Holiday Event: Author Laura Kaye (Guest Post/Giveaway)

The fabulous romance author, Laura Kaye, is joining us today for our Holiday Event with a few delicious excerpts and if those don't make you hungry then she has a yummy sugar cookie recipe as well! Please give Laura a warm welcome...

Thanks so much to Crystal for hosting me here today to participate in this fun holiday event! I’ve realized I tend to give my characters something of a sweet tooth, so since I’m sharing a recipe for my iced sugar cookies (down below), I thought I’d share a short excerpt from some of my favorite food-related scenes:

ONE NIGHT WITH A HERO:

Brady eyed the remaining pieces of waffle and debated. He’d need to add another mile or two to his run if he loaded up on any more carbs. But, damn, it just might be worth it. He was pretty sure he could live on this meal for the rest of his life and die a happy man. “Fine. Twist my arm.” He grabbed a quarter piece this time and loaded it with syrup and berries. He tilted the can of whipped cream, but nothing came out. Shaking it, he couldn’t feel anything inside. “I think it’s empty.”

“Really? I thought that one was new. Here.” She rose and grabbed the can, then shook it next to her ear. “That’s weird.” She pressed her finger against the white nozzle twice, but nothing happened. “I’ll get a new one.” She pressed it again. Built-up whipped cream shot out in a long, fluffy stream and sprayed across her cheek, neck, and hair. She yelped.

Time froze for a long instant as Brady memorized the image of Joss covered in whipped cream, her eyes and mouth wide. Then, miraculously, he burst out laughing. Deep belly laughs racked him until he had to push his chair back from the table and grasp his stomach. Her face went bright red. She narrowed her eyes and scowled at him, but even that was funny because of the whipped cream hanging off the corner of her eyelashes.

“Sorry. I’m sorry,” he choked. He handed her a napkin. “Here.” She ripped it from his hand, setting him off again.

Something cool hit him in the forehead.

His laughter died in his chest and he gaped up at her as whipped cream sagged across his eye.

And then he was in motion.

Brady dove for her and she screamed and bolted into the kitchen.

He grabbed her around the waist and hiked her against him. “Gimme that,” he growled, reaching around for the can.

“No,” she squealed through her laughter. A stream of whipped cream covered his arm.

“You little…” He made another grab and ended up with a handful of soft, warm breast. His cock came alive against her squirming body.

She gasped and attempted to twist away, sending off another stream of whipped cream that landed in both of their hair. They were laughing and panting so hard their words were more gibberish than not. Funny as it was, there was no denying that his body was also reading something else into their horseplay.

Something that involved cleaning her off with his tongue.

He swiped his thumb across her breast and groaned at the feeling of her rigid nipple pushing against the cotton that separated them. “Joss,” he groaned, pushing his hips into her lower back.

She moaned and ground back.

He’d so not intended this. But, damn.

His mouth found a line of cream on her neck and sucked. Delicious. Her natural taste and scent of peaches mixed with the sugar to create an absolutely irresistible treat. “Even sweeter now.” Her head sagged back against his shoulder and the feeling of her melting into him made his jeans painfully tight. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered before dragging his tongue through the cream on her jaw.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

NORTH OF NEED:

Bowl in hand, Owen sank into the opposite corner of the couch. He waited until she had her first spoonful, then dug into the ice cream with fervor. He tasted a little of each. The flavors exploded on his tongue, the cold creaminess filled him with strength. Gods, between the coldness and the sweetness, he couldn’t get enough. He looked up when Megan chuckled. “What?”

“I take it the ice cream is a hit?”

Damn, what he wouldn’t do to see more of that smile, reserved as it was. “So good.” He stretched closer and peered in her bowl. “Is that the peach?”

She nodded and spooned the cream between her lush pink lips.

His spoon sagged in his hand as he watched. He stifled a groan when she licked her lips and he added another attribute to his newfound favorite dessert: dangerous. Because it made him want to throw his peach ice cream away in favor of tasting it from her tongue.

He looked down into his bowl and decided to save the peach for last. So he could savor the same flavor coating the inside of her mouth.

Once he refocused on the ice cream, he became a man on a mission. He plowed through the mint, then the chocolate chunk, then the chocolate chip cookie dough—ice cream and cookies together? He was powerless to stop the little moans that escaped his throat as he ate.

Between the dessert and his company, he was in heaven. Well, heaven on earth.

And, oh gods, the peach ice cream was the sweetest sin. The thought that this was what she tasted like, right now… He had to shift in his seat.

WEST OF WANT:

Ella reached up into her junk food stash and grabbed the bag of plain M&Ms. “How about some M&M pancakes?” She hadn’t made them in forever, but Marcus had always loved them.

“I’ve never had them.”

“M&Ms?”

“No.”

Ella froze. “So, wait, you’ve never had pancakes or M&Ms? What do they feed you guys up there, or…you know, wherever?”

He shrugged. “Food is bountiful where I live.”

“Maybe, but no M&Ms is a huge oversight.” She crossed the room to him and fished two out of the bag. Green ones, naturally.

“You need to file a complaint with the management. Open.” That odd but utterly sexy light flared up behind his eyes. She grinned when his lips parted. She placed them on his tongue, purposely letting her fingers brush his bottom lip when she pulled away.

He chewed and his eyes went wide.

“More?”

He nodded.

She grabbed a few more and held them out to him. He opened his mouth. Her heart kicked up as she fed him again. “Good, right?”

“They’re crunchy, and then they’re soft.”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

He dug his big hand into the bag, then his heated gaze cut to her. “Open.”

Ella licked her lips and opened them. He brought the candy to her mouth and she wrapped her lips around his fingers, totally relishing the desire that colored his face. He pulled his fingers away. She’d barely swallowed before he was on her, his lips pressed against hers, his tongue begging for entrance. She opened and welcomed him in. Oh. God. He tasted of chocolate and spice. The combination pulled the rug out from under her and she had to grip onto his biceps to counter the spinning of the room.

After a long moment, he pulled away. “I like M&Ms.”

Laura’s Iced Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg—beat until light and fluffy

4 teaspoons milk

2 cups sifted flour

1.5 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

For Icing: confectioner (powdered) sugar, milk, vanilla, food coloring—ratio of sugar to milk will vary depending on desired consistency

Instructions:

Cream shortening and sugar together thoroughly in medium bowl. In separate large bowl, stir together vanilla, egg, and milk; sift flour, baking powder, and salt together and then blend in. Add sugared shortening mixture to flour mixture. Mix thoroughly. Divide dough in half, cover with wet paper towel, and chill for one hour. If dough seems dry when you remove from refrigerator, you can add a little milk before rolling. Roll 1/8” to 1/4” thick, cut into shapes, and bake. Cool completely and then decorate with icing or sprinkles or both. Allow icing to dry/harden completely before stacking cookies or they will stick. Makes 3-5 dozen depending on size of cookie cutters.

Bake/cook time and temperature: 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes

One commenter will win: Fun prize pack including swag from all three of the excerpted books! Coffee mug, 2013 flip calendar, mouse pad, key chain, bookmark, trading cards, magnets, pen, and temporary tattoo! Open to international! Good luck! What to comment? Share your favorite line from one of the excerpts, above…

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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~*GIVEAWAY*~

As Laura mentioned above, she is giving away the prize pack shown above to one reader! To enter, just leave a comment on this post answering her question and then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck!

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