Derek & Melissa have incredible chemistry. They mesh so well as characters, and they are smokin' hot together. I love writing these two.

Part of the way I prepare is by sitting and thinking about the characters, their personalities, their motivations--to get a firm image of them in my head so they act and react consistently.

Melissa is focused, smart, beautiful, strong, and stubborn. She loves Derek very much, but past experience won't let her give in to him easily. She will give in to him (who wouldn't?), and she knows it. But she still instinctively fights it.

Derek is so controlled. He's also focused, smart, stubborn, and HOT, and part of what makes him hotter is when he loses that control. (Like he did in Scottsdale.) I love being inside his head when Melissa tests him. He won't hurt her, but he does need to call the shots. And he will take her.

He's already lost one woman he loved deeply, and he's not about to lose the second one, the surprise one. Melissa has given him what he never thought he'd have again--in two ways. So he's very protective of them.

In ONE TO PROTECT, his control and his ability to have what he wants are both tested. His slip on the reins this time could land him on the wrong side of the law. Lucky for Derek, he has a friend who's got his back.

Ahh... back to the writing cave--more soon! <3