Contest Giveaway with Skye Warren: When Coincidences Collide
Glad to have you, Skye.
Thanks so much to Casea for having me here!
Sometimes I find it so crazy that a small coincidence, just a trick of fate, can lead to something meaningful. When I was eleven years old, I was flipping through those coupon books with my mom and found an introductory summer program for martial arts. I knew absolutely nothing about karate or any of that, but I was bored and my mom agreed.
I loved it! It challenged me physically and mentally (though I didn’t think of that way then, I just thought it was fun ). From there I went on to train for the next seven years, earning my black belt along the way. I also trained and worked as an instructor in the school, something which gave me confidence and life experience. My instructor, my school, the community of other students – all of it shaped my middle school and high school years.
It was just a small thing, finding a coupon on a rainy day, but what an impact it’s had on my life!
A similar chance encounter was the inspiration for my martial arts romance, Below the Belt. A lot of my story ideas start out as a what-if question. What if a guy were to have sex with a random girl. Neither of them care about each other. Neither of them are interested in pursuing a relationship (yet). What would it take to turn that into a romance?
From there, the rest of the story fell into place. Because it turns out that guy is a martial artist, gunning for gold in a national championship so that he can win sponsorship money to start his own school. And that woman? She’s got a martial art past of her own, one she’s trying to leave behind. Neither of them want to want each other, but sparks will fly.
In this scene, the hero and heroine are engaged in said anonymous hook-up. It’s not supposed to mean anything, or matter. It’s only sex.
“Who are you, really?” she whispered.
“I’m no one,” he murmured, his face buried in her silky soft hair. “No one special.” It was the truth. He’d grown up too poor and too stupid to be anyone. No matter how hard he fought, he was just another loser from Podunk, Nowhere.
“Oh yeah?” she challenged softly. “A two time national medalist and forerunner for the male heavyweight competition is nobody?”
Abe lifted his head.
“Yeah, I recognized you,” she said.
She didn’t understand. It wouldn’t be enough. Not any of it, not ever. His throat tight, he gave a short shake of his head.
“Oh, Abe,” she said. God, what was that look in her eyes? He wanted to look away from it, but he couldn’t. “You’re someone special. I see it.”
The line wouldn’t come—the one that would make this whole conversation a joke, instead of the truth. He always laughed it off, or fought it off, no matter what came.
Not this time.
She’d come out of nowhere and blindsided him, but he couldn’t figure it out just then. Not with his lust driving him insane. It was like the tunnel vision in the middle of a fight, when he couldn’t hear or even see, but just moved on pure instinct.
“Lie down,” he ordered. “I need to get inside you.” What the hell was wrong with him? He needed to keep it together. His legendary control, his focus, was all shot to hell.
Thankfully, she did lie down on the ballroom carpet, and even better, spread her legs in acceptance. If she hadn’t, he would have been liable to do something stupid—like beg.
He pulled his wallet out of his pants, ripping through it until he found the condom. Tossing the wallet to the floor, he undid his pants and rolled the condom on. He thought he heard something—voices maybe. It didn’t really matter. They wouldn’t come in here.
He just had to fuck her. Everything would be okay if he was in her, feeling her heat, riding her to completion.
They can already feel the attraction, the pull of something deeper, but they aren’t necessarily acknowledging it. There’s no conscious thought that this might be someone they could fall in love with or know better. And even as he knows there’s something different about, that only makes him want to have sex with her more, not step back. Because, when we’re in that turning point, all we can do is hold on to what we know…until all hell breaks loose.
If you’d like to read one, Below the Belt is available at the major online retailers. Plus, one commenter will win a copy of Below the Belt! Just drop in and share one time when a coincidence led to something greater for you – maybe how you met your husband or fell into a great job. Or if you can’t think of anything (because sometimes it’s hard to be put on the spot!) just say hi.
Thanks!
Skye Warren
Below the Belt
http://www.skyewarren.com/books/below-the-belt
Black belt Abe Montgomery is focused on winning gold. But at nationals, Abe meets Paris, a beautiful, mysterious woman. Paris Rivera has sworn off men and martial arts. Her black belt cost her more than years of dedication and sweat. The fight of Abe’s life looms ahead, with his dreams of owning a school and his future with Paris hanging in the balance. He may dominate on the mats, but he’s fallen hard for her. When the time comes for them to part, he may not be able to let her go.
BELOW THE BELT is a 30,000 word novella of erotic romance featuring explicit sex and graphic language. Not for those under 18 years of age or those uncomfortable with the subject matter.
Buy It Now: Amazon | B & N | All Romance | Bookstrand | Smashwords | Kobo | Goodreads
