For this week's Sex Advice From…, Hooksexup presented our advice dispensers with a few purple passages taken from romance novels and e-zines. Then we asked them to solve their attendant quandaries.

Gennita Low
Nicholas Sabre is the second son of the Earl of Chesterfield. Since a young age he's led a life of debauchery, due in part to the loose morals of his parents — namely his mother, who left her family for a life in India with her current lover.

How much do you need to reveal to a lover about your sexual past?
Revealing things is kind of sexy, but if a man comes to me and reveals that he's a ho because his mother was one, I'll be very wary. I think honesty is good, but I don't think it's healthy to go into details to a new lover about your sexual past. If he/she's smart, she'll figure out that you're one experienced person if you can bend like that!

From the moment Lady Sophia applies in person for the job as his assistant at Bow Street, Ross is motivated less by good sense and more by his own senses. Clearly, his days as the 'Monk of Bow Street' are numbered.

How should someone approach his or her first sexual encounter?
If you're known as The Monk, man, are you in trouble. I think flirtation is the best form of testing the waters. It's harmless and acceptable, even at the work place. Unless, of course, you're The Monk and you're the boss, then that's sexual harassment. But in general, light flirtation starts the fire, so to speak, and if the other person is receptive, then you can meet for a quickie in the . . . I mean lunch. Meet for lunch.

Although Derek has had many lovers — the latest of which is the very mentally disturbed Lady Joyce Ashby — he believes himself not only incapable of love, but unworthy of it as well.

How much information does a man really need about his girlfriend's life before him? If he asks how many men she's slept with, for example, should she answer?
If she's a secret operative that sleeps around a lot, she'd lie! I think a man really shouldn't ask that question, unless he's suspicious that she is not the virgin she promised. But a real gentleman shouldn't ask a lady how many lovers she's had. Don't ask whether you're the best she ever had either.

Lily Lawson is the mother of an illegitimate girl, the father of whom has kidnapped her daughter. Lily has been led on a merry chase for two years in search of her daughter and is being bilked of her fortune by him.

How can someone who's been burned so badly by the opposite sex learn to trust again?
With a fortune that can be bilked, where are the bodyguards? How can someone trust again? Perspective. This is ONE man's doing and not all men. Time, it'll heal everything. Oh, what am I saying? Kill them, kill them all, I say!

Although the two have never actually spoken to each other, Amiranth has adored Tristan from afar since she was nine, and is trembling with fear and excitement at the thought that she is about to become his wife.

What blowjob advice would you give to an inexperienced woman?
Don't bite. Don't hurry. Don't blow. And yeah, it's really that ugly. Basically, do it in the dark the first time.

As a wedding reception winds down at the ritzy Mark Hopkins hotel in San Francisco, nineteen-year-old Daisy Parker loses her virginity to Nick Coltrane, her former stepbrother. Unfortunately, the haze of pleasure vanishes as Nick casually gets dressed and recants all the love words he fed Daisy, then takes off, leaving her hurt, humiliated, and disillusioned.

What's the best way to get revenge on a former lover who's betrayed you?
Well, if he's my former stepbrother, I'll try my best to seduce his father and become his next stepmother and then make sure he has the worst Thanksgiving and Christmas family get-togethers. Barring that, I'll somehow find a baby boy that looks like him and carry the baby around every time he sees me but won't acknowledge him. Then one day, no baby! I've given him back! Poor man will never know whether I gave away his son. I know, I know, this form of revenge takes a long time, but that's the best kind! I suppose, if you want it short and sweet, you can just let the air out of his tires every now and then. It's a very sisterly thing to do.

Dr. Megan O'Flannery is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly where androids are concerned.

In the absence of androids, what sex toys do you recommend?
Is this a good way to promote my books or what! Pearls (Into Danger) and seat belts (Facing Fear).

Lord Alan Gresham is the sixth son of a duke, a scientist who eschews the world of the town and prefers his mostly solitary life at Oxford. He is corralled by the Regent into solving the mystery of why the ghost of actress Bess Harding is haunting his princely estate. He is very much taken by a young woman with whom he ends up locked in a closet — she is Ariel Harding, daughter of the late Bess.

What's the best position to employ when having sex in a closet?
How big is it? I personally recommend small ones. Have you ever look at the pictures in the Kama Sutra? There is one that shows a woman hanging on to a horizontal pole (think of the rod the clothes hang on) and both her legs are wide apart held up by other women (in this case, in the closet, I think she can just use the hangers for support). The man is, of course, just doing his normal thing while the woman experiences her Nadia Comeneci moment.

Giles is hot on the trail of The Brazen Angel. Despite the fact that she robbed his best friend, he feels strangely protective of the dangerous seductress.

What's the best way to handle a situation in which your friends and your significant other don't get along?
I suppose the best way is to bribe both sides to tolerate each other. I mean, a special massage for the s.o. in return for some polite conversation. And offer to pay for the lube job for your friend's next service. And I meant his/her car.

As Gretchen tries to write her romance novel, she finds that she is curiously unable to write any decent love scenes. Juanita and Lizzie tell her she needs to find a romantic man of her own, someone dark and a little dangerous.

What's the best place to go to meet someone to date?
Someone dark and dangerous? Not at the local laundromat, for sure. I think the best place to meet someone to date is on the beach. You can actually see most of the goodies while making friendly conversation.

Lord Raynor and Lady Elizabeth are forced into marriage by edict of the King after being caught in a compromising position. Rather than accept responsibility for his part in their predicament, Raynor chooses instead to blame Elizabeth's impetuousness.

When tensions are high in a relationship, how do you set the mood for a romantic night at home?
I believe in baubles, the bigger the better! Nothing like a shiny chunk of ice to calm my mean spirits. And if you're woman enough, you can also ever so softly say he's right and you're wrong. Nothing wrong with lying so you can get what you want for the night.

Leah Dubois can’t believe it when J.T. West comes rolling back into town on his Harley. During their torrid love affair over a year ago, he’d done things to her that no other man ever had before…or ever would again.

Is it okay to fantasize about other people when you're in bed with your partner?
Just don't call out the wrong name.

His need for her is beyond control, beyond reason. He has to have her for as long as she’ll let him…or until his past catches up with him. Because J.T. is a man on the run.

What's a tactful way to tell your partner to slow down in bed?
Say, "Whoa baby…slow down" or "Wow, babe, slow down, my head's hitting the headboard"? If all else fails, fight to be the one on top and set the pace.

Sexy-as-sin Marc McCoy has always relished the thrill of the chase. But this is the first time he's ever had to chase a woman. He can't believe his Melanie is getting married — and not to him!

What's the best way to convince a woman to come back to you?
Don't stalk her. Do tell her you're really really sorry for whatever you did and that you really really love her. If that doesn't work, go out with her best friend. But that's soooo mean, and it only works seventy-eight percent of the time. I think the best gentlemanly way to get back your woman is to write her a love letter.

David McCoy likes to live on the edge. But even he never guessed that the gorgeous blonde he took to bed one night would end up assigned as his partner the next day!

What's the best way to keep from getting turned on if you need to stay focused?
Pretend you're Jack from 24. There's a man with focus.

Lt. Tom Paoletti of the U.S. Navy SEALs is returning to his hometown of Baldwin's Bridge, Massachusetts while on forced leave. Dr. Kelly Ashton is also returning home; but she's here to nurse her father, Charles Ashton, who has cancer and only has three months to live.

Tips for having sex underwater?
Where is this body of water? I really don't recommend the Ganges River, lots of human debris, you know? But if you have a nice swimming pool in your backyard, the kind with the disco underwater lights, and there's no one around, and you aren't eating a Snickers bar (if you don't get the movie reference, you aren't old enough to have sex underwater), it should be slippery fun. Please learn how to swim first, though, because it's very rude to die during sex.

After getting publicly dumped — again! — Kyra White is making some changes. And picking up the latest makeover book is her first move toward a new life. Following the step-by-step directions in Sex Kitten 101, Kyra sets out to conquer the male world.

What's a good way for a first-timer to ease into dirty talk?
The cheap way? Go to an adult chat room. There are things going on in there that would melt the wax in your ears. Anonymity seems to bring out the sex kittens in the Madonnas of the world. The best way? Become a roofer like me and listen to my guys talk amongst themselves. You'll be an expert in no time! The sexiest way? Don't talk dirty, be the inspiration for dirty talk.

Alisa Kwitney
How much do you need to reveal to a lover about your sexual past?
Be honest, but omit the details. Just say, "I’ve led a life of debauchery, honey," but don’t actually describe the thing you and the kitchen staff did with the treacle and sausage.

How should someone approach his or her first sexual encounter?
With a sense of humor. What romance novels and R-rated films tend to leave out are the strange squelchy noises and general ridiculousness of the act. Amateur sex is a lot like amateur dancing — enthusiastic, awkward, more fun to do than to watch.

What's the best way to build sexual self-esteem?
In general, it’s best to avoid the very mentally disturbed as lovers. They tend to shout out things like, "It’s a snake, and it’s going to bite me!" Or insist that they are the only ones who know how unstable, shallow and selfish you really are. Restricting oneself to the merely neurotic does wonders for one’s sexual self-esteem.

If a man asks a woman how many men she's slept with, should she answer?
She should say seven, if she’s twenty-five or under. Seven’s a nice number. It allows for a few boyfriends, a couple of holiday flings, and assorted lapses in judgment. The principle here is the same one you use when declaring what you bought in France on vacation to the IRS: You want to be honest, but within reason. If the woman’s thirty-five or under, she can safely acknowledge fifteen. If she’s forty and over, she should just say, "I’ve led a life of debauchery, honey" and leave it at that. (If you work for the CIA, of course, you just tell them that you’re a marketing researcher and have to travel a lot on business.)

How can someone who's been burned so badly by the opposite sex learn to trust again?
I find this question so fascinating that I wrote a whole book about it. The answer for my heroine, Lydia, was to work on creating her own happy ending — moving out of her parents’ home, changing careers — before taking a chance on the hero. I think you have to make a decision to be optimistic about romance. But it’s important to have good friends, a loving pet and a decent vibrator, just in case things don’t work out.

What blowjob advice would you give to an inexperienced woman?
Oral sex is like chocolate; it doesn’t have to be good to be good. If you’re enjoying yourself, he’s enjoying himself. Other than that, just remember, it's really a suck job.

What's the best way to get revenge on a former lover who's betrayed you?
All bad ex-lovers deserve to wind up as anecdotes. The bad ex-lovers of published writers, of course, sometimes wind up as footnotes.

In the absence of androids, what sex toys do you recommend?
Every woman should have more than one tube of lipstick, more than one pair of nice heels, and more than one vibrator. I’m not sure what men should have, but as I recall from Portnoy’s Complaint, they can manage quite well with a piece of liver.

What's the best position to employ when having sex in a closet?
I live in Manhattan, where closets get pretty full. I imagine that the best position would probably be between the winter clothes and the ironing board, but only if someone can get a leg around the shoe rack.

What's the best way to handle a situation in which your friends and your significant other don't get along?
All your friends do not have to get along with your lover, but at least some of them do. If every single friend you have thinks your new romantic partner is bad news, then guess what? You’ve been thinking with the wrong head. If some of your friends don’t get along with your new squeeze, then just keep them separate. Remember, there’s nothing more boring than a couple that’s forever joined at the hip.

What's the best place to go to meet someone to date?
I’ve heard that it’s best to leave the house, but as a writer who works at home, I’ve never actually tried it.

When tensions are high in a relationship, how do you set the mood for a romantic night at home?
Up the ante with a fabricated crisis that affects both of you. For example, scream that the castle is under attack, shove a chair against the door and demand some just-in-case-I-die sex. Of course, there’s always couples' therapy if the siege doesn’t work.

Is it okay to fantasize about other people when you're in bed with your partner?
It’s absolutely fine to fantasize that your lover is a Navy SEAL, a dangerous pirate, Lord Aragorn or even Colin Powell, if that’s the way your bread gets buttered. If, however, you keep fantasizing that you’re in bed with Morty Greenberg who sits across from you at work, then you might have a problem on your hands.

What's a tactful way to tell your partner to slow down in bed?
Clamp your legs around your lover’s waist and yell, "Wait, wait, wait, don’t move!" Mind you, by the time you do this, it will already be five seconds too late. You could also try saying, "Let me be in charge. You just lie back and enjoy."

What's the best way to convince a woman to come back to you?
A bit of concentrated wooing is sexy, but desperation never is. Whatever you try (apologies, sentimental presents and foot rubs are good standbys), hold on to your dignity and your sense of what is appropriate. Rejection may not be easy to take, but it sure beats being slapped with a restraining order.

What's the best way to keep from getting turned on if you need to stay focused?
I have absolutely no idea. Much of my life revolves around various unpleasant duties regarding cat litter, spoiled food and sick children, but my imagination remains resolutely focused on stories of lust and adventure.

Is it okay to have sex underwater, or is that unhygienic?
By underwater, I assume you mean under more than fifteen feet, as any less would hardly require the expertise of a Navy SEAL. As a certified deep sea diver myself, I can state that it would be unwieldy at best. I did write a book in which my hero and heroine make love in a recompression chamber after scuba diving, giving a whole new meaning to the expression "the bends."

What's a good way for a first-timer to ease into dirty talk?
I suggest that a first-timer cover the same progression that romance writers have followed from the eighties to the present, moving from terms such as "manhood" and "the flower of her femininity" to "throbbing shaft" and "sensitive bud." The term "erection" has a certain giddy charm. But be advised: No term has yet been coined for the female genitalia that does not sound overly medical, overly pornographic or overly precious. (Unless you can say "pussy" like Antonio Banderas does in Shrek 2.)

Lisa Kleypas
How much do you need to reveal to a lover about your sexual past?
As little as possible. I believe in the virtues of both honesty and discretion.

How should someone approach his or her first sexual encounter?
It seems to me that in our society of instant gratification, people are missing out on the pleasures of anticipation, on the build-up of attraction and desire. The first date, or the first few dates, should be a process of figuring out what the other person is about…it is only logical that the sex will be a lot better after you establish a little trust, a few private jokes, a sense of what would turn your partner on the most. And then things can get seriously raunchy, and fulfilling.

What's the best way to build sexual self-esteem?
Your own? Oh, anyone can be a spectacular lover, as long as you are willing to educate yourself. There are infinite books and articles on the subject, and when you approach it with a sense of playfulness and curiosity, you can't go wrong. And as long as you are a well-kept and engaging person, there should be no shortage of willing partners to help you in your quest.

How much information does a man really need about his girlfriend's life before him?
There is nothing wrong with keeping one's sexual past private. Sometimes the answer to a question will open the door to a host of many more unwanted questions and worrying answers, when the whole thing could be avoided with a little discretion.

How can someone who's been burned by the opposite sex learn to trust again?
Ah. It's an unfortunate fact that, as with a car, when you take your heart out for a road trip, there will be unavoidable dings, dents, and the occasional head-on collision. After heartbreak, it is helpful to indulge in some old-fashioned wallowing and some long conversations with sympathetic friends who will assure you that your former love interest was a pathetic bastard who will be doomed to a life of misery and failure.

What blowjob advice would you give to an inexperienced woman?
It is, or should be, a reassuring aphorism that in general there is no such thing as a bad blowjob. There is not a man alive who doesn't appreciate the effort! Advice to the nervous newbie: divest yourself of all shame and know that this is a loving act that should provide pleasure not only for your partner but yourself as well. Have some fun! Ask your partner what he does and does not prefer. If the idea of flavored lube makes the whole thing more palatable, I am certain he would have no problem with that. Incidentally, if he will not return the favor, he is obviously a cad who is not worthy of your sexual attentions.

What's the best way to get revenge on a former lover who's betrayed you?
To be happy. To look healthy and stylish. To forget him as quickly as possible and get on with your life.

In the absence of androids, what sex toys do you recommend?
Your greatest sex toy is, obviously your brain, but there is nothing wrong with accumulating a wide variety of potions, DVDs, appliances and assorted paraphernalia for your intimate encounters.

What's the best position to employ when having sex in a closet?
This is a dilemma frequently faced by lords and ladies of Regency historical romances, and also by modern-day parents of small children. Speaking as one of the latter category, I can say with authority that the configuration of your closet will most likely determine your position, and I must caution you to the perils of stray hangers and shoes. If a comfortable and rewarding experience cannot be achieved in the closet, I would advise a heavy application of vaseline to the bedroom doorknob.

What's the best way to handle a situation in which your friends and your significant other don't get along?
You must always lend an ear to the opinions of your friends, who have known you and cared for you a longer time than your significant other has. It is possible that their objections to him could be based on some solid reasoning and that you, in your haze of adoration and lust, may not be seeing him in his true light. But if, after listening carefully to your friends' objections, you don't find their arguments valid, you must ask them to respect your decision. And until either they come around, or you stop seeing him, you should not try to force them all to be together.

What's the best place to go to meet someone to date?
We can only wish that our next perfect partner would have the foresight to come and knock at the front door, and spare us the trouble of searching. However, it seems to me that the internet is the next best thing. With the variety of dating services available on the web, you can scan through a remarkable number of photos, questionnaires and bios, and rule out many inappropriate candidates that you once would have had to suffer through a blind date with. You should also try to meet people through activities that you enjoy, like exercising or taking a class of some kind. However, bar-hopping is one of the worst avenues to dating. Among the risks to consider, is the fact that it is never advisable to meet new people when you or they are buzzed. Because when the buzz wears off…

When tensions are high in a relationship, how do you set the mood for a romantic night at home?
When tensions are high, and problems are brewing, it is hard to escape them long enough to enjoy a romantic night. I think the only way to deal with them is to acknowledge them openly, as in, "Honey, I know we don't agree about such-and-such but I care about you so much that I'm sure we can find a way to overcome the problem, or find a compromise. And in the meanwhile, let's have a cold cosmopolitan, a warm bubble bath, and I'll dig out my Kama Sutra weekender kit from the lingerie drawer."

Is it okay to fantasize about other people when you're in bed with your partner?
Hmm . . . oh, sorry, could you ask that again? I was thinking about Russell Crowe.

What's a tactful way to tell your partner to slow down in bed?
Any criticism in bed should be sandwiched between sincere-sounding praise, and it should be disguised as a compliment. For example . . . "Oh, sweetie, I love being in bed with you, and everything you do feels so wonderful … in fact, I wish you would do that and that even longer … you are so great that I wish you would never stop … in fact, don't stop." Etcetera.

What's the best way to convince a woman to come back to you?
Vacuum her carpet.

What's the best way to keep from getting turned on if you need to stay focused?
Sorry, at this point in my life, it's all about staying focused on remaining turned on.

Is it okay to have sex underwater, or is that unhygienic?
First, make certain that he's brought certified scuba gear, and then …Actually, it really is unhygienic, so go ahead if you absolutely insist. However, you shouldn't complain when you're compelled to take ten days' worth of antibiotics afterward.

What's a good way for a first-timer to ease into dirty talk?
Again with the compliments — they always get wonderful results both in and out of bed. Certainly there must be many features of your partner's anatomy and performance that are worth praising, and the more often you try, the better you get at it.

Lori and Tony Karayianni, a.k.a. Tori Carrington

How much do you need to reveal to a lover about your sexual past?
We believe the "be careful what you ask for" axiom applies at the onset of any new relationship. You don't want to be dishonest, but one-hundred percent honesty in the case of someone like Nicolas Sabre can have brutal results. He'll be judged by how many lovers he's had before he's had a chance to define himself in the new relationship. The information can undermine any real chance for something meaningful to develop between the two as his lover thinks of who he's been with before, perhaps wonders if she can measure up, and doubt his true intentions with her given the broken hearts that litter his wake.
   
How should someone approach his or her first sexual encounter?
With honesty, trust and a sense of adventure. First, Ross should be honest with his growing sexual need for Sophia. He should trust his own feelings for her and trust her. As for the sense of adventure, rather than obsessing over this being his first time, he should use his five senses to explore all the new sensations he's experiencing, and explore everything that is Sophie.

What's the best way to build sexual self-esteem?
In Derek's case, he could start by steering clear of spontaneous, illicit encounters and opening himself up to something deeper. Rather than reacting to that first spark of attraction, he might allow the embers to burn, grow into something more meaningful. Self-denial makes the moment of surrender that much sweeter and perhaps allows for a fertile environment for love to grow. He might try getting to know his potential lover on an emotional level before giving himself over to the physical. While great sex is, well, great, sex with love is the most beautiful thing two human beings can experience.

If a man asks secret operative Nikki Taylor how many men she's slept with, should she answer?
Let's face it, when it comes to women, men don't want the truth and neither do other women, really. We're not advocating dishonesty, but a little mystery never hurt anyone. And when the time is right for sharing this intimate and very personal information — read: when the other person is emotionally ready to hear it — Nikki will know it. One has only to review the latest The Bachelor reality show and Trish's role in it for a prime example of what can happen when a woman is too forthright with her sexual past.

How can someone who's been burned by the opposite sex learn to trust again?
By learning to trust herself again. She must acknowledge and accept that she made a mistake and then open herself back up to the universe and all that's wonderful about life and love.

What blowjob advice would you give to an inexperienced woman?
I think one of the most compelling scenes we've written is when our hero Jake McCoy gives oral pleasure to his lady love for the first time ever in For Her Eyes Only. We have dedicated fans who not only highly recommend the book, but tack the page number of the scene to their recommendation (and, no, we're not going to share it with you). Our advice for Amiranth and any inexperienced woman would be to block out fears of whether she's going about it the right way (is there really a wrong way?), follow her instincts, and be open to her lover's responses.

What's the best way to get revenge on a former lover who's betrayed you?
Move on and be deliriously happy. The guy isn't worth her time or love.

In the absence of androids, what sex toys do you recommend?
When it comes to sex toys, whatever blows your hair back. So long as it doesn't involve children or small animals, the sky's the limit! But toys aren't the only way to achieve a solo orgasm. We've used washing machines and shower massagers in a couple of our books. And fantasy combined with one's own hands can be mindblowingly wild. We'd just caution readers to stay away from anything that plugs into the wall.

What's the best position to employ when having sex in a closet?
Upright and very personal would be our answer, using the door, the walls, the bar and the darkness to explore every naughty sensation.

What's the best way to handle a situation in which your friends and your significant other don't get along?
"You can't please everyone," is what comes to mind. "So you got to please yourself." If Giles comes to the conclusion that he wants both Angel and his best friend in his life, then it's up to him to find common ground for them to work toward building a civilized connection…or keep them separate altogether and demand they both respect his need for the other person in his life.

What's the best place to go to meet someone to date?
Outside your front door. Seriously. You're not going to meet anyone hiding away in your office trying to write about love and sex when you're not experiencing any of it yourself. Open your eyes and invite love into your life everywhere you look, everywhere you go.

When tensions are high in a relationship, how do you set the mood for a romantic night at home?
In Elizabeth's case, she should remind Raynor just how impetuous she can be and work at re-enacting the compromising position in question. Appeal to his desire for her rather than trying to reason with him. And hopefully the rest will come later, preferably after many long, satisfying sack sessions.
   In general, we could say sexy lingerie, silk throw pillows, candles and a good bottle of wine, but that would be a cliché and may or may not produce the results you're looking for…especially if there's a playoff game on that night. Instead, we'd recommend beginning with appealing to your partner in more fundamental ways. A massage is a good way to start. Quiet, suggestive conversation. A touch here, a caress there, and before you know it you'll be in your own compromising position.

Is it okay to fantasize about other people when you're in bed with your partner?
Infidelity is not a subject often broached in category romance. Is it okay to fantasize about other people when you're in bed with your partner? Sure it is. Only you don't want to let your partner in on the fantasy. Or maybe you do, depending on the nature of your relationship. One thing you do want to be careful about is making sure you don't have to fantasize about someone else — especially the same someone else as in Leah's situation — every time you're in bed with your partner. If that's the case, then like Leah, you have to end the current relationship regardless of whether you intend to pursue the fantasy man. It's not fair to yourself or to the person you're with. Besides, your current partner should engage you on every level and should be your ultimate fantasy material. If he's not, what's the point? Move on.

What's a tactful way to tell your partner to slow down in bed?
Actually, this is exactly what our character J.T. does in the book, when he comes to suspect Leah is using him just for sex. He points out that she's held the reins during the majority of their trysts and he wants her to surrender control to him now. When Leah agrees, he sets a much slower pace, reminding her of her promise when she tries to amp things up, and introduces her to a whole new world of sensation, touching her in ways that have everything and nothing to do with sex.

What's the best way to convince a woman to come back to you?
By kidnapping them and loving them senseless. This is what Marc does, anyway! But he's a secret service agent — and Mel is an ex-agent — and there are other elements at play here. We wouldn't recommend kidnapping in reality.
   The best way to get someone to come back to you is by reminding them with talk and action what you had together. Tell them honestly how you feel about them, and slowly get them to open back up to you. You'll also want to introduce some new elements, show a different side of yourself that you were reluctant to reveal the first time around. If it's true that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, then you have to lay all your cards — and emotions — on the table to prevent any regretful "what if's" down the line. If luck is on your side, you'll win back the man or woman of your dreams. If it's not, you'll go on knowing you've done everything you could. No regrets.

What's the best way to keep from getting turned on if you need to stay focused?
Actually, we don't think David ever quite mastered the art of not getting turned on. Let's face it, when a man is attracted to a woman, he's a walking hard-on. Especially when the relationship begins on a highly sexual note with a one-night stand. But his being on the DCPD before meeting Kelly allowed him to tap into his considerable skills as an officer when it really mattered.

Is it okay to have sex underwater, or is that unhygienic?
Depends on the water, really, although I'm afraid we're woefully unqualified to answer this question. We've, um, indulged ourselves in many different bodies of water without any serious consequences, but recommending others do it…maybe a physician would be better able to answer this question.

What's a good way for a first-timer to ease into dirty talk?
Another one of our books! Skin Deep is one of our personal favorites if only because Kyra does a complete physical and emotional one-eighty during the course of the story. But that wasn't the question, was it? Hmm … dirty talk. We'd recommend you test the waters first, find out if it's something your partner is interested in and perhaps set a few grounds rules and a boundary or two…or not, depending on how open you and your partner are to the practice. Then let your instincts be your guide. Pay close attention to your partner's responses and your own. Recognize those phrases or areas that excite you and him the most and run with it!


Passages excerpted from www.likesbooks.com and https://www.toricarrington.com.

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