Driven to Distraction, the first novel-length outing in our Hollywood Heat series, releases three weeks from today! To celebrate, here’s an excerpt from Driven to Distraction.

This books is intended for a mature audience only.

But first, the blurb:
Dodging explosions, crashing cars, jumping off rooftops…and falling in love.

A Hollywood Heat Novel

Up-and-coming stuntwoman Blaina Triton stops to help a sexy stranded stranger on the side of the road. Passion ignites hotter than the asphalt beneath their feet and they go back to his place for an anonymous carnal romp. Days later, she arrives on the set of her next feature film only to discover that the man she played out wanton erotic fantasies with is also her boss, Jay Williams. She thinks this job just got a whole lot better, until Jay makes it clear he never mixes business with pleasure.

Jay knows firsthand how distraction can be fatal, but around Blaina, his full, lust-ridden attention strays to her rather than staying on the job. In an effort to regain control, he offers an ultimatum—off set, their relationship is no-naughty-holds-barred, but on set, when they touch, it has to be strictly professional.

Soon their clandestine rendezvous ignite as hot as the movie’s onscreen explosions. As an unstoppable stunt team, they are flawless, until the strain of their secret relationship begins to tear them apart. Jay has to make a decision. Walk away from the woman he loves, or allow himself to be driven to distraction…

Warning, this title contains the following: Jay and Blaina are imaginative in their proclivities. There’s lots of sex in, on and around cars. Sex in public places, sex in a hotel room, masturbation, exhibitionism, oral sex, anal sex, spanking, minor bondage of the tie-me-up-and-have-your-wicked-way-with-me kind and sex with a foreign object.

Driven to Distraction by Ashleigh Raine
2007 (c) Copyright Ashleigh Raine
Coming August 7, 2007 from Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Left turn. Right turn. Twist and turn. Left turn. Left turn.

Blaina Triton cruised the streets of Encino, driving to her best friend Sam Clarey’s place for an old-fashioned girls’ night in—pizza, ice cream and gossip. Of course gossip was just a nice way of saying they were going to talk about men and sex.

The traffic light turned green and Blaina made a right onto Burbank Boulevard near Woodley Park. One of the only decent breaks from buildings at the south end of the Valley, it was wide enough to smash the pedal and go like a bat out of hell if there weren’t any cars around.

A sliver of moon chased the sun as warm evening breeze poured through her open window, bringing with it two of her favorite smells, trees and car exhaust. Driving through Encino was the long way to Sam’s house. The very long and much-preferred way. Just Blaina and her yellow ’69 Camaro, the way life should be. Then her cell phone rang.

“Blaine? Please tell me you’re not already on your way over?”

“Yeah, Sam, I’ll be there in maybe twenty, thirty minutes, depending on traffic. You know me, I’m taking the scenic route over the hill. What’s up?”

“You’re gonna hate me,” Sam said hesitantly.

“Oh right. Me hate you. You married the most gorgeous man in Hollywood and I don’t hate you yet. What else could you possibly do that’d actually make me hate you?” Blaina rolled her eyes and laughed. “You canceling on me or something?”

“Well…yeah…” Sam drew out each word then spoke in a rush. “But it’s for a really good reason. Connor’s home. He rearranged his schedule so he could come home a day early and surprise me and—”

“And you’d rather fuck him than hang with me? Duh. I should hope so.” Blaina snickered and shot a glance at the gaudy, neon pink bag on the passenger seat. “Now that Connor’s back home, I guess you won’t need the gift I bought you. Too bad, I’ll just have to add it to my collection.”

“Hey, now. You can’t tell me you bought me a present and then say you’re keeping it for yourself.”

“Pshaw. It’s not like you need it. You are getting laid tonight. I’m going home alone—with your present. A portable penis. Ten inches of glowing green, vibrating pleasure.”

“Only ten inches? Connor’s bigger than that.”

“Shut up and stop bragging.” Blaina chuckled, then saw something that gave her a better buzz than anything plastic ever could.

A dark purple 1970 Barracuda convertible parked on the side of the road, hood up, complete with hard-body owner leaning against the fender just in front of the driver side door. Muscular bronze arms crossed over a white T-shirted chest. Faded blue jeans that looked so well-worn they’d be soft to the touch, showcased his long legs, ending with black, work-booted feet, one crossed over the other. It was like the man had stepped out of her favorite car fantasy, instantly popping the clutch and throwing her libido into high gear.

She tried to tamp her excitement, telling herself that a smart woman would not jump a strange man on the side of the road. But there was no reason she couldn’t offer help. And whatever happened afterward… “I think my night’s gonna be great anyway. Go rock Connor’s world. I’ll catch ya later, Sam.”

Sam laughed. “Okay. Thanks, Blaine. Be good.” Sam’s last words were barely heard as Blaina flipped her phone closed and tossed it onto the passenger seat next to the plastic bag from the sex shop. At a break in the center median, she hooked a U-turn. The Camaro’s tires squeaked as she whipped the car around.

Come to mama, baby. Her nipples tightened in anticipation under her white cotton, ribbed tank top and she squirmed to give her cunt some breathing room in her painted-on, low-rise, dark green camouflage jeans. As she passed on the opposite side of the street, she stole glances at the fine hunk of manflesh, wanting to verify he was real and not a sexual mirage.

Wait a minute. Was he checking her out, too? His dark sun-glassed gaze followed her path as she U-turned again at the next intersection and pulled up behind the Barracuda.

When she stepped out of the car, his gaze locked on her. Even through the sunglasses, she felt his stare searing her body from head to toe—pausing at a few choice places in between—with each of her approaching steps. Or maybe it was the Southern California heat causing her body’s temperature to rise.

Slowly, he peeled himself away from his car and turned his damn fine body toward her, looking relaxed and sexy as he looped one thumb in a pocket. Sweat trickled between her breasts, her temperature jumping another ten degrees. This close, the man was an even tastier roadside attraction. His blond hair was cut short, accentuating his strong cheekbones, a slightly crooked nose and chiseled jaw. One half of his mouth ticked upward in an interested grin as he gave her another slow once over, pausing at her braless chest.

Blaina cocked her head to the side and returned the favor, undressing him with her eyes. Holy moly, if reality was anything like the carnal picture her mind was presenting…

Somehow she managed to choke out through all the accumulating drool, “I’ve got tools. You need a hand?”

“A woman with tools, huh?” His grin shifted into a scowl as he smacked a fist against the roof. “Unless you’ve got a magic wand, a gallon of water and a roll of duct tape there probably isn’t much you can do.”

“I’ve got a gallon of water and a roll of duct tape. I left my magic wand at home, though. Sorry, I don’t need it much. I drive a Chevy.” She winked, then began walking back to her car, adding what she hoped was a mesmerizing, follow-me-back-to-my-car swing to her hips.

He chuckled. “Oh, I see how it is.” The crunch of gravel beneath his boots as he followed had her ready to do cartwheels. Reel him in, Blaina. “You tease me with your tools and then put down my new ride before she’s proven herself? Give me a weekend and I’ll get this here pile of scrap metal to smoke your Chevy like it’s tied to a tree.”

“Oh, please. You gonna slide in a hotter camshaft and switch the gears in her rear-end just so you can have a shot at my machine? I dare ya.” Blaina popped her trunk and grabbed a rag, a jug of water and slid a roll of tape over her wrist. She needed something to keep her hands busy. Her fingers itched to rip the clothing off Mr. Hardbody and explore all of his pieces. “I’d love to see your hotrod pull out ahead of me. But tell me this, what are you gonna do when I squeeze the juice and you find yourself working extra hard and heavy only to eat my dust?” She tossed a saucy grin back over her shoulder.

He leaned a hip against the edge of the trunk next to her and although they weren’t touching, his arresting presence practically sucked the air from her lungs. The steamy twilight air resonated with his intense magnetism, drawing her to him like a moth to a flame…and oh how she wanted to burn. “I guess you’ll have to wait and find out what it’s really like to tangle with my big block Barracuda. Bring it on. I love a good…hot…race.” His words slid down her neck like a heated caress, letting her know she wasn’t the only one who wanted more than just a roadside attraction.

Blaina swallowed hard, suppressing a breathy pant. This man had revved her engine from zero to sixty in less time than it took to say, I want you. Can you please fuck me right here on the trunk of my car?

Visions of that fuck filled her mind, the full length of him driving hard into her, the feel of his breath ragged and hot against her skin. Her body tightened with unspent desire and she swallowed a moan. This was the fastest her body had ever shifted into overdrive.

Damn, girl, come to your senses. You’ve spent less than five minutes with this man and you want him to check your oil?

She stood up quickly, trying to clear the lingering sexual fantasies before her nipples drilled holes through her tank top. The jug of water she’d clenched so tightly hit the edge of the trunk and bounced out of her grip, landing inches from her feet.

“Whoa. You okay?” He lunged downward, but she’d already leaned over to retrieve the jug. She took that moment to push all thoughts of sex with him out of her mind, before she ended up dropping something much heavier and more painful on her foot. Calm…cool…collected…c’mon, Blaina…

But when she lifted her head, his lips were only inches from hers and that ragged breath she’d been fantasizing about only moments earlier washed over her face in a feverish caress.

“Yeah…I’m f-fine.” You’re incredibly fine, actually. I need to pour this water over myself to try to cool off at least a tiny little bit or I really will jump you on the trunk of my car, passing motorists be damned. “S-So, did you overheat?”

His tempting lips curled up in a suggestive smile.

“I-I mean, your car.”

“Radiator hose.” A car part had never sounded so sexy before. His voice had dropped, becoming a deep husky growl, more sex beast than mechanic.

His gaze stayed riveted on her for a second longer than necessary, before he turned and headed over to his engine compartment.

And talk about a fine rear view. Wow. Blaina followed, staring at his firm, tight ass while taking deep, calming breaths to decelerate her heart back to normal cruising speed.

She set down the jug of water—carefully this time—and laid the duct tape on the front fender.

“Big block engines… They get real hot, don’t they?” She tilted her face toward him, and lowered her voice provocatively. “Ever let a woman caress your big hose?” Blaina gave him her naughtiest smile, but at his snorted reply, she erupted into laughter.

He shook his head. “Honestly, I never imagined a woman would want to caress a hose as big as the one I’ve got.” His grin turned positively feral as he moved in behind her, so close the heat of his body cradled hers, and whispered into her ear. “Careful, it’s very…hot.” He drew out the last word and Blaina shivered at the sensual intensity in his tone.

Using the rag, she placed her fingers around the radiator hose and began stroking up its length. She’d only traveled three inches when he grasped her hand, trapping it between the heat of the hose and his skin. A current of electricity shot from where he touched her to every erogenous zone in her body. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought she’d gotten crossed up with a spark plug wire while the engine was at full throttle.

His hands were large and work-roughened, the kind that could rebuild a carburetor and undress a woman with equal care, and oh God how she wanted to experience him doing both.

“I’ll take over from here,” he rumbled, working the rag and her hand up the hose’s length. His arm grazed hers, the coarse hairs causing goose bumps to rise on her flesh.

Blaina closed her eyes, letting him manipulate her hand and her senses. Fixing a car had never been this erotic before. If they were to fuck, would he show her how he liked to be stroked? It wasn’t hard to imagine pumping his thick, hard cock, taking the large, round head into her mouth and working him until he came.

Oh hell, she almost came at that image. Her pussy flooded with moisture, her stomach clenching with deep-seated longing. It was everything she could do not to rub up against him, throw him down and shift his gears like he kept shifting hers.

Fuck it. If he hadn’t figured out by now that she wanted him, she might as well make it more obvious. But as she leaned back to feel his rock-hard chest, he leaned in, giving her an added bonus of washboard abs pressed to her rib cage. Her ass grazed the large bulge in his pants, but it was enough to send sharp ripples of longing to her core. His entire body strung tight and a sharp breath hissed between his lips.

A gurgling sound called her attention back to the car. As if on cue, some water dribbled out of the break in the hose, sizzling as it hit the water pump. But neither one of them laughed. Heat seared her body from every direction. The car was hot, this man was hot, the ground was hot, her pussy was hot…everything was scorching hot.

Needing an escape before she completely lost control, threw him down and fucked him on the side of the road for all to see, Blaina slid her hand out from under his and stepped away. For a moment he watched her, his hand fisted at his side, his breathing as sharp as hers, before finally returning to his work.

She walked a few feet, trying to catch a breeze, something, anything to cool the raging fire burning through her. The asphalt ignored her plea, the heat of the day still rising off it.

He glanced back at her. “You rescue guys like this all the time?”

She shook her head.

“Well, I guess it’s just my lucky day then. And to think I was pissed off about breaking down one lousy mile from home.”

Damn she wanted him, more than she could remember wanting any other man. So what next? Was she supposed to climb back into her car and let Mr. Hardbody drive away? Buh-bye. It’s been fun.

That would be a serious crime against humanity. Or at least against her dismally boring social calendar.

She moved to face him, just as he stood up. He gestured toward his car. “Can you start her up so I can fill the radiator?”

Blaina nodded, not sure that if she opened her mouth to reply, anything but “Please fuck me” would come out.

Before her wits left her for good and she ended up on her knees supplicating, she reached through his open window, turned the key and the engine chugged to life. Pulling back out of the car, she caught him watching her before he leaned over and began pouring the water in. He’d been checking out her ass. That was it. She was not spending this evening alone.

Decision made, she walked around the front of the car.

He looked up at her approach. “You got anywhere you need to be?”

“I’m following you home to make sure you get there okay.”

He nodded. “Let’s go.”