Now Available in Paperback!

Look at this - It's what you've been waiting for!! You can now get my books in paperback!! Don't they look snazzy?

Underneath the Gargoyle: Part Two

You have begged for it, and I've delivered it. PART TWO of my Underneath the Gargoyle series is now available!!

Available on Amazon Here
Kindle ♥ Paperback

Genre
Paranormal Erotica/Dubious Consent

Synopsis
Part Two of Christina Harding's Underneath the Gargoyle paranormal erotic series: What happens to Trisha in the catacombs?



Also in the Series
Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue
Underneath the Gargoyle: Part One
*You can subscribe to my mailing list for updates on my newest releases.

Advance Praise for Underneath the Gargoyle: Part Two
"Last time, Trisha had naughty adventures at her church, all watched by the cathedral's gargoyles. When they come to life, they ravish her and Trisha finds herself loving every minute of it. But when the gargoyles finished, they dragged her down into the catacombs.

The next day, Trisha's friend Olivia is worried about her friend. So she goes and sees her boyfriend Kyle. Together, the pair discover a mystery at the church and head down into the catacombs.

Trisha wakes up in the catacombs attended by a friendly cherub. She learns the truth of the cathedral while her body is enjoyed by the cherub. But the cherub is merely preparing her for the king of the catacombs, a monstrous gargoyle named Xaphan.

Part One left me wondering what happened to Trisha, and Christina answers. More hot, monster sex fills the pages as Trisha is claimed by first the cherub and then the king gargoyle. But it leaves you wondering what part 3 will hold. And I'm looking forward to it!" ~5★ review by Reed James on Amazon

"The first installment in this series is what got me started on reviewing with Christina, and my only complaint was that it ended much too abruptly. This was certainly one of those stories that cries out for a sequel, and Christina has finally delivered.

The story picks up right where we left off, with naughty Catholic schoolgirl Trisha carried off into the catacombs. Her boyfriend Kyle and best friend Olivia are searching for her, though it’s not clear she even wants to be rescued: A new series of stone creatures is keeping her very busy. What will they find when they finally locate her?

Go pick this one up, you won’t regret it." ~5★ review by Michael Dalton on Amazon

"I do love the update to your story." ~First Pass Editor

"Would it be improper of me to admit that I enjoyed this?" ~Second Pass Editor

Happy Holidays!

Be naughty this holiday season....

... and save Santa the trip!

Enjoy the holidays with a free gift from Christina Harding!!!

As a holiday special, download a FREE copy of Christina Harding's Underneath the Gargoyle on Smashwords! Use coupon code MK29Q at checkout. Be sure to act quickly - the coupon will expire on December 24! If you download a free copy and you enjoy what you read, please consider leaving a review with your favorite retailer.

Synopsis:

Trisha is a Catholic choir member and believes nobody knows the extent of her promiscuity. Little does she know the gargoyles are watching her.

Advance Praise: 

"Great first story! Paranormal/monsters aren't usually my thing but really glad I gave this one a try. I'd be lying if I said it didn't turn me on; it did, a lot. Hopefully the start of a great series of novelettes." ~5★ review by Adrian Ward on Smashwords

"...the main appeal here isn’t necessarily the plot but rather the writing. Christina Harding does a great job of letting us into the mind of the protagonist.... Harding’s masterful way with words helps paint extremely vivid pictures in the reader’s head. As soon as you finish, I bet you’ll find yourself ready for more. The fact that this is first story just makes it all the more impressive. Even if (like me) you’re not normally into paranormal erotica, I highly recommend this story." ~5★ review by Chacebook

"This was fun to read -- clever and sexy and laugh-out-loud funny." ~Editor of Underneath the Gargoyle

"A very sexy read! You won't want to miss this: father/son fantasies, supernatural creatures, and just about every kind of erotic situation you can imagine. Highly recommended!" ~5★ review by Fionna Guillaume on Smashwords

"Trisha is a naughty girl, having far more fun at church than any person should." ~5★ review by Reed James

"Christina has created a book of Erotica that will delight the lover of the genre. She writes with a style and panache that other writers of the genre will envy. Christina Harding is a bold, provocative, creative writer; absolutely and most definitely, more, more, more from her...please." ~5★ review by Billierosie on Amazon

"Underneath the Gargoyle has a solid story line and structure, with a happy ending… for the gargoyles. This was an enjoyable read that flows like a confession that goes beyond the bounds of traditional encounters." ~5★ review by Franklin Deverell on Amazon

"I thought it was steamy in the graveyard, but move past that and find her confessing of her "sins" to her boyfriend's father...Holy Smoke!! That doesn't even scrape the surface, with the rest of the story. I really enjoyed it! It was short, but there was so much that added depth to the characters and the plot. I highly recommend this one and will be reading many more from this author." ~5★ review by Booklover on Amazon

"Smoking hot erotic short! Perfect for those who love paranormal erotica as well as those who prefer the taboo. Loved it and look forward to reading more by this author about what happens under the catacombs." ~5★ review by Bella Swann Erotica on Amazon

"If you have a fetish for naughty Catholic schoolgirls (and if not, what's the matter with you?) this one definitely belongs on your to-read list.... This is a story that ends much too soon, and is indeed crying out for a sequel. Christina, if you're paying any attention to the reviews on this thing, you need to get on it now."  ~5★ review by Michael Dalton on Amazon

Stay Tuned - the sequel is coming in January!!

Morsel Monday: Erotica Editors

As a reader, reviewer, and author of erotica, it makes me sad to see how much this genre is considered unmentionable. I write under a pseudonym because I fear the repercussions this hobby would have on my career. And so, I have to be selective about who I can tell about my activities under this pseudonym. It meant that when I got invited to write content as a guest blogger for Romance at Random, I couldn't tell anyone to celebrate my news... except for my mom (yes, she's cool like that) whose comment was, "The worst part about this is I can't tell anyone!"

I get there are a lot of reasons why erotica is considered unmentionable. There's huge religious pressure against expressing sexuality. But not only that, erotica is not considered a professional breadth of writing. In some regards, we do this to ourselves.

In the time I've spent reviewing erotica, I've seen that a chronic issue within this genre is that it is not well edited. I can see why this happens: erotica is mostly self-published, editors are expensive, and an erotic author may not personally know a good editor who they would feel comfortable asking to review their works, given the nature of the content. It seems like many erotic authors start by writing for their significant others, and then eventually publish these "night-time stories" they've created. With such informal beginnings, it's not terribly surprising that some authors may not feel the need to bring their works to a professional standard.

A further motivator that prevents erotic authors from editing their works is the idea that "sex sells" regardless of the quality of the writing. While this may be true, what I've found after reading so much erotica is that grammatical errors start getting really annoying really fast. Sometimes the grammar prevents me from reading a book smoothly because I have to start thinking too hard to figure out what the author is trying to say. As an author, you want your writing to suck the readers in so that they get immersed in your story, rather than getting distanced from your writing while decoding what you've written.. You don't want your readers to become your potential editors.

With this being said, I think it's important for erotic authors to have their works professionally edited. Not only will it improve sales (never underestimate word of mouth for quality work), but it will also raise the caliber of the erotic genre. While it may be hard to combat our unmentionable status with regards to religious pressure, at least we can address it with regards to the professional quality of our work.

I've had a few people ask me to refer them to editors in the past. So, on reddit I found a thread with a list of editors who are willing to edit erotica, and I wanted to share their info with you. Also, be sure to look in the comments of this post to see more editors listed. Please note that I have not worked with these editors, and so I cannot vouch for the quality of their work. 

Here are the erotica editors who I found from the Reddit thread in question (copy/pasted from reddit):

♥  ♥  ♥

Heather Coman. She's a pro and will edit erotica. Her prices are competitive, but not what I'd consider "cheap" (you get what you pay for, IMO). She is also very detail oriented and excellent to work with.

♥  ♥  ♥

Josh Huff is AWESOME. I really enjoy working with him on my current project and I plan to force my next manuscript on him too!

♥  ♥  ♥

I'd strongly recommend Anya Vossand at Rearing Horse Editing, she does all of my stuff and is professional, helpful, kink/erotica friendly and has a pretty good turn-around speed.

♥  ♥  ♥

Hello! I'm a full time freelance editor currently accepting new clients. I've been working in the erotica and erotic-romance genres since 2010.
A brief resume:

• I've done content editing for Silver Publishing, Featherweight Press, Musa Publishing, and more.
• I've done line editing for MLR Press, Featherweight Press, and Musa Publishing.
• I've done proofreading for MLR Press and Featherweight Press.
• I've done acquisitions for Liquid Silver Books and Featherweight Press.

In addition to my work with publishers, I've done freelance editing for a number of clients including Karenna Colcroft, Mark A. Cooper, and J.P. Barnaby. Under pseudonyms, I've published over a dozen books in the erotica and erotic romance genres, mainly in M/M.
Here are my rates:

• Proofreading: I charge $5 per 2,000 words. A 50,000 word manuscript would be $125. Proofreading includes correcting typos, misspellings, and grammar problems. It's the most basic surface editing.
• Line Editing: I charge $0.005 per word. A 50,000 word manuscript would be $250. Line editing includes sentence structure, repetitive word usage, plus Proofreading.
• Content Editing: I charge $30 per hour. A 50,000 word manuscript can take anywhere between 12-15 hours, though sometimes less depending on the manuscript. This includes multiple rounds of edits with the author, just like you’d receive from a publishing house. Content editing includes storyline, character development, pacing, as well as Line Editing and Proofreading.

For new clients, I offer a test edit of up to 2,000 words. You can email me at AuthorAssistants@gmail if you have questions or would like a quote/test edit.

♥  ♥  ♥

If you are an editor and would like to be included on this post, please write a comment below.

Morsel Monday: Writing BDSM as a Feminist

This is a Guest Post that I wrote, which originally appeared on Naughty Ladies Publications.

I am a self-descried feminist, yet at the same time I also enjoy reading and writing BDSM. These two traits seem to contradict each other. On one hand, feminism is about the equality of the sexes, while on the other hand “dominance and submission” is literally in the definition of BDSM. And so, it has been a bit of a grapple for me to figure out how to rationalize these two opposing values.

In this rationalization, I think it’s important to keep in mind exactly what feminism entails. For this, I would like to refer you to this speech given by Emma Watson to the UN:

If you have not yet had a chance to watch this powerful and eloquent speech, I highly recommend it. Ms. Watson perfectly encapsulates my views on feminism. Unfortunately the word “feminism” has become synonymous with “man-hating” and with cold-hearted women who only care about their career. But this is not the integrity of the ideology which feminism stands for. Feminists simply believe that both sexes should be treated with the same respect and privileges. It would be hard for me to list an ideal which I hold closer to my heart.

However, I remember back to when I was as young as seven years old having dreams in which I was a slave being whipped, which I strangely enjoyed. At that time, I didn’t have the understanding or vocabulary to describe this strange joy, but in my later years I came to realize I was experiencing arousal. This type of dream reached an apex for me many years later when I was traveling in Venice, Italy (strangely enough). In this dream I was being gang-raped by three different completely unattractive men. They were practically fully clothed and I was naked. Over the years I’ve learned to have some control over my dreams, and so I manipulated it to make the scenario as vulgar as possible. I woke myself up, soaking wet. I had to go to the restroom to dry myself off. When I woke up the next morning I had completely forgotten the dream, until I discovered I still needed to dry myself off.

At this point, it’s important to backtrack. Both of the stories I have provided have been dreams. The reality of the matter is that truly whipping a slave or gang-raping a woman are horrible crimes which will have lasting effects on the physical and mental well-being of the victim. Nearly ten years ago I was home alone at around 12:30am when a stranger tried to break into my home with the intent of hurting me. Fortunately the criminal was unsuccessful in his ploy, but it left me terrified of being home alone at night. It’s a fear that has lead me to install alarm systems in my home and avoid being home alone at night whenever possible. This close call nearly ten years ago has made me feel uncomfortable in my own home ever since. I can only imagine the impact it would have had if this criminal had actually been successful.

Clearly I become aroused when BDSM graces my dreams, but pushing this line in reality is a completely different matter. However, that’s where the important distinction lies. Dreams, much like fantasies, are not reality. Many little boys love the fantasy of killing a dragon, but if faced with the “reality” of a huge fire-breathing dragon, would probably feel otherwise. This is the same case with BDSM.

There are many authors who refuse to write BDSM because they “know too many people who have been raped.” I completely sympathize and respect this concern. However, I think psychotic men who would actually rape a woman would do so regardless of whether or not they read my work. A man who would do such a thing has a lot of other problems which have little to do with my writing.

Additionally, I personally found I could only truly appreciate my own sexuality when I learned to embrace my desire for the fantasy of BDSM. Finally learning to embrace and express this fantasy originated in the very safe place of reading BDSM. Then it progressed into role-play with my husband. While this may seem more like “reality” the fact of the matter is that I’m in a loving, committed, trusting relationship, and I know that if I ever seriously conveyed any kind of discomfort my husband would stop immediately. This is fantasy because we’re “pretending.” Finally, I continued to explore my thirst for BDSM by writing some of my own in the form of a paranormal erotic novelette, Underneath the Gargoyle. The fact that this is a paranormal novelette couldn’t underscore more the fact that this is a fantasy. Embracing and exploring my love for BDSM has enriched my sex life and strengthened my relationship with my husband.

I am a feminist who also believes that sexuality is an integral part of human existence and a happy marriage. Sometimes fully embracing our sexuality entails accepting and cultivating a desire for BDSM. I write BDSM because I believe enacting our sexual fantasies in a committed, trusting relationship is another way to express our love.

Morsel Monday: Introducing Michael Dalton!

It is with great pleasure that I'm announcing Michael Dalton has joined me as a reviewer on this blog! Anyone who has perused my Policies Page is well aware that this blog is backlogged for reviews for two years!! And so, I've brought Micheal on board to help me with my TBR list. I don't want all my lovely authors to have to wait such a long time for a review, and so that's where Michael's role will come into play. Michael is "a professional journalist who has published quite a few mainstream book reviews" and so while you all know and love my reviews, the books he reviews will still be in good hands!! You will see any reviews he writes posted on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, and we will both approach my TBR list on a first come first serve basis as described on my Policies Page.

Here is a little more about Michael:
"I wrote my first piece of fiction in third grade (for a teacher who accused me of copying it from somewhere else), and I’ve been plugging away at writing pretty much ever since. In the late 1990s, I discovered the Usenet, and began publishing my stories—mostly erotica—there for about three or four years, garnering a large following and a lot of fans. I co-founded Ruthie’s Club, an erotic fiction web site, in 2001. Family, work, and other things pulled me away from fiction writing for about ten years or so, but I never gave up my love of the craft.

I’ve recently returned to writing and publishing fiction, and am in the process of republishing some of my favorite stuff from my Usenet days, which I have updated and revised. I’m also preparing some new material that I will be publishing going forward. I hope you enjoy it."

Stay tuned - Michael's first review is coming tomorrow!

You can find Michael online at these locations:

Amazon Author Page ♥ Blog ♥ Twitter

Morsel Monday: Seven Lovely Things

One Might say I'm paraphrasing Reed James in this introduction segment.  

I’ve been tagged by Reed James to participate in the Seven Lovely Things Blog Tour! You can read his Seven Lovely Things Blog Post here! In the past Reed made an appearance on my blog when I wrote a review on his book, Roleplay Gone Wrong.

The rules are simple, share 7 Lovely Facts about myself, nominate 15 blogs (or as many as possible) that I enjoy reading, and nominate those same 15 blogs to the do the same, linking back to my post.

So now you get to learn seven lovely things about the allusive pseudonym, Christina Harding:

1. I am heads-over-heels in love with my hubby! I'll be a bit cliche and say he's my other half, and he makes me a better person. Every day I feel like one lucky girl because we managed to find each other.
2. I am a graduate student, but I am also jack of all trades with talents in many areas. And so, despite reading and writing clearly being activities I enjoy, I am not studying the humanities!
3. I am a guest blogger for Romance at Random of Random House, which makes me feel incredibly honored.
4. I released my first erotic novelette in August, and (..........drumroll......) 
5. I'm looking to release my next one in January 2015!! (yay for writing during Winter Break!)
6. At the time of writing, I have ~10,000 followers on twitter, and I've only been on twitter for seven months!
7. If you saw the real-me walking down the street, you probably would never guess I'm the brains behind Christina Harding. Encompassing this pseudonym has been strangely liberating for me.

And now for my nominations (in alphabetical order by first name):

1. Angelica Siren: Author of Learning to Ride
2. Billierosie: Author of Fetish Transcendence
3. Bree Guildford: Author of Georgia Restrained, Zoe Spanked, and Guest Blogger
4. Celia Dunroy: Author of She Craves the Satyr
5. Henry Corrigan: Hosted me in a soon-to-be released author interview!
6. Janey Rosen: Author of the Sebastian Trilogy
7. Jeanie Grey: Hosted a guest post that I wrote. 
8. Karena Marie: She is another erotic author who has helped me out a ton (behind the scenes). 
9. Moctezuma Johnson: Author of The Book of Real and Imaginary Girlfriends and Triangulum Stain: Attack of the Replicating Alien Dildos
10. N.C. Simmons: Author of The Chronicles of Staffordshire and Guest Blogger
11. Roxy Hart: Hosted me in a soon-to-be released guest post!
12. Roxy Katt: Author of The City Pony
13. Roy Station: Author of The Cuckold Game
14. Sarah Michelle Lynch: Author of A Fine Profession
15. Storm Chase: Author of The Maid in the Cupboard and Pandora

Morsel Monday: Blog Appearances

On occasion I've strolled from my blog and had the honor of appearing on other blogs. For this first Morsel Monday, I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize all the blogs which have so generously hosted me. I will be tagging this blog under "about me" and I will be updating each time I make a new appearance. 






06/12/14 The Happy Spinster: How Erotica Saved My Marriage!
08/03/14 The Nomad Scrolls: A Debut Novel by Author Christina Harding! **COVER REVEAL**
08/04/14 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE; CHRISTINA HARDING
08/13/14 Storm Chase Novels: Underneath the Gargoyle: A Debut Erotica by Christina Harding!
08/16/14 Fang-tastic Books: Gargoyle Erotica with Christina Harding
08/22/14 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE; Christina Harding
09/19/14 Romance at Random: Some Like It Hot: Erotica Picks
09/20/14 Chacebook: Underneath the Gargoyle by Christina Harding
09/23/14 Jeanie Grey: How erotica saved my marriage
10/18/14 Corrigan's Cave: Hot Tub Interview!
10/22/14 Naughty Lady Publications: Review and Guest Post
10/30/14 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotica Picks
11/20/14 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotica Picks
11/22/14 Roxy Hart Erotica: How Erotica Saved My Marriage
12/09/14 Little Shop of O's: How Erotica Saved My Marriage
12/22/14 Storm Chase Novels: Christmas Gift - Christina Harding's Underneath the Gargoyle
12/26/14 Romance at Random: Best of the Year 2014
12/31/14 Romance at Random: Some Like It Hot: Erotica Roundup
01/02/15 Billierosie: Writing BDSM as a Feminist
01/06/15 Little Shop of O's: Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue
01/14/15 Simply Sxy: Sexy Reads - Underneath the Gargoyle
01/27/15 Naughty Lady Publications: COVER REVEAL: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE PART TWO BY CHRISTINA HARDING
01/28/15 Goodreads Thomas Ullman: Underneath The Gargoyle. Part 2. By Christina Harding
01/30/15 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE (part 2) CHRISTINA HARDING
01/31/15 Moctezuma Johnson: New Release by Christina Harding: Underneath the Gargoyle – Part Two
01/31/15 Storm Chase Novels: Underneath the Gargoyle II by Christina Harding
01/31/15 Romance at Random: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE: New Release
01/31/15 Little Shop of O's: Underneath the Gargoyle Part 2 Christina Harding
02/13/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
04/02/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
05/08/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
06/09/15 Jeanie Grey: Guest post: Christina Harding on dubious consent

Upcoming Blog Appearances:
Date TBD: Author Interview hosted by @CeliaDunroy

If you would like to invite me to appear on your blog or request a review copy of Underneath the Gargoyle, please see my Contact Page or comment on this blog post.

Cover Unveil: Underneath the Gargoyle by Christina Harding

Available on Amazon Here
Kindle ♥ Paperback

Genre:
Paranormal / Dubious Consent

Synopsis:
Part One of Christina Harding's Underneath the Gargoyle series: Trisha is a Catholic choir member and believes nobody knows the extent of her promiscuity. Little does she know the gargoyles are watching her.



Also in the series:
Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue
Underneath the Gargoyle: Part Two
You can subscribe to my mailing list for updates on my newest releases.

Advance Praise for Underneath the Gargoyle: 
"This was a great short read! As I kept turning the pages... the book got hotter and hotter and more and more taboo. I recommend this book if you like the "forbidden"! Can't wait to get the rest of the story." ~5★ review by Annette on Amazon

"Christina harding is a well recognized blogger, reviewing erotica literature, with a waiting list that is months long. Her own story about her foray into the genre is quite moving. So it's not surprising that after reading so many erotic books, novels, and shorts, she was inspired to try her hand at writing. Her debut is definitely praise-worthy. She managed to combine several fetishes (voyeurism, monster erotica) into a tight, imaginative, and explicit short that left you wanting more. The protagonist's dirty mind and antics are expertly portrayed, and the intended result (yes, that result) is guaranteed. Can't wait for the sequel." ~5★ review by Connie Cliff on Amazon

"Great first story! Paranormal/monsters aren't usually my thing but really glad I gave this one a try. I'd be lying if I said it didn't turn me on; it did, a lot. Hopefully the start of a great series of novelettes." ~5★ review by Adrian Ward on Smashwords

"...the main appeal here isn’t necessarily the plot but rather the writing. Christina Harding does a great job of letting us into the mind of the protagonist.... Harding’s masterful way with words helps paint extremely vivid pictures in the reader’s head. As soon as you finish, I bet you’ll find yourself ready for more. The fact that this is first story just makes it all the more impressive. Even if (like me) you’re not normally into paranormal erotica, I highly recommend this story." ~5★ review by Chacebook

"If you have a fetish for naughty Catholic schoolgirls (and if not, what's the matter with you?) this one definitely belongs on your to-read list.... This is a story that ends much too soon, and is indeed crying out for a sequel. Christina, if you're paying any attention to the reviews on this thing, you need to get on it now."  ~5★ review by Michael Dalton on Amazon

"Smoking hot erotic short! Perfect for those who love paranormal erotica as well as those who prefer the taboo. Loved it and look forward to reading more by this author about what happens under the catacombs." ~5★ review by Bella Swann Erotica on Amazon

"A very sexy read! You won't want to miss this: father/son fantasies, supernatural creatures, and just about every kind of erotic situation you can imagine. Highly recommended!" ~5★ review by Fionna Guillaume on Smashwords

"Wow! It's like this story was lurking on the roof the whole time but I never noticed. If you like Catholic School Girls getting stuffed with big hard marble and want to know how to make a gargoyle purr then you need to read this exquisitely naughty and creative novelette from Christina Harding." ~5★ review by MJ on Amazon

"Trisha is a naughty girl, having far more fun at church than any person should." ~5★ review by Reed James

"Christina has created a book of Erotica that will delight the lover of the genre. She writes with a style and panache that other writers of the genre will envy. Christina Harding is a bold, provocative, creative writer; absolutely and most definitely, more, more, more from her...please." ~5★ review by Billierosie on Amazon

"Underneath the Gargoyle has a solid story line and structure, with a happy ending… for the gargoyles. This was an enjoyable read that flows like a confession that goes beyond the bounds of traditional encounters." ~5★ review by Franklin Deverell on Amazon

"I thought it was steamy in the graveyard, but move past that and find her confessing of her "sins" to her boyfriend's father...Holy Smoke!! That doesn't even scrape the surface, with the rest of the story. I really enjoyed it! It was short, but there was so much that added depth to the characters and the plot. I highly recommend this one and will be reading many more from this author." ~5★ review by Booklover on Amazon

"This was fun to read -- clever and sexy and laugh-out-loud funny." ~Editor of Underneath the Gargoyle

FREE Story - Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue

As a thank-you to all of my fans, I wanted to share with you this FREE story, the prologue for my Underneath the Gargoyle series. It is also available for FREE download from Smashwords.

Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue

A FREE short story by Christina Harding

Copyright © 2014 Christina Harding. All rights reserved. Individuals pictured are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.

Marissa stares up at the gargoyles at the top of the church and frowns. She fumbles with her polaroid camera, frames one of the gargoyles in the viewfinder using the zoom function to get a close-up, and snaps a picture, her fingers going numb in the frigid cold air. I wish I had my textbook on gothic churches with me, Marissa thinks as she stands in front of the church, waving the polaroid and waiting for it to develop. Her eyes widen with excitement as she remembers she did, in fact, bring the text.

Still waiting for the photo to develop, Marissa sits down on the steps of the church, despite the fact that they have iced over, and flips through the pages until she finds what she’s looking for. There is an entire chapter devoted to this church with detailed photographs of its features, including the gargoyles. She finds a photo of her gargoyle, the one who looks like a dragon. He is sitting in a crouching position, as usual, and he is baring his teeth as if he’s about to exhale a ferocious flame of fire.

The polaroid of this same gargoyle is starting to come into focus, but his teeth aren’t bared. He’s crouching, but he’s staring almost peacefully off into the distance. Her heart racing, Marissa slips the photo into the text as a bookmark, and stands up to get another look at the gargoyle.

His teeth are bared again like in the textbook, but not like the polaroid she took just moments ago. What the heck? Marissa thinks. Trembling, she looks down at her polaroid again. How could this be possible? The gargoyle must have moved while I was flipping through my textbook! she thinks. She takes another photo of the dragon-like gargoyle, now baring his teeth, and then sets off, hustling to the university with a skip in her step.

♥ ♥ ♥ 

“Professor John!” Marissa calls out to her thesis advisor, knocking on the door to his office. He opens the door.

“Marissa!” he says, sounding surprised. “Come on in!” he opens the door wide, and Marissa slips through. His office is warm and welcoming with a fire sparkling in the fireplace. 

“I have found some solid evidence to support my theory of cryptozoology.” she announces, excited and still breathless from running.

Professor John closes the door to his office and sits down at his desk, waving for her to sit down too. “What have you found?” He sounds eager.

“The gargoyle on top of the church,” she pulls out her two photographs, “I caught him moving today.” Marissa hands her photos to the Professor.

He adjusts his reading glasses and gives the polaroids a long look. “When did you take these pictures?”

“Maybe fifteen minutes ago. I came straight here. I took the photos only about a minute or two apart,” Marissa rushes to explain.

“You realize the implications of this are huge?” Professor John says, placing the pictures on his desk. “This could be a major breakthrough in the study of cryptozoology.” Marissa’s heart swells with excitement, but the professor continues, “You know, not everyone is going to believe the authenticity of these photos. To date, every picture of a cryptid has been debunked. How are you going to prove that your photos are genuine and that they were taken only within minutes of each other? Who’s to say they weren’t taken years apart and that the gargoyle was not modified?”

Marissa finds herself flushing; she was not expecting such a skeptical reaction. Stammering for a response, she asks, “Do you believe me?”

“I think, a girl such as yourself, should not sully her hands in such matters.”

Shocked, Marissa is speechless.

Noticing her vulnerability, Professor John continues, “It must have been hard to get here so quickly.” He looks pointedly at Marissa’s stretching belly. “When are you due?”

Marissa rubs her growing bump, finding her voice again, “In thirty-five days.”

“As it seems, a child out of wedlock will cast shadow on your moral integrity. You are going to need someone to support your claim, someone with credibility.”

“As my thesis advisor, can’t you…?” Marissa begins to ask.

“Oh yes, that would seem like the obvious choice, wouldn’t it?” Rising from his seat, Professor John rounds his desk and approaches Marissa, “That would require extra effort on my part. And so, I would expect extra from you in return.”

Hoping she’s hearing him correctly, Marissa eagerly responds, “Oh thank you, Professor! I would be happy to do whatever it takes!”

Professor John reaches up and brushes the hair on the side of her cheek. “I was hoping you would say that.” His hand traces down her neck and starts circling her breast.

Marissa tries to back up, but has nowhere to go. She tries to protest, “I love Matthew Cohen.”

“Even though he won’t marry you? He has left you for any man to take.” Professor John reaches up with his other hand and starts caressing both of her breasts.

“Matthew’s status with the church requires certain obligations.” Marissa futilely explains. She tries to squirm away from the Professor.

“None of this. Lay down on my desk now,” the Professor commands.

“No, and get your hands off me!” Marissa insists. She stands up and attempts to brush by the Professor, but he blocks her way.

“If you’re not going to play nicely, I can just get rid of your evidence,” the professor says, grabbing the polaroids off of his desk and holding them over the fire.

“No! Don’t!!” Marissa exclaims, lying down on the desk. “Please….”

“I knew you would come around.” Much to her surprise, the Professor grabs the elastic waist band of her maternity clothes and pulls them down exposing her to the office. Marissa tries to clench her legs together in a last attempt for modesty, but even as she does so, she feels her pussy start to tingle with expectancy.

The Professor pries her legs open and props them on his shoulders, one on each. Marissa feels the heat of the fire directly on her most private space as it starts to drip. Out of obligation, Marissa cries out, “Please don’t. I love Matthew!” even though her body is yearning for more.

Ignoring her pleas, the Professor zips down his fly and pulls out his swollen cock through the front of his boxers. Even though the skin around his potbelly is loose with middle age, his rod is still firm and hard, ready to enter this flesh which is thirty years younger than himself.  Professor John caresses Marissa’s youthful labia with the head of his dick, following the folds around her cunt. Marissa tingles as a rush of blood to her pussy makes her fully engorged. She moans.

The professor is still fully dressed in his suit, his pants hiked up around his waist. Just his pink, swollen dick is unveiled, poking out of his boxers from a mass of curly pubic hair. Meanwhile, Marissa is completely exposed from the waist down, and her shirt is starting to ride up over her swollen belly.

Smearing his pre-cum across her labia, the Professor observes, “I wonder how much you really love him. You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit.” He poises the tip of his cock right at the opening of her throbbing hole, entering her with just the head, wavering on the brink of her crevice.

“Oh please…” Marissa starts whimpering. But as she says it, she realizes she’s not asking him to stop, but actually begging for more. 

“Now tell me, what are you planning on naming your child?”

Marissa tries to focus, “If it’s a boy, we want to name him Kyle.”

The Professor enters her completely. Marissa’s vagina seizes with surprise, but releases with pleasure. She feels a gush of wet escape her pussy. “Kyle is a solid name,” the Professor tells her.

He draws slowly out of her, but then thrusts in again, quickly. Marissa shouts, “Oh, Professor John!” Her body shakes with pleasure, droplets of sweat forming on her pregnant belly.

Her baby has increased the pressure inside of her, making her tighter than she was as a virgin. Her toes curl as she revels in the exquisite sensation. She’s more sensitive than she’s ever been before. Maybe it’s the change in my hormones? she asks herself. Marissa can feel Professor John’s every movement as his aged, but rigid, cock rocks inside of her. “You are so tight,” he moans.

The Professor cups his hands around her belly and feels her baby kick. “Your child knows you aren’t being faithful to its father.”

Marissa feels the baby kick too, and tingling excitement ripples across her abdomen. She looks up at the professor and sees his face contort in pleasure, his bifocals sitting askew.

The professor reaches down and starts stroking Marissa’s clit. Her legs twitch involuntarily, and her body shudders.  Marissa grabs the edge of the desk and pulls herself towards her superior so that he can drive more deeply into her. The Professor grabs around Marissa’s legs with his free hands and bucks harder into his student.

All of a sudden Marissa, feels her orgasm coming. “I’m almost there!” She rolls her head back, “Don’t stop!!” The professor obliges, continuing to pump into her and rubbing furiously on her clit.

Marissa and Professor John reach climax at the same moment. She twists and contorts as the pain of a contraction mixed with the releasing pleasure of an orgasm emanates across her body. John clutches her legs to his chest as he shoots deep within her expectant body. He lets out a grunt of pleasure.

There is a knock at the door.

Abruptly both teacher and student are both brought back to the present. Before they have a chance to respond, the door opens and they hear, “Is everything okay Professor?” Then a head pokes through the door.

It is Matthew. 

His eyes go round as he takes in the scene in front of him.

Marissa stumbles up as best as she can with her baby bump. “Matthew, this is not what it looks like!”

Matthew’s face gets dark. “I saw he was inside of you. I know what happened here; there’s no need to say anymore.”

“No, Matthew!” Marissa insists, but Matthew has snapped the door shut. Tears start to stream down her face.

“Like I said, he’s left you available for anyone to take. And, there’s no need to lie; we both know you enjoyed it,” the Professor tells her, zipping up his pants. He casually picks up her polaroids on his way out of the office and tosses them into the fire. “Also, the cryptozoology of the gargoyles – that needs to remain a secret.”

If you liked Christina Harding’s free story, then you may enjoy the rest of her UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE series as well. A PROLOGUE is also available for FREE download from Smashwords.

You can also Subscribe to Christina Harding Erotica for updates on her writing escapades.

Christina Harding is a pseudonym. She is a guest blogger for Romance at Random of Random House and the author of Underneath the Gargoyle, a paranormal erotic series. She also blogs at www.christinahardingerotica.blogspot.com and tweets @tinaerotica. Christina is happily married and enjoys reading sexy stories with her husband.

Alias Unveil

I wanted to start out by saying a huge thanks to everyone who voted on my alias poll!! For formality, this is the alias who won:

However, in this process for obtaining my own unique alias, one of my fans (who asked to remain anonymous) offered to create a custom alias for me!! How cool is that!?! I got to add some artistic input, and ended up with an image that fit my original vision. With that being said, I would like to introduce you to my new official alias, who will be representing me across the internet!

She's sexy - no? hehe.

I do own the rights to this image, so please respect my rights, and the rights of the artist who so kindly made this image for me.☺

Here's a big SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to the fan who created this image for me!!!

Alias Poll

*Eventually* I'm going to purchase an official alias to represent my pseudonym, Christina Harding, across the internet (on twitter, this blog, and who knows where else she'll venture.) Help me choose which alias will represent Christina! 

BTW you can click on the image below to see the options in more detail.

Of the above photos, which is your favorite alias?

Alias #1

Alias #2

Alias #3

poll creator