Vickey Writes

Romantic Quotes and Passages I am sure some of you are wondering what in the world is going through my mind as I write these blogs and novels. Where in the world am I getting these ideas, characters and these situations?

Well, the answer is, I don’t really know. Somewhere deep inside of me there were these stories and words that all of a sudden one day I decided to release. The story of Rob and Morgan poured out of me like sweat. Some days I couldn’t get my thoughts written down fast enough. When I first started writing I would sit in a chair with soft music playing and write pages and pages upon more pages. The story played throughout my head like a movie. It was and still is amazing. I wrote PESCADERO CREEK (140 K) in less than three months and since then I have written over half of UNDERCOVER and am one-third the way through REMEMBERING. I know it may sound strange but I am writing two at once. I don’t know if that is normal or not. I do not write from beginning to end. I write the main idea and fill in all the in-between tying it to the other books. Don’t know if that is normal either, but it seems to be working. I have taken a couple of rejections from publishers and that didn’t hurt too badly! But I do have two open options for publishing. Please be patient, I hope to have PESCADERO CREEK in book form (along with EBook) by the first of the year! Christmas would be ideal, but I don’t know enough about the publishing world to make any hard promises. In the meantime, please enjoy the excerpts and romance filled blogs.

Who knows where our thoughts come from? Past experiences maybe? Have you ever really thought about it? Have you ever come up with something so profound that you’re like, “Where in the hell did that come from?”

I find that I have been giving out quite a bit of romantic advice lately and I am really enjoying it. But sometimes I do come up with advice that surprises even me. Where does it come from? My heart of course!

 The following passages are two of my favorites from PESCADERO CREEK.

“You get dumped or something?” He asked Rob bluntly as he handed him the coffee.

“Something like that.” Rob admitted.

“What?” Sam squawked like a shrill bird.

“You were right about her.” Rob said.

“I hate to say I told ya so, hell, what are you going to do?” Sam asked, “You’ll be finished up here soon enough and you’ll be heading back to LA and all those hotties you left behind, you won’t even remember her name.”

Rob drank his coffee in silence, he knew he would never forget Morgan no matter how many women he had waiting to take her place. Morgan was unforgettable.

 ***

Rob entered his beach house through the back door and stopped at the kitchen counter. He remembered back just two nights ago when she had been there. They had gone naked to the kitchen for a drink of water and he had lifted her up on the counter. They had made love right where he stood. Rob could still see her face and hear her laughing at him for liking to make love in the kitchen. He had laughed with her; saying the countertops were just the right height. He could hear her moans of pleasure and feel her hands on him pulling him closer to her.  How could he ever put her from his mind when she was so deeply attached to his heart?

He didn’t know how long he had stood in the moonlit kitchen thinking about her when his cell started to vibrate on the counter. He hoped more than anything it was her. He opened the phone to see Chief’s number.

“McAllister.” Rob said disappointed.

 ***

Here’s an excerpt I am particular proud of, it’s from UNDERCOVER

He knew he would never grow tired of kissing his wife. She tasted like the salt from the sea she had been spending so much time in lately. He had thought about how she tasted and the smell of her hair while he was undercover. He had thought about how her face would change expression when he was making love to her. Those were the thoughts that kept him alive and the things that he had wanted to live for. He rolled her on her back never breaking the connection her mouth had with his. He needed to be inside of her again to feel her alive and moving beneath him. He entered her again and moved slowly at first and then harder and quicker watching her eyes with every thrust. Her breathing became deeper and her expression would change slightly with each pleasure he gave her until she dug her fingers into his back pressing him closer to her. She moaned loudly causing him to explode within her again. He lay on top of her panting and sweating. She wrapped her leg around his and held him to her tightly. He raised himself on his elbow and looked at her face. She looked back into the depths of his beautiful blue-green eyes. They didn’t have to speak. It was as though they could read each other’s thoughts. Everything he felt about her at that moment she could see. All the pain and the long weeks of missing him showed in hers.

***

Here are some heart felt quotes that other people have written. I have to admit I have always loved Dr. Seusse and his quote below is one of my favorite. Sometimes the best way to put something in words is to just make it simple and honest. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.  ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began.  ~Leo Tolstoy

My heart to you is given:
Oh, do give yours to me;
We’ll lock them up together,
And throw away the key.
~Frederick Saunders

I can no longer think of anything but you.  In spite of myself, my imagination carries me to you.  I grasp you, I kiss you, I caress you, a thousand of the most amorous caresses take possession of me.  ~Honore de Balzac, letter to Evelina Hanska, June 1836

You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.  ~Dr. Seuss

Lastly, do I vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things.  ~Catherine of Aragon, 1535

The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it.  You and you alone make me feel that I am alive.  Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough.  ~George Moore

Sometimes it’s a form of love just to talk to somebody that you have nothing in common with and still be fascinated by their presence.  ~David Byrne

You learn to like someone when you find out what makes them laugh, but you can never truly love someone until you find out what makes them cry.  ~Author Unknown

I climbed up the door and opened the stairs,
Said my pajamas and put on my prayers,
Then I turned off the bed and crawled into the light
All because you kissed me goodnight!
~Author Unknown

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.  ~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi

Are we not like two volumes of one book?  ~Marceline Desbordes-Valmore

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.  ~Author Unknown

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.  ~Robert Frost

Love – a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker.  ~Author Unknown

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Corinthians 

The best feelings are those that have no words to describe them.
Michelle Hammersley

I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
Roy Croft 

The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.
Timothy Titcomb

You don’t marry someone you can live with – you marry the person who you cannot live without.
Unknown

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TEN THINGS SHE WANTS YOU TO NOTICE. There are certain things that She does-that when She does them-She wants people to notice, especially Him.

10. Her Shoes; We girls love our shoes! Did you know that high heels can be sexually alluring? Men love long legs and high heels make your legs look longer. If She wears a pair, He will notice. There is nothing like a new pair of shoes! Except maybe a new Coach bag!

9. Her Nails, did She get them done? Did She change the color? What about Her toes? Let Her know You noticed.

8. A New Outfit? Even if it looks familiar ask Her, “Is that new? You look great.” Or if She has dressed up for you, give Her the compliment. Even if You are just not one of those complimentary type of guys, it’s time You started to be. It won’t kill You, compliment Her, a little compliment can go a long way.

7. If She has Lost Weight, let Her know how great She looks. If She is wearing an outfit that makes Her look like She has lost weight, let Her know! You won’t lose

6. Has She Been Working Out? We know the difference between working out and looking fit as opposed to just losing weight. A pair of black slacks can make Her look like She has lost weight. But if You ask Her if She has been working out-that is entirely different! Tell Her that Her body looks amazing. Let Her know her hard work is paying off. Feeling fit is very sensual and can lead to other sweat causing activities.

5. Is She Wearing A Particular Piece of Jewelry that She wants You to notice? Did you buy Her that pair of earrings She has dangling from Her ears on some romantic get-away that She is trying to remind You of? Let Her know you recognize them just by touching them and smiling. Sometimes a look or a touch can say more than words.

4. Has She Set the Mood? Is the house clean? Did She make your favorite dinner? Is there an open bottle of wine awaiting with two glasses before a blazing fire? If She went the extra mile and made a special evening for the two of you-don’t let it go unnoticed! Reward Her efforts by offering to run Her a warm bubble bath or give Her a massage. Remember relationships are give and take. If you take-give something back.

3. She is Funny, like funny Ha Ha, not weird or strange. I think that humor is the best part of someone’s personality. Funny is sexy. If someone can make me laugh; I’m attracted to them. I like to be around people who laugh and can make others laugh. If She has a witty personality, let Her know or Him know. Humor covers a lot of  flaws and can get you through an uncomfortable evening and it’s a great ice breaker.

2. Her Perfume. Has she changed her scent? If She smells good, let Her know. That’s one great compliment You can give Her.

1. Her Hair, has She changed it, cut it, is She wearing it up? Come on, Her hair is her crowning glory, don’t miss this one!

In PESCADERO CREEK Rob notices absolutely everything about Morgan. He notices her hair and how she wears it. Her perfume which he is crazy about and which inexplicably lures him to her he definitely notices; he notices her unique scent every time he is near her. He definitely notices her wardrobe and the fact that she never wears the same thing twice. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a man who noticed everything about you? Even the slightest little change? Enjoy the excerpt!

The next day Agent McAllister paid Dr. Warren a visit at the morgue to try to determine that the most recent murders were not committed by the same person. When he stopped by that afternoon he found Dr. Warren in her office with her assistant Chris. They were going over some files on the computer and comparing the evidence that was gathered on the first victim with those of the most recent. Morgan could find no differences in any of the evidence. They heard a knock over the music they were listening to and Morgan looked up to see Agent McAllister standing in her office doorway.

“Am I interrupting anything?” He asked.

“Actually you’re here at the right time.” Morgan said as she got up from her desk. “Come on in Agent McAllister.”

She was wearing a short black skirt and a low-cut white blouse with her sleeves rolled up. She had on black high heels and her hair was hanging over her shoulders. He had never seen her long hair loose like that; she had always had it tied back before.  He couldn’t stop staring at her.

“That is why you came by isn’t it, to review these records?” She asked as she pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Or was there something else you needed?” She was totally unaware of how absolutely beautiful she was.

“No, that was it.” He said.

“Well, if you’ll come over here and if you don’t mind looking over my shoulder, I’ll show you what I have discovered.” She said.

The phone rang and Chris went to the outer office to pick it up leaving them alone.

She sat back down in her large oversized chair and swung her legs around under her desk. “If you’ll look here at the evidence on the first victim from 2005,” She looked up to make sure he was standing behind her. “You’ll see on the cuts on her chest, they are almost patterned. It looks to me like here,” She pointed at the screen of her computer at some of the pictures of the victims she had scanned, “On her, it almost looks like a pine tree.” She looked up at him again, “Do you see it? The cuts are deliberate, not random and they are more a slash than a stab.”

Rob was trying to look interested in the screen but he found it hard to concentrate on the victims pictures when he could see down Dr. Warren’s blouse. Under it she wore a white lacy push-up bra that he could see through the open buttons at the top. He didn’t know what perfume she was wearing, but she smelled incredible. It was the same thing she had worn to the meeting at the station.

“On the more recent victims, the same pine tree pattern appears.” Morgan said. She looked around behind her to make sure he was following.  “Do you see? There are two, and two here and two on either side of the victims breasts. It is the exact pattern and again slashed as opposed to stabbed. The two women that were killed this month were, beyond any question in my mind, killed by the same person that killed the very first victim.”

Rob looked at the screen and compared the pictures for himself. “Did you take these pictures?”

“Chris took the last two; the first victim was photographed by the Medical Examiner that was here in 2005 before Stewart took over, as you can see in some of these other pictures the victim is partially clothed. This doctor’s report is very thorough and he even listed the articles of clothing received with the body. Looks like the killer collects panties.”  Morgan looked up at Rob when she had finished her defense.

“What about the murders in the middle of the timeline?” He asked. “What do the records show?”

She turned around in her chair causing him to move out of her way as she crossed her legs. “The records from Dr. Stewart’s time in this office are pretty shoddy. I don’t know how much we will get out of those. We’re still reviewing them.” She said. “There are no pictures, only marks on an autopsy sheet.”

He was staring at her not hearing a word she said.

“I’m sorry I don’t have more.” She apologized. ”Agent McAllister?”

Rob snapped back to the present. When she had turned around and crossed her long legs he had lost touch with reality for a moment. 

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After scouring the internet for the top romantic songs of all time, I was not surprised to see that there are several lists out there. Some of them I totally agreed with and some must be for people who live on another planet because I had never heard of them.

I feel extremely strong about absolutely including Elvis  on this list with I CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU, the best song ever, romantic or otherwise. It’s not because I have spent the last thirty years in Tennessee either, Elvis is and always will be the King. There I said it, with that established. I’ll move on.

10. Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers (Elvis also does this one really well also!)

9. From This Moment Shania Twain (Her music helped me survive a divorce!)

8. Don’t Want to Miss a Thing Aerosmith (Steven Tyler-oh hell yes!)

7. My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion (You’re so stupid, Rose! You should have moved over and given Jack half of that dresser!)

6. How Do I Live Trisha Yearwood or Leann Rimes ,the latter being my favorite.

5. Everything I Do Bryan Adams (I can still see the leaves falling on Kevin Costner and the woman with the really long last name in that Robin Hood Movie. )

Recently Michael Buble has really made an impression on me and I have to add:

 4. You’ll Never Find  (Another Love Like Mine) I loved this song when Lou Rawls sang it in the seventies, but Michael does it in his own style that just makes me melt.

 3. When You Say Nothing At All Alison Krauss, beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

2. I Will Always Love You Dolly Parton or Whitney Houston both equally superb.

1. My personal favorite is of course number one, I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, Elvis

Honorable Mention:

At Last; Etta James

How Deep Is Your Love?; Bee Gees

Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’: Journey (is that weird?)

Evergreen; Barbra Streisand

Look What You’ve Done to Me; Boz Scaggs, Remember Urban Cowboy

Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton. Truly a man who sings from his heart. Strangely not one of my favorites but I am giving it honorable mention.

I wish I could sell my books with a soundtrack because I used so much music to set my mood when I was writing. In PESCADERO CREEK, I mention several songs, I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, being one of them and I Left My Heart In San Francisco another. When I first started writing and a few of my close family members wanted to read passages; I would play the music that I listened to while writing those particular paragraphs as they read.

I listened to a lot of instrumental music, what I like to call candlelight music. It’s the type of music you listen to in front of a fire with a few pumpkin candles burning. The type of music to get romantic by, you know, good making out music. It’s the type of music you hear in a nice restaurant with a piano bar, candles and white linen tablecloths; you know the kind where they bring your after-dinner coffee in a tall glass mug. It’s versatile music; while listening to it you may even choose to  read a good book or create a romantic dinner. Sometimes I like to put on some Michael Buble and light some candles while I’m in a hot bubble bath. Being a Rod Stewart fan, I also enjoy his Songbook collection; actually I enjoy anything Rod sings. Recently I have been listening to Steve Tyrell and Chris Botti; thoroughly enjoying them and their unique styles. Of course I cannot leave out Kenny G, if you can get past the perm-his music is awesome. One last to mention is Michael Bolton Said I Loved You, But I Lied, at the risk of sounding cliché, OMG!! That just makes me want to slow dance……..umm good stuff. By the way, when’s the last time you slow danced?

Your turn, let me know your favorite romantic song.  I know I may have left some off the list and yours may be one of them. What gets you all stirred up?  Share it with me. I may have to revise my list next week!

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When I developed the main character in the PESCADERO CREEK Saga, I made Morgan what I would consider perfect, at least from my own perspective. What I didn’t expect was that she would become such a big part of my life. When you write a book, you develop your characters and then you bring new characters to the story. In PESCADERO CREEK the main characters (recap for those of you who are new to my blog) Dr. Morgan Warren and Special Agent Robert O’Shea McAllister are strong individuals that the whole story revolves around. Morgan is an heiress that has not only inherited her family’s wealth but her father’s position as the San Mateo County Medical Examiner as well. She is not crazy about the job but decides to accept the appointment by the Governor of California out of respect to her deceased father. She puts her future plans of practicing at Boston Medical on hold and throws herself into the role of ME where she meets Agent McAllister.

Morgan is the first-born and the “son that her father never had” although she has a twin brother. At age three he enrolled Morgan in private school and started her in riding and piano lessons. By fifteen she is enrolled as a pre-med major at Stanford. Morgan is accepted into Harvard Medical School at the age of  nineteen. By the age of twenty-seven she is a licensed pathologist and accomplished pianist.

Having spent most of her life in school, she has not had much of a personal life. She did have one boyfriend in her later years at Stanford and the beginning of medical school. Of course her father did not approve of him and he was more/less hidden from her father’s scrutiny.

Physically, Morgan is breathtakingly beautiful. If any of you have ever met someone who is so gorgeous that you were dumbfounded, you will know what I am talking about. Kind of like when you see someone famous; you are awestruck. She has that kind of effect on people, even Rob. Her mother was Portuguese and her father caucasian. She has her mother’s beauty and her father’s pale complexion with long black hair and violet eyes.

Morgan is athletic and runs eight miles on the beach beside her home several days a week. This is where Rob first sees her. But the second time he runs into her, he gets a much closer look. Here’s what happens:

Rob dried his rain-soaked head and wrapped the towel around his neck. He took a minute to survey the room. He didn’t like morgues but found he frequented them often. After all, he worked in homicide, so his recurring presence in one was a necessary part of the job. Sam had roused his curiosity about this Dr. Warren. He wondered if he were as grotesque as the man who had let them in.

Rob could hear voices above some loud music coming from the back; Joan Jett wanted to know if “you wanted to touch her there” as they stood in the entrance of the large open room. On one end of the room there was a full wall of large steel drawers. He counted three rows of four making a total of twelve of the cold storage units. The other end of the room had two doors; one leading to the exam room and the other opened into the Medical Examiner’s office. There was a large counter anchored in the middle of the room with several tall stools surrounding it. A large fluorescent light hung from the ceiling directly above it and several microscopes and folders sat on top. Two gurneys were on the other wall along with cabinets, bins and lockers. There were large shiny silver trash cans scattered about the room with their lids hanging off their sides secured by chains.

The larger man who had brought them in was soon replaced by a tall thinner man wearing a slick black apron, large plastic gloves and a face shield. “Come on in, just cleaning up.”  He said over the music, as he pulled the face shield over his head and let it rest there. He said it like he had just finished dinner and was inviting them in for coffee, not at all like he had just dissected someone in the next room. The two men passed through the doorway after the younger man into the adjoining room. Rob knew exactly what went on in this room. He took a deep breath before he completely entered. The room looked like it had just been hosed down. The large stainless steel examining table in the middle was dripping with water and soap bubbles from a cleansing it had just received. The water was running noisily into a drain in the floor under the table. More stainless steel counters ran along the walls with a huge sink in the middle of each of the four rows.

There was someone standing with their back to them working at the counter labeling some small plastic cups and tapping her foot to the music. It was definitely a female.

She turned to face the visitors when she heard Chris speaking over the music. She reached over to the counter and hit a button on the iPod sitting in its’ docking station. They hadn’t heard the bell due to the deafening music that was emulating from two large speakers on an upper shelf above the counter.  Morgan leaned back against the counter behind her and assessed her visitors. They looked like two drowned rats. She didn’t recognize either of the two men staring back at her. The larger one actually had his mouth open. An unlit cigar fell from his open chops and he groped to catch it. She knew they were cops; no one visited the morgue at night except homicide cops. She cleared her throat to get their attention and waited for one of them to speak.  One officer, the younger one, recovered from his stupor and took out his badge, “Special Agent Robert McAllister, FBI.” He held out his badge for her inspection. She quickly noticed the badge was from LA County. So, they had brought in the big guns, she thought.  Sam finally gained enough sense about him to speak after Rob elbowed his side, “Detective Sam Sharpe, San Mateo County.” He choked out.

Chris laughed, “First time in a morgue, fellows?” Chris joked, “Don’t sweat it; she has that effect on all of us.” He poked Sam with his elbow……

Here’s what happens when Rob looks at her:

Rob felt her sharp scrutiny. She was very sly about the whole thing but he knew she was checking him out. When she had first turned around as they entered the room, she had taken his breath. He had never had that happen to him. He had literally drawn in a sharp breath when he saw her. He had never seen a more perfect woman. She was breathtakingly beautiful. What the hell she was doing working in this hell hole at night was anyone’s guess. She should be on a runway somewhere in New York or Paris. She wore a form-fitting white long-sleeved sweater with the first few buttons undone. You couldn’t really see any cleavage unless you were standing above her looking down. Her tight dark slacks accentuated her firm ass and long legs. Her dark hair was secured loosely at the nape of her neck.

When I mentioned earlier in this post that she became a big part of my life, I meant that Morgan became everything that I wanted to be. The main thing being a Medical Examiner and the second a runner. The fact that she meets the perfect man is appealing as is the perfect body that she has. People asks me how I came up with the characters and made them so real, that’s how. Just take everything I wanted to be and everything I want in a mate and voila, I had them. The other characters in the book I will introduce in later posts.

One last note for today, Morgan was born Magdalena Carolina (Pronounced Caroleena) after her Portuguese grandmother but her father changed her name when he realized she would be the one to inherit the family fortune and carry on in his footsteps. Dr. Richard Warren wanted his daughter to have every opportunity and he thought giving her a masculine sounding name would help her to survive in this man’s world. This will be revealed in my third novel in the PESCADERO CREEK trilogy called REMEMBERING, which I am developing now.

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Named for Aphrodite the Greek Goddess of sexuality and love; an aphrodisiac is a substance that enhances or increases sexual desire.

If you asked your significant other about dinner tonight-what would he/she say they wanted?  Well, you could start with an appetizer of steamed oysters; then a fresh arugula salad with fennel and almonds topped with a honey-mustard dressing. An entrée of farfalle and truffles covered in a garlic and nutmeg alfredo; sprinkled with pine nuts. Enjoy it with a glass of Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc then conclude it with a compote of strawberries, bananas, figs and raspberries topped with a chocolate ganache and served over vanilla ice cream. And of course coffee to finish. Sound delicious? Sound romantic? Would he/she realize what you were trying to do? Would they realize your ulterior motive for what you really had planned for them after dinner?

The obvious atmospheric signals might give it away. The candles burning, Pumpkin or Sandlewood preferably and fresh flowers on the table with a few sprigs of lavender. Yes, all of these are aphrodisiacs. Don’t forget to dress for the occasion. Animal print with black or flesh-colored lingerie always works. You put some sexy lingerie on and meet him at the door-you will either work up your appetite or skip dinner completely! What is your favorite color for lingerie? Are you a pinky? Or red-the color of passion?

Here’s a list of the top Edible Aphrodisiacs that are readily available for you:

Almond:  A symbol of fertility throughout the ages. The aroma is thought to induce passion in a female.

Arugula: Or “rocket” seed has been documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century A.D.  Arugula greens are frequently used in salads and pasta.

Asparagus:  Given its phallic shape, asparagus is frequently enjoyed as an aphrodisiac food. Feed your lover broiled asparagus with a little olive oil, sea salt and parmesan cheese. According to the experts eat asparagus for three days for the most powerful effect. And yes, it will make your pee stink!

Avocado: The Aztecs called the avocado tree “Ahuacuatl which translated means “testicle tree”. The ancients thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male’s testicles. This is a delicious fruit with a sensuous texture. I like it sliced on my burger or in a guacamole dip.

Bananas: The banana flower has a marvelous phallic shape and is partially responsible for popularity of the banana as an aphrodisiac food. Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, necessities for sex hormone production. Try dipping them in chocolate.

Basil: (sweet basil) Is said to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. It is also said to produce a general sense of well-being for body and mind.

Broccoli Rabe: (And Other Mustard Greens) The ground seeds of various plants in the Brassica family were believed to increase virility, but probably more likely a myth created to get people to eat this bitter vegetable. Try it. What have you got to lose?

Chocolate: The Aztecs referred to chocolate “nourishment of the Gods”. Chocolate contains chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters in the brain and a related substance to caffeine called theobromine. Chocolate contains more antioxidant (cancer preventing enzymes) than does red wine.  The secret for passion is to combine the two.  Chocolate is just plain sexy.

Carrot: to be a stimulant to the male. The phallus shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction. High vitamins and beta-carotene. Perhaps a justification for a piece of carrot cake? Also improves your eyesight. “All the better to see you with, my dear.”

Coffee: Caffeine is a well-know stimulant but remember, too much and it becomes a depressant. What about a hot vanilla latte? Remember coffee stimulates both the body and the mind, partake of a little in preparation for an “all-nighter”.

Coriander: (Cilantro seed) The book of The Arabian nights tells a tale of a merchant who had been childless for 40 years and but was cured by a concoction that included coriander. That book is over 1000 years old so the history of coriander as an aphrodisiac dates back far into history. Cilantro was also known to be used as an “appetite” stimulant.

Fennel: In the 1930′s fennel was found to be a source of natural plant estrogens. Use of fennel as an aphrodisiac dates back to the Egyptian times where it was used as “libido enhancement”. Not much on fennel, myself, pass me another oyster.

Figs: An open fig is thought to emulate the female sex organs and traditionally thought of as sexual stimulant. A man breaking open a fig and eating it in front of his lover is a powerful erotic act. Serve fresh Black Mission figs in a cool bowl of water as it is done in Italy and be sure to eat with your fingers! Good point, watching your SO eating or drinking can be quite sensual.

Garlic: The ‘heat’ in garlic is said to stir sexual desires. Make sure you and your partner share it together. Garlic has been used for centuries to cure everything from the common cold to heart ailments.  A great way to spice up the bedroom later.

Ginger: Ginger root raw, cooked or crystallized is a stimulant to the circulatory system. We know exactly how important it is to get that blood pumping, especially to certain places. Enough said.

Honey: Medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with Mead, a fermented drink made from honey. Newly weds on their “Honeymoon” drank mead and it was thought to “sweeten” the marriage. I have run across Honey wine in my time, it was very good. I’ve seen movies where couples take a jar to bed with them-no way, too sticky!

Liquorice: The Chinese have used licorice for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The essence of the Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) plan, glycrrhizin, is 50 time sweeter than sugar. Chewing on bits of licorice root is said to enhance love and lust. It is particularly stimulating to woman. Think about that next time you open a bag of Twizzlers.

Mustard: Believed to stimulate the sexual glands and increase desire. Wow, you can put mustard on just about anything.

Nutmeg: Nutmeg was highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac. In quantity nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect. A light sprinkling of the spice in a warm pumpkin soup can help spice up your evening. Try it on a fruit salad with honey! Oh, yeah.

Oysters: Oysters were documented as an aphrodisiac by the Romans in the second century A.D as mentioned in a satire by Juvenal. He described the wanton ways of women after ingesting wine and eating “giant oysters”. An additional hypotheses is that the oyster resembles the “female” genitals. Famous from the movie Terms of Endearment Jack Nicolson gets “led in the pencil” after eating oysters and attacks Shirley MacClaine.

Pine Nuts: Zinc is a key mineral necessary to maintain male potency and pine nuts are rich in zinc. Pine nuts have been used to stimulate the libido as far back as Medieval times. I love them in pasta dishes.

Pineapple: Rich in vitamin C it is used in the homeopathic treatment for impotence. Pineapple slices would be great as a bedroom snack because it’s not only sweet it is also juicy and will satisfy your thirst.

Raspberries and Strawberries: Perfect foods for hand feeding your lover. “Both invite love and are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples.” Both are high in vitamin C and make a sweet light dessert. Dip them in dark chocolate or try them dunked in Champaign.

Truffles: The Greeks and the Romans considered the rare Truffle to be an aphrodisiac. The musky scent is said to stimulate and sensitize the skin to touch. Organic ecstasy.

Vanilla: The scent and flavor of vanilla is believed to increase lust. According to the Australian Orchid Society, “Old Totonac lore has it that Xanat, the young daughter of the Mexican fertility goddess, loved a Totonac youth. Unable to marry him due to her divine nature, she transformed herself into a plant that would provide pleasure and happiness.” Fill tall Champagne glasses to the rim and add a vanilla bean for a heady, bubbly treat. Or burn a great smelling vanilla candle.

Wine: (My personal favorite, this one really works!) A glass or two of wine can greatly enhance a romantic interlude. Wine relaxes and helps to stimulate our senses. Drinking wine can be an erotic experience as you enjoy the bouquet and the color. Caress the glass; savor the taste on your lips then share a kiss or two.

Here’s this week’s excerpt from PESCADERO CREEK: Rob is making dinner for Morgan. He has made spaghetti and salad to eat, but what he has really mastered is the ambience.

Rob was in the back of the house and since he hadn’t heard her pull up he was surprised to hear the bell. He turned the burner down under the sauce he had been stirring and secured the lid. Walking back through the living room he did a quick glance around to make sure everything was ready.  He had a fire crackling in the fireplace, low music playing and a few candles lit here and there more for atmosphere than scent, and just a few lamps on. He wore a black v neck sweater with the sleeves pushed up over a white t-shirt and jeans. His landlord had sent someone over to clean earlier and do laundry, so the house had been ready for company when he got home from work. He had put the sauce on the stove right away, went for a quick run and showered before she got there.

He was surprised that his palms were a little sweaty so before he let her in, he rubbed them down his jeans. He opened the door to a smiling Morgan. She had both hands behind her back like she was hiding something. He smiled, “Hey, come on in.”

She held one hand in front of her displaying the clean shirt with a proud look on her face. Then she brought the other hand around with the ice cream “And dessert!” she said even prouder. At that moment he really had to fight the urge to pick her up and swing her around, he was so glad she came and she looked so alluring. She was dressed casually elegant, as always. His heart was flip-flopping.  “Thank you,” He said as he hung the shirt in the closet. Then he offered to take her coat and bag, “What’s in the sack?” He asked her.

“Ice Cream.” She grinned.

One last note-don’t forget to light the fire and turn on some music. With Michael Buble or Tony Bennett, you can’t go wrong. Good Luck and Bon Appetite! Let me know how these work for you!

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Morgan winked at Rob. “Do you want to sit by the fire and have dessert?” She asked him. Rob nodded and rose to his feet then pulled her chair out behind her. Somehow they had gotten tangled up in a kiss when Lilly came back in the room with the coffee and dessert tray. She cleared her throat. Morgan begrudgingly pulled away from Rob as Lilly set the tray beside them in front of the fire. “Goodnight, Miss Morgan, Agent McAllister.” She told them and left the room. They both thanked her. Morgan handed Rob a silver goblet full of warm blueberry cobbler with ice cream melting over it. She chose the peach for herself and leaned back against him in the big chair.

“Great fire.” Morgan remarked.

“Great cobbler.” Rob said.

When dessert was finished Rob poured himself a cup of coffee but Morgan refrained. “I don’t have room.” She said.

“I don’t know why you ever leave the house.” Rob said. “That blueberry cobbler, I may never leave.” Morgan laughed. He sat his cup down on the tray and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his handsome face. “What are you thinking about?” She asked him.

“About how much I want you right now.” He said honestly. He kissed her so deeply that it made her insides feel like they were going to burst. He ran his mouth over her neck and opened her blouse to kiss the tops of her breasts. He kissed her through the lacy bra she wore with his hot wet mouth. She moaned and pressed herself into him running her hands over his hair. “Morgan, Morgan.” He breathed her name in her ear and against her neck; “I can’t leave you alone.” She kissed his lips and spoke against them, “Let’s go upstairs, Lilly might come back in.”

“I don’t think I can walk.” He said. She laughed as she kissed his mouth again.

He stood up with her grabbing her under her bottom while she wrapped her legs around him. She never stopped kissing him or loosened her grip around his neck. He stood in front of the fire with her in his arms kissing for a full minute until they heard the clearing of a throat. “I’m sorry, I knocked but I guess you didn’t hear me, I thought you had gone upstairs, I apologize.” Lilly said.

Rob slowly dropped Morgan to her feet. “It’s alright Lilly.” Morgan assured her.

They left the room and Rob stopped in the hallway. “Hey, I’ve got an early meeting and it’s almost midnight, if I go upstairs with you, you’re going to make me do things with you and to you and for you.” He stopped long enough to kiss her. She giggled. “I understand if you need to go.” She smiled sweetly at him as she rubbed her body against his. He looked down at her face and inside her open blouse, “One more hour won’t make that much difference.” He said grinning.

Now this was obviously not Rob and Morgan’s first date, but it is the beginning of their relationship.Why is it that making out is limited to the start of our relationships? Remember going on dates when you just “made out” and that was enough? Going home all hot and bothered hoping that next time you would go just a little bit further?

When we first meet our significant other and begin the courtship ritual we might not even kiss on the first couple of dates. I realize that times have changed and unless we meet an old-fashioned guy or girl, you probably will have sex within the first couple of weeks, but the nights when you go home by yourself after a heavy make-out session with the anticipation of the things to come can be very satisfying. Having something to look forward to in a relationship is important. There’s much to be said for anticipation.

In today’s fast paced world everyone wants to get right to it, right now. It’s sad really, we are missing out on so much. I guess the “heavy petting” that is the foreplay to our consummated relationships will soon be a thing of the past. Now, that is sad. But those of us that are in a routine relationship can “replace” the romance of making-out with books and movies. People read for some reason. Escaping the hum-drums that can sometimes become our lives is important. When we read or watch movies; we are taken away for a while.

I guess that is why some people cheat. To be involved with someone new, to make-out again, maybe. Drastic measures, I agree. Reading books and watching movies is more acceptable. It doesn’t change the fact that we are all in need of it. Of being touched and caressed; of being loved both physically and romantically. If I can offer that in my novels, than I will. I want to share romance with my readers. Sometimes reading about something can make you look at it differently. What’s wrong with suggesting dessert in front of the fire? What about a glass of wine on the porch on a crisp autumn night as you snuggle with that special someone under a blanket? How about it? How about a few make-out sessions?

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