Friday, May 30, 2014

Tasty Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway for Always A Stranger by Amara Royce


Welcome to my stop on the Tasty Virtual Book Tour for Always a Stranger by Amara Royce.  Please leave a comment or question for Ms. Royce to let her know you stopped by.  You can enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. My review will post this weekend. 

Always A Stranger
By Amara Royce

Publisher:  eKensington
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 273 Pages
ISBN: 978-1601832269
ASIN:  B00GYLVWCE

Buy Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | ARe
 

Add to Goodreads



About the book: 

When two worlds collide, anything is possible. . .

An international affair, London's Great Exhibition has taken the city by storm. As its newest Royal Commissioner, Lord Skyler Ridgemont must ensure the performers are properly contracted. Among them is the delicate and graceful Hanako Sumaki. Draped in vivid silk robes, Hanako's exotic Japanese fan dance captivates Skyler--and he longs to learn more about her. . .

But Hanako's enigmatic employer keeps his exquisite charge very close. The consummate artist, she shows the handsome nobleman many faces, but never her true heart, which holds a desperate secret. When Skyler learns the real reason Hanako has been brought to London, he will risk his entire world to win her trust--and save her from losing both body and soul. It's a feat that will require the type of courage only love can give. . .


Author Info

Amara Royce writes historical romances that combine her passion for 19th-century literature and history with her addiction to happily ever afters.

She earned a PhD in English, specializing in 19th-century British literature, from Lehigh University and a Master's degree in English from Villanova University, and she now teaches English literature and composition at a community college in Pennsylvania.

When she isn't writing, she's either grading papers or reveling in her own happily ever after with her remarkably patient family. You can find her at www.amararoyce.com.

Author Links




Tour Schedule
May 26th- Girl Meets Books- Interview/Excerpt
(Stop 2) Romancing the Book- Interview
(Stop 3) Plain Talk Book Marketing- Guest Post/Promo
May 27th- What I'm Reading- Guest Post/Promo
May 28th- Buried Under Romance- Interview/Excerpt
May 29th- Imagine a World- Excerpt/Promo
(Stop 2) I am, Indeed- Review/Excerpt
May 30th- Sara Walter Ellwood- Interview
(Stop 2) Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance- Promo
(Stop 3) Queen of All She Reads- Review/Promo


June 2nd- Brooke Blogs- Excerpt/Promo
June 3rd- Literaria- Guest Post/Promo
June 4th- Christine's Words- Guest Post
June 5th- Blue Rose Romance- Excerpt/Promo
June 6th- Emerald Musings- Review
(Stop 2) Book Suburbia- Promo

Enchantress of Books Cover Reveal for The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane by Amanda McIntyre


The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane
By Amanda McIntyre

About the book:
A scandalous betrayal sets Miss Jane Goodwin on an unexpected journey to London to pursue her dream of being the first female investigative journalist, but she soon finds herself in a hotbed of murder and controversy. Seduced by the passions of a mysterious lover and stalked by a madman, tensions mount as Jane falls prey to her desires, only to discover a deadly secret that threatens more than just her trust in men.

Inspector Randolph Mansfield is one of Scotland Yard’s elite, battling the dark secrets of his past while trying to solve a rash of grisly murders threatening to mar Queen Victoria's Jubilee. His respite is the anonymity he finds in the decadence of a private gentleman’s club, until a determined American journalist goes undercover in search of her stalker and he finds the lines between protection and passion blurred. But as tensions heat and her life is threatened, he must choose whether to reveal his true identity at the risk of losing her trust and his career.





Release Date:
July 11, 2014


Excerpt:

London 1887
“Of course, the Her Majesty is having her Golden Jubilee in June. They say it’s to be one of the grandest celebrations that London has seen in some time. There are preparations being made for a parade, a gala ball, and fireworks, as I understand it.”

“Not if the socialists have anything to say about it,” Wesley muttered.
The conversation came to an abrupt standstill. From the look that Isabella darted to her nephew, Jane sensed that she did not appreciate his interjection.
“What?” He looked back at his aunt. “Shouldn't she have a realistic view of what is happening in lovely London town?”

Isabella pointed her finger, prepared to respond when the carriage came to an abrupt stop, taking with it any semblance of a breeze.

“Probably traffic. I’m sure it’s just a slight delay. We should be moving soon,” Isabella said, working the fan diligently in front of her face.

Jane poked her head out of the window, hopeful for a gulp of air, but curious just the same as to the delay.

“Why don’t I tell you about our writing club while we wait?” Isabella suggested.
Jane drew in her head, less interested in hearing about the club than what was preventing their progress in getting there. She dropped her book and gloves on the seat beside her and gathered her skirts to exit the carriage. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just step outside and see what the reason for our delay is.” The truth of it was that the stifling heat inside the cab was making her nauseated.

“Watch out, miss,” a gruff voice boomed out of nowhere as she opened the door. Caught off guard, she missed the step entirely and escaped total embarrassment of landing on her face thanks to a set of strong arms that captured her waist. “You should learn to look, young woman, before you step from a coach.”

Jane steadied her legs, preparing to face her rescuer.

“Excuse me, miss. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

“But I…” She barely caught a glimpse of him as he turned and headed at a quick gait up the street. From her view, she noted his hair, badly in need of attention, was thick, coal black and hung in deep waves over his collar. His dark brown coat flapped around his long legs in his determined haste.

“Ah, I see you’ve met our illustrious Inspector Mansfield.” Wesley hopped from the carriage. Together they watched him disappear around the corner of a building a few yards ahead. Other curiosity seekers were trotting toward the same direction.

“Come on.” Intrigued, she grabbed Wesley’s hand.

“Where to, Miss Jane?” He gave her a puzzled look, but kept up with her stride.

“To wherever he is going. He is the inspector, correct?”

“True, but…”

Jane lifted the hem of her skirt, empowered by the familiar rush of a reporter’s adrenaline infusing her stamina. She looked over her shoulder and spoke to Wesley, who lagged a few steps behind. “Then we certainly don’t want to miss whatever he is so hell-bent to get to.” This is what she lived for, the drama of everyday life. Perhaps it was the thrill of the unknown—the chase, as it were. A trait derived no doubt by her adventuresome parents. They never settled for long between their journeys, always, it seemed, in a constant state of preparation for their next mission. They loved Jane, of course, but as she grew older, she began to wonder if her conception had simply been another grand venture. When they were around, they were larger than life to her—filled with glorious stories and tales of their journeys. And when they were gone and her life was divided between boarding school and Aunt Cornelia’s house, their letters were all that Jane had to cling to in her adolescence. They had promised that when she was of a proper age, they would take her with them. But that promise—unfilled—followed them to their graves. Now it was up to Jane to find her own adventures.

“Miss Jane, it could be dangerous,” Wesley called as they waded into the crowd beginning to clog the street. He caught up to her, keeping pace with her tenacity in pushing through the throng.

“Very possibly, but what great story isn’t just a bit dangerous, I ask you?” She smiled at him with a quick glance as they neared the top of the hill to follow where the inspector had disappeared.

A rigid wall of uniformed constables formed a barricade at the end of the street, keeping gawkers from disrupting whatever scene lay ahead. The crowd pressed close to the human barrier, trying to catch a glimpse at what was going on.

“They’ve blocked the street.” Wesley craned his neck over the huddled mass in front of them.

“Do you see any possible way of getting closer?” she asked, searching for a way through the tightly packed humanity.

“Another body part.”

Jane whirled to see where the whispered comment had come from, but too many people had crowded around her.

“The second in a few weeks’ time. I hear the inspector has his hands bloody full. He’s got no way of knowing how to identify the bits.”

Jane was astounded by the whispered rumors. How was it that such news had not yet made it across the Atlantic? Quiet murmurs followed with a gasp or two, but no one spoke aloud. Jane struggled, backtracking until she found Wesley. She grabbed his arm and leaned close. “Did you hear? They say it’s a body part?” Horror-stricken, she stared at him. “What is going on in London that you’ve not told me about?”

Wesley’s expression clouded and he looked around, leaning close so he wouldn’t be overheard. “Be cautious of what you say, Jane. And don’t jump to conclusions based on hearsay.”

Her gaze narrowed, and so too, her patience. “A good reporter will verify the rumors, you can be assured, sir.”  Still, she couldn’t say why it perplexed her that the Hamptons had not even mentioned such macabre goings-on in their correspondence. “Still, I heard it plain as day. Someone said it was a body part.”
He tucked his thumbs in his pockets, his lip curling in a brief smile. “People love to gossip, Jane. The longer you’re here, the more you will see that London is a great melting pot of many types of people. They arrive daily, bringing their beliefs, their way of life, with them. Frankly, not all of them agree with how the queen dictates the government.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered sternly. “Are you saying that these murders are motivated by”—she waved one hand—“politics?”

“Sshh.” He frowned at her. “The streets have ears.”

Jane sighed and noticed over his shoulder an opening near the barricade of solemn-faced Bobbies. She surged forward, determined to see for herself what the city agencies were trying to hide. She heard Wesley calling her name, but fought through the mob, making her way to the front.

“Miss Goodwin!”

Wesley’s voice carried over the heads of the crowd. She pressed forward, confident he would catch up. She faced the determined uniformed officers and pushed up on her toes to catch a glimpse beyond the broad shoulders of London’s finest. A few yards away, she spotted the dark-haired inspector. He was kneeling beside an object that he’d hastily covered with his own coat. Her thoughts raced with how she could get close enough to speak to him, but even as she considered her options, an ambulance with the words St. John’s Hospital painted on the side arrived. The drivers, holding white sheets up to shroud the object from public view, placed it in the wagon, and carted it away. Within moments of its departure, the congested group of gawkers began to dissipate as quickly as they’d assembled. Looking weary and slightly frustrated from his battle with the crowd, Wesley arrived at Jane’s side.

“Were you able to see anything?” Wesley eyed the inspector and the men circled around him as he spoke. He appeared to be giving out instructions.
“No, they’ve shielded something from the crowd.” Jane looked at Wesley, knowing that whatever it was, seemed very small. Wrapped in the hospital drape, it had taken only one man to carry it back to the ambulance. “Has this happened before?

Do they have any leads?”

Wesley hesitated, and then gently took her arm. “We’ll discuss this in private, Jane. Not here on the street.”

She walked beside him, his arm looped through hers. She slowed as they passed by the inspector and the small group of men he spoke to, hoping to overhear some of what was being said. She was so focused on listening that she didn’t realize until too late the dark eyes of the inspector studying her. Transfixed, she regarded him and his brooding expression. His firm jaw looked as though untouched by his morning razor, clenched as his provocative mouth turned down in a grim frown. His eyes, unwavering, held hers, following her like a panther watching his prey. Despite the warm temperature, a shiver skated across her shoulders. Jane forced herself to look away.





About The Author



Amanda McIntyre grew up the daughter of a father who was a distributor for a New York magazine publishing firm, and usually had her nose stuck in the latest issue of Vampirella magazine or a Hitchcock Mystery paperback. She has been called  "a true artist in the writing realm' and her zest for life inspires her "character-driven" stories. Her passion is to take ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations. She is a best-selling, multi-genre hybrid author and has received numerous awards and nominations for her work. Amanda is published internationally, in audio, e-book and in print. She currently writes sizzling contemporary cowboy romance and is about to release her first historical erotic thriller.


You can find Amanda here:

         


Presented by 


Reading Addiction Cover Reveal for An Etiquette Guide To The End Times by Maia Sepp




An Etiquette Guide to the End Times - Cover Reveal
By Maia Sepp
Women's Fiction / Dystopian

Date Published: June 6, 2014

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Good manners never go out of style…do they?

There aren’t any zombies (yet), but the world is still at the brink of destruction: It’s 2028 and global warming has led to rising oceans, crazy weather, and resource scarcity. On top of that, someone just turned the Internet off. Seeing as how it’s humanity’s last chance to turn things around manners are, understandably, a bit frayed.

Etiquette buff Olive O’Malley is busy microfarming her urban property and minding her own business (and her chickens) when the government comes calling. Their goal is to push the populace towards carbon-neutrality while keeping kvetching to a minimum, and they come with a proposal: transition Olive’s popular etiquette column to a radio show for the masses, and they’ll help Olive find her grandfather, who’s gone missing.


Olive doesn’t trust the hipster government officials who try to bribe her with delicious-but-probably-a-little-evil chocolate pastries, and declines their offer. (Politely, of course.) But they won't take no for an answer, and soon Olive is knee-deep in turmoil, eco-terrorism, and missing chickens. Now she has to untangle herself from their demands and figure out how to make sure her family (and her poultry) are safe before it’s too late.



About the Author: Maia Sepp

Maia left the tech sector to write about sock thievery, migraines, and...the tech sector.

The Sock Wars is her debut novel. The first chapter of The Sock Wars was published as a short story/novel excerpt titled Irish Drinking Socks, and became a Kobo bestselling short story. The Sock Wars has been a top-100 digital bestseller on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the iBookstore, as well as a genre and Writing Life bestseller on Kobo.

Maia's second novel is The Migraine Mafia, a story about a nerdy thirtysomething's quest to come to terms with a chronic illness. It is available online everywhere.

Her latest is a humorous near-future dystopian novella, titled, An Etiquette Guide to the End Times, available June 2014. To be notified about new releases, please add yourself to Maia's mailing list: http://www.maiasepp.com/mailing_list.html.

Authors Links
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Mailing List Sign Up

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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Book Monster Promotions Blog Tour & Giveaway for Hunt the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy


HUNT THE DARKNESS
Guardians of Eternity, #11
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher:  Zebra
Genre:  Paranormal
ISBN-13:978-1-4201-2515-3
Add to Goodreads

The vampire, Roke, is raw, sensual, always in control. Yet somehow he's allowed the unthinkable to happen: a nymph-like witch named Sally has used her magic to trick Roke into mating with her. The pair will remain bound for eternity unless Sally breaks the spell. The trouble is, she has no idea how. . .

Mating with Roke was an accident; at least that's what Sally keeps telling herself. She's on the hunt for her demon father, whose identity holds the key to releasing the spell. The search won't be easy with Roke shadowing Sally's every move. As they mate with a ferocity that leaves them both aching for more, Sally isn't sure if her world is more dangerous without Roke—or with him. . .


Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo




Roke took a cautious step forward.  She was twitchy enough to bolt if he wasn’t careful.
“What are you afraid of, Sally?”
She scowled at the soft question.  “I’m not afraid of anything.”
He shook his head, his fingers lifting to press against the pulse thundering at the base of her throat.
“You know better than to try and lie to a vampire.  Even if I wasn’t bonded to you I could detect the increased beat of your heart and catch the scent of adrenalin.”  His fingers lightly traced the faint shadow of her jugular vein, his fangs aching for a taste.  “Of course, I could be mistaken.”
“You mistaken?” she tried to mock.  “Shocking.”
He cupped the side of her face, the satin heat of her skin against his palm a sensation he could easily become addicted to.
“It could be lust,” he murmured, his gaze lowering to the sensual curve of her lips.  “And I know the perfect remedy.”
“Fine.”  She pulled away from his touch, but not before Roke caught the intoxicating scent of her arousal.  “Vampires hate witches.”
With an effort, Roke allowed her to retreat.  It was so very tempting to haul her into his arms and seduce her into soft, melting compliance.
It might even work for a few hours. 
But he wasn’t so vain as to think that getting her into bed would earn her trust.
Hell, she’d probably use it as another reason to push him away.
“How many times do I have to promise I will do whatever necessary to keep you safe?” he instead asked, holding her wary gaze.
“From your own clan?”
“So long as you’re under my protection they wouldn’t dare hurt you.”
“Even if they believe I have you trapped in a spell?  Come on, Roke.”  She shuddered, as if imagining the horror of being ravaged by crazed vampires.  “They would kill me in a heartbeat if they thought it was for your own good.”
His lips parted only to snap shut.
Shit. 
She had a point.
His clan had spent far too long beneath the rule of a chief who’d been more concerned with pleasing his demanding mate than caring for his people.  For over a century they’d floundered, so weakened that they’d nearly lost everything before Roke had traveled to the battles of Durotriges to earn the right to become a chief.
That’s why he’d been so infuriated by the magical bonding.  He’d already made the decision that his mate would be a rational, loyal female who would dedicate herself to the good of his people.
And why his clan was unreasonably over-protective of him.
They were going to be on the warpath when they discovered he’d been bound by a witch.
“I’ll speak with them,” he promised.
“And tell them what?” she rasped, her hands clenched.  “A nasty witch who used to work for the Dark Lord forced a mating on their beloved clan chief.  Yeah, that should go over well.  They’ll be standing in line for the pleasure of killing me.”
His growl rumbled through the room.  “So what do you suggest?  That we aimlessly run around the world in the hope that we stumble across your father?”
“You can take the box back to Nevada and I can stay here and question the locals.”  She shrugged.  “Someone must have known my mother.”
“No.”
She blinked, meeting his ruthless silver gaze with an audible huff of annoyance.
“That’s it?  Just, no?”
“We stay together.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s killing you to be apart from me.”
The stark words hung in the air for a long, tension-fraught moment, then Sally was instinctively shaking her head in denial. 
“Oh my god,” she jeered.  “Could your ego get any more bloated?”
“It’s not my ego, Sally.”  He moved to touch the shadows beneath her beautiful eyes.  “You’re fading away.”
She rigidly held her ground.  “It’s just stress.”
“And if it’s not?”
“What are you trying to imply?”

ABOUT ALEXANDRA:

Alexandra Ivy is the New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity series, the Immortal Rogues series and the Sentinels.

Alexandra graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and teenage sons.

Connect with Alexandra:


TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Grand Prize:  $50.00 gift card to Amazon
1st Runner up:  $25.00 gift card to Amazon
2nd Runner up:  $10.00 gift card to Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway


SCHEDULE - Alexandra Ivy's HUNT THE DARKNESS Blog Tour

5/19 Book Monster Reviews - Short Story Part 1

5/19 Cherry Mischievous - Spotlight Post

5/20 Dark Side of Romance - Short Story Part          2

5/21 Books and Fandom - Short Story Part 3

5/21 Karen Swart - Spotlight Post

5/22 Toot's Book Reviews - Short Story Part 4

5/22 Novels On The Run - Spotlight Post

5/22 Inner Goddess - Spotlight Post

5/23 deal sharing aunt - Short Story Part 5

5/23 - Darkest Cravings - Spotlight Post

5/24 Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears - Short Story Part 6

5/24 Crazy Four Books - Spotlight Post

5/25 Mythical Books - Short Story Part 7

5/25 Paranormal Romance Fans for Life - Spotlight Post

5/25 Tome Tender - Spotlight Post

5/26 Eclipse Reviews - Short Story Post 8

5/26 D'eBook Sharing Book Reviews - Spotlight Post

5/26 #BookNerd - Spotlight Post

5/27 Dirty Girl Romance - Short Story Part 9

5/27 Romancing the Dark Side - Spotlight Post

5/27 My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews - Spotlight Post

5/28 Binding Addiction - Short Story Part 10

5/28 Diane’s Book Blog - Spotlight Post

5/28 KT Book Reviews - Spotlight Post

5/28 In The Pages of a Good Book - Spotlight Post

5/29 Mad Hatter Reads - Short Story Part 11

5/29 RomanceJunkies.com - Short Story Part          12

5/29 Queen of All She Reads  - Spotlight Post

5/30 I Smell Sheep - Short Story FULL STORY

5/30 Aly's Miscellany - Short Story FULL STORY

5/30 Celestial Reviews - Short Story FULL STORY

5/31 Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads - Short Story FULL STORY

5/31 LITERAL ADDICTION - Short Story FULL STORY

5/31 Queentutt's World of Escapism     Spotlight Post

5/31 Bibliophile Mystery - Short Story FULL STORY

5/31 Coffee Talk Writers - Short Story FULL STORY

5/31 Close Encounters with the Night Kind - Short Story FULL STORY http://closeencounterswiththenightkind,blogspot.com

5/31 Offbeat Vagabond - Short Story FULL STORY


Bewitching Release Day Blitz & Giveaway for Unseen by Lauren Stewart




Welcome to my stop on the Bewitching Book Tours Release Day Blitz for Unseen by Lauren Stewart.  Please leave a comment or question for Ms. Stewart to let her know you stopped by.  You can enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  



Unseen
By Lauren Stewart
The Heights, Volume 1


Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Off the Hook Publishing
Date of Publication: May 29, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-9881701-9-3
ASIN: n/a

Number of pages: 386
Word Count: 100,000

Cover Artist: Amanda of Pixel Mischief Design

Available at Amazon  Add it to your Goodreads Shelf


Book Description:

An invisible wall built from the tears of those touched by death.  An impossible love as divided as the world around them.

After Addison finds a nearly-dusted vampire in the garbage outside her building, her ability to stay off the supernatural world’s radar is deader than the vamp. Almost as dead as she’ll be if anyone thinks she put him there. Should she finish the job somebody else screwed up or move him somewhere humans won’t find him? To keep the Heights hidden, she may have shoved a stake into her own chest. Just when she thinks her life couldn’t possibly get any more dangerous, she finds out who he is.

As vampire king and Prime to all supernatural beings in the North American zone, Rhyse is accustomed to getting what he wants without asking. But he neither wanted nor asked to be wounded in an ambush, waking up chained to a bed with a hole in his chest. Unfortunately, he needs help to discover who tried to kill him. But worse than that, his only ally is his captor, someone unaware she has the power to destroy their entire world.

As a prophesized war brews in the Heights, Addison and Rhyse must decide which carries more risk—trusting someone who could destroy you or trusting someone who could love you?

Excerpt

Addison backed up until she hit the counter. It was over. It had been over ever since those chains came off. Ever since she brought him into her apartment. Into her life.

“I saved you. I could’ve left you outside until the sun came up.”

“I imagine you wish you had.”

“Can you…can you not kill me? Just take some, but not all?”
Rhyse brushed her hair behind her shoulder and curled his fingers around the nape of her neck, whispering, “Do you trust me that much?”

“I don’t even trust you a little.” She felt the sting of tears. “I don’t want to be turned. If you drain me, let me die.”

He ran his other hand up her shoulder, to her throat and slowly closed his fingers around it. One move and her neck would break. “To drain you I would have to drink from you. And that, my pet, I will not do.”

She didn’t know what he meant but now seemed like a bad time to argue.

“Did you know what you are? How many of you exist?”

She didn’t answer. Partially because speaking required the air he was cutting off. Then his hands were gone, just like the rest of him.

Was it over? 

When one of the women behind the counter moaned, Addison went to make sure they were alright.

Rhyse was on top of one of them, his fangs obviously burrowed in her neck. The woman moaned again, her legs wrapping around him. One hand clutched his shoulder and the other slapped the wall, searching for a hold.

It had to have been shock that made it impossible to look away. Or run away. The woman’s moans got louder, then crested, and her body went limp. Not in a dead way, but in an I-just-had-the-best-orgasm-of-my-life way.

Get out of here. 

“Leave and they will die.” His voice stopped her after only two steps. “Stay and they will wake up from a very pleasant, very erotic dream.”

She grinded her teeth when she heard another moan. He must have moved on to the other woman. With two to feed from, there was less of a chance he would drain them, but… “Why should I trust you?”

The woman’s moans stopped and she whined, “No.”

“I do not care if you trust me,” he said. “Only that you obey me.”

“Fuck you.” But she didn’t move. “Are they alive?”

“Of course. It is against the law to kill humans.”

“Then let me go.”

“You are not human, Addison.” His voice came from just over her shoulder. 

“I am. I promise. Totally human.” Somehow he’d missed the fact that seers were human, despite her telling him at least five times.

She heard the shuffling of fabric and looked down to see him wrapping his already-bloody shirt around the arm she’d cut. He tied a knot with the sleeves and pulled it tight. There was no part of this that she understood.

She sucked in a breath when he put his hands on her hipbones. Then another as they slid to her belly and down, pressing her back into him. She felt his heat and a vibration on her back as he made a sound similar to a cat’s purr but scarier. Clenching her eyes shut, she waited for death.

“You should thank them.” His voice was all sex. Dangerous, risky, awesome sex. “They just saved your life.”

They did? “Thank you,” she called out with a shaking voice. 

“Now that your belly’s full, how about you back off a little?”

“I should kill you, Addison.”

“I’m going to have to disagree with you about that.”

After a moment he stepped away, sighing as if he just made a really tough decision and wasn’t sure it was the right one.

“So,” she said, heading for the door, “it seems like you’re feeling better which is great. I’m really happy for you. Since you don’t need me anymore, I’m gonna go now. I’ll see you around.”

“Come to me, Addison.” His eyes were back to their original inhumanly beautiful color. Though he didn’t quite look calm, he looked satisfied. 

“No.”

“Come to me or I will snap your neck.”

“Okay.”

“If you had simply brought a human to me, this all could have been avoided.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Total lie—she wasn’t thinking a goddamn thing besides, “Shiiiiit!”

“You and I have things to discuss, and a few memories to alter along the way back to your home.”

Damn it on many counts. “Alter or wipe?”

“Alter, of course. Although my strength has returned, wiping that many minds would still be highly taxing. I prefer to save my power for other activities.”

Like…? Nah, she didn’t want to know.

He opened the door and gestured for her to go first. Which he’d probably never done before. Minions opened doors for him and she doubted chivalry ranked high on his list of valuable traits. But she went because when you gotta go, you gotta go.

“Did you know?” he asked.

What was it with that question? “Know what? That your victims come while you feed? Yeah, I heard it happens occasionally.”

“Always. They always come while I feed. If it were possible, I would show you.”

“I just heard more proof than I wanted to, thanks.”

“I have no doubt that it would be far more enjoyable to feel you come than to hear her do it.”


About the Author:

Lauren Stewart lives in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. She reads almost every genre so, naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres--fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn't kill us should make us laugh.


@ReadLaurenS







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