Blog Tour: Essence of Time by Liz Crowe Deleted Scene
Just a little less than a week ago, my favorite book of the year, Essence of Time, hit the shelves. Yes, you heard right, MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR! Liz Crowe just continues to amaze and astound me with the fabulousness that is her Stewart Realty series. This book completely & totally blew me away and today, I couldn’t be more excited to offer everyone a deleted scene. If you’ve read it, then I know you are jonesing for more Blake, Rob & Lila and I have it!!!! Get ready for a smoking hot sex scene, which Liz is the queen of BTW 
[toggle title_open="Essence of Time Deleted Scence" title_closed="Essence of Time Deleted Scene *WARNING - Mature Audiences Only Heat Level - Through the Roof" hide="yes" border="yes" style="default" excerpt_length="0" read_more_text="Read More" read_less_text="Read Less" include_excerpt_html="no"]Lila blew out a puff of air as she held her dirty hands out in front of her. The lock of hair that had fallen across her eyes wouldn’t budge so she shoved it out of the way. Her back ached and but her head pounded worse. The realization that another month had come and gone and she still had not managed to do the one thing she’d agreed to: get pregnant.
She kept pulling weeds from the long neglected flower gardens with gusto, hoping to shut out the voices that tumbled through her brain. Ones that kept reminding her that she’d failed, again. And not for lack of trying. Oh no. Both Rob and Blake had taken the central mission of impregnating her to heart. And they had both had fertility tests as well, to make sure it was not wasted effort.
The pleasant soreness between her legs mocked her. The recent right-on-time onset of her period had brought on a serious bout of depression. Despite the fact that the men both declared themselves “in no hurry.” She looked up at the large picture window on the back of their house. God help her but she was falling in love with these men. Both of them—if that were even possible. She loved being around them and entertained fantasies of them all together, with Maddie and the baby so much she’d almost convinced herself that it could be reality. Until five days ago.
She sighed, stuck the trowel into the soft dark dirt and planted several rows of geraniums, three flats of impatiens and six hosta plants, hoping to breathe some life into the gardens the men had ignored for the better part of four years. She concentrated hard on the task, trying to drive out the sense of failure. She loved this kind of work, making things nice, working with your hands. She even liked cleaning—loved it really. The beauty of organization and tidiness kept her grounded. She felt a tear slip down her face but clenched her jaw against an onrush of more childish crying.
“Hey!” She fell over from her hands and knees position when a spray of water hit her from the side. Spluttering and cursing she rolled up to sitting and frowned at the sight of Blake, dressed only in running shorts and shoes with his shit-eating ear to ear grin holding the water hose. He hit her with it again, this time square the chest, drenching her and making her leap up to try and escape it.
But he followed her all around the yard, letting her hide behind the huge silver maple, chest heaving and shivering before sneaking up and holding the hose over her head, as the ice cold water rained down on her like a shower. She stood, glaring at him, marveling at the utter perfection of his bare torso, the deep beauty of his green eyes, now bright with amusement. He dropped the hose, yanked her close and kissed her, hard, pressing her up against the tree. She made a half hearted attempt to fight him off, but as he always did he convinced her otherwise.
“You’re an ass.” She muttered around his lips gasping when he lifted her shirt and leaned down to suck her nipple into his mouth. “Jesus, Blake cut it out. I’m filthy.”
“No, you’re all clean now.” He took her hand and pressed it to his shorts, nicely tented with desire. “Watching you plant flowers turns me on.”
She groaned when he slid his hand down the front of her shorts. Teasing her clit, running fingers along her sex, making her want him so badly she… “All right, I’m not gonna do this in the yard.” She yanked out of his arms, tried to muster a righteous look. But he was so bloody adorable, hands on his hips, dark blond hair dropping over one eye. And that unmistakable bulge under his shorts. She bit her lip. Then let out a yelp when strong arms lifted her from behind.
“I agree. Let’s not give the neighbors a show, eh kids?” Rob’s deep voice set off tremors that Blake had already put in motion. She turned, needing Rob’s lips next, feeling greedy, lucky and blessed all at once. These two men were like a balm to her soul. If only she could give them what they wanted from her. But instead of a kiss he gave her a look then picked her up and tossed her over one shoulder, holding out the other hand for Blake. “I’m feeling like a cave man…humor me.”
She kicked her legs, shrieked and pummeled his strong back as he headed inside. “I’m not done out here you guys. I still have half the garden to…ow!” The sharp smack to her ass made her tingle. Rob tossed her unceremoniously onto the huge bed, yanked her shorts down and dove between her legs. She saw Blake over his shoulder, his eyes gone dark with lust as she writhed and came all over Rob’s face and fingers. Blake stretched out beside her, cradled her face and kissed her as Rob made his way up her body dropping down on her other side. She broke away, stared deep into Blake’s eyes first.
“I’m sorry.” A damnable tear escaped on eye.
“Shhh…” he put a finger to her lips, leaned in to lick the tear away. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“That’s right,” Rob propped himself on an elbow, threaded his long fingers through hers. “I for one am finding this process really fun. How about you?” He looked across her to Blake. The two men exchanged a look that nearly melted her from the inside out.
Blake put a hand out to brush Rob’s face. “Yeah. Pretty damn enjoyable.”
“Now,” Rob across her to brush his lips against Blake’s. “I want to watch you guys finish what you started out there.”
Lila felt her face heat up, loved the sensation of the two men on either side of her, protecting her, even loving her. She shook her head to dispel that fantasy. This was sex. A lot of it, and most of it mind blowing but that’s all it was.
“Well, if you insist,” Blake whispered, then rolled on to his back bringing her with him. She stradled his hips, leaned down to kiss him shifting slightly. “Oh God,” he moaned as she raised up then down onto his cock, exhaling at the amazing sensation of his body inside hers. Their slow rocking motion, the feel of his lips against hers, the sensation of being watched quickly brought her body to a heated boil. When the orgasm burst across her consciousness she nearly cried with the force of it. Blake gripped her hips, flipped her over and pinned her beneath him. The climax kept rolling through her, making her cry out and hold him close. “Yes,” he hissed into her ear, his hips thrusting faster and harder as he approached his own release.
His body tensed, his face reddened and she held him tight, capturing his lips at the last minute. The incredible beauty of him, all hers, inside her, with her was so intense she whimpered. Their breathing slowed, bodies cooled and he slipped out of her and pulled her close, kissing her hair, mumbling and nearly half asleep already. Blake had such a hard time sleeping most nights, she knew that orgasm was one thing he could count on to make him relax.
“Lovely,” Rob muttered against her as he curved his body around hers. She could smell him, knew he’d climaxed likely the exact minute Blake had. They were that in tune. “You are beautiful.” He whispered, running his hand down her arm, then over to Blake’s torso. “Both of you.”
Blake mumbled, threw an arm over his eyes. Lila watched him settle into a close to sleep as he ever got. And drifted off between them, dreams of blond haired babies filling her head.[/toggle]
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For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life, and his own desires, without committing to anyone for very long. The reason remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests, and life-long friend. At thirty-seven, while he is close to achieving his career goal, head chef at a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.
After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake’s heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.
Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle.
When Rob s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don’t have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.
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If you haven’t yet discovered this amazing series and would like to know a little more – here is the reading order, along with links to my reviews:
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About The Author, Liz Crowe
Microbrewery owner, multi-published author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz brings years of real-world experience to her life as author. Working in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse PLUS making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry) has given her all the “what if?” moments she needs for many books.
When she isn’t sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications. When free time presents itself you are likely to find her walking her standard poodles or doing Bikram yoga. Her beer blog is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high powered real estate offices. Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.
Alyssa
