What happens when a Princeton scholar, meets an NBA All-star rocker-boy?

She has her life all planned out, working hard at her degree, and helping her family stay afloat financially.

He’s at the top of his game on the court, but off, his life is out of bounds. That’s until he happens upon her, representing something he’s never had. Her world is spun completely out of control when they intersect. Could the lengths he decides to go destroy the future he desperately desires to have with her?

His secret is uncovered and motives are disclosed. Will Stenton get the favorable results he plotted years ago? Now that Zoey has put together the pieces, how will she navigate Stenton’s obstacles?

Who is Zoey Barrett?

Who is Stenton Rogers?

Love Delayed

“You ever met that time in your life where you have this short period of insanity? This small stretch of time where you can do whatever crazy things you want without considering the consequences? It’s because you know you’ll likely never get the opportunity again. You may never feel the euphoria again, so you just go for it.”

What happens when Zoey Barrett, an ingenuous Princeton scholar, meets NBA All-star rocker-boy, Stenton Rogers? Zoey has her life all planned out. She’s working hard at her degree and to help her family stay afloat financially.

Stenton’s at the top of his game on the court, but off, his life is out of bounds. That is until he happens upon Zoey, who represents something that he’s never had—family. Her world is spun completely out of control when they intersect. Could the lengths he decides to go destroy the future Stenton desperately desires to have with Zoey?

Find out in Love Delayed.

Love Delayed excerpt #1

***COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION***

When we arrived to the back of the parking lot, I took the lead to my car. My mind churned with what this farewell experience would be like. I mean, what would I say to him? I thought this would go down a different way, like a quick nice meeting you in the early afternoon hours at the country club. I spent most of my summer with this guy: the guy everyone knew as Stenton Rogers. And now we were preparing to say goodbye. As much as I resented having to spend time with the insufferable man, my heart had evolved in terms of him. It had softened to him. At this point, I really liked him as a friend. But I didn’t think I’d ever see him again outside of a television screen or print ad, so how would I express it was nice meeting you? My mind wouldn’t slow.

I was so flustered that when we arrived at my car, I turned to him and buried my face in my palms. “I know…I know…I know I’m supposed to be polite and come up with parting words…use proper etiquette.” My voice turned apologetic, pleading even. “But I really can’t think of anything, except for it’s been really cool getting to know you without the assistance of Google. It’s sped my summer up, and made what Angela did that much more bearable because at least I had someone to suffer with me. Uhhh…”

My eyes swept the ground below as I tried to think of something more.

Oh!

“It was cool meeting a fellow-rocker. Now, I’m really going to look for that KISS t-shirt signed by Gene Simmons. Uhhh… It’s great to have that genre of music in common with someone who shares the same skin tone…or ethnicity…well, not so much of the latter because you’re mixed. And…uhhh…don’t worry about me stalking you. Here…” I pulled out my cell phone.

“Zoey.”

“I’ll delete your number. I swear I don’t have it memorized or written anywhere. You can go on ahead and delete me from Facebook and other sites now that we won’t be seeing each other. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to get to know—”

“Zoey,” he called out again, pointedly. “Shut up.” I didn’t see a smile or hear humor in his tenor.

“W-why are you telling me to shut up?”

“Because I didn’t ask you out here tonight to say goodbye, per se—or at least I hope we’re not saying goodbye.” He changed his stance, lowering himself to align his gaze with mine. “I wanted to see you tonight because you challenged me with proving that my teeth are real.”

I stood there with my mouth facing the ground, trying to process what he’d said. For a moment, I was lost, unable to comprehend his intent. Just then, Stenton took me at the back of my head, aggressively pulling me into his hot hard frame, and positioned his lips to align with mine. Immediately, my body melted into him.

His long fingers raked through my hair at the roots, gripping my scalp as he held me. On my tippy toes, and with my elongated neck, I stood enraptured as his lengthy and wide tongue swirled in my mouth, tasting every inch of my cavity, even the front of my teeth, between my gums. My belly stirred with carnal desire and my entire frame vibrated with sensual energy. I didn’t know how long he explored my mouth, neither could I think straight to measure. But I knew I didn’t want him to stop. I’d never been so thoroughly kissed. Never knew so much could be expressed and experienced through a kiss.

Stenton retracted his tongue then full lips, suddenly leaving me bereft. My eyes flickered open and caught his darkened orbs.

“That’s how you can assess my teeth,” he informed hoarsely.

Though he attempted humor, his eyes were slanted, heavy with need, his proximity dizzying me. I don’t think I’d ever smelled anything so virile in my life.

When he moved in again; I threw my hands up to the back of his head, feeling the soft and natural curls of his mane, meeting him half way, and my tongue was in his mouth before he could think about changing his mind. I didn’t go straight for his teeth, I went for his tongue. It was sweet like nectar and agile like the neck of a heron. I wanted more of it. And I took it, liberally.

There was a strong spurring sound that hurled from the back of his throat and even that tossed into my mouth deliciously.

“Yo, Rogers!” I heard in the distance, but didn’t allow it to interrupt my sensual and explorative adventure. “We gotta roll!”

Hearing that reminded me of his impending departure. It was then that I used my tongue to inspect his teeth, but no longer questioning the realness of them, just not wanting to leave an inch of his mouth undiscovered.

I don’t know who pulled away first. I only understood neither one of us wanted to. My breathing was ragged, and Stenton’s composure mangled. He thumbed his bottom lip as he looked out into the distance. When his eyes returned to me they were sharp, piercing with preoccupancy. He didn’t say anything when he walked off.

I stood there dazed for moments long, not understanding what had just taken place. It wasn’t until I realized the headlights from his truck were still illuminating the dark corner of the parking lot where I stood that I grasped they were waiting on me to safely get into my car before pulling off. So I did. I managed to move my aching body over to my Kia Rio and pull off.

“I’ve learned the moment you meet what you perceive as perfection is the moment you experience a period of obsession, accompanied by brief insanity.Do you know how tormented I’ve been? I may have been foolish, selfish and manipulative, but I’ve been holding my goddamn breath, too. I’ve suffered, too!”

His secret is uncovered and motives are disclosed. So now what?

Will Stenton get the favorable results he plotted years ago? Or will he have caused his own exile from Zoey’s love?

Her life charted an alternate journey because of unexpected circumstances. Now that Zoey has put together the pieces, how will she navigate Stenton’s obstacles?

Find out in Love Delivered.

Love Delivered is now available in e-format and in paperback!

Love Delivered excerpt #1

My phone chirped again, this time a text. It was Tynisha.Ty: Go the f*ck here! She tried to delete it but you can’t delete from the Internet!As I rolled my eyes I clicked on the blog link. While the page loaded I felt myself grimace.No…

I leaped to my laptop to go Bossip.com directly, scrolled down until I saw the headline with the most familiar name in the world, and clicked. When the page populated I recognized the thigh again. It was muscular, columnar with wiry hair sprouted masculinity about, but the view…the angle was lewd. It was no doubt a photo of the inner thigh of a man. What made the imaging intrusive was the manner that the name NINA was inked near where one can safely assume his pubic area was. That part you didn’t see; it was covered by a fluffy white pillow. When I was able to swallow the utter shock, I recognized the image was a screen shot of a tweet. The caption read:

A year and a half ago I told U I was nearsighted and would have 2 look close 2 C how far down your tats went. With this view I C how dedicated 2 your loved 1s U really R. #TwentyTwentyVisionBaby #Love #Tats #SevenAllDay     

My mouth dropped. My breathing doubled in rate, audibly. It felt like my entire tense frame misted in sweat and heat flushed all over. Did she really post this on social media? Erika was bold, risky, occasionally shameless even, but how did Stenton fare with this? He’s not an attention seeker.

THIS IS PERSONAL, ERIKA! screamed in my head.

The idiot even believed the name was a familial reference. Who memorializes family on an intimate place on their body that won’t be seen by anyone but a lover? Just shameless, that woman! I slammed my laptop shut, pushed away from the table needing to distance myself from the debauchery. But then something hit me. I went back to the computer and onto the intended site before that trash stole my attention. I ordered the sign for the bakery, feeling satisfied after hitting “Complete Order.”

The Waiting to Breathe series is available!