A Different Flavor

By Marilyn Lee

A Holiday Romance

 

Taylee is strong, attractive and smart…

…but having been hurt too many times, she's guarded.

 

When she meets Mark at a holiday party, sparks fly, but Taylee is only interested in short term romance. Mark has other ideas, however, and hopes that their one night together turns into more…

 

But Taylee slips out while he's asleep. Leaving him no way to contact her.

 

She's definitely attracted to Mark, but is hesitant about their differences. He's Caucasian, she's African American. He's 38, she's 49. He has teenage kids. Hers are grown.

 

Despite all her misgivings, Mark is certain they were meant to be together. After another chance meeting, he asks her to go out with him and Taylee agrees.

A holiday romance may be just what she needs and there's no denying her chemistry with Mark.

 

But will they go their separate ways come the new year?

 

Or will a fling turn into more?

 

A Different Flavor is a steamy contemporary holiday romance for people who love second chances, undeniable attraction and someone to keep you warm for the holidays.

 

Get A Different Flavor now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marilyn Lee Unleashed
• Release date: Dec 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393133117

Marilyn Lee

Marilyn Lee lives, works, and writes on the East Coast. In addition to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers). Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), mysteries (loves the old Charlie Chan mysteries. Her all-time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again), and nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampire are favorites). Marilyn has won numerous writing accolades, including a CAPA award for Bloodlust: Conquering Mikhel Dumont and the following Lub-Dubs Awards for 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, In Blood And Worth Loving (Best erotic novel and best sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal Award. She loves to hear from readers who can email her at [e-mail] or who can visit her website, http://www.marilynlee.org. Visit her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.lee.393950?ref=tn_tnmn) She has a Yahoo! Group called Love Bytes that readers can join by sending an email to [e-mail]

Book preview

Taylee Jenkins

Who do we know who is tall with nice green eyes, and looks like the boy next door who is hell-bent on a sexual conquest?

I looked up from my second drink of the evening to frown at the pretty, dark-skinned woman seated across the table from me in the hotel bar.

Gemma O’Mara and I had met five years earlier when she’d become my new accountant. Although we were the same age, we had very little in common. While I’d never been particularly sexually adventurous, she’d founded a social club for full-figured women called Unashamedly Curvy. And after the death of her first husband, had eagerly explored and enjoyed her sexual freedom. Which was how she’d met her current husband.

Me? Not that I was shy and retiring, but casual sex had never been my thing. I liked commitment with my sex. Well...until recently. Men cheated. And a woman had needs, after all.

Although Gemma had never been able to convince me to join Unashamedly Curvy, we’d become friends. Since her husband Mike was away on business, and I was currently manless, I had allowed her to talk me into accompanying her to her holiday party. Mind you, I wasn’t even planning to go to mine being held the following week.

The truth was I wasn’t feeling very festive spending my second holiday season without a special man in my life. At my office party I’d have to pretend to be happy. At hers, with people I didn’t know, I didn’t have to suppress my feelings of loneliness.

I think she invited me hoping to convince me that maybe it was time I broadened my dating horizons. Or, as she put it, try a different flavor. She practiced what she preached. Her first hubby had been Filipino. Mike was Caucasian. While I had no deep-seated objections to dating a non-black male, I’d just never met one who sexually excited me.

Still, I was feeling so horny, I wouldn’t say no to a one-night stand. With the right man of course. For me, an age-appropriate ebony knight. Of course, such single men were hard to come by. Most were either already married or not worth having. At least that was my take.

Doesn’t sound like anyone I know. Why do you ask?

Because he’s been staring this way for the last ten minutes, she said.

And you don’t know him?

No. She frowned. Oh, wait. Maybe I do.

So? Who is he?

Well, I don’t know him know-him, but I think he’s the head of my company’s IT department. Yeah. I’m almost sure of it.

What’s his name?

Beats the hell out of me. We call all of them the IT guys.

So he’s not some creepy stalker type?

I hope not because here he comes.

I glanced over my shoulder.

A tall male wearing a dark suit with dark brown hair flashed me a warm, sensuous smile.

I met his gaze and experienced an unexpected jolt before I turned back to Gemma. You’re right. He does look like a man on the prowl. Isn’t he going to be disappointed when he finds you’re unavailable?

She sighed. He almost reminds me of Mike, making me miss him all the more.

Happy Holidays, ladies.

Still unnerved by the effect of his smile, I half turned, and nodded without meeting his gaze.

Will you dance with me?

I arched a brow at Gemma. Lucky you.

Thanks, but I’m a very happily married woman, she said. She lifted her left hand to reveal her engagement and wedding rings.

He arched a brow. I’m sure your husband feels the same way. However, I was asking her.

I know men generally find me attractive. Yes, I was staring fifty in the face. Yes, I’m thick, but I have a nice rack and an even nicer butt. I keep in shape and I’ve never had any trouble attracting the man of my choice.

Still, when Gemma and I were together, she garnered most of the male attention. She always looks as if she’s taking a break from walking the runway at some upscale fashion show.

Surprised, I turned to look up at him. Me?

Yes. You. He smiled.

Damn. He had an intriguing smile.

He extended his hand. Will you dance with me?

As I said, he was not my usual type. I generally like my men with ebony skin, very well hung, and smoking hot. I know that sounds shallow and maybe it was. But hey, we like what we like.

But then again, what I liked hadn’t worked out very well for me. So, just maybe I’d been going about love the wrong way.

And of course, I had no idea how well hung he might or might not be. But he looked like the average boy next door. He couldn’t be much older than thirty, which was far too young for me.

Still, I was off men because my usual type never stayed faithful for long. And I had to admit that I was tired of pleasing myself.  

I glanced at him again. Our gazes met and locked. And I don’t know. My libido kicked in I guess. Love the one you’re with. It’s not like he was unattractive. Not with that killer smile and those green eyes of his. Maybe it was just old-fashioned horniness. Whatever it was, I decided Gemma might be right. It was time to try another age group and a whole different flavor. At least for a few hours. Maybe the whole night.  

I was glad that I wore my favorite black dress and three-inch heels that complimented my legs. I’m five-seven and curved in all the places that please a man.

I winked at Gemma and mouthed, don’t wait up, and rose to give him my hand. Yes, I will.

He steered me across the room to the dance area and folded me into his arms.

And damn. It felt nice. More than nice. And the scent of his cologne titillated me. Making me want to lean in and lift my face for a kiss. Or two. Maybe a whole damn series. It had been a while and I was longing to be kissed.

Mark Harden, he said.

Taylee.

Pretty name.

I

Reviews for A Different Flavor

[RedHobo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The whole felt a bit...I don't know. Just not my thing