Hey there! I’m RB4U’s newest member, Michele Zurlo. I’ve
followed the blog for years, and I’m geeked to be part f the RB4U family. I’ll
be here every month on the 26th to share my thoughts and opinions
about issues related to being a romance novelist. This month, I thought I’d
introduce myself because if you’re like me, you’re probably thinking, “I know
you from somewhere. You kind of look like my aunt.” Chances are I’m not your
aunt, so here are a few things about me that may set me apart.
1.
Daytime: I’m a middle school English teacher
(or, as my wife says, crazy) and a mom to very active twin teens. Around the
edges of all that, I’m a writer. My goal for 2016 was to become more involved
in the writing world. To that end, I’ve taken part in the Dominant Persuasions
anthology, signed up to appear at my first conference (Midwestern Book Lovers
Unite) in October, and I became an author member of RB4U. I’d say I achieved my
goal, and it’s only April.
2.
Personality: You can tell from “Daytime” that I’m
methodical and goal-oriented. I’m also an introvert, and I used to be a
rule-follower. Turning 40 cured me of that need. People call me quirky when
they’re trying to be nice. Like many writers, I’m a bit OCD, but I’m flexible.
For example: The blinds in my classroom need to be hanging at the exact same height, but I
don’t care what level that is. Also, I’m all about grrl power. I insist that my
heroines be intelligent, and then I get frustrated when they don’t behave the
way I expect. In my current WIP, my heroine insisted on having two heroes as
her love interest instead of the one I had originally chosen. But I guess I’m
the person who often wants a choice that’s not on the list too.
3.
Writing: I love to write. When I was young, I
used to do it all the time, but somewhere around the time I was forced to adult,
I stopped. I started again when my kids were little (for sanity breaks) and I
haven’t stopped. I found success in the BDSM genre, and lately I’ve encountered
a positive reception for my Doms of the FBI series. Re/Leased (DFBI 5--with the heroine who insists on two heroes) comes
out this summer, and I have plans to launch a spinoff series tentatively called
SAFE Security, in early 2017.
That’s me, Michele Zurlo. Here’s a little kiss from Re/Bound
(DFBI 1) to send you off:
She paused at a door three-quarters of the way down the
hall. Her gaze fell to the floor. After the awkwardness had passed, the rest of
the night had gone well. He had kept the conversation on innocuous topics and
had learned a lot about her relationship with Victor Snyder. The prick had her
thoroughly and completely snowed. She considered him a friend and a benefactor.
He hooked his finger under her chin and encouraged her to
meet his gaze. When she complied, he rewarded her with a smile. Without a
doubt, she was one responsive submissive. Yataines had trained her well.
He cupped the side of her face and traced his thumb over her
eyebrow. Adjusting the position of his hand, he repeated the caress along her
lower lip. She trembled a bit, but she clearly awaited his command. His earlier
intention had been an impulsive act of
affection. It had taken all his willpower to keep his cock from saluting
her submissiveness.
“I had a nice time tonight, Darcy. Thank you for making this
trip worthwhile.”
Her eyes widened a bit, and he knew she wanted to ask if
he’d decided against seeing her again now that he’d found out about some of her
baggage.
He replayed his caress of her lip. Suddenly he needed to
taste her lips more than anything in the world. “Can I kiss you?”
She began to nod, but she caught herself in time. She
swallowed and licked her lips. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Malcolm had never once taken the trust of a submissive
lightly. Part of him wanted to play the gentleman and leave her alone. A larger
part of him needed to know the flavor and texture of her kiss. He recognized
the blurring of the line between his cover identity and his real self, and he
couldn’t keep from crossing it.
He feathered his lips over hers, a reverent caress that
teased a small sigh from her. That tiny sound proved to be his undoing. He
traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, and she opened for him. He cradled her head with one
hand to hold her close, and he snaked the other around her waist to press her
body closer.
She moaned and leaned into him as he directed with the
pressure of his hand on her back. He tasted her lips and teeth. He sampled the
roof of her mouth and tangled his tongue with hers. A piece of his heart he’d
never before used came to life. It beat a furious staccato rhythm he felt
echoed in her chest. Blood rushed to his cock. He thrust a knee between her
legs and ground against her.
She mewled, and her fingers dug into his shoulders. Inflamed
with her flavor, he moved his lips to sample her neck. She moaned and threw her
head back.
The sharp crack of it hitting the door brought Malcolm back to
his senses. He had shoved her against the door, and he had ravaged her with
everything in his arsenal. He released her abruptly, keeping one hand close in
case she needed more than the door to hold her up.
She gazed up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire and
blurred by shock. She took a deep, ragged breath and pushed away from the door.
Malcolm ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. You consented to a kiss, not a public mauling.”
Malcolm ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. You consented to a kiss, not a public mauling.”
A little laugh escaped before she could bite her lip to keep
it inside. “Now I’m wondering what will happen if I consent to a public
mauling.”
The visions she evoked meant he would need an icy shower before going to sleep. Wisely he changed the topic. “I’d like to see you again. Can we have breakfast together? I could swing by around eight, and we could walk down together.”
Malcolm didn’t know whether he asked her for the mission or
because the pounding heart
in his chest wanted to shrivel up and die at the thought of
not seeing her.
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
Links of Importance:
Dominant Persuasions: https://dominantpersuasions.com/
Midwestern Book Lovers Unite: http://midwesternbookloversunite.com/
Doms of the FBI page: http://www.michelezurloauthor.com/doms-of-the-fbi.html
Twitter: @MZurloAuthor
8 comments:
Hi, Michele. It sure does look like you've achieved your goals. Kudos! I'm not so much a D/s reader, but I sure loved your ghost book, Blade's Ghost. More ghosts, please! ;-)
Welcome, Michele! :)
Welcome aboard, Michele! :)
Welcome, Michele. It's good to have you aboard. Congrats on your writing success. I hope you continue to realize your dreams.
Lovely to meet you Michele and welcome to the RB4U group. Best of luck in your writing career.
Glad you're with us, Michele. Loved your excerpt and want more. I could never write about doms, don't know enough, but enjoy reading about them.
Jane, Tina, Rose, Cara, Judy, and Jean--Thanks for the warm welcome!
Jane, I'm not sure if I have a ghost story in my near future, but I can try.
Welcome Michele! This is a wonderful group and I'm glad you have joined us! I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. I've taught elementary school for the last 20 years and finally decided to join my husband in retirement and now only sub! :) Gotta love the kids!
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