well.  She will also be disciplined as I see fit, if she breaks the rules.  It’s really very simple.”
“I see,” Susan said, with a smirk she made no effort to hide.  In her mind ‘boots’ would last about ten minutes in her bed and she’d have him eating out of her hand.  “So, that brings us back to the original question, why me?”
“To put it delicately, my body responds to yours in a way it hasn’t for another woman in a very long time.  I’ve thought about you constantly since we met in the bookstore.  You’re beautiful, obviously, but more than that you’re sassy and opinionated and quite funny.  With your attitude, I’m sure you will spend a great deal of your time over my knee, which I will enjoy immensely and you will abhor, but that’s as it should be.”
“What if I’m good, very, very good?” she asked, walking her fingers up his chest and looking at him from under her lashes as the music came to a stop.
“I will still spank you, frequently, but it will be a different kind of spanking. But for some reason I can’t picture you being good,” he whispered in her ear.  “Oh there is one other thing,” he told her, straightening.  “You do have a perfect ass.”
“Yes, there is that,” Susan agreed, looking over her shoulder and checking out her butt.
Marcus laughed, wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight against him.  His head lowered and his lips took hers in a kiss so possessive and fierce she was dizzy within a heartbeat.  Gripping his jacket she held on for dear life as the world spun away.  He released her far too quickly and her head dropped weakly to his chest.
“Shit,” she mumbled.
“Exactly,” he replied as he began steering her toward the door.
“Wait,” she cried, tugging him to a stop.  “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a writer. Why? Does it matter?”
“Let me guess?  You write spanking novels,” she grinned.
“I have been known to craft a spanking novel or two, under a pen name, of course.  My main interest as far as my writing goes is Si Fi, although I have written a few suspense and mystery novels.”
“Are you any good at it?”
“I’ve been on the bestseller list a few times; maybe you’ve read something of mine?”
“No, I doubt it.  My tastes run more toward smut,” she quipped.
“Maybe a little discipline will improve your tastes,” he shot back, grinning.
“God, I hope you’re not a literary snob,” she replied.  “I take my smut very seriously and I won’t have you disparaging it.”
“Susan,” Marcus warned, pulling her back into the shadows.
“Yes?” she inquired innocently, snuggling into his arms.
“There is another reason I chose you.   You need me,” he told her, holding her shoulders firmly in his strong hands and looking intently into her eyes.
That intensity touched her and she tried to laugh it off.
“Why? To improve my mind as well as my behavior?” she asked teasingly.  Did she need him?  Possibly.  Would she admit it?  Not likely.
Before he could answer, Sam came to the doorway and called her name.
“Susan, are you out here?  There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”
Marcus walked her out of the shadows, his arm firmly around her waist, hugging her close to his side.
“Too late, Sam,” he informed him smoothly.  “The lady is taken.”
“I see,” said Sam, looking to Susan, who nodded her head almost imperceptibly.  “Well, congratulations then.  I’m happy for you both.  Let me know when you’ve worked out the details and we’ll get busy on a contract.”  Walking closer, he took Susan’s hand and asked her directly.
“Are you sure, Susan?  I worry about you and you are a little impulsive.  You don’t have to decide tonight, you know.”
This was it, she thought.  They’d talked for all of fifteen minutes.  He’d kissed her passionately, soaked her panties and promised her frequent spankings.  She could walk away right now and go meet another man and run the risk of Marcus leaving.  But she couldn’t really.  Something in her heart told her to stay, and she thought she’d seen a shooting star fly across her vision when he kissed her.  Besides, there was that ‘loved to insanity in the bedroom’ part, and she didn’t want to miss that at all.
Susan felt Marcus tense beside her and she slipped her arm around his waist.
“I’m sure,” she answered with a wink.  “We understand each other, don’t we, Marcus?”

Excerpt 2: Kelsey and Ty
Kelsey clung to Ty’s arm in the cool evening air and finally worked up the nerve to speak.
“A doctor, huh?  Does that mean you will want to do kinky medical stuff to me?” she asked, trying to sound calm.  They hadn’t really discussed particulars so she had no idea what he was into. 
“Do you want me to?” Ty countered.
Kelsey had a hard time knowing what to say.  She liked Ty and for some reason trusted him, and if he was into that sort of thing, she would try to please him.  On the other hand, it scared the bejesus out of her.  Finally she decided to be honest.  There was no sense starting off their relationship with lies, other than the one she’d been practicing for that is.
“No, I don’t,” she forced out, waiting for his reply.
“Good, because I’m a vet,” he laughed.
“A vet?” she squealed, slapping his arm.  “You let me fret over it like that and you’re a veterinarian?”
“Kelsey, I know you as well as you know me.  If you have an interest in medical fetishes, I’m sure I can satisfy it.  I wanted to give you the option and see if you were going to be honest with me.”
“I guess I can understand that, and Ty, I want you to be happy, too.  If there is something you want to do, whatever it is, I’ll try.  As long as you’re patient with me I’m willing to keep an open mind.”
“That’s good to know.  I would never intentionally hurt you and I’m an easygoing kind of guy, but you have to know that if you deliberately disobey me or put yourself at any kind of risk, I won’t hesitate to spank you, Kelsey.”
“I know,” she answered so softly he had to bend to hear her. “Ty… are you interested in all that baby stuff?”
“No,” he answered, “you’re enough of a little girl for me just as you are.  I don’t want a two-year-old, unless of course it’s my own child.   Do you want to be babied?”
“Heavens, no! I’ve spent most of my life trying to convince everyone that I’m bigger, stronger, or older than I was.  Even now that I’m legally an adult I still get treated like a child.  That’s what I was most afraid of about Sugar Babies, finding a man who would never let me really grow up.”
“I’m quite a bit older than you, Kelsey, and I can’t promise I won’t baby you to a certain extent.  It’s in my nature to baby anything or anyone smaller or weaker than me, especially if they are sick or injured.  But I will let you grow up and I’ll help you become the beautiful, confident, mature woman you are meant to be.  Do we have a deal?”
“We have a deal, Ty,” she sighed happily, hugging his arm tight and laying her head against him as they walked.   “You don’t know how glad I am that I didn’t chicken out and skip that party.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I do, Sweat Pea,” he replied.
Tag Lines:
"So you did this with the intention of faking an orgasm with me.  You were going to let me think you were enjoying making love when all the time you planned on hating every minute of it?"
"Red," he told her, pausing in his mission and resting his hand on her very hot bottom.  "You are about the most ill-behaved woman I've ever met."
"That's not fair," Sue hissed.  "You picked me because I was 'ill-behaved'!  You wanted someone to spank, admit it."
 
Matched for Keeps
Susan Shaughnessy was down on her luck, but all that is about to change. She just signed a contract with Sugar Babies, Inc., an exclusive matchmaking company, and for the next year she will be under the watchful eye of one Marcus McCarthy, award-winning author and Dom extraordinaire.
Kelsey Reed was shaking in her shoes as she got into the limo. Thank goodness Ty, Kelsey's match and Marcus's twin brother, wasn't as strict as Marcus. Ty is sweet and he smells good, a far cry from the last man who tried to put his hands on her. As a veterinarian, Ty is naturally gentle and caring. If he doesn’t love her, that’s okay. At least for the next year she would have a roof over her head and someone to hold her when she was scared. With her generous allowance, her days of sleeping in the back room at Fat Rusty's Diner with a knife under her pillow are over.

Excerpt: Susan and Marcus
Squaring her shoulders she opened the door, determined to tell him that some things were just off limits.  There was no way he was going to make her crave things she wasn't interested in.  Suddenly she heard the grandfather clock in the great room strike the half hour, its deep tone reverberating through her in warning.
"Shit," she mumbled as she ran down the hall to the stairway.  Susan flew down the stairs at top speed, cursing herself for her weakness.  She got to the door at the same moment Marcus opened it to come looking for her and ran smack into his arms.
"You're late," he observed, taking in her flushed face and panting breaths.  Her hair swirled around her like fire against her pale skin and silky robe.  "Is something wrong?" he asked, gathering up her hair and bringing a shining handful to his face.  "You smell like sugar cookies," he murmured, pulling her closer and smiling.  "So are you running to something or away from something?   Is there a spider I need to remove?" he teased.
Susan stiffened in his arms. "The only spider around here is you," she spat, wiggling out of his arms.
"How so?" Marcus laughed and let her go, leaning against his desk as she scurried to the other side of the room and took up a position behind the sofa. 
 "Don't act so innocent, Marcus.  You know what you're doing to me.  This isn't exactly what I signed on for," she huffed, taking the items out of her pocket and dropping them on the sofa.
"What did you sign on for?  I never misrepresented myself as far as I know.  From the very beginning I told you that my desires were slightly twisted.  Do you feel that I have deceived you?"
"No, it's not that; you were basically honest," she answered, twisting the sash of her robe as she avoided meeting his eyes.
"Then what's the problem?" 
"I guess you're just more than I expected.  I thought there would be a little spanking, a lot of sex and an incredible amount of money." 
"And how is that different than what you received?" he asked, confused.
"It just is," she shot back.  "I didn't figure on liking everything you did to me," she growled, her eyes flashing
"I see," he said as he turned his head away and smiled.  "What would you like me to do?" he asked, facing her again.  "Do you want me to stop spanking you?"
"Would you?"
"No.  How about the sex?  Do you want me to stop making love to you, or maybe just resort to missionary style in the dark a couple of nights a week?"
"Good grief, no," she shuddered, remembering all the times she'd dumped men for exactly that reason. 
"Well, Red, if you want me to consider your argument, you're going to have to be a little more specific," he informed her.
"I don't know how to put it," she snapped, pacing behind the large leather sofa.  "I feel out of control, needy, on edge or excited all the time.  It's very frustrating for someone like me."
"Go on," he instructed calmly.
"I don't feel like myself anymore, Marcus.  You've changed me somehow, woven a web around me that I can't seem to break out of.  I can't believe the things I think about during the day, waiting for you to come out of your office." 
"Sue, fantasizing about sex is perfectly normal."
"No Marcus, this is way beyond fantasizing.  I get wet the moment you walk into a room.  All you have to do is look at me and my body weeps with need.  Sometimes I even imagine myself doing things that I know you will spank me for.  I'm telling you it's just bizarre," she moaned.  "And now this," she pointed at the toys. 
"Red, I would never force you," he insisted quietly.
"That's the point, Marcus," she cried.  "You wouldn't have to.  You have a way of making me want things I would never have imagined letting anyone do to me.  This is not who I am," she insisted heatedly.  "I am not a submissive woman!"
"Don't I know it," he laughed. 
"Marcus, this is not funny.  It's shaken the very core of who I thought I was and it's scary as hell," she said, her fists clenched at her sides.

Ty and Kelsey:
Kelsey actually got away without a spanking.  She was so happy, she giggled all the way to their room and Ty didn't have the heart to spoil her good time.  Yes, she'd acted a little wild, but he should have known better than to let her go off with that redheaded vixen.  As soon as they got to their suite she collapsed on the sofa and held out her hand, admiring her ring.
"Gosh, Ty, in a few hours we'll be married and I'll be Mrs. Ty McCarthy," she said grinning from ear to ear.  "I can hardly believe it.  If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up."
Ty tossed his jacket over the chair and sat down beside her, pulling her feet onto his lap and slipping her heels off.  Gently he massaged her feet as she sighed in delight.
"It's not a dream, sweetie, and you can plan on waking up in my arms every day for the rest of your life, but about tonight…"
"Are you angry, Ty?" she asked, suddenly worried and biting the nail of her index finger.
"I was, at first.  Seeing you on stage with that man made my blood boil."
"So you're not mad anymore?" she sighed in relief as she scooted onto his lap, straddling his hips and undoing his tie.
"No, I guess a girl has a right to cut loose every once in a while. Just don't think you'll be making a habit of it," he warned.  "Besides, I think we gave those women something special to remember about their trip to sin city," he added, grinning.
"That kiss was something special, wasn't it Ty?" she sighed, nibbling on his lips and emitting breathy little puffs.  "I swear I thought I was going to faint right on the spot."
"I would have caught you," he assured her, his hands moving up and down her spread thighs.  "Never worry about that honey.   I'll always be there to catch you if you fall."  Ty's hands moved to grasp her hips and pulled her snugly against his rapidly growing erection.  In about three minutes he would be ready to throw her back on the sofa if she didn't stop grinding her pretty little pussy against him.  It was the words she spoke next that shocked him, scattering his thought like leaves in the wind.
"Ty," she whispered, "If you want to spank me… I mean if you think it would make you feel better, you can," she offered, blushing wildly.  "I know I wasn't exactly 'your angel' tonight."

The Last Match
When Erica asked John Braden to accompany her to Vegas for a wedding, it seemed like a good idea. John was mature, wealthy and harmless – at least, she thought so until he pulled her over his knee. Suddenly the mild-mannered man from Texas didn't seem so uncomplicated. As an administrative assistant for Sugar Babies Inc., she is determined to find John the perfect match, and quickly.

Excerpt: 1
“Look at me, Erica,” he insisted, steepling his fingers as he peered at her.  “I want to know what’s going on between you and John.”
“Nothing’s going on,” she replied, meeting his eyes.  “I didn’t want to go to Vegas with a group of couples and feel like a third wheel, so I asked him to come along.  He’s a nice guy, we had fun, end of story.  He’s a client, just like everyone else.”
“Then would you care to explain why, for the last month, every single match I suggest for him comes back with a negative comment from you on the form?”
“That’s not true,” she defended herself.  “I don’t care who he’s matched with as long as it works out and grows the company.”
“Oh really,” he drawled, picking up a stack of papers and walking around to the front of his desk.  Leaning his tall body against it, he began to review the forms as he recapped her comments, handing her each paper.  “Too young, too old, not a good match, he’s too dominant for her, she wants a daddy, she’s too short, they’ll look ridiculous together; he likes dark hair, she doesn’t want to be spanked or disciplined, she has children and he wants to travel, she wants to top, and my personal favorite, she’s a whiney wimp, he’ll hate that and her hair looks like straw.’  So what gives, Erica?   Why are you deliberately sabotaging John’s chances of finding the right match?  Did he do something to you in Vegas and you want some sort of payback?”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” she insisted, standing and twisting the papers in her hands.  “I just don’t think any of these women are right for him, that’s all.”
“Would you like to drop him as a client?  I like John, know him very well, but if it bothers you to the point you can’t be objective, I’ll call him and explain that right now we are not making any progress and he should feel free to look elsewhere,” he offered, sympathetically placing his hand on her shoulder.
Erica shook his hand off and thrust the papers at his chest.  “No! Absolutely not,” she insisted.  “I’ll set up a meet-and-greet, for two weeks from Friday.  You invite every one of those women,” she said, pointing her finger at the papers in his hand.  “I’ll take care of notifying our clients, including John Braden.  I’m sorry Sam; apparently I let my personal feelings cloud my judgment, which isn’t acceptable.  I will make it my mission to find the perfect match for Mr. Braden, and this will be the best party we’ve ever had,” she promised before turning to leave the room.  She barely managed to close the door without slamming it.
Sam smiled and shook his head.  He had a feeling Erica would indeed find John’s perfect match, and he didn’t think she’d have to look too hard, if she would only open her own eyes.
Excerpt: 2
Leaving her office, she went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and retrieved her messages from the receptionist.  Sinking into her chair, she finally noticed the small box on her desk.  As she reached for it, she was surprised to see her hands shaking slightly.  Wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt, she picked it up and pulled the tiny bow.  Inside was a gold engraved charm, with ‘Lil Sweetheart’ written on the heart in flowing script, the curling letters entwined with etched flowers.  The delicate gold chain was quite long, she noticed, before setting it down and picking up the embossed card.  ‘The chain is long Darlin’ so you can wear it under your clothes and nestled between your breasts.  No one will ever see it,’ JB.
She was quiet for a long time, the necklace dangling from her fingers, the charm twirling gently as sunlight reflected off the gold.  Damn you JB, she thought, as she wiped away the tear that silently slipped down her cheek.  This was too much!  This was a gift a loving father or a doting uncle would give to his daughter or niece!  So why did she feel so sad, so lost?  No one had ever given her something so personal, so emotionally gut-wrenching. 
She wasn’t a Lil’ Sweetheart!  Had never been anyone’s little sweetheart!  She was hard and cold and focused.  She was ruthless in her quest to make her own way without depending on anyone.  What did this man see in her that would make him think she would appreciate a gift of this nature?  She wasn’t a child; in fact she’d never had a childhood and she didn’t want one now.  Her early life had consisted of being passed from one miserable foster home to another.  She had vague memories of a little sister, but she couldn’t be sure they were even accurate.  By the time she was old enough and well off enough to think about searching for her, she no longer cared.  
What did it matter anyway?  It was all in the past, water under the bridge and all that crap.  No, she was a survivor, she thought, wiping away another tear.  She’d be damned if any man made her spend even one minute thinking about what could have been.
The knock on her door startled her, and she quickly shoved the box in her trash and slipped the necklace over her head, the charm cold between her breasts.
“Come in.”

 
Author Bio:
Best-Selling author Stevie MacFarlane has been writing in her spare time for more than twenty years.  It wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to submit some of her work to Blushing Books.  Since then she has been a nominated for several awards and has frequently hit Amazon’s list of Most Popular Erotic/BDSM authors. While most of her stories are on the sweet side, she never fails to add just enough kink and humor to keep her loyal fans clamoring for more. 
Stevie lives in rural upstate New York.  She loves hearing from readers and you can write to her at steviemacfarlane@aol.com