I’m delighted to have Wendi Zwaduk with me today to tell us all about the city that inspired her tale for Smut In The City… take it away Wendi!
I
want to thank Tabitha for having me on the blog. I love hanging out with
friends and talking about my stories. Thanks!!
want to thank Tabitha for having me on the blog. I love hanging out with
friends and talking about my stories. Thanks!!
My
story in the Smut in the City Anthology
is titled, Love of My Life, and is
set in Cleveland, Ohio. I don’t live too far from Cleveland and if I want to go
see a major concert or sporting event, Cleveland is where I go.
story in the Smut in the City Anthology
is titled, Love of My Life, and is
set in Cleveland, Ohio. I don’t live too far from Cleveland and if I want to go
see a major concert or sporting event, Cleveland is where I go.
So
why write about Cleveland? I’ve heard all kinds of things about Cleveland from
those who haven’t been there long or have had rotten experiences there. Yes,
there are potholes in the road. Yes, the traffic can be a bear. It’s rough
around the edges and has places that aren’t the greatest to hang out. Don’t all
cities have those areas?
why write about Cleveland? I’ve heard all kinds of things about Cleveland from
those who haven’t been there long or have had rotten experiences there. Yes,
there are potholes in the road. Yes, the traffic can be a bear. It’s rough
around the edges and has places that aren’t the greatest to hang out. Don’t all
cities have those areas?
For
me, Cleveland is so much more than the little things that might drag it down.
We’ve got a thriving theatre district. We get many of the productions after
they go to Broadway. We’re not talking some ninth rate garbage show. Phantom
played in Cleveland. We’ve also got some great little restaurants that take a
bit to find, but are worth the adventure. Oh! And there’s the lake. Yep, we
have Lake Erie right to the north. Want to boat? Water ski? Jet ski? You can do
that here.
me, Cleveland is so much more than the little things that might drag it down.
We’ve got a thriving theatre district. We get many of the productions after
they go to Broadway. We’re not talking some ninth rate garbage show. Phantom
played in Cleveland. We’ve also got some great little restaurants that take a
bit to find, but are worth the adventure. Oh! And there’s the lake. Yep, we
have Lake Erie right to the north. Want to boat? Water ski? Jet ski? You can do
that here.
Then
there’s my favorite part of Cleveland. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’m a
sucker for rock music. I could spend hours listening to it and wandering the
exhibits in the museum. Rock music is where I got my title. Queen’s song, Love of My Life is one of my favorites
and just fit the story. The main characters have had a relationship, things
fell apart and a chance in the city is what they need to decide if they can
have a second chance.
there’s my favorite part of Cleveland. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’m a
sucker for rock music. I could spend hours listening to it and wandering the
exhibits in the museum. Rock music is where I got my title. Queen’s song, Love of My Life is one of my favorites
and just fit the story. The main characters have had a relationship, things
fell apart and a chance in the city is what they need to decide if they can
have a second chance.
Here,
let me give you a taste of Love of My
Life:
let me give you a taste of Love of My
Life:
“Isn’t that a shit? Damn thing got stuck.” Torin
pressed the buttons on the pad. “The phone button doesn’t work, either. Jesus.”
He leant against the wall of the car and faced her. “So.”
pressed the buttons on the pad. “The phone button doesn’t work, either. Jesus.”
He leant against the wall of the car and faced her. “So.”
“So.” Part of her wanted to slink away from him.
Another part of her wanted to run into his arms—except his arms weren’t open to
her. The rest of her chose to stand firm. “What brings you to Cleveland? The
hot weather or the constant road construction? They’re tearing up I-90 again.
The Inner Belt Bridge project has been put on hold so they can implode a
parking garage on Carnegie. The detour has traffic really goofed up. I hear
we’re getting another Casino. Like we need another place to gamble.”
Another part of her wanted to run into his arms—except his arms weren’t open to
her. The rest of her chose to stand firm. “What brings you to Cleveland? The
hot weather or the constant road construction? They’re tearing up I-90 again.
The Inner Belt Bridge project has been put on hold so they can implode a
parking garage on Carnegie. The detour has traffic really goofed up. I hear
we’re getting another Casino. Like we need another place to gamble.”
“People like to try their luck near water.”
“You said you hated the water and the congestion. So
why are you here?”
why are you here?”
“You.”
Zoe froze. He hadn’t just said…no, her mind played
tricks on her. “The Pier renovated the docks, making it really nice down there.
The Galleria has a bunch of new store fronts, so we now have access to an
organic food store. It’s nice. I can run by the lake in the morning then walk
over to the mall in the afternoon and get my groceries and have a nice dinner.
No need for a car.”
tricks on her. “The Pier renovated the docks, making it really nice down there.
The Galleria has a bunch of new store fronts, so we now have access to an
organic food store. It’s nice. I can run by the lake in the morning then walk
over to the mall in the afternoon and get my groceries and have a nice dinner.
No need for a car.”
Torin rose to his full height and crossed the expanse
to where she stood. He didn’t just walk to her, he moved like a cat. All
swagger and slink and those muscles. “Did you hear me, Zoe?”
to where she stood. He didn’t just walk to her, he moved like a cat. All
swagger and slink and those muscles. “Did you hear me, Zoe?”
The possession in his eyes radiated to her core. He
held all the power. One gravely word from him and she used to come in his hand.
No more. No matter how hot he was. Her nipples pebbled and the heat in her
chest slipped southward.
held all the power. One gravely word from him and she used to come in his hand.
No more. No matter how hot he was. Her nipples pebbled and the heat in her
chest slipped southward.
“You like to push buttons.” Try as she might, she
couldn’t look away from his eyes. In the dim light, she noticed the deep brown
flecks nestled among the green.
couldn’t look away from his eyes. In the dim light, she noticed the deep brown
flecks nestled among the green.
“You’ve become jaded.” He stepped closer to her,
enough she felt his breath on her skin. The scent of mint and musk curled
around her. He grasped a lock of her hair and ran the strands through his
fingers. “Who did I come back for?”
enough she felt his breath on her skin. The scent of mint and musk curled
around her. He grasped a lock of her hair and ran the strands through his
fingers. “Who did I come back for?”
“You, so you say.” She notched her chin in the air.
“You came back to this city and all the things you said hemmed you in for me.
You don’t like traffic, hate seeing all the buildings cluttering the skyline
and yet you’re back in town.”
“You came back to this city and all the things you said hemmed you in for me.
You don’t like traffic, hate seeing all the buildings cluttering the skyline
and yet you’re back in town.”
“You don’t believe me?” His voice rumbled down her
spine. “Come here.”
spine. “Come here.”
“No.” She sidestepped him and allowed herself to breathe.
She kept her back to him. If she didn’t see him, she couldn’t fall for him. “I
can’t.”
She kept her back to him. If she didn’t see him, she couldn’t fall for him. “I
can’t.”
“Claustrophobia?”
“Yes.” He’d
remembered. She studied her reflection in the polished metal. “Gets me
every time.”
remembered. She studied her reflection in the polished metal. “Gets me
every time.”
“Let me take your mind off your problem.” He turned
her around and held her in his arms, albeit loosely. Torin began to sway and
sing. “I’ve never found a woman like the love of my life.”
her around and held her in his arms, albeit loosely. Torin began to sway and
sing. “I’ve never found a woman like the love of my life.”
She sagged against him and clutched his shirt. She
figured he’d try to get into her pants. Zoe rubbed her cheek on his shoulder.
She settled into the rhythm of his movements, transfixed by him.
figured he’d try to get into her pants. Zoe rubbed her cheek on his shoulder.
She settled into the rhythm of his movements, transfixed by him.
“You broke my heart, so I gave you your freedom,” he
sang. “My mistake to live with for so long. How can I say I was wrong?”
sang. “My mistake to live with for so long. How can I say I was wrong?”
********
Where to purchase Smut in the City?
********
Like
spicy romance? So do I! Come along on this journey with me.
spicy romance? So do I! Come along on this journey with me.
I’ve
always dreamt of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome
heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in
line. I love playing with words and
letting the characters run wild.
always dreamt of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome
heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in
line. I love playing with words and
letting the characters run wild.
NASCAR,
Ohio farmland, dirt racing, animals and second chance romance all feature prominently in my books. I also write under the pen name of Megan
Slayer. I’m published with Total-E-Bound, Changeling Press, Liquid Silver Books,
Turquoise Morning Press, Decadent Publishing and The Wild Rose Press. Come join
me for this fantastic journey!
Ohio farmland, dirt racing, animals and second chance romance all feature prominently in my books. I also write under the pen name of Megan
Slayer. I’m published with Total-E-Bound, Changeling Press, Liquid Silver Books,
Turquoise Morning Press, Decadent Publishing and The Wild Rose Press. Come join
me for this fantastic journey!
If
you like my work, tell your friends and email me. I love hearing from readers!
you like my work, tell your friends and email me. I love hearing from readers!