Keep Romance Alive!

Welcome back, Eydie. Thanks for sharing your latest story with us. I hope you all run over to her website and check out her other work and to read the rest of the story. :)


Romance is not just a story, it’s a lifestyle! To keep the romance percolating in your life I’ve included an excerpt from Basque in the Splendor, my most recent novette. It is part of the Castillo Brothers Trilogy. The story takes place in the Basque country of Spain.

Sensual Gourmet


Estevan followed her outside and led her to his ice blue sports car. Inside she was exploding with delight, this man, this day and this car, she couldn’t believe it! Keeping her cool exterior in place she casually asked him about the car.

“Is this your Jag? A 1974 E-Type, V12, right?”

She said it as though she rode around in this sort of car every day. He was impressed.

“Yes, it is, fully restored.”

Lewella smiled in silence. She didn’t want him to know what a secret car fanatic she was and that this was the car she’d always dreamed of owning. Estevan opened the door and she got into the passenger side. As she fastened her seatbelt, he started the engine. Oh that sound, that glorious sound of the Jaguar’s engine, it was arousing to her all by itself, but sitting here next to Estevan…well it was almost more than she could bear. She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath to hold the moment. Her nostrils filled with the combined scents of leather upholstery, expensive cologne and the tiniest hint of something primitively exhilarating that was decidedly male in origin.

Lewella opened her eyes to the uniquely picturesque countryside rushing past her. All around her were scenic hills with tiered plateaus in every tint and shade of green. She was awed by the beauty. Here was a paradise all its own. Wordlessly drinking in the landscape, she noticed Estevan was slowing the car. Ahead was a delightful little café.

“Are we stopping?”

Estevan looked at her and smiled.

“I thought you might be hungry. You couldn’t have had much to eat since leaving New York.”

They pulled into the small parking lot and went in. The air was cool inside and the lighting was low. The interior of the restaurant was far more elegant than its exterior had suggested.

They sat down at a small table in an intimate corner of the restaurant. Fragrant flowers graced the linen tablecloth. Gleaming, sterling silver cutlery waited in their arranged place settings. Soon, an attractive young waiter appeared with menus.

“¿El generalmente Sr. Castillo?”
Estevan nodded and soon the waiter returned with champagne and fresh, plump strawberries. The first sip created a delectable taste sensation as the bubbles hit Lewella’s tongue and exploded in her mouth.

“I hope you do not mind that I ordered for you. As you told me you do not speak Spanish, I thought this would be easier.”

“I’m sure whatever you ordered will be fine. I love to try new things.”

The waiter returned again with an appetizer of fresh oysters. She watched with hungry delight as Estevan lifted one of the shells to his open mouth and let the slippery mound slowly slide down the back of his throat. He looked at her expectantly and Lewella did the same, licking her lips after she swallowed. The waiter was back with two crisp, colorful salads of arugula with slivered almonds and crushed basil, topped with sliced avocado artfully arranged around an open fig. Lewella noticed one, long, thick slice of avocado boldly protruding straight up above the greens below. She picked it up with her fingers, softly pushed it between her lips and gently mashed it against the roof of her mouth with her tongue, licking her finger as she slowly pulled it out of her mouth. Estevan smiled, mesmerized.

“My, you do that very well.”

Lewella was mildly horrified. She couldn’t believe what she’d just done. What’s come over me? I don’t usually act like this with people I barely know, especially men, she thought to herself. She didn’t have much time to ponder. Estevan took the open fig from the center of his salad and keeping his eyes glued to hers, he elegantly licked out all of the fruit’s pulp. Finally, he took the spent fig’s outer skin and sucked it dry. Lewella was breathless.

The waiter returned and placed two plates in front of them. On each was an artfully arranged serving of broiled salmon and white asparagus. Lewella realized that she was still completely famished. She ate her salmon with abandon and licked the butter off each piece of asparagus with sensual delight. Estevan watched with rapt attention. Finally, she dabbed her mouth with her napkin and felt complete.

“Would you like any dessert? The Crema Catalana is fabulous here.”

Lewella shook her head no. She didn’t want to spoil the wonderful feeling of having a long, slow-building hunger satiated.

When they got back to the car, Estevan held open the passenger side door for her. Lewella thought she could feel him gently tracing the curve of her back low and slow as she got in. She looked over her shoulder to be sure, but he was already on his way to the other side of the car, whistling a happy tune.



Is your interest piqued? Please visit http://romanticstorytelling.com/ for the complete story. Enjoy!

Thanks,
Eydie

Here's a little bio on Eydie and she'd love for you to know the artist of all her artwork is Johanna Uribes.


Eydie Starling Bio

Born: August 2, 1970, Suffolk, England

Favorite flower: The Primrose

Favorite color: magenta

Ms. Starling was born in the county of Suffolk, England. When she was eight her family moved with her younger brother to Boston. They finally settled in Greenburg, New York taking frequent trips to New York City to see the art museums, ballets and Broadway musicals.

On graduation from high school, Ms. Starling travelled throughout Europe for a year before entering college. She studied at several universities in England prior to receiving her Masters degree in Creative Writing.

Romance is not just a story, It's a Lifestyle!

Eydie Starling is an amazing writer. When she asked if she could guest blog here, I went to her blog to meet her. What I found blew me away. Her blog is full of wonderful stories she's written stemming from life experiences. I'm thrilled to have met her and to have her guest blogging today. And guess what, she'll be back Monday, October 5.

Take it away, Eydie.


Here is an excerpt from Basque in the Splendor, my most recent novette. It is part of the Castillo Brothers Trilogy. The story takes place in the Basque country of Spain. (It is a bit R-rated for those who might be uncomfortable with such things.) Yet, if it did indeed pique your interest, please visit www.romanticstorytelling.com for the complete story. Enjoy!

Thanks,

Eydie


A Summer Evening in the Basque Country

Estevan was prompt and Lewella was ready. The Jaguar roared out of the villa’s driveway onto the short distance of two-lane highway. He turned into the long lane that led to his cottage. The vineyards finally subsided to the left, trailing off into infinity as the car entered a wooded area. The air was suddenly sultry, charged with an unmistakable electricity. On the right, a small cottage of dark wood came into view. Estevan eased the Jag to a stop. The thought of entering Estevan’s home sent Lewella’s mind contemplating sweet pleasures. Finally, she looked up to see that he had opened the car door and was holding out his hand.

“Coming?”

Estevan looked charmingly wicked at that moment.

He opened the door, took off his shoes and left them inside, next to the front door. Lewella assumed this must be the custom for his home and did the same. The inside of the cottage was an open space, yet intimate with a wonderful sense of design. The furnishings were large, masculine, comfortable looking pieces made of wood and leather. The late afternoon sun came through the large front windows and reflected off the amber wood of the floor, making the interior glow with warmth. The cottage had been closed up all morning and was hot inside from the day’s heat. Despite this, it smelled clean and crisp, with faint traces of Estevan’s cologne. As he unbuttoned his white linen shirt, he reached for wine glasses.

“Red or white?”

But Lewella did not answer right away. She couldn’t take her eyes off the sliver of bare chest that she could see between the edges of his open shirt. He was just as beautiful as she had imagined. His golden skin rippled over a hard muscular stomach. There was just enough curly black hair in the center of his chest to make her want to run her fingers through it. He wore his jeans low and her eyes followed down as far as she could go. He caught her and smiling now, repeated his question.

“Red or white?”

“Red will be great.”

“Good choice. Red gives power to the blood.”

He poured and handed her a beautiful burgundy colored, crystal sphere. She slowly let herself enjoy the aromas and flavors of the wine. It calmed her and she knew all would be well with that first sip.

He led her out onto his deck and they sat down. He started to explain some of the history of the Basque region, but stopped abruptly.

“You’re not really listening are you Lewella?”

There, he said her name again. Oh the way he said it…she looked at him directly.
“Yes, er no, I was, no it’s just…”

She decided the truth would be best, just to get it out in the open.

“Look Estevan, it’s just that I don’t think I’ve ever seen such deeply expressive eyes as yours before. I’m finding it hard to concentrate.”

She was instantly embarrassed. God that sounded stupid! Estevan didn’t seem to think so and smiled warmly.

“Why Lewella, are you - as they say in England - ‘Chatting me up?’”

She was trapped and afraid now. What if things didn’t go well with this man? She still had to work with him. Be more professional, she chided herself, but the time for professionalism was long gone, she realized. No, be brave and bold she thought. You only go around once. She took a deep breath.

“Why yes, I believe I am.”

He leaned over and kissed her deeply on the mouth. Then he stood up and taking her hand, led her to his bedroom. They lay back onto the crisp white sheets. The comforter had already been turned down, Lewella noted. She tried to wonder if this meant he had preconceived notions, but was too distracted by what his hands were doing to her body now to care. Kissing her mouth, working his way down her neck, he took his time with her ears, tracing their tight curves with his tongue. He unzipped her little black dress with ease, revealing her lacy black bra and panties. Soon they were gone as Estevan took off his jeans and Lewella tore off his shirt. The feeling of skin to skin was simply too delicious. As his hands cupped her breasts, he kissed them until her little points rose up hard to meet his artful tongue. Now his hands roamed everywhere, making her sigh with each new pleasure. Estevan was an artful lover and Lewella responded. Running her hands lightly down the crevice of his thigh to groin and roaming through the brush of dark hair, she teased him with the anticipation of her touch. She heard him moan with delight. Tracing down her belly with his tongue, he made his way to the place she was aching to be kissed. Pleasure kept building until she couldn’t hold it back any longer. He entered her at the peak of her release, increasing its intensity. He touched parts of her she’d never felt before. On and on the hot friction of their bodies melting into one, moving as one until finally, he exploded inside her. They lay back in each other’s arms, amazed at the power between them.


Thanks so much for sharing with us, Eydie. Ladies and gents, you can check out more fabulous work at http://romanticstorytelling.com/