We're kicking of this week with the Amazing, Avril Ashton, who agreed to stop by and share her take on V-day. Now I know you're all wondering what she has to say so I'll let her get started.

V-Day Musings

When the lovely Shy first brought up this darling idea, my immediate thought was to share with you loves a sensual moment from one of my books. Sure, there are more scorchers than sensual stuff happening in my dirty little mind, but I figure had to be at least one up in there. I pondered—yes—which book, what scene, and then something happened. I changed my mind.

Why give you the fictional when I've got the real thing?

I'm going to get personal people so brace yourself…no, really. Brace. I'm going to give you a very condensed version of how I met and fell in love with my Mr. Those of you who follow me on Twitter, kindly refrain from mentioning all the times I twitted about smothering him in his sleep with the pillow. This is a Valentine's Day story, damn it. Not Halloween.

Back in the day, when I was but a spring chicken, free as a bird and getting it in all over the place, I found myself alone on a Friday night. Not the norm for me. I had a little red book filled to the brim with names of folks guaranteed to curl toes, rattle bed springs and have you climbing walls. Yet, I was alone. I took myself out to the pizza joint down the street, dressed like I usually was for maximum effect. I got the expected catcalls but no one caught my interest, until I came out of the pizza place with my small pie and Sprite…yes, I remember it well. There were a group of guys standing outside the place, trying to get at me. I ignored them. Couldn't see faces, only shadows. One after the other tried and I ignored them, and then a voice said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" and I stopped.

Why? Why that voice and not all the others? I had no idea who this person was, but I stopped and we walked back to my apartment, talking. Laughing. And when he pulled out his phone to call his kids, to wish them goodnight individually, I didn't run away. *I had a motto of no ex-wives and no kids*

His voice was the most intoxicating thing. Low and rough, buttery and whiskey smooth, all at the same bloody time. And when he regarded me those eyelids hanging low, I knew his game. He stayed in my mind all through the night and the next day I called up my best friend to gush. Oh, he was gonna get it. The next night he came back, took me to the roof of his building where we sat, wrapped up in each other and talked as we watched the clouds move across the sky. I kid you not. He had me at ease, relaxed, and all into him. Not an easy thing.

I liked him, but he had baggage and I kinda liked travelling light.

After we finally did the do, I hid from him for days. I was running scared, because I was feeling things I wasn't ready for. He called and called and I had my roommate give him excuse after excuse, but my best friend convinced me to give him a chance. I called him.

I moved in with him in a one room rental days later. We've been inseparable ever since.

He's my complete opposite. Where I'm quiet, he's loud. Where I barely talk, he goes a mile a minute. Where I'm a reader, he's a thinker. He's all about clean, I'm not. He's outgoing, I'm a hermit. I can list them all, but this would go on for days. Suffice it to say, it's a miracle we're still together. I've put him through a lot and he's down the same. Remember the baggage I talked about? Still around. It'll be ten years soon and I guess I'm reminiscing. They've been years of discovery and celebration, of life-changing moments, too. Loss and gains. Devastating losses and wonderful gains.

The little things remind me every day of what I have. What I want, what I need, they're all wrapped up in him. Tickles and pinches, wet kisses and the rest. The oddest things choke me up; like the way we never, ever call each other by name. It's babe. Always babe. I love it.

Love when he refers to me as his. While I belong to no one and don't need someone else to guarantee my happiness, I want to be his forever. Be his babe until the end of time. It's the ease at which he made my walls domino. Crash down. Shatter.

Sexy as hell.

I'm lucky. Just as he's lucky. I'm a total catch. Totally.

In our house, Valentine's Day is any day he brings me a muffin from work because he knows I like that. It's when he brings home two beers and my favorite ice cream. When he scratches my scalp and does homework with our daughter. When he calls me from work to talk about politics or something he saw on TV.

The little things.

We don't celebrate V-Day on February 14th, not really. It's every day and it's all good.

I hope y'all feel as honored as I do, because it's not often Ash gives us a glimpse into her personal life. Thank you so much for sharing Av. You have my hormonal self tearing up over here. Thanks for stopping by and talking with me.

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Check out her latest release Til Abandon