Good morning! I'm so happy to have Evernight Teen author Melissa Frost visiting today! Let's talk about her newest release, The Dating Tutor: Alec's Story!
Drawing the Line…
The Dating Tutor series is my first attempt at the young
adult genre. When I decided to tackle something for a younger audience, I
realized I had to censor myself for the first time. With my other works, I
don’t cut violence or sexual content. Real life isn’t censored; I’m not going
to do so with my writing. I want it to be gritty and real.
With the young adult, I wanted the same, but I had to
delicately balance what I felt was acceptable content in a teenager’s life. I
had to draw the line on what was okay and what wasn’t. As a result, I
discovered something about writing for young adults, not only is it fun, but it
forced me to be more creative. Young adult has a more romantic element to it
because there is a lack of the frank language used in adult novels. I was
inspired to be more imaginative in my description, more romantic in the characters’
actions. With an adult novel, we know where things are headed – sex. With young
adult, that isn’t always so. Things can progress differently and at a slower
pace. It was very refreshing. It was a nice break from what I usually write.
I will enjoy returning to my uncensored self, but I have
definitely found a love for writing in the young adult genre. I look forward to
doing so again.
Here is a sexy excerpt from The Dating Tutor: Alec’s Story –
“Can you help me learn how to kiss?”
He jumped back as if he’d been burnt. “What?”
His voice was an octave higher than usual, causing him to cringe with
embarrassment. Her request was just so sudden and unexpected. He’d been trying
to ease back into normal territory, and she’d blindsided him with this.
“I don’t really know what I’m doing…and you
seem to be the expert. I just thought…” She shrugged, her eyes lowering shyly
to her hands. “I thought maybe you’d practice with me…or teach me. Whatever.”
“When?” he asked, voice sounding pained. He
felt like a deer, trapped in the headlights of an oncoming car. He saw the
danger as it raced toward him, but he was unable to get out of its path.
She shrugged again before motioning to the
television. “It’s almost intermission…”
Intermission. She wanted to do this now. Panic welled within him. He knew he
should tell her no. He knew he should stop things from getting any more
abnormal between them, but the thought of kissing her was too enticing to let
pass.
He swallowed thickly before bobbing his head in
agreement. Ignoring the rest of the period, he shifted closer to her on the
couch and curved his arm around her waist, drawing her gently toward him. “Come
here.”
He leaned in, bringing his mouth closer and
closer to hers. She wiggled in his arms and released a nervous breath against
his lips that sent a tingle down his spine. “Close your eyes,” he instructed
with a shaky laugh.
She complied, fluttering her eyelashes closed
as she tilted her chin up ever so slightly in invitation.
With a little smile, he closed the remaining
distance and brushed his lips lightly against hers. Just that simple contact
sent the blood pumping in his veins; it sent his heart roaring with want.
Ellie gave a soft, eager whimper. She became
lax in his arms and melted against him, curving her body along his.
“Don’t do that,” he growled into her mouth as
he lifted both hands to brush her hair back from her face. He continued to kiss
her ever so gently, his fingertips stroking along her jawline as he shifted her
hair.
“Don’t do what?” She whispered her reply
between soft, slow kisses.
“Don’t whimper like that.” He ran his thumb
along her bottom lip. “Only make that sound if you’re looking for a full on
make-out session. No guy can control himself after a sound like that.” He moved
his thumb away from her lips before lowering his mouth to hers again.
Ellie leaned into his kiss. Giving another soft
whimper, she lifted a hand to the back of his neck to deepen it.
She was toying with him. Alec knew without a
doubt that Ellie had whimpered again on purpose. It was like she wanted him to
lose control. Well, she was about to get her wish, because that sound had
driven him over the edge. He gave a growl of arousal and slid his hands down
her hips, so he could pull her closer. Her body was pressed tightly against
his, and he could feel her breasts through her sweater. He teasingly bit at her
lower lip before nudging her mouth open with his own. “Mmm, Ellie…”
“Alec…”
The sound of his name moaned from between her
lips was almost as sensual as the feel of her nails grazing the back of his
neck. He could not get enough of her. As his tongue dipped into her mouth to
brush against hers, he debated slipping a hand underneath her sweater.
“I swear this laundry multiplies in the
basket!”
At the sound of Mrs. Harper’s declaration as
she trudged down the steps lugging a large laundry basket, Ellie and Alec
simultaneously broke away from one another. Ellie brushed her fingers
frantically through her disheveled hair while Alec rubbed at the lip gloss he
could feel resting accusingly against his lips. They’d barely made themselves
presentable by the time her mother descended into view.
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