Old lovers. New lovers. Friends who are lovers.

Can a woman and man be friends only, no sex? It certainly is an age-old question. There are many people who'd say it's not possible. So then, what's the difference between two females, or two males, who have a "friendship only" relationship?Is it genital parts? Hormones? Brain make up? Because body part B fits into body part G doesn't mean Sex has to happen, right?

On the other side of the ocean, there are Friends With Benefits. A man and woman in a relationship for the purpose of "a good time." No commitment. No expectations, besides in bed. Sounds pretty good, depending on which angle you're looking at it. If you happen to be one-half of that equation who falls in love with your "friend" then it may seem like a looming heartbreak, unless the feelings of love are reflected sometime down the road.

Here's yet another element to this question. What if someone stays in touch with an old lover or flame? Would you mind if your partner or spouse stays in contact with an old lover? Most people, I'm guessing, would say no. After all, jealousy is human nature (to a certain extent).

As I started writing Friend With Benefits (yes, I know, the topic has been exhausted) I wanted to do a different story line. Not about two people who are in a sex-only arrangement. Instead, I wanted to show how a relationship buds between a man and woman who are best friends. However, fearing that if one admits their true feelings, it will ruin their friendship. So, this book will travel through the journey of two people who must find a way to work through this obstacle. And readers will teeter between laughter and shock during this adventure.

So, whatever your take is about Friends With Benefits, I hope you'll like my new adventure Friends With Benefits releasing May 6th. I'm enclosing an excerpt to get your adrenaline pumping.

In the meantime, what do you think...Can a man and woman be friends only? Would you mind if your partner stays in touch with an old flame? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Copyright 2013, Rhonda Lee Carver

All rights reserved, Lyrical Press, Inc.

She no longer heard his footsteps. Her breath caught. The presence of her lover changed the aura of her bedroom. The warmth of the room skyrocketed and a faint scent of cologne reached her nostrils. She frantically searched her mind for the fragrance. She knew the smell, but had no time to process the thought. All logical thinking faded when a deep, raspy growl penetrated the air. A lover’s sound of appreciation.

Knowing he was turned on charged her every nerve. Her breasts became tight. Her insides shuddered. She resisted the overwhelming urge to tear off her mask. Would he run away if she did?

A sliver of vulnerability targeted her senses. Yet, she was excited.

Cassie couldn’t be referred to as innocent. She’d had lovers in the past, but nothing like this. All experience floated out the window as she pondered what she should say, if she said anything at all.

The soft thumping of his shoes echoed off the walls as he moved across her hardwood floor. Sounded like he wore boots. Not cowboy boots, but work boots with rubber soles. Was he a construction worker? Her mind conjured up images of tight T-shirt clinging to a sweaty, toned upper body. Worn jeans cradling tight ass and muscular legs.

The apex of her thighs moistened. She had it bad. How could one man, a stranger at that, fan her thoughts into flaming desire?

With use of her sight off limits, her hearing became overly sensitive. She listened to every sound. The rustling of his clothes and a long, drawn-out sigh, then scuffling as he moved to the side of the bed. She pushed herself higher against the headboard, anticipation growing heavy.

He didn’t touch her. She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “Hello?” She wished she could have hidden the eagerness in her voice. She didn’t want to come off as desperate; however, her body throbbed in yearning.

Silence.

She started to speak again, but the mattress lowered under his weight. Her body slid a few inches toward him across the slick material of the cover. She pushed herself back up, regaining her pose on the bed. Her breathing grew heavy in her ears. Her heart raced. Could he hear it?

Although she knew it was coming, she jerked when his fingers touched her ankle. She laughed at her involuntary reaction, but it fizzled. His touch seemed like a laser, sending rivulets of heated awareness up her leg and exploding like shards of glass into her loins.

A sigh fell from her lips before she could snatch it back. “Yes.” She clenched her hands at her sides.

Slowly, deftly, his palm trailed a frenzied path upward past her knee, and settled against her inner thigh. A shiver of need gripped her muscles.

The tip of her tongue slid out and moistened her lips on its own accord. She didn’t care that desire plagued her with physical signs of longing. All she knew was she wanted this man. Apprehension disappeared.

“Please,” she pleaded.

His hand, warm and large, relaxed against her stomach.

She squirmed, started to reach out to touch him, but he clutched her wrists with one hand and held them securely. She moaned. “I want to touch you.”

“No.” His voice came as a gruff whisper.

Friends With Benefits by Rhonda Lee Carver