As this week draws to a close, you’ll have met three of the four Alphas in the upcoming Blood Bar Chronicles, and the fourth is as charming and sexy as the others. Arya Grey brings David to our attention today. And he’s certainly got a unique ability. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun…

So, you want to know what happens at The Blood Bar, do ya? I oughtta ask you if you’ve seen a psychiatrist lately. Have you seen the type of people that drink there? I wouldn’t trust half of them with a goddamn nickel.

Being a Traveler means I have seen the world, past and present, and The Blood Bar has its reputation. So it was grudgingly that I went there after instruction from my dear friend Henri. Somehow Josie, my babydoll, and her friends got caught up in a Supernatural controversy. But it turns out the ladies aren’t so innocent afterall.

(smirk)

I won’t keep you. I know y’all have had flame-boy and fleabag rambling off to you, and Henri charming the panties right off your cute little asses, so without further ado…

Excerpt:

He was standing next to Henri in a second, who of course looked no different than he had over a thousand years in the future, and was leaning against the dark bar, staring at a large booth in the back of the room. He seemed particularly interested in a woman with auburn curls and a body David would love to taste. Henri heard his thoughts and shot him a killer look. “Just when I was relieved to see you mon ami,” he snarled.

“Good evening, friend.” David tapped the bar to get one the bar staff’s attention.

“And you’re here because…?” Henri returned his gaze to the woman.

When David turned back from the bar, another woman caught his attention. She was staring at him, and she was breathtaking. He could see, even from a few feet away, that her dark hair contrasted with the pale green of her eyes, and that outfit… It left little to the imagination. The dress was strapless and curved low at her cleavage. Her long legs were on show, and the impossibly high heels she was wearing had her calf muscles tense. Sweat gathered on David’s brow and in the palms of his hands. He smirked at the beauty before him, and she smiled back. “Damn, she’s fucking gorgeous.” He breathed deeply, and Henri looked at him from the corner of his eyes.

“Hmm.” His eyes narrowed as a man stepped in their view of the table and knocked a drink over the woman who had just sat down. She stepped around him and scurried away. David turned to Henri, who swore under his breath and clenched his fists.

“Who the fuck’s he?” David asked.

“I don’t know, mon ami, but something isn’t right. There are a lot of supes in here tonight.”

“You’re telling me,” David said and looked at the bartender to ask for a double of their best whiskey. A ten-year-old single malt. He wasn’t impressed.

He pulled his attention to the door where a group of wolf shifters had been. He could smell them a mile away, and he knew one of them had to have been Alpha Xander De Rista. But instead, a man with long, blond hair and sea-green eyes looked at the group of women from where the wolves had been. There was something strange about him. He was a supe, David knew that like he knew the sky was blue, but what he was, he didn’t know.

“What about him?” He lightly elbowed Henri and nodded toward the man. The vampire looked, and his fangs lowered. David placed his drink on the bar and stood defensively, staring at the blond stranger, but allowed a few concerned glances at Henri. “What’s happening?”

“He’s—”A sudden shriek came from the table where the most beautiful girl David had ever seen was seated. It was no frightened noise; it was a sound of pleasure. Every single woman was looking at the creature by the door with heated lust.

“We need to get them out of here.”

The Blood Bar Chronicle, The Alphas: Book 1 is released 20th April from Breathless Press.

Contact the author

http://aryagrey.weebly.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/AryaGrey

Cherie Nicholls has smuggled that sexy shifter, Xander, into the Bordello today. He brings a whole new meaning to animal magnetism…

My name is Xander de Rista, I hear you want to know something about my story and about my vixen, but I am an Alpha I don’t explain myself to anyone.

I am sure you will meet more of the Blood Bar Chronicles Book 1: The Alphas over the coming days and I am sure the vamp will try to charm you, don’t look into his eyes, the slick SOB could charm the birds from the trees.

So I hear tell that the first four stories that came out of the Blood Bar will be released soon, two things you should know. I didn’t want this to happen, I think it’s too dangerous considering the fight we still have on our hands but once David gets a plan into his head he won’t listen to anyone least of all me. Secondly take my advice, if you see that many supes or paranormal folk in one place, leave……quickly and don’t look back.

Logan! Get me Zanaan on the phone, I have a little task for the Flame boy.

Oh, Dizzy asked me to leave you a little something from our story, *sigh* I just can’t say no to my vixen.  So here you go. The first time I got my hands on the woman who stole my heart….now I am out of here I am a busy wolf shifter and I get cranky if people try to get in my way *growl*

The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 1: The Alphas

The Alpha’s Vixen, By Cherie Nicholls

Excerpt

“Will you be okay?” Logan called from the fire exit door. Kyla purred in his hands, nuzzling into his neck.

“I will be fine. Go.” Xander assured him without taking his eyes away of her. In seconds they were alone.

The door closed behind Logan with a soft click. It took all of Xander’s strength not take her there and then, but he couldn’t resist the urge to lean down and breathe in her scent.

“Are you sniffing me?” Dizzy asked as she tried to lean away from him.

“Hmm.” He groaned. “You smell good enough to eat.” He nipped at the pulse beating in her throat.

“I am not a snack.” She told him.

Xander pulled back and looked down at her. “No? Then how come I want to eat you?” He caught one of her thighs and wrapped it around his waist, pulling her core tight against his raging hard-on.

“Oh!” She gasped. The color was crawling up her throat, but he didn’t miss the desire in her eyes.

“Mmm, you like that idea, don’t you, my vixen? You like the idea of my mouth on you, getting you off, isn’t it?” His voice dropped lower, allowing more of his wolf to shine through.

Dizzy took a panting breath before she shook her head, denying his words. Xander reached down and swatted her ass.

“Don’t lie to me, my vixen. I will punish you.” He warned. Her eyes went wide as she stared back at him.

“I can smell your arousal,” he said as he reached between their bodies and cupped her pussy through her trousers. “You want me, don’t you?”

Again Dizzy shook her head. Xander reached back and spanked her butt again.

“I told you want happens when you lie to me.” He growled seconds before he crushed her mouth under his.

He ground is cock against her, pulling another moan from her. Dizzy wrapped her arms over his shoulders and around his neck, trying to drag him closer still.

Xander smiled against her mouth before he pulled back. “Tut tut. I told you if you lie, you get punished.”

Available from Breathless Press on the 20th April.

Contact the author

http://www.cherienicholls.co.uk/

http://cherie-ramblingsoapbox.blogspot.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherie-Nicholls-Author/191441327590566

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Today Doris O’Connor and her Alpha, Henri, are here to raise your blood pressure and tell you all about Saving Hope, their story, in the Blood Bar Chronicles. Don’t you just love the power and the passion of a vampire? Especially one on a very important mission…

Bon jour mes amis, Je suis Henri Guillaume, ancient vampire at your service.  Fate is a funny thing, wouldn’t you say? You turn a different corner and your whole life changes. I have had a few of those life changing moments in my long life, as I’m sure you can appreciate, but none as important to me as the events that are told in ‘Saving Hope’.

When I met Noelle again in the bar after all those years, she floored me, much as she’d done four years ago, only this time I wasn’t running away. This time, I’m claiming what’s mine.

EXCERPT

Noelle shook her head and immediately wished she hadn’t as the vague ache turned into a full brass band in her head. Her temples throbbed, her stomach churned, and the cold air whispering up her skirt did little to cool down her heated core. She seemed surrounded by coldness—hard bricks dug into her back, the fine spray of rain carried on the breeze made her shiver. Great. Rain. Now this dump has sprung a leak in the roof. No, wait. I’m outside. How did I get outside?

Strong arms pulled her tightly into a hard, male frame, and her body responded instantly with a surge of liquid between her thighs. The only just dampened down arousal flared anew at the murmured words in her ear.

“Easy, belle, I’ve got you.”

The deep, accented voice shot straight to her pussy, and she bit her lip to stop herself from moaning out loud. Jeez, what was in that drink? She wriggled closer to the powerful body that held her up against the wall, her hips seemingly having a mind of their own as her body scrambled to finish what it had started. God, she was so close, if only…

“Snap out of it, baby. As much as I would love to oblige, I want you in my bed when you come apart.” The whisper skittered across the sensitive skin of her neck, and she whimpered her frustration into the broad shoulder of the man holding her up. Damn him, why couldn’t he just…

The insistent, vibrating hum of her phone in the pocket of her denim skirt finally got through the fog in her brain. Still nestled against the man, she blindly tried to grope for it, but he had her pinned so effectively that she couldn’t move.

His chest shook in silent laughter at her exasperated groan.

“What’s so damn funny about this? If you’re not going to help me to…to—” She stopped herself just in time. Good God, had it been that long that she would all but beg a perfect stranger to get her off, and in public no less? Her cheeks flamed in mortal embarrassment. He must think her a right floozy, and what the hell was she doing out here with him anyway?

“Noelle, I’m more than willing.” She finally looked up at the use of her name. How the hell did he know? Oh bloody hell, could this day get any worse? She hadn’t imagined him earlier then, and her body still reacted to him on the most primal level. She was so fucked, and not in a good way.

“Let me go, you, you…what the hell are you anyway? I should have known something would happen with you around. What did you do to me this time?”

The smile he gave in response didn’t reach his eyes, and Noelle cursed her runaway mouth. He didn’t look amused anymore. He looked positively dangerous, and why that should turn her on even more was really beyond her. Clearly she had no common sense where this man was concerned. And that voice…

“Belle, had it been me, you would be screaming my name right now.” The heated look he gave her made her toes curl under, even as he shook his head and pulled away slightly, giving her much needed breathing space. Damn her treacherous hormones to hell and back, but he looked good enough to eat. The breeze ruffled his hair so that it fell over one eye, and her fingers itched to brush it back to better see the expression in his eyes. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on that muscled torso, and the arms surrounding her seemed made of steel. The flickering street lights danced across the perfect angles of his face and drew her attention to the sensuous mouth.

He noticed, and the ghost of a real smile flickered across his face before his brows drew together in concentration, and his whole body tensed. He cocked his head as though to listen to something and the earlier sense of foreboding once again wrapped itself around Noelle, obliterating the last of her arousal. The grip on her arms grew strong enough to hurt until he noticed her sharp intake of breath and released her with a vicious curse.

 Coming to Breathless Press and all good online book stores on 20th April…

Contact the author

 Website  Blog Twitter Facebook

The Alpha takeover of the Bordello continues with Jorja Lovett and her delectable hero, Zanaan. So it’s over to them to tempt you with a morsel of what’s to come – can’t you just feel the sizzle from here…?

I’m not usually in the habit of letting humans see me, never mind telling them my life story but the freaks tell me I have to do my bit this week and share what happened that fateful night in Edinburgh. So here I am. My name is Zanaan and I’m a Fire Elemental. If you don’t know what that means you’ll have to read my story, In Her Element by Jorja Lovett, which will be released on the 6th April by Breathless Press as part of The Blood Bar Chronicles Book One: The Alphas. What I can tell you is that I’m hot stuff, as my Irish lass Ana will testify *winks*

Excerpt – In Her Element

“You shouldn’t be going through this alone.” Zanaan whispered. “Relax and go with it.”

“Go with what?” Ana asked as another wave of uncontrollable pleasure washed over her.

“That,” he said, giving her a lopsided smirk. He bent down until his lips were almost touching hers. “This.”

She held her breath; her heart pounded, knowing she was waiting for that final kiss. She was a slave to her arousal—the tightening of her nipples, the dampness between her legs—all awaiting his touch. Her eyes fluttered shut, but the kiss never came.

The warmth of his breath skimmed across her skin, into her ear and down her neck until Ana couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Mmm.” She bit her lip, attempting to stem the pressure building inside, but she was too far gone. Her legs quivered in the unsteady heels, and she flattened her hands against the wall to steady herself. All at once, her release came—fast, furious, and feeling fucking amazing.

“Well, that’s a first.”

At the sound of his deep voice in her ear, she fought her way back through the haze in her brain. “What is?”

“I’ve never made a woman come without laying a finger on her.” He stirred that tingling sensation all over again.

“You didn’t—I didn’t—I’ve never—” she said indignantly, then gave a frustrated grunt. “Get out of my way!” Embarrassed and confused by her behavior, she shoved him in the chest and made her escape, the sound of his laughter ringing in her ears.

Contact the Author

Jorja Lovett’s Blog: http://jorja-lovett.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=2a03326c2c87b613

Website: http://jorjalovettauthor.weebly.com/

Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jorja-Lovett/179111238840916

What do you get when you cross a group of women writers with a bunch of Supernaturals and a Siren call? Four amazing stories of danger, passion and lust. Just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets of Edinburgh… The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 1: The Alphas.

For the umpteenth time that day Lela Jackson glanced down on the file in her hands. “Guard the contents with your life,” her editor had said. “And whatever you do, follow the instructions, girl. They may well save your life. The alphas are not known for their sense of humor. It took me weeks to set this up, so don’t blow it by getting yourself killed.”

Lela rolled her eyes and bit back the snort of disgust. Apart from the corny red neon light, The Blood Bar looked like any other cattle market in Edinburgh. Kinda sad in the bright light of day—well as bright as Edinburgh in March ever got. Hardly a place for assignations of any kind, let alone things that went bump in the night.

She had been so excited to land the job at the Untold Truth.  Well paid investigative reporting jobs were hard to come by. Lela had been expecting to chase the likes of the Loch Ness monster—after all the mag specialized in the weird and wonderful—but this?

She glanced at the non-descript, heavy entrance door to the club again and then back at the notes, pinned to the front of the file.

Henri Guillaume – Vampire

David Malm – Time traveler

Xander de Rista – Wolf shifter

Zanaan – Fire Elemental

She rolled her eyes again. Yeah, and she was Cleopatra! What a load of crock. She was going to meet a bunch of loonies no doubt. Vampires and wolves—in bright daylight and on the full moon? Surely this Henri ought to lying in his coffin and Xander ought to be chasing bunnies in the field. She giggled at the thought, before the fine hair on her neck warned her she wasn’t alone in the alley anymore.

Her hand tightened on the mace in her jacket pocket and she whirled on the spot.

“Can I help you with something?” The warm American accent threw Lela for a minute, as she had to look a long, long way up into a pair of blue-green eyes watching her steadily. The man that sinful drawl belonged to had to be at least six foot three of immaculately dressed, drop dead gorgeous male. Damn it, she had a thing for men who dressed well.

“I… I,” she cleared her throat. The stranger smiled and Lela completely forgot why she was there for a minute.

Sheesh, pull yourself together, girl.

“I would be careful around these parts, miss. Especially on your own.”

The reminder stung, and Lela frowned. Who did he think he was? She straightened her shoulders and glared at the hunk.

“I’m not on my own. I’m meeting some wei…err…people in that bar over there, and I’m running late. So thank you so much for your concern, but I’m quite capable of looking after myself.”

“I’m sure you are.” The stranger smirked and Lela rolled her eyes again. She turned her back on him and marched purposefully to the entrance.

Damn it, it was locked. There was no bell anywhere. She huffed her annoyance. Had she been sent on a wild goose chase? Was it play a trick on the new girl day? There was a gust of air behind her and the stranger was gone.

Lela blinked and rubbed her eyes. What? Where did he go? In another blink of an eye he was back. Lela shrieked in surprise.

“Lela Jackson. I expected someone a little… older.”  The charming smile with which he delivered the words, stopped Lela’s immediate outrage, but before she could do as much as raise an eyebrow, he took her firmly by the elbow and the world tilted.  Air rushed by in a sickening whirl and when her feet touched ground again a mere second later, Lela stared openmouthed at the dimly lit interior of a bar.

The hunk, who literally just made the earth move for her, let go of her arm and turned to the three men propped at the bar.

“Boys, look what I found lurking outside.”

Three pairs of eyes settled on her and Lela swallowed. What was this hunk convention? Had she hit her head? Was she hallucinating, lying out there in the alley?

“This is Lela Jackson, the reporter, mon ami?” One of the three gorgeous examples of the male species got up and walked towards them.  Good lord that French accent was to die for. Lela backed away from the brilliant blue eyes searching her face, until the wall stopped her.

The man, please let him be a man, stopped in front of her, smiled and took her hand. He raised it to his mouth and dropped a kiss on the back of it.

“Henri Guillaume at your service, mademoiselle. I hope David here behaved himself. You look a little pale. Fleabag, get her a drink.”

“Of course she’s pale, having met you two freaks. Ever heard of using the door like normal people, timeless. .” The impossibly tall, dark haired and simply gorgeous man at the bar growled and Lela bit her lip. That growl was positively wolf like. That’s it she was losing it.

“It was locked, mutt. I’m sorry that I can’t fit through the doggy door round the back.”

Yes, she was definitely losing it. The other man at the bar looked as though he was playing with fire. No, scrap that, there was a little flame sitting in his hand.

“Well, clearly I am the only sane person here,” the man said and winked at her. “Come over here, Miss Jackson, you look as though you need warming up.”

Lela found her voice from somewhere.

“I’m not going anywhere with any of you, thank you. I have no idea what’s going on, or who you all think you are, but I’m here to interview a Henri Guillaume.” She stopped to look at the supposed vampire still standing to the side of her. He smiled showing a pair of fangs and she lost her train of thought again. He couldn’t be. They couldn’t be.

“She looks as if she’s never seen a vampire before,” David said, another sly smile playing across his lips.

“I didn’t think…” She started to say, but lost herself to the tricks of her mind. Vampires aren’t real. This has to be a dream. It’s just nerves for the real interview. You’ll wake up soon.

“You work for Untold Truth, suis-je le droit?” The man spoke, his sharp canines almost seemed to grow before her very eyes.

“Y-yes.” She stuttered.

“This is a waste of time.” The man with dark hair growled again. For a second his brown eyes seemed to glow, almost like a light bulb, but when Lela blinked she realized her eyes had played her for a fool.

“Give her a chance. She is young, after all,” David said, spreading his fingers through his blonde hair with a sigh.

“Sam, get the lady a drink. Why don’t you sit down Miss before this lot has you fainting?”

Lela’s eyes focused on the man behind the bar. He at least seemed normal enough. She sat down with a thump. Sam smiled at her and she relaxed a bit.

“What’s your poison, Miss Jackson?”

“Just water, thank you. I’m hallucinating enough as it is.” The rough chuckles behind her had her downing the ice cold glass of water in one long gulp.

Okay, girl, get a grip. You’re here to do a job.

“They really are real, aren’t they?” She asked the bartender. He just smiled and nodded. Great, just wonderful, this could only happen to me.

“In that case give me Vodka and you wouldn’t happen to have some Garlic behind that bar, would you?” Sam’s grin grew wider. Xander and the walking fireball who must be Zanaan howled with laughter. David looked amused and the ancient vampire looked offended.

“No offence, but I don’t want to end up your snack.” She shot a glance towards the still chuckling Xander. His eyes were definitely glowing in the dim lighting, and Zanaan seemed to find great amusement in juggling a fireball. “And whilst you’re getting that garlic, add some wolf bane and a fire extinguisher, will you, and you—” she glared at David, “don’t even think about touching me again. I like my feet firmly on the ground, thank you very much.”

David smirked and held his hands up in surrender. “Told you to give her a chance, boys.”

Sam placed a glass of Vodka in front of her and Lela gratefully took the Dutch courage. Her eyes watered and she squinted at her file again.

“Ok, down to business.” All four men sat up a bit straighter at her business like tone. “I don’t want to know how you can possibly exist, but I have to ask you these questions. My editor assured me you would be cooperative, as long as I stuck to the pre -arranged questions?”

The men nodded as one and Lela relaxed a bit more. Perhaps she would make it out of here alive after all. She turned towards the shifter, casually lounging against the bar.

“Xander, do you mind if I call you Xander?”

“Not at all, as you clearly know who the alpha in this room is.” He smiled and Lela was once again struck by how insanely good looking the man was.

“What made you come to the Blood Bar on the night in question, and did you sense something was going to happen? I understand there were several disturbances that night.”

Xander’s relaxed air disappeared and Lela swallowed nervously, as she looked into the eyes of his wolf.

“I knew something was definitely wrong when I saw Fang Face and Time Warp over there. You can bet there will be trouble if those two are close.”

Lela jumped at the snarl coming from Henri, grateful beyond belief at David stepping between the vampire and shifter. He murmured something to Henri and the vampire nodded and sat back down. Whoa that was close.

“Why did you stay?” Lela asked Xander.

“What made me stay? She did. My Mate. I saw her come in, almost left before she got here, but when she arrived, I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“I see, so you knew straight away she was your mate?” Lela smiled at his nod.

“Dora, or Dizzy as I call her, is my heart, my soul and the air I breathe. Yeah keep laughing Flame Boy.” He growled at Zanaan who flipped him a finger, before resuming his fire juggling.

“Dizzy, is a woman who doesn’t mince her words and has a fantastic right hook. And she is pure……magic….with computers. She tracked these lot down like a blood hound…and one mutt comment from you lot about her and I won’t be held accountable am I clear?”

“I’m sure the others must feel about their ladies in the same way?” Lela was quick to intervene as the tension in the room nudged up again. Goodness that Xander was overprotective.

“Zanaan, what about you? What drew you to the Blood Bar that night?” Lela smiled at the fire elemental and he thankfully stopped his juggling act and grew thoughtful.

“I only came in here that night to watch these mutants chasing mortal tail – it’s my version of reality TV. I couldn’t believe it when Ana locked eyes with me, considering I was invisible to most of the crowd in the bar that night. And when that feisty little temper of hers came out to play, let’s just say this Fire Elemental was drawn to her straightaway. Her friends were too busy getting jiggy with Dog Breath, Dead Boy and Old Father Time there to notice when she left. So, gentleman that I am I escorted her back to her hotel and yeah, you could say there were fireworks that night.” He grinned and Lela was glad she was sitting. That grin—Ana was a lucky girl, that’s for sure.

“Suffice to say she changed me that night and it’s solely down to Ana Chapman that I cared about any mortals or supes to help with the events that followed.”

“Ah yes the events that followed, can you elaborate on that at all?” Lela addressed the room, but they all just stared at her.

“Oh come on gentlemen, this is one of the questions on my list. David, what about you, can you tell my readers anything?”

“I was asked by a dear friend to check in at the Blood Bar. It seemed urgent, and although I hadn’t slept, I did as I was told. It didn’t take long for all hell to break loose, of course. Especially with those involved.” He gestured towards Xander and Zanaan and Henri smiled. “You see, I’m a time-traveler but also a peace-keeper for the flea-ridden beings of the world.”

“Watch who you’re calling flea ridden, timeless.” Xander growled loud enough to make Lela jump, but David ignored him.

“The bar was packed with all sorts of supes, and the only humans were a table of beautiful women. Of course, my eyes caught Josie’s immediately. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, with dark waves, emerald eyes and ruby lips.” His smile grew positively sinful and Zanaan rolled his eyes. Lela was surprised Xander didn’t interrupt again, but both he and Henri seemed lost in thought, their expressions tender. They clearly loved their human mates. David cleared his throat and continued.

“She floors me, still. Even now. And I knew from the moment our lips touched that I would do anything for her, no matter the consequence. She’s my babydoll. My little Scottish bombshell. And if it also meant helping out an old friend, then why not?”

“And the old friend would be you, Henri?” Lela asked.

“Oui, David and I have known each other a long time. I know I can rely on him always, and I needed his help. Forces were at play that night, forces far stronger than us.”

Lela laughed nervously at the grimly delivered words and shifted in her seat at his unblinking stare. Having the full attention of a thousand year old vampire on you, could creep a girl out, even if he was sex-on-legs. He was deadly serious, and the tension in the room hit fever pitch again.

“Right, so tell me did you meet the woman of your dreams that night too?”

“Non.” He growled the words and shut his eyes as though he was in pain. David put a hand on his arm and murmured to him.

“No, you didn’t? But I thought—”

“Let me explain,” Henri interrupted her. “I didn’t meet her that night. I had already met Noelle four years ago. I knew then she was special, but I let her go. I thought this would be in her best interest. I didn’t want to tie her to me. She was too much of a vibrant life force to condemn her to life in the shadows with me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

“Was?” Lea’s heart bit a bit faster. Surely he hadn’t? A quick glance at the other men brought little reassurance. They had all grown serious, their expressions pensive.

“There is no need to look at me as though I’m a monster.” Henri’s voice could have cut glass and Lela rubbed the goose bumps off her arms.

“I wasn’t, I mean, I’m sure you’re not, but she is okay, right?”

“Oui, Noelle is okay now. I would stake myself before I’d let anything happen to her or Hope.”

“Hope? Who’s Hope?”

“Hope is the reason we’re all here, little human. Our women would never talk to us again, if we failed that girl.” Zanaan’s voice lacked the mockery he’d displayed up till now and Xander too growled his approval.

David nodded gravely.

“Hope needs to be protected and I have sworn to help Henri in any way I can. It’s the least any of us can do.”

“Merci, mon ami,” Henri whispered. If Lela hadn’t known better she could have sworn there were tears in the vampire’s eyes. Who the dickens was Hope? Before she could ask that question Xander jumped up.

“Enough of this, I have a woman I need to get back to. Our job is far from done. I am only here because Dizzy and Josie made me promise. No offence to yourself Miss.”

“Err, none taken, I’m sure you must…oh”

Before Lela could complete that sentence the man had stripped and in the next wide eyed blink, she was staring at a wolf. Lela shook her head to clear her vision. No, definitely a wolf—time to get out of here—pronto,

“Okay, well, thank you for your time, gentlemen. I shall leave you be then. I can see you are all anxious to get back to whatever it is you do so if you would just… argh.”

The ground shook, the air rushed by, and just like that Lela was back in the alleyway. David smirked, bowed and disappeared.

Okay, that had to have been the most bizarre experience of her life. She just hoped her editor would be pleased with… Damn it! She’d left her file in the Blood Bar.

Another gust of wind pushed her back into a cool wall of muscle. Large hands spun her around and Lela lost herself in brilliant blue eyes.

“Listen to me, ma petite, you will not remember this…”

Blood Bar Chronicles, Book One: The Alphas, releasing 6th April, from Breathless Press.

http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Contact the authors at…

Jorja Lovett

Cherie Nicholls

Doris O’Connor

Arya Grey

...and their sexy heroes!

I’d like to welcome the lovely Lynne Marshall to the Bordello today. She’ll be giving away a book to a lucky commenter so don’t forget to say hi (and buy her books   – they’re available now! lol). So without further ado, I’ll give you over to Lynne… ~  Xandra

First of all – thanks so much for inviting me to be your guest at The Book Bordello.  What a gorgeous and lush looking blog.

Pop Quiz

Why is Lynne Marshall partial to nurse protagonists?

Because:

• She was a Registered Nurse for twenty-six years.
• She knows how dedicated RNs are to their jobs
• RNs are natural nurturers
• She has a big imagination and has a million “what if” stories running around in her head featuring a nurse and often including a doctor.
• She loves the tradition of doctor nurse stories

If you chose any of the above answers, you’d be correct.

Two Books Are Better Than One!

I am one lucky lady to have not one, but two books out in March, both featuring RNs as the main character.

Anne Grady is the protagonist for COURTING HIS FAVORITE NURSE my debut Harlequin Special Edition available February 21^st and in stores in the U.S. for the month of March.

Anne must return home after a motorcycle wreck has left both of her parents injured, and in need of her help. She left Whispering Oaks twelve years ago as a broken hearted teenager and, after completing her nursing degree, she never returned. Anne looks at her parents, the people she loves dearly, and realizes she’s almost lost both of them, and the thought makes her wonder why she’s stayed away so long. Her next thought reveals the reason: Jack Lightfoot.

Carrington Hanover is the protagonist for AN INDISCRETION a contemporary romance with medical elements from The Wild Rose Press available in e-book only beginning March 21^st.

Carrington is happy to be a nurse. She has led a privileged life but has walked away from her father’s money after her mother dies from cancer, and vows to live within her own means. Now, her grandfather turns her life upside down when he bequeaths her a million dollars. Realizing on her wedding day that her fiancé has dollar signs in his eyes instead of love, she runs away to St. Stephen’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Here, she plans to keep secret her inheritance. A man must love her for her alone, not her money – her self-respect is in the balance. But she must work with a doctor she’d known as a teenager in cotillion classes, a boy who’d been accused of stealing from her father – Dr. Paul Valverde.

The Runaway Nurse Syndrome

You may have noticed a theme going on here. Both characters, Anne and Carrington, are runaways. Anne leaves home because she can’t take the pain and memories there.  Carrington runs away from her marriage plans because she’s sick of people only wanting her for her money.

Heroes with benefits

With two heroines such as Anne and Carrington, it takes one special guy/hero to help make things right again. It has been a long time coming for both couples, and when Anne and Jack, and Carrington and Paul finally get together, well…

What they’re saying about:

Courting His Favorite Nurse

“A touching story that will tug at the heartstrings.” Romantic Times 4 Stars:

An Indiscretion

“Lynne Marshall has written a first-rate romantic read that will make readers smile as well as shed a tear.” Nas Dean, Romance Book Paradise

Question for blog readers:  What is your favorite medical drama TV show?  Do you enjoy reading about medical professionals in books?

One commenter will get to choose which e-book version they’d like as a gift from Amazon. If you’re not into e-reading, I will provide a print copy of one of my back list Medical Romances from Mills & Boon.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

Lynne Marshall writes contemporary and Medical Romance for Harlequin and The Wild Rose Press.  The first book in the Grady family trilogy, Courting His Favorite Nurse, is a March 2012 Harlequin Special Edition.  Also coming in March in e-book only is, An Indiscretion, a contemporary romance with strong medical elements, from The Wild Rose Press.

You can connect with Lynne Marshall on the Web:

Website                Facebook             RomanceWiki         Author Page

COURTING HIS FAVORITE NURSE Harlequin Special Edition, March 2012 #2178, US

Anne Grady knew better than anyone that love was complicated. When she’d left her hometown, she thought she was leaving her past heartbreak behind for good, as well. But practically the moment she returned to care for her injured parents, she stumbled headlong into their confidant—her first love, Jack Lightfoot.

Jack had been unable to deny his feelings for Annie when he was a teenager dating her best friend, and he certainly couldn’t muffle the spark twisting between them now—even if memories of the past kept threatening to push them apart. This time Jack wasn’t going to let history repeat itself—he was going to show Annie that the two of them were meant to be much more than best friends!

Buy Links:

Harlequin      Amazon      Amazon UK      B&N        Book Depository

An Indiscretion

A doctor… A nurse… An indiscretion…

Paul Valverde is stretched to the limit, caring for an elderly relative while running a business and maintaining a full-time medical practice at St. Stephen’s Hospital–with no time for a relationship.
RN Carrington Hanover leaves her money-hungry fiance at the altar and moves on to a new job at St. Stephen’s Hospital in Los Angeles. The next man in her life must love her, not her money.
All work and no play has made Paul an unfulfilled man, and the resurrected redheaded crush from his youth is driving him to distraction. Can their complicated past become untangled by their newfound attraction–or will their love be doomed by mistrust and long-held resentment?

Links to buy

The Wild Rose Press

I’d like to welcome the lovely Kylie Griffin to the Bordello today! She’s talking about one of my very favourite things in a romance book – the first kiss – and is very generously offering one very lucky commenter a copy of her debut Berkley book, Vengeance Born. Don’t forget to go check out her book – it looks great (and what a gorgeous cover!!). So without further ado, I’ll hand you over to Kylie ~ Xandra

Hi Xandra, thanks for having me here on your blog. I’ve been looking forward to visiting and sharing a little about VENGEANCE BORN, my debut fantasy romance with Berkley Sensation!

The First Kiss…

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts of any romance novel is the first kiss between the hero and heroine.

While I savor the opening chapters – getting to know the characters and the story line – nothing beats the thrill of watching the hero and heroine’s romantic journey grow. The looks, the realisation of desire, the wondering, the physical attraction, until they succumb to temptation and share that first kiss.

If the author has balanced attraction with conflict then the tension will keep me flipping the pages as I seek the answers to questions like – When will it happen? Who’s going to make the first move? What’s it going to be like? Will they both enjoy it? What will happen afterward?

And then the cycle begins again as the relationship develops. I love it!

In VENGEANCE BORN, my debut fantasy romance novel with Berkley, Annika and Kalan’s romantic relationship takes a very Romeo & Juliet-Shakespearean journey – they come from warring houses (she’s a half-demon, he’s human and sworn to kill her), and from the start both believe any romantic involvement is doomed to fail, a tragedy in the making.

They have so much to overcome – personal and external prejudices and misconceptions, opposition from those who know them, and it’s complicated by the rising tension between humans and demons. Throw in a couple of culture-shaking secrets and it makes you wonder if they’re ever going to have a happy ending

But there’s hope…you can see and experience it in their first kiss.

“I’m a demon…”

Annika’s whispered words, an echo of his own the evening before, pierced Kalan’s gut. Her pain challenged him.

“You’re Na’Chi,” he refuted.

“You think I’m tainted…”

Less than three days ago he’d have agreed with her. Three days ago, if they met anywhere but in that dungeon below Savyr’s keep, he’d have driven his blade into her heart and used his Gift to kill her. But she’d saved his life, given him his freedom and confronted everything he believed to be true about demons.

“Annika, I don’t understand the attraction between us any more than you do.”

“You continue to toy with me. Why?”

If the situation wasn’t so tenuous Kalan would have laughed. Her suspicion and distrust grated against his pride.

He shook his head. “I’m not toying with you. I have no ulterior motive.”

“You claim you’re attracted to me, yet last night you were repulsed by the idea that you almost kissed me.” Her accusation was shadowed with pain. “Am I to believe you’ve had a change of heart in less than a day?”

Her disbelief was justified. He ran a hand through his damp hair. “Annika, I don’t know what else I can say–”

“Prove it.”

“What?”

She swallowed convulsively. “Kiss me.” Her chin tilted. Flecked with green, her eyes sparkled in silent challenge.

His pulse began to race, his body grew hot, and Lady’s Breath, he was getting hard, turned on by her dare. Closing the distance between them to place his lips on hers took little effort to imagine. A single heartbeat and he’d finally discover what she tasted like.

None of what he was experiencing was making any sense and until it did kissing her wouldn’t be a good idea.

Her lip curled the longer he hesitated. “Your scent might reek of desire but you’re still disgusted by the fact you’re attracted to a demon.”

“Not disgusted, Na’Chi,” he denied, and deep inside that was the truth. It was frustrating that she continued to see him in such a negative light. “Try confused.”

With that, he dipped his head and slanted his mouth over hers. For the barest moment Annika stiffened, and then placed her hand against his chest to grip his shirt and hold on. He buried his fingers into the soft strands of her hair at the back of her neck to steady her.

Merciful Mother, her lips were soft, silky, and sweeter than any fruit he’d ever consumed. Kalan traced them with his tongue, allowing himself to enjoy their texture and taste, feasting on and teasing himself with the scintillating combination. He sucked on the fullest part of her bottom lip, grazing it with his teeth.

The small voice in the back of his head warning him to stop, that kissing her was a mistake, was drowned out by the blood pounding inside his head. Every heartbeat spent tasting her wasn’t enough to satiate the need building in him.

He groaned; the wild, untamed sound wrenched from deep within his chest. Dropping his other hand to her waist, he pulled her up against him.

Do they reach a happy ending, well…that’s something I can’t reveal *grin*, but I do have a copy of VENGEANCE BORN to giveaway, and you can find out for yourself.

I’m curious, what’s your favorite part in a romance novel? Is it the first meeting of the hero and heroine? The first kiss? Something else?

Share your thoughts and you’ll go into the draw. I look forward to reading your comments and answers.

Blurb:

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born…

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father’s people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she’s gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy.

With the Na’Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na’Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war…

Buy Links:

Penguin – http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780425245361/vengeance-born

Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Vengeance-Born-Novel-Light-Blade/dp/0425245365/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324458243&sr=1-1

The Book Depository – http://www.bookdepository.com/Vengeance-Born-Kylie-Griffin/9780425245361

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vengeance-born-kylie-griffin/1102496659

Fishpond – http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Vengeance-Born-Kylie-Griffin/9780425245361?cf=3&rid=335575780&i=1&keywords=vengeance+born

Books-a-Million – http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Vengeance-Born/Kylie-Griffin/9780425245361?id=5244581890012#publishers-weekly%C2%AE%20reviews

Indie Bound – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425245361

About Kylie

Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com

Contact: kyliegriffin71@optusnet.com

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com

Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/Kylie_Griffin-author

After the Bordello has had an extended absence from the interweb due to unforeseen circumstances, I’d like  welcome the lovely and talented Helen Lacey to the Bordello today! You have a chance to win a copy of her new Harlequin Special Edition book by commenting on her post (details below) and, if you follow her blog tour, you can win an amazon voucher and a bracelet – how fantastic is that?! Be sure to go check out her book, Made For Marriage ~  Xandra

Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys…

I have a confession . . . I love cowboys. I’ve loved them since I was a young girl and used to watch old westerns on television with my dad – Audy Murphy, Gary Cooper, John Wayne – I adored watching these old actors save the day, get the bad and ride off into the sunset with the girl. Not that these actors were particularly sexy, but they had a certain charisma that shone brightly when they were on the screen. Now, as a grown woman, my taste in movies has changed and I’m a little more discerning with the westerns I watch. However, I still like that old theme – you know, the hero who protects and serves, the guy who looks so good in the saddle and manages to get the love of the woman he wants.

I live in Australia, and over here our cowboys are sometimes enigmatic and mysterious creatures. Not as well revered or famous as their American cousins. They can raise beef on outback cattle stations bigger than some European countries, or whisper wild horses in remote mountain ranges. In Australia they are often called stockman, jackaroos, or drover’s. Although Hugh Jackman did raise their profile a little in that famous scene from the movie Australia – you know, the one where he tips a bucket of water over his soapy, naked torso, and it ran down his chest in a long . . . . Ah –hem.

Right, so back to what I was saying about cowboys.

There’s something intrinsically solid and strong about a cowboy. You just know and expect that he’s going to ooze integrity. He’s the man who defends the woman he loves, the man who will fight if he has to, but who has enough confidence that he can also walk away from a brawl. He’s the man you want in your corner when things get tough. He doesn’t suffer fools or liars or cheats. He’s the man who makes you feel safe. He could be someone’s brother, or son or father and he cares deeply for his family and the ranch that may have been in his family for generations. Or he could be a loner, a man hurt in the past who needs patience and kindness and finds solace around the horses he loves. And when you’re reading about him in the pages of a novel, or watching him on screen, he’s the kind of man you want to fall in love with.

In romance novels the cowboy hero has sustained and grown in popularity. Some of the best selling authors time and time again give us stories about these men in denim, whose clothes mold across their skin, whose boots are made for swaggering and dancing and twirling the woman he loves in his arms.  So, call me overly romantic, but I adore this guy. He gets my attention every time. Like the cop, the CEO, and the soldier – this man has found his place in the pages of the books we love to read or write. He is dependable and faithful – sometimes arrogant but always fair.

When I write about cowboys I get to spend time with two of the things I love – a strong hero and horses. So I think mothers should let their babies grow up to be cowboys . . . so we can keep on watching them, and reading and writing about them.

Do you have a favorite cowboy? Or do you prefer the CEO or cop type hero?

Leave a comment and go into the draw to win a copy of my January release from Harlequin Special Edition, Made For Marriage. Follow my blog tour and go into the draw for a chance to win the grand prize of a $50.00 Amazon voucher, and for those who like a little bling, a fabulous silver Pandora Bracelet.

MADE FOR MARRIAGE

Equestrian Callie Jones was used to difficult parents at her riding school. But Noah Preston took the cake.

How dare he question her teaching abilities, after his headstrong daughter paid no heed to rules—her teacher’s or her father’s?

Single dad Noah was ready to apologize for overreacting. But he wasn’t sorry for the way the stunning American riding instructor made him feel. And he soon learned that there was more to Callie than her smarts, sass and fire: a shattered heart that threatened to splinter even further. Could he make her see that he—and his family—were for keeps?

Buy Links:

Amazon        Amazon UK      Book Depository

Helen Lacey on the web:

Website     Facebook     Twitter     Blog           Helen’s Page at RomanceWiki

For full itinerary on Helen’s Celebration tour check out Helen Lacey- Author Page.

I’d like to welcome the lovely Doris O’Connor today. We’ve fooled her into answering the 13 fun questions on the release day of her very hot (actually, it’s smokin’ !!) read from Breathless Press. Have you seen the cover for awakening, it’s gorgeous – I could seriously look at it all day Anyway, Doris has very kindly offered a free ebook of it to one very lucky commenter. Doris will pick a winner and announce on her blog on Monday. Now, seriously, go buy it!!  ~ Xandra

1 – Rich, loved or famous – choose one. Why?

Rich, I think. I’m already loved and fame tends to come with being rich anyway, or so it seems. Actually I’d settle for just being comfortable. That would be nice!

2 – If you could have anyone serenade you who would it be and what would they sing?

Goodness I’m drawing a blank here, but I guess – A young Elvis – Love me tender.

3 – We can all time travel now. Where would you go, what would you do, and why?

Oh, either the Wild West, or American civil war. I find either time period absolutely fascinating. When I was a tween my stepmum introduced me to the Winnetou series by Karl May. I was completely hooked on it. Then I read Gone with the Wind and that started my obsession with that time period. North and south followed. You get the idea. I would love to get dressed up in all those fascinating dresses, experience a wagon trail and get kidnapped by red Indians, lol. I was always on their side!

4 – If you could live in the world of a book, tv show or movie, what would it be?

True Blood. I would elbow Sookie out of the way and get myself some Eric

5 – What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate and Strictly or Dancing on Ice or a good costume drama on the telly.

6 – What is your favourite tv theme?

True Blood without a doubt—not that I’m obsessed or anything…

Have to agree here, Doris. This theme song is SO good!!

7 – What was your favourite toy growing up?

I had a soft Elephant that I carried around with me everywhere. I chewed the ears off countless times and my gran always managed to repair it, until eventually it just fell to pieces.

8 – What did you want to be when you grew up?

An air stewardess, a waitress, a tour guide, a model, an actress—I was a precocious child, lol.

9 – What scares you the most?

Losing one of my children. No parent should ever have to bury their child.

10 – What’s your perfect lazy day?

A lie in, cuddles with hubby followed by a loooong soak in the bath with a good book.

11 – What is your earliest memory?

Opening the wardrobe and finding all of my favourite toys having been broken by my step brother. I was devastated.

12 – What’s the greatest gadget ever made?

The computer. I have a love/hate relationship with it, but couldn’t live without mine

13 – What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Babies left with a bottle propped in their mouth. For heaven’s sake, give that child a cuddle when they’re having a feed! Thankfully I haven’t seen that in a while. Closely followed by mums jiggling a crying baby. “But he/she can’t be hungry yet. It’s not time yet.”  GRRR! Just feed the poor thing already! Ok, will step off my soapbox now

Thanks for having me, these have been fun.

To Buy

Other releases by Doris:  Scandinavian Scandal  Lure Of The Blood

Find Doris here: Website  Blog Twitter Facebook

The Outer Banks beaches, North Carolina

I’d like to welcome Tracy Sumner to the Bordello today. Make sure you go and purchase her newly released books (links below) as they all look great! And be sure to sign up for her newsletter on her website ( www.tracysumner.com ) for a chance to win a Kindle – how generous is that?!  ~  Xandra

Hello everyone! I’m thrilled to be a part of Book Bordello!

I’m here today to discuss setting. Our characters not only require a stage to perform on, setting is a wonderful way to guide the theme of the story and enhance emotional drama. I didn’t really think I had a strong command of setting when I first began writing romance. I wasn’t even sure I liked added the layers that make up setting. Then, reviewers and readers kept making comments about “lush description” and “compelling setting detail”, and being immersed in the locale. I was “writing what I knew”, the North Carolina (Outer Banks) coast. Though in 1898, which did not know! J

I began to see that I used my settings to up the emotional stakes in key scenes with my characters. To intensify the drama. Take, for example, a excerpt from the newly released TIDES OF PASSION. The setting is the Outer Bank (NC) in 1898, and I found the setting (sand, sun, sea) very easy to romanticize.

~

Later that night, Savannah tiptoed from the makeshift campsite, following the path leading through the break in the dunes. Tilting her head, she counted until she lost count of the twinkling lights sheltered in the black velvet sky. An owl hooted nearby, a gull somewhere beyond that. A respected marine biologist, Noah had identified every sound for them after supper while Elle looked on with her own stars in her eyes.

Savannah had left them sitting so close their heads touched, their hands linked as if they couldn’t bear to let the other go. Pushing aside the pang of envy she hoped was a natural reaction to witnessing such devoted adoration, she trudged across the warm sand, the occasional chip of quartz—another bit of information from Noah—glittering in the moonlight.

They were due to sail back to Pilot Isle in another hour, when the tide rolled in or out, whichever made it easier, or safer, to get home. Home. A misstep to use that word. She had not had a true home since those ragtag Brooklyn days. Or certainly not since her mother’s death, anyway. Her father had not had the heart to provide a home for the daughter he always wished had been born a son.

She wiggled her toes, relishing the freedom of bare feet, and, too, the freedom of being Savannah Connor and nothing more for the summer. She wasn’t sure when she would put on another pair of pinching boots or form another picket line and spend the night in a filthy jail cell for her dedication.

Maybe never.

Peering through the shadowy moonlight, she found him sitting beneath a copse of sea oats, his back against the dune, hands stacked behind his head, bare feet propped upon a massive piece of driftwood. The wind tugged his shirt wide and pitched his crow black hair into his eyes. He looked vulnerable, sitting there in the darkness, alone and silent.

Sitting nearby, but not close enough to tempt either one of them, she pulled her skirt to midcalf and wormed her feet into the silken sand. Humid air whipped in from the east in gusts, and with an exhalation of surrender, she released her hair from the loose knot on her head.

“Lost, Irish?” His deep voice cut through the sound of the pounding surf.

So he did see her. Settling back against the dune, she gathered her thoughts. “Your family thinks we hate each other.”

“Good. That’ll keep them from asking questions.”

“Do you, I mean, is this….” She shrugged, sending grains of sand down the back of her dress.

She had to ask.

“Wanting to wring your pretty little neck every other minute isn’t enough to keep me from wanting to touch you, if that’s where you’re headed.” He sighed, kicking at the driftwood. “Nothing seems to be enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Scooting close, he captured a strand of her hair between his thumb and finger. “For making me angry or making me yearn?”

Averting her gaze from the breadth of skin exposed by his unbuttoned shirt, she released a pent-up breath. “For my histrionics earlier this evening.”

He seized her chin in his palm and directed her eyes to his face. “Say it again.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, stomach doing the familiar dance that must be what he called yearning.

He shook his head. “No. The big word.”

She frowned, puzzled. Big word? Oh. “Histrionics.”

His attention centered on her mouth, recording every movement of her lips. “I love watching you talk, Irish. When we’re in bed the first time, I want you to whisper one of those big words you love every time I slide inside you.” He wrapped the strand of hair around his finger in a lazy rotation. “I don’t care what they mean.”

Her face colored; she felt it flame. Her lips opened, closed, her brain powerless to string together a sentence, big words or small.

“You’re afraid.”

She shook her head. It didn’t feel like fear.

It felt like excitement.

“There’s no need. We’ll take it at your pace. You tell me when, where, and how much. Or how little.”

“We’ll be friends when it’s over?”

A stray beam of moonlight spilled across his face in time for her to see his pause, his thoughtful deliberation. It made her feel good to know he tried to answer honestly. “I think so, yes.”

Her eyes again dropped to his chest, the sprinkling of dark hair glistening. With perspiration or perhaps salt water.

Releasing her chin, he slipped his shirt from his shoulders and shook it from his arms. Lifting her hand from its mired position in the sand, he placed it palm-flat on his chest. “Go ahead. I think you want to. Hell, my good sense dissolved like mist the moment you stepped off the ferry. You might as well lose yours.”

His head dropped back, his lids sliding low as she began to explore; the sand coating her fingers an oddly pleasurable abrasion.

~

To read excerpts of both novels in the Seaswept Seduction Series: TIDES OF PASSION and the just-released, TIDES OF LOVE, please visit my website at www.tracysumner.com or visit me at https://www.facebook.com/TracySumnerRomanceAuthor or @SumnerTracy. Everyone who signs up for my newsletter or comments on Novel Thoughts will be put into a drawing for a Kindle!

My holiday novella – TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL — is out next week, too!

Purchase links -

Tides of Passion   Tides of Love  To Desire A Scoundrel

Happy reading!