Fired Up by Anna Durand
He sets women ablaze, but the only one he needs may be fireproof.
Humiliated by her cheating ex, control freak Mel Thompson has resolved to avoid sex and romance. But her plans skid off the rails on her birthday, when she overindulges in champagne and tries to seduce her best friend, Adam Caras, exposing her long-repressed attraction to him. She’s determined to remain just friends, but her erotic fantasies have other ideas…
Firefighter Adam Caras has seduced more women than he’d ever admit to, earning the nickname the Arsonist, thanks to his explosive sensuality. Unfortunately, he realized he’s in love with his best friend Mel five minutes after she hooked up with her sleazebag ex. For two years, he’s kept his true feelings a secret. His libido, on the other hand…not so easy to rein in. Now that she’s free, he has a plan of his own. He’ll win her heart the only way he knows how–in bed–by employing every weapon in his lady-killer arsenal.
As best friends become lovers, they must risk everything for a chance at happiness. If they can overcome their past mistakes before it tears them apart…
Fired Up is an award-winning, standalone romance from the bestselling author of Dangerous in a Kilt, winner of the 2016 National Readers’ Choice Award for erotic romance.
Buy it today!
What reviewers are saying
“Quite the hot romance story with a real plot and well-developed characters. […] I really enjoyed reading this novel!” –Sefina Hawke, Readers’ Favorite
Excerpt
His hand on her hip glided down, cupping her ass. “I’m going to kiss you. Now. If you don’t want it, walk away.”
Moving his head, he forced her to tip her head back to see him as he ran his tongue across his front teeth, back and forth, back and forth, and for a heart-stopping second she wondered if he was imagining exploring her with that tongue.
“Adam—”
“Leave, or I’m kissing you.”
She ought to leave. Part of her wanted to. But a far more powerful part craved his mouth like she’d never craved anything in her life. Since she must’ve already wrecked their friendship with her antics last night, what harm could it do to enjoy a taste? Screwy logic again and you know it.
To hell with logic. She could indulge in one kiss before she enacted her new life plan. They could still be friends afterward. One kiss, nothing more.
Adam brushed his lips across hers, the barest contact, but it robbed her of breath. Her eyes fluttered shut and her body came alive, every nerve excited, every hair taut. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, so delicately, and she couldn’t stop her lips from parting for him, pleading for him to take her mouth. And oh, she burned for him to do exactly that.
His tongue stole inside her mouth, stroking over hers, lingering with each silken caress, teasing her into responding. Still, he kept the pace languid, tormenting her with every lap, exploring her mouth as if he planned on spending days just kissing her. His hand massaged her ass, and as his fingers kneaded harder and faster, his tongue thrust hotter and stronger, propelling her need to dizzying heights.
She flattened her palms on his six-pack abs, dragging them down to the towel. Slipping her fingertips between the terrycloth and his skin, she tugged on the towel to urge him closer—or maybe to dislodge the towel. His tongue was driving her mad, driving out reason, until she had no clue what she was doing.
About the author
Anna Durand is an award-winning, bestselling author of sizzling romances, including the Hot Scots series. She loves writing about spunky heroines and hunky heroes, in settings as diverse as modern Chicago and the fairy realm. Making use of her master’s in library science, she owns a cataloging services company that caters to indie authors and publishers. In her free time, you’ll find her binge-listening to audiobooks, playing with puppies, or crafting jewelry. She’s also a member of Romance Writers of America and its Published Authors Network.
Also by Anna Durand
The Mortal Falls (Undercover Elementals, Book One)
Dangerous in a Kilt (Hot Scots, Book One)
Tempted by a Kiss
Willpower (Psychic Crossroads, Book One)
Intuition (Psychic Crossroads, Book Two)
Passion Never Dies: The Complete Reborn Series
Reborn to Die (Reborn, Part 1)
Reborn to Burn (Reborn, Part 2)
Reborn to Avenge (Reborn, Part 3)
Reborn to Conquer (Reborn, Part 4)
The Falls: A Fantasy Romance Story
Coming Soon
Wicked in a Kilt (Hot Scots, Book Two)
The Mortal Fires (Undercover Elementals, Book Two)
An Interview with Anna Durand by Holly Hewson
Holly: Anna, thank you for talking with us at TRS. Your featured book is Fired Up. What can you tell us about how this book got its start?
Anna: The story first came into being when I decided to submit a short story for an anthology. The call was for erotic stories featuring underground clubs. I took the plunge and wrote my first erotic romance, the short story Tempted by a Kiss, and created the characters of Mel and Adam. The anthology got cancelled, but the story wound up being published. Almost as soon as the release date hit, I realized I needed to write a novel version to flesh out their story.
Holly: What can you tell us about Mel and why will readers identify with her?
Anna: Mel is an average girl, not a princess or a superhero. She worked hard, maybe too hard, to turn her web design business into a success. I think anyone, man or woman, can identify with that struggle to find success and balance in life.
Holly: What can you tell us about Adam and why will readers love him?
Anna: Ohhh, he’s just so hot! 🙂 Adam is also a sweetie at heart and intensely loyal to his family and friends, especially Mel. Despite realizing two years ago he’s in love with Mel, he kept it secret because he didn’t want to butt into her relationship with another man. Adam might have been a player, but he has principles. How can we not love him? A sexy, determined, honorable firefighter.
Holly: As a couple, what do you think will intrigue readers?
Anna: Mel and Adam aren’t the typical friends-to-lovers story. They’ve known each other all their lives and have been best friends for all that time. They share a deep connection and strong commitment to each other, even before they cross the line into something more. Watching them struggle with their changing relationship brings drama and humor–and plenty of naughty hotness!
Holly: What are you working on at the moment and how is it going?
Anna: I’m always working on more than one project at a time and right now I’m putting the final touches on Wicked in a Kilt and The Mortal Fires. Both are second books in series (Hot Scots and Undercover Elementals, respectively). I love editing, since I’ve learned to see it as an opportunity to polish a rough stone into a gleaming diamond.
Holly: What is your writing schedule like?
Anna: I write whenever I can. Since I also run a business, that has to come first. I still manage to write at least 3,000 words a day and often more, but it’s squeezed in between my work tasks.
Holly: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Anna: Everywhere! Seriously. I’m always reading, watching movies, observing the world around me. Anything can spur an idea. Many of my ideas come from reading nonfiction, whether it’s ancient history or modern science. The Undercover Elementals series incorporates my love of Celtic fairy lore with ancient mythology, from Greece and other cultures. Fired Up makes use of my not-quite-fluent French.
Holly: What do you enjoy when you aren’t writing?
Anna: Anything fun! 🙂 I love playing with my puppies, horseback riding, scenic drives, even crafting jewelry and, of course, reading. Audiobooks are my addiction these days. I’ve also become a fan of the Canadian TV series The Artful Detective (known in America as Murdoch Mysteries) and watch it whenever I can.
Holly: Any appearances either online or in person for the rest of 2017?
Anna: None scheduled at the moment, but you never know what might crop up!
Holly: What are you reading?
Anna: I’m listening to the audiobook version of Mary Balogh’s The Arrangement, a lovely historical romance. And I’m reading How the Scots Made the Modern World, a fascinating history of the big contributions made by a small nation.
Holly: Thank you so much!
