Category: Paranormal Romance

Get Your Shifter On!


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I’m so excited to announce a new paranormal trilogy! For the were / shifter lover, I’ve just wrapped up these three sexy, fast-paced novellas that are a little suspenseful, a little humorous, and a whole lot of fun. And like any good pimp, I’m giving the first one away for FREE!

Set on the Mexico border in and around Nogales, AZ, the Lone Wolf series is in a fictional world where the werewolves live out in the open, the authorities operate in the gray areas (and sometimes they’re not the good guys), and local packs rule with an iron claw. Ash, a Lone Wolf who left his outlaw pack to try and be a respectable citizen, meets Sherri, a disillusioned FBI agent, and the two hook up for a wild that turns into something much more complicated (and dangerous). Much like my Chronicles of Yavn series I couldn’t be content to tell only Sherri and Ash’s story, though – there’s a whole cast of characters including a Jaguar shifter, a human sniper who works for Ash’s old pack, and an FBI agent who’s… well, we’re really not sure what he is. They each have their own little part in these novellas:

About Wild Nights with a Lone Wolf:Wild_Nights_with_a_Lone_Wolf_Staab_hires

Agent Sherri Walker needs a change of scenery. Her former lover nearly tanked her career, forcing her to take a leave of absence. A few drinks and a one-night stand with a sinfully hot stranger look like a great way to take her mind off her troubles, until that stranger’s past lands her in a new world of danger.

Asher Hughes left his outlaw pack but couldn’t ditch the bad blood. A lone wolf who’s always refused to bond, Ash is left wanting more after one night with a beautiful, spirited human. Worse, it puts Sherri in the crosshairs of an old pack enemy, and the only way to save her is to claim her as his own.

Get it: AmazoniBooks | B&N | Kobo | Goodreads

About Wicked Days with a Lone Wolf:WD_LW_promo3

Sherri Walker quit her job and changed her zip code for a man who is often known to howl at the moon. When she trips over a dead body and her criminal ex pops up, she’s forced to confront her past and take a detour from her spontaneous future. Suddenly nothing is clear and Sherri questions an already unlikely relationship. Is Ash her future, or is the danger of loving a werewolf too much to handle?

Even though he’s left his pack, Asher Hughes still values family. His sister-in-law needs protection, but the new love in his life may be in danger as well. Sherri’s ex is whispering poison in her ear, and Ash is feeling pulled between old loyalties, and the chance at a new beginning with the human he wants. It’s enough to make anyone, man or beast, go crazy.

Get it: AmazoniBooks | B&N | Kobo | Goodreads

About Blood Moon Over a Lone Wolf (coming 4/7!):
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Humans vs. shifters. Good vs. evil.
In the third book in the Lone Wolf series, lines blur and loyalties are put to the test:Will Ash put blood before his human’s love? Will Kyle shun Jett’s newly found affection and return to the pack that nearly destroyed them both? Protecting Zoe could cost Lane everything, but he may be the only person who has the power to keep her safe.

Meanwhile, the blood moon looms over them all, transforming lovers into strangers and weakening those who gain their power when the moon is bright.

 

I had SO much fun writing these novellas, folks! I hope to write more, if the interest is there. So let me know, either by email or leaving a review for the book at your favorite vendor. It was an idea that popped into my head one afternoon, and I couldn’t let it go. I’ve fallen so in love with these characters. I hope you do too!
Happy reading!!

 

Seductive Supernaturals Release Day + Giveaway!

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W00000t!! It’s release day for the Seductive Supernaturals box set, and I’ve all the info for you about this amazing boxed set that I’m SO psyched to be a part of. Right now, Seductive Supernaturals is only .99 for a limited time. (Regular price 9.99.) That’s right—for only .99, you’ll get 6 full-length novels and 6 novellas from bestselling authors! Bought separately, these books would cost over 40.00. You cannot beat that deal! 

To celebrate, I’ll be giving away a copy of the bundle and a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card at the end of this post, so you can treat yourself to something fun!

Impatient? Get Seductive Supernaturals at the following locations: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads (it IS only .99 cents!)

This Amazon bestselling bundle is all standalone books, no cliffhangers, for (again) a great low price! You can cozy up with sexy bad boys and tortured alpha heroes in these 12 steamy full-length paranormal romance novels and novellas from NY Times, USA Today, and national bestselling authors, just in time for Halloween!

And this is what you’re gonna get… (read on for a blurb and snippet for each story, and the giveaway entry form!)

From NYT bestselling author Erin Quinn, who writes dark paranormal romance. Her books have been called “riveting,” “brilliantly plotted” and “beautifully written.” More at erinquinnbooks.com, http://www.facebook.com/ErinQuinnAuthor , and http://twitter.com/#!/ErinQuinnAuthor .

DIABLO SPRINGS

Gracie Beck vowed that she would never to return to Diablo Springs, but the haunted town lures her back—along with the man who betrayed her years ago. Reilly broke her heart with his lies. Now, he wants a second chance to win her, but can they survive the ghosts of Diablo Springs?

Snippet:

 

Surprise darkened his eyes. Uncertainty shadowed them. Gracie didn’t give him the chance to make a decision—wrong or right. She took his face between her hands and kissed him. Earlier, in the kitchen, too much of their past had been churned to the surface. She’d needed a moment to let it settle, to let the doubts sift to the bottom so she could see what was important.

Reilly had done what he’d thought best. So had she. They’d made the decisions of teenagers—the same age as the two children who slept across the hall. Using those choices as a measuring rod now would be as foolish as the choices themselves.

Besides, through it all, in spite of it all, there was still this—the fire, the passion that led them to her pregnancy in the first place.

 

From NY Times and USA Today Bestseller Caridad Pineiro, a Jersey Girl who just wants to write, and travel. Caridad is the author of over 40 novels/novellas and loves romance novels, super heroes, TV and cooking.

www.caridad.com

Twitter at https://twitter.com/caridadpineiro

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author

 

VAMPIRE REBORN

Would you be reborn for love? Ryder Latimer, sexy Southern vampire, will have to make one of the most difficult choices in his undead life: Become human again or protect his new wife and child.

 

 

Snippet:

“No, Di.  In the mirror.  I can see myself in the mirror.  Just faintly, but my image is there.”

He waited for her disbelief, but instead there was only calm acceptance as she trailed her hand across his cheek and then skimmed it down to run across the bare skin at his shoulder.  “You’re warmer, too.  When you’re not in your vampire state that is. I noticed that you’re warmer the other night in bed.”

He’d thought so also, but had been afraid that it was just his imagination or maybe the changes in Diana.

Much like he’d had a taste of slayer blood, so had Diana in order to save her life during the birth of their daughter.  Combined with his turning her, she was now a dhampir like their newborn child, and gifted with some vampire strength and healing, but also with mortal limitations.

“Do you think it’s possible that . . . I’m different?  That the slayer blood did something?” he asked.

 

From Erin Kellison, the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of dark fantasy romance, including the Shadow series and the Reveler series.

http://erinkellison.com/

https://www.facebook.com/erin.kellison?fref=nf

https://twitter.com/EKellison

 

SHADOW FALL

Just discovering her magic, ballerina Annabella Ames didn’t mean to summon a dark wolf from Twilight, nor the tempting fallen angel Custo Santovari, who has no place in Heaven. The cunning wolf stalks them relentlessly, and danger seduces as they fight for redemption and love.

Snippet:

She’d had one lover before, long over, but never, even at the peak of that passion, had she felt a fraction of the desire Custo evoked with the rake of his lust-hungry eyes. How could it be that an angel and temptation were one and the same?

Annabella’s breath caught as Custo leaned forward and found her jaw with his mouth, whispering against her skin as he traced a line toward her lips. “Your mind is a jumble, but it’s clear the direction you’re going. Decide already.”

The thought of her body under his, his muscles bunching, broad shoulders flaring as he braced himself over her had the burn coiling into a sublimely torturous, yearning knot. She was happy, celebratory, and, yes, she wanted it all. She wanted him.

 

From Lisa Kessler, an Amazon Best Selling author of dark, passionate, paranormal romance, including the Award-Winning Night Series and Moon Series.

http://Lisa-Kessler.com

http://facebook.com/LisaKesslerWriter

http://twitter.com/LdyDisney

 

NIGHT ANGEL

When Colin Flynn returns home to Ireland, the immortal Night Walker’s flesh has healed, but the scars hide a broken spirit. Juliana Duffy plays piano in spite of her deafness, challenging him to redefine himself and find the strength to battle an ancient enemy.

Snippet:

He tipped his head. As she came around the bar, he turned his attention back to Juliana. Her determined stance reassured him. She was a fighter, heart and soul. He didn’t need to peer into her mind to see it. “I’ll meet up with you before sunrise.”

He stepped closer to her, the floral scent of her skin enticing him. She tipped her chin up, staring into his eyes, as his finger tenderly traced her jawline. He had to touch her soft, warm skin. This woman had been through enough already. Losing her cousin would surely break her. He needed to protect his territory, but now it was personal. He had to protect Juliana. And right now, that meant finding Muriel. He could not fail.

Leaning closer, he whispered, “Please be safe.”

Her lips parted, tempting him to bridge the distance between them. Before he could act, she rose on her toes and her lips tenderly brushed his, setting fire to his ancient soul. She lowered, breaking the kiss, her lashes fluttering up as she stared at him.

 

From Chris Marie Green, the BookScan bestselling urban fantasy author who writes the Vampire Babylon and Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire, series.

www.chrismariegreen.com

http://www.facebook.com/chrismariegreen

https://twitter.com/ChrisMarieGreen

 

SHADOWS TILL SUNRISE

Two monster hunters fighting a star-crossed attraction and one bloodthirsty phantom leaving a trail of death… Can love survive till the sun rises?

Snippet:

The boots were clinging to me like fingers clawing their way down my skin, leaving delicious shivers that floated up, arousing me higher and higher. I moaned under his lips, wanting more, wanting to be anywhere but here with him…

I might have even made a small, agitated sound when he ended the kiss, his mouth less than an inch from mine, so close that I could feel every warm word echo against me.

“Now,” he whispered, “I can concentrate with a clear head, cher.”

And, with that, Philippe Angier set me back on my feet, tweaking my chin and walking away.

 

From USA Today bestselling author Mary Leo, who writes romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and mystery. Her books have been described as “a must-read,” “thought provoking,” “delicious,” and “delightful.” Please visit her at: www.maryleo.com

https://www.facebook.com/maryleoauthor

https://twitter.com/maryleoauthor

 

A SHADOW AT TWILIGHT

They say Hotel Colorado is haunted, but when Dillon Spencer appears in his hotel room to find Hilly Thompson, his assistant, soaking in the tub, he begins to question whether or not he’s alive, dead or caught in another dimension.

 

Snippet:

“You can’t be here. It’s impossible. You’re too near death to be so well.” She tried to think of scenarios that could have brought him out of his coma and into the room, but none of them made any sense.

He pointed at a black leather notebook on the dresser in the corner of the room. “My things seem to be everywhere, along with yours. Yet you say we’re not dating, and there you are exposing yourself to me in the bathtub. Odd, don’t you think?”

A pang of guilt swept over her. “I, um, can explain everything. I was tired and—”

“You have feelings for me. I felt it when you touched my face. Those feelings aren’t love, they’re something else. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but then I can’t seem to put my finger on anything.” He giggled, and swiped at a towel hanging on a metal rack. His hand seemed to pass right through it.

 

From USA Today bestselling author Maureen Child, the award winning author of more than 130 romance novels in several different genres. More at www.maureenchild.com .

 

MORE THAN FIENDS

At 32, Cassidy Burke discovers she’s a legendary Demon Duster. But she’s got bigger problems than some pesky demons. Like, Logan Miller–first love, baby daddy to her genius daughter is back. Then there’s Devlin Cole, a walking orgasm with too many secrets. Cassidy’s life is out of control and about to get way too interesting.

 

Snippet:

I stared up at Magic Nights, and it looked a lot different in daylight. White brick, so clean and brilliant, it seemed to glow in the sun, the building took up nearly half the block. Windows glistened blankly, curtains closed tight across them. Neatly trimmed green hedges hugged the edges of the building and a small, elegant brass plaque by the double front doors proclaimed in swirling script, Magic Nights.

If you didn’t know what it was, the building could pass for any upscale business place. I’d never been inside Magic Nights, but I had driven past it at night. All lit up by bright white lights and flashes of color, music poured out the doors that were harder to get through than the gates at Buckingham Palace.

I’d often wondered why Devlin Cole had chosen to bring his exclusive club to La Sombra. After all, he probably would have done even more business than he did, if the place was in Los Angeles or San Francisco. But, maybe his clientele appreciated the smaller town vibe.

 

From Cassi Carver, the author of sexy urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal romance.

http://cassicarver.com/

http://www.facebook.com/CassiCarverAuthor

https://twitter.com/CassiCarver

 

IMMORTAL POSSESSION

When Dr. Evelyn Vale is paired with Immortal Bounty’s sexy commander to go undercover and infiltrate a supernatural body-trafficking ring, she’s eager to get to work. Until she learns the catch… To crack this case, he’ll need to possess her body.

Snippet:

A few of the naked men turned their backs on her, others adjusted the towels at their waists, but one man in particular turned his torso in her direction. He was naked from the top of his glorious head to the tips of his sturdy feet. It was the rest of him that had Evelyn’s attention though. Her partner was…glorious. She’d thought perhaps his clothes had made him look bigger, broader at the shoulders, but no. That bulk was all him. Pure Greater-American muscle.

“Yes, Dr. Vale? Can I help you?” Jesse picked up a towel and cupped it over his groin.

His legs were slightly splayed, his thighs too densely muscled to press completely together.

“Uh…” Was this where she ran out screaming, blurting apologies, or was she supposed to seem unaffected by the locker-room scene, like just one of the guys. Darlene had warned her not to show fear. Did that apply to naked men?

 

From Janet Wellington, who writes award-winning contemporary & paranormal romance. Publishers Weekly: she creates “characters readers root for from page one.”

www.janetwellington.com

https://www.facebook.com/JanetWellingtonBooks

https://twitter.com/janetwellington

 

FOREVER ROSE

Tarot cards predict a dangerous journey for Taylor Rose, but she doesn’t expect to travel back to 1888 San Diego. What the cards didn’t predict was falling for a man bent on revenge, a helpful ghost, and spooky séances. Is she there to prevent a murder or to find love?

Snippet:

 

He was neatly dressed in a clean white shirt and ornate crimson and black brocaded vest, a loosely knotted silk string tie at his neck. His inky black hair was combed back, and seemed to be cut in longer layers than most of the other men. A few untamed tendrils curled onto his forehead. He was clean shaven, with a generous mouth that, she had already noticed, was quick to smile. He was hot—by anyone’s standards, no matter the time or place.

 

Taylor took another swallow of beer and tried to distract herself, self-conscious and embarrassed by her attraction to the man. It was as though she couldn’t help watching Jackson’s reflection in the mirror as he worked, the muscular outline of his broad shoulders straining against the fabric of his shirt as he constantly reached for bottles and glasses. She glanced downward to a waist that revealed an obviously flat stomach and narrow hips.

 

Taylor blinked, now more than a little shocked at her brazen staring. It must be the whiskey, she thought. Why else would she be on the verge of fantasizing about a man who—with any luck—would think she was a man?
And, add to that the fact that at least it appeared she was actually sitting in a saloon in San Diego in 1888.

 

 

 

 

 

From award-winning author Theresa Meyers, who writes the Sons of Midnight, Shadow Sisters, Legend Chronicles, Vector Force and Enochian Brotherhoood series.

http://www.theresameyers.com

ttp://www.twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers

http://www.facebook.com/TheresaMeyersAuthor

 

WELCOME HOME, VAMPIRE

Corporal Cole Wagner lost his humanity in war – literally. Turned into a vampire by the military’s Vector Force, he’s the ultimate weapon, but when he returns home to set the past right, will the enemy stop at nothing to get him, including threatening the life of the woman he loved, and lost, before?

 

Snippet:

 

Cole instantly broke off the kiss. Kayla’s creamy skin was flushed with just a hint of pink and the heat in her brown eyes could have scalded him like a fresh cup of coffee. Her lips, now a deeper pink and slightly parted as her breath came faster, begged him to taste her again. But Cole held himself in check with a level of discipline that would have made his drill sergeant proud.

 

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said, perhaps a tad too brusquely. The sparkle faded from her eyes and she pulled further away from him, crossing her arms over her chest. Great. He’d hurt her feelings. Not what he’d intended. But then none of this had been what he intended.

 

She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Then exactly what did you have in mind?”

 

Yeah, like he had a prayer of explaining his vampire state or his powers to any civilian, let alone a woman who knew him better than anyone except his dead friend. Cole shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Won’t happen. We had our time and it didn’t work out. I’m just here as a friend.”
From Sheri Whitefeather, an award-winning, bestselling romance author.  Her books are generously spiced with love, passion and sinfully hot heroes.

www.sheriwhitefeather.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-Whitefeather-Author/104439682948104

https://twitter.com/swhitefeather

 

VAMPIRE MAGIC

Two tenderly romantic, wildly erotic stories featuring supernatural hybrids (vampires/genies) who grant wishes for the exchange of blood.

 

Snippet:

 

Marie’s heart punched her chest. Although Nicholas was immortal, he looked about her age, with tousled dark hair, hazel eyes, a bad-boy smile, and a hot-as-sin body clothed in a black shirt and slim-fitting jeans. No scarves, no headdress, no genie attire from her childhood imaginings.

 

A gap of sexy silence passed between them. Or that was how it felt to her. But maybe she was reading more into it because he was so gorgeous. She’d expected handsome, but not the holy-fucking-hell kind.

 

“Hello, Marie.”  His voice was as devilish as the rest of him. “It’s nice to meet you.”

 

She could little more than reply, “You, too.”

 

He gave a slight bow. “I’m at your service.”

 

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From ME –Elisabeth Staab–comes WILD NIGHTS WITH A LONE WOLF (I love this story you guys – LOVE–Ash and Sherri and their pals were SO fun to write!)

A mandatory vacation lands Agent Sherri Walker in bed with a local werewolf. Asher Hughes walked away from his outlaw pack but couldn’t ditch the bad blood. Together they’ll have to pull off one hell of an act to get out of treacherous territory alive.

 

Snippet:

She looked him over. He smiled easily, seductively, as relaxed and confident now as when he’d clutched that other man’s shirt in his fingers. Eyes that appeared coal-dark outside now glowed like warm amber, glittering under the bar lights. Blunt nails and roughed-up hands suggested manual labor, but his fingers looked long and elegant. The kaleidoscope-color tattoos of a skeleton wearing a wolf pelt and the bold text that decorated his forearms suggested— “Oh, hell.”

Pack emblems. She’d attended a seminar on them before leaving DC. “You’re a werewolf.” They’d made their existence known over the past couple of decades, small gangs of them living along the Mexico border. Further north, some still didn’t believe in their existence, but their penchant toward violent behavior had landed more than one on the government’s watch list.

The words Los Lobos Muertos twisted around each tattoo. His pack name. Must be.

 

Buy Seductive Supernaturals at the following here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads (it IS only .99 cents!)

OR enter to win! One entrant will receive a gifted copy of the bundle from either Amazon or B&N, and a $10 gift card!!

Thank you for checking out Seductive Supernaturals, and happy reading!

 

 

 

 

Spotlight: Guarded by Mary Behre

I’m psyched to share an upcoming release from my fellow WRW author, Mary Behre. I’m reading her debut novel, Spirited, right now. I”m looking forward to Guarded too. It’s out on 8/5 and available for pre-order at this very moment, so check it out!

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Pre-order at: Amazon | B&N | BAM | iBooks 

About Guarded:

A psychic veterinarian who can talk to everything from naked mole rats to ferrets, stumbles onto an exotic animal kidnapping ring. When a zoo owner is murdered and all signs point to the vet as the killer, she enlists the aid of her super sexy cop friend.

Will he be able to help her clear her name before he’s forced to arrest her?

About the author:

Mary Behre is the author of The Tidewater Series. Stories with humor, suspense, and a psychic love-connection.

Her debut novel, SPIRITED (Tidewater Novel #1) was an award-winning manuscript before it sold to Berkley Sensation. GUARDED (Tidewater Novel #2), is already receiving praise from reviewers and readers.

 

The Tidewater Series features three sisters separated years before in the foster care system. They search for love, each other, and a way to live with their psychic abilities. In each book, they’re tossed into the middle of mysteries that only their unique gifts can help solve.

 

Excerpt from GUARDED

 

“Dev, the last time Jules and I saw each other—”

“You were both children.” Dev scooted closer to her on the couch and took her hands in his. “I don’t know everything about what went on with you two, but I remember enough to know the last time you saw her was hard. On both of you. Shells, give her a chance. I’ve gotten to know her. She’s a great person. A lot like you. And I know she misses you.”

“She does?” There was no missing the doubt and confusion in her eyes.

“She does.” He nodded. “Give yourself a chance. You deserve to know your family. Take it from someone who will never get an opportunity like this. What you have here is a gift. Grab it with both hands, Shells.”

The touch of her cool, delicate hands between his much larger ones sent a jolt of awareness through his body. From the way her eyes widened, she must have felt it too.

Shelley sucked in the right corner of her bottom lip. The sight of it thundered straight to his tightening groin. “All right. I’ll go with you to Tidewater, tomorrow. But that ocean view had better be spectacular,” she joked.

“Satisfaction guaranteed.”

“Thanks, Dev.” She beamed at him, then cleared her throat and pulled free from his touch. “Your girlfriend is one lucky woman.”

“Shelley, that relationship ended a long time ago. I . . . uh, don’t have a girlfriend.”

“You broke up? I’m sorry to hear that.” But the smile on her face and the dilation of her pupils belied that statement. She licked her lips and leaned closer to him. Her soft fingers entwined with his rougher ones again. “Really sorry.”

Awareness rocketed through him.

“Don’t be. I’m not.” And, oh God, her lips were right there. The scent of Shells, vanilla and sugar, teased his senses. His mouth watered for just a taste. Dev craved a taste of her, just a sample. Slowly, giving her time to pull back, he lowered his head.

Pre-order at: Amazon | B&N | BAM | iBooks  

 

Social Media:

Website: http://marybehre.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/MaryBehre.Author

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryBehre

Email: mary@marybehre.com

 

 

 

 

Deleted Scene from Hunter by Night: Lee’s POV

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I ran across something in my files that I thought I’d share today: A cut scene from the very beginning of Hunter by Night, written from Lee’s point of view. It’s actually one I loved and hated to cut, even though from a technical standpoint it does very little to move the story forward, and there’s an awful lot going on for so early in the story. Mostly, it just tells about stuff that already happened in previous books / previously in the characters’ lives. That tendency to dump a ton of character backstory is a lingering bad habit of mine. Still, if you enjoyed Lee and Alexia’s story, you might enjoy this deleted scene.

After several long days in the fluorescent-lit training facility and nights spent cycling through the fight pit, the obstacle course, the woods, or the running trail and occasionally checking back in at the mansion to change out of soaked and ripped clothes or talk with Thad, Assessment week was finally over. The guys who made the cut were paired with experienced fighters for their “on the job training.” The ones who showed promise were invited to try again the following year. The ones who hadn’t were sent home.

Now, on his way to the first hot shower he’d had all week, Lee faced a rare, discomfited moment. Speechless, thanks to female troubles of a sort.

In his younger, stupider days, Lee had met a young vampire hybrid with gorgeous pale skin, one whose mother had been a succubus. He’d been fooled by her false innocence, her charm, thought she’s seemed sweet and she couldn’t help that her mother was a wily demon who preyed on unsuspecting males for fun and games, now could she?

Well, that was before his lovely mate, Agnessa, managed to make a charade of him and their union by fucking half the vampires on the compound including Thad back when he was still prince. Always ahead of the curve, Lee had become one of the few vampires to break a mating bond, and perhaps the only one to get away with punching a member of the royal family in the face.

Lee’s career as the royal guard had survived even if, deep down, his sanity nearly had died. That whole, horrible debacle had taken place the better part of three decades prior, and seeing her still filled him with the urge to kill. He’d sworn he would never trust, never love.

Proof that his sanity was still not up to snuff all these years later: he stood in the hall with his feet glued to the rug, sure his preternatural vision must have been deceiving him, because surely that was not Alexia coming in the door with her olive-toned arm slung around Agnessa’s powdery white shoulder. They were doing that… That strange, female, “I love you” half-hug he’d seen the women do outside of the bars downtown when they were stumbling out at closing time in their long heels and short skirts.

Their heads leaned together. Agnessa’s platinum hair shone bright and garish under the foyer’s mini-chandelier, but Alexia had let her hair grow long and let it go from bleach blonde to a soft, warmer light brown with blonde highlights. It suited her.

Whatever. The thing to do here would be to stop right where he was, turn toward the spiral staircase that led up to his room next to the king and queen’s master suite, and get into that shower. Tangling with his ex and the only female—a human woman, no less—to work her way into his gray matter since his split with Nessa… No good. Absolutely, without question, unequivocally, no good.

Down the hall, Alexia and Agnessa shared a giggle over something. For all he cared they could be talking anything from human politics to Agnessa’s recipe for fluffy kittens Au Gratin. You don’t care. Go take a shower. “Are you two drunk?”

Alexia giggled again. Louder.

Shouldn’t have asked.

“Not drunk. Mildly inebriated.” Alexia’s brown eyes had a little starburst of gold when she opened them wide and the light hit them just so. Every time he noticed, they hit him in the solar plexus. Like he’d never seen that little starburst before.

“I fail to see the difference.”

“The difference,” Agnessa said with her candy red lips curled into a devilish grin, “Would have been at least two more martinis.”

Oh for fuck’s sake. “And which of you drove?”

“No worries, Chief. I drove.” Siddoh, Lee’s next in command, swaggered in through the door. “I gave them a two-drink limit. I think someone slipped them some shots while I was in the bathroom but they’re not that loaded.”

Lee bit his tongue and tasted his own blood. His gums throbbed, broadcasting the jealousy, the rage that he would never speak aloud. He held the animal inside him back from the urge to grab Alexia by the arm, to drag her down the hall away from these assholes. He did not trust Agnessa, could not tolerate the idea of those two forming a friendship. And Siddoh… When had Siddoh ever been “just friends” with any female? Agnessa didn’t count. Siddoh couldn’t stand her.

That Siddoh took Alexia downtown, drinking and dancing all the time… They sat in her room on Siddoh’s nights off and watched movies together. For all Lee knew—

You don’t care, remember? Alexia is human. She may be beautiful, but her species is inferior, and cannot be trusted. She will die in a blink. She can never be anything important to you, even if you wanted. And you don’t want. Don’t mistake that you gave her your blood for something more.

They’d had an oddly intimate moment when she’d first come to the estate. In finding Isabel, Thad’s queen, they had also found Alexia, and she’d been unfortunate collateral damage that night, getting injured in a wizard attack. Lee had given her blood. Not the way he’d given blood to that recruit, but the full-deal. Mouth on skin, teeth, suction… Alexia’s lips, her moans, had nearly compelled him to take her right then on the bed.

Ever since, she’d done nothing but drive him to distraction. Lee could not afford distraction.

Alexia bit her lip. Her cheeks took on a red flush. She smiled only a little as she met his stare. Maybe she, too, remembered.

This is unnecessary torture. He turned toward the stairs.

“Leeland?” Agnessa reached for his arm. “Are you all right? You seem… troubled.”

“Yeah, bro. Even for you, you’re pretty cranked.”

Lee brushed off Agnessa’s hand. He turned to Siddoh. “Assessment Week is always taxing. And I did not go out dancing… Bro.”

“You should come sometime,” Siddoh offered.

“Yes,” said Agnessa. “You should.”

Lee sniffed. “Uh-huh.”

He glanced at Alexia, who said nothing, only licked her gorgeous, soft-looking cocoa-colored lips. And stared.

Whatever. “I’m going to go take a shower,” he said, turning away. He flogged himself with his frustration and his memories of that night with Alexia all the way up the stairs until he was locked alone in his room and stripped of his clothes. He could think of other ways to relieve stress.

The water scalded his skin, pelted his body full blast as he gripped his erection. His hand braced on the tile wall, his strokes rough, as he relived that night. That one night, he’d had Alexia’s mouth on his skin. She’d run her tongue up his arm before pulling at his vein right from his wrist with those plump lips, sucking so hard he’d been loath to make her stop.

Reliving the warm heat of Alexia’s tongue, Lee stroked faster, his breath and blood for a change flying through his body with ease, their whoosh and pulse drowned by the rhythm of the shower.

He came with a growl, instantly angry. Embarrassed, even though he was alone. Each time, he swore he wouldn’t think of her again.

He always did.

 

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Hunter by Night release day!

HBN_FB4bI’m so relieved and excited about Hunter by Night’s release I could ugly-cry. I think release is a good word, because you put so much work into writing, re-writing, and then editing and polishing a book before it finally gets out in the world, that to finally see it in the light of day does take a huge weight off.

It’s a big deal, and it’s something worth of celebration. This particular book is special to me, because Lee and Alexia have been waiting so long for their HEA, and because I’m wrapping up a series I love so much. So I wanted to do an extra awesome prize giveaway, something to celebrate past, present, and future.

Past: I stopped reading romance for a long time. When I started again, I was drawn to vampires, and it was Lara Adrian and JR Ward that made me fall in love with romance again. So much that I didn’t want to read it, but write my own.

Present: The Chronicles of Yavn and Hunter by Night would be my present. That probably goes without saying. 🙂

Future: There’s a lot of talk about paranormal being dead. About vampires being dead. Well I’m hear to tell you the genre is alive and well and as hot as ever. So long as authors keep putting new twists on the mythology there will be readers to soak up the books. Also, while I was writing vampires I wan’t reading vampires. Now I can again. I recently picked up fellow Paranormal Unbounder Amber Belldene’s Blood Vine, and totally fell in love with the intelligent writing and rich worldbuilding.

In celebration of Hunter by Night’s release, I want to share these things with you.

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