On the fifth day of Kissmas...Renee Knowles

Going Topless
by Renee Knowles
Siren Publishing
Genre: Erotic Chick Lit/Women's FictionLength: Full Novel (62,000 words)
ISBN: 1-933563-74-5
Out Now!!!
http://www.sirenpublishing.com/
http://www.reneeknowles.com/

BLURB:

Susannah never thought she'd end up 39, widowed and alone. Then her sister takes her on an impulsive trip to Amsterdam where a hot younger man reawakens her sexuality. But can she learn to love again?

EXCERPT:
As she scanned the beach, Susannah caught sight of two gorgeous dark-haired women to the left of them. She adjusted the new Gucci sunglasses she'd bought yesterday. "Are those women not wearing any tops?"

Hagen's gaze followed hers. "Yes. I mean, no. They are not."

"And that is okay here?"

"Why not?"

Why not? Well, there were families on the beach for one. Although the children playing in the water didn't even spare a glance toward the half-naked women.

Fascinated by the women's brazenness, her eyes drifted back to them. The topless twosome had smooth, cocoa-colored skin with firm, perky breasts. They were Italian or Spanish, perhaps. And as Susannah glanced around, she noticed they weren't the only two sunbathing exposed.
Hagen stared at Susannah, his brown eyes twinkling. "Why are you so curious? Would you like to take your top off?"

"No! No. Are you insane?" Her 34Bs would stay right where they belonged, under wrap. She glanced down at her navy halter. "The girls are fine and dandy as they are, thank you very much."

His fingers slowly made their way down her bikini neckline to the top of her décolleté. "They are very beautiful. You have nothing to hide." His knuckles stroked her intimately, and his voice came out low and husky.

A bead of sweat darted down her back, and it was as much from the heat of Hagen 's words, as from the heat of the sun.

She cleared her throat. "I think I'll stick with hiding all the same."

"Yes. You must be good."

That was who she was. Good, proper, sweet, Susannah.

Hagen shrugged and reclined back. "It matters little to me. I only thought you might want to be less uptight."

Her spine stiffened. "I am not uptight. I merely choose not to show my breasts to all of the Netherlands ."

"Okay."

"You don’t believe me?" she asked.

"Fine. You are right. Be yourself.""Be myself?" Susannah said, puzzled. "Do you mean suit myself?"

"Ja, yes. Just do what you want."

"I will." She lay back down and closed her eyes, letting the sun beat down on her. She wasn't going to be talked into something so…wild. After all, she was nearly forty. And she was no exhibitionist.

She cracked her eyes open. "How come you’ve never asked me my age?"

"Because it doesn’t matter to me."

He said it so matter of fact. Maybe it didn’t matter. Maybe she was making way too much of this.

Susannah pushed herself back up and watched Chelsie and Mattie splash around in the water. Chelsie wore a hot Rio-style bikini, but Mattie had on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Mattie certainly didn't take any chances.

Is that how Susannah wanted to live? Respectable, modest, and boring?

She checked to be sure Courtney and her crew weren't paying any attention to them. This would probably be the stupidest, most ridiculous thing she'd ever done. But in one quick motion, she unhooked her halter-top and flung the scrap of silky material to the towel.

"Fantastisch," Hagen breathed as he stared wide-eyed at her. He let out a low whistle.

She moved toward him, her breast skimming his arm. The sensation made her nipple tingle and tighten. "Uptight, my ass," she whispered.

He laughed. "You are one amazing woman, Susannah."

Susannah rested back down with a smile on her face. The warmth of the sun hitting her boobs felt unfamiliar and more than a little naughty. She had to resist the urge to cover herself up with her hands. Hagen seemed completely comfortable to blatantly watch her.

"It's rude to stare," she teased. Yet he didn’t laugh. Hot desire burned in his eyes, and his eyes weren't the only thing responding.

"For a man who said he didn't care what I did, it certainly looks like you care."

He turned onto his stomach, and then smiled. "I lied."