P.G. Forte's Blog, page 52

Angels in the Afterlife

When I wrote Edge of Heaven, I hadn't planned on growing a series around it. I probably should have known better. Stand alone stories generally leave me wanting more when I read them. When I write one, however, it's even worse. I'm never satisfied with one story in a world; I always want more. So, Edge will be getting some company. 


The newly-titled Angels in the Afterlife series has its own page on my website now:




http://www.pgforte.com/AngelsInTheAfterLife.htm




Edge is there already, with his shiny new cover and a new vendor, as well--since I finally managed to get some books loaded on iTunes. 




The other two books I have planned for the series (so far!) have blurbs and covers as well...also cleverly hidden excerpts, but those pages still need some renovation. lol




I hope you take a look and let me know what you think of my Heavenly Hotties. 







Welcome to the afterlife, where men are men and the angels are fallen.



It was a reckless act of passion that ended Edge's life and left him in Limbo--literally. Now, he's stuck here. While most of the other angels-in-training move quickly up the celestial ladder, Edge knows it can never be that simple for him. He's dealing with issues that are a lot more complicated than a simple lack of closure.



While Edge doesn't know for sure what it will take to get him into Heaven, there is one thing he's certain won't help--his latest assignment guiding angel-baby Matteo Matinucci while the newbie finds his wings.



But twenty-something Mattie--sexy, beautiful, recently departed and openly gay--could turn out to be the answer to all of Edge's prayers, as well as the fulfillment of all his fantasies, even the hot, sweaty, secret ones he's never confided to anyone.



Warning: This book contains angels in the afterlife, a host of heavenly hotties worth falling for, and man on man angel sex--so good, you'll be dying to get some.



Available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble , iBooks, and Kobo 














Edge of Heaven is told in the first person solely from Edge’s point of view. A friend of mine had put the idea in my head of writing the story again from Mattie’s point of view, but my publisher hated the idea. Now, however, since I'm the publisher, I’m pleased to say that Angel Mine is finally in the works!



You can check that out HERE

Celtic Déjà Vu

I just released two books! This is very exciting for me even
though neither of the books are new. Well...the covers are new, and one of the
books has a new name, and I’ve done 
little editing, but for the most part, Iron and Oak are still exactly what
they’ve always been:  paranormal, erotic fantasy
romances set in nineteenth century Ireland.




Is that a subgenre?  It is now!




These are two of the Books of my Heart, stories that, for
one reason or another, demanded to be written.






Iron, which holds the distinction of being the only one of
my books that has ever finalled in a contest, is the result of a random
question posed by a reader during an online chat. “What’s the most unlikely romantic pairing you can imagine?” 




Now, I can imagine a lot, but in that moment it occurred to me that there wasn't much that was more unlikely
than a fae (for whom iron is an anathema) and a blacksmith, someone who works
with the stuff daily, whose life and livelihood depend on it.  The idea took hold and wouldn’t let go. Add to
that the fact that my grandfather had worked as a blacksmith when he was a
young man living in Ireland, quite some
time ago—and the book had its
setting.




I’m sure my grandparents would both be utterly appalled to think that they’d
been the inspiration—in any way, however tangential—for an erotic romance, but
I dedicated the book to them anyway.






“Nineteenth century
Ireland. Blacksmith Gavin O'Malley is a bitter man, with a heart as hard as the
iron he forges. He wants his life back--the one that was stolen from him the
day his wife died in childbirth--taking their firstborn son with her. 




When Aislinn Deirbhile, an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his
doorstep, he knows he's in luck. For Aislinn can give Gavin everything he's
been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and
children who are sure to outlive their father. Now, all he has to do is find a
way to keep her--without losing his immortal soul in the process. 




But Aislinn has an agenda of her own. On the run from a vengeful fae lord who's
vowed to either make her his or end her existence, she knows the iron that
allows Gavin to take her captive will also keep her pursuers at bay. In order
to put herself permanently beyond her enemy's reach, however, Aislinn will need
something more. She'll need to win Gavin's heart and convince him to willingly
part with a piece of the very soul he's trying to save.”






Available at Amazon, Barnes
& Noble and Kobo 




At one point, there was an editor who wanted to turn Iron into a sword and
sorcery story with a kick-ass, warrior heroine, but that’s not what this book
is about. Not that Aislinn can't or doesn't kick ass, just not on the scale she wanted. 




Iron is Gavin’s story.  The fae are immortal, and
yes, Aislinn goes through some changes in the course of the tale, but it’s Gavin’s life that’s completely
turned upside down. I have to admit that a few people have questioned the
ending, to which I can only quote GK Chesterton: “The great Gaels of Ireland are
the men that God made mad,  for all their wars are merry, and all their
songs are sad.”




Iron is a very IRISH book, so it was going to have an element of sadness to it, that’s just the way of it—but I swear it’s still a HAPPY
ending. I know Gavin and Aislinn would agree.









Oak, which was originally titled The Oak King,  is my re-framing of the Oak King and Holly
King legend. I’ve made them tree spirits, and estranged lovers who fall for the
same mortal woman.

I blame my mother for this one. Yes, the daughter of the
grandparents who inspired Iron. 




My mom’s the one who taught me to love trees. When
my parents were getting ready to build the house in which they raised their
family, it was my mother who insisted that as few trees as possible were to be cut
down. As a result, I grew up in a house whose backyard that was a beautiful
shady grove of mostly oak trees. 




Seriously. How could I not write this story?




“This title was
previously published as The Oak King.






Twice each year, Aine
Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the
Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more
than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help
but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life? 




From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O'Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak
King--a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a
loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to
have. How can he resist what Aine offers--the sweet devotion that soothes his
aching soul, and the slim chance to live a "normal" life as her
husband, if only for half a year? 




Holly King Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover--until now. Seeing
Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and
awakens feelings he thought he'd buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough
magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he
doomed to be forever left out in the cold?”






Available at  Amazon  ,  Barnes & Noble , and  Kobo 




And, yes, in case you're wondering, there’s a bittersweet element to Oak's ending...and
to its beginning, for that matter. But, how else are you going to get wounded
heroes if there were never any tragedies in their pasts? And, really, it all
works out in a very satisfactory, now and forever kind of way.




At its heart, Oak is absolutely Fionn’s story. Hence the
reason for the original title. The name change was necessary to bring it into
line with the other books in the series—because, yes, there are two more in the
works.




Selkie, which I'm working on currently, is the story of a wounded seal-shifter who is rescued
by a fisherman. Flight is a bird-shifter menage involving two men who grew up
together and have always loved each other, and the mysterious woman who almost
comes between them.




I am super excited to be working on these books. I'm also excited about the covers, which can be seen on my website: http://www.pgforte.com/CelticLegends.htm




These four books are all stand alone stories that don't depend at all on one another. They can be read in any order you like. 




Click on this link HERE for a sneak peek at Selkie.

I WANT ROMANCE GIVEAWAY

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ST. PATRICK’S ROMANCE GIVEAWAY MARCH 12-29

St. Paddy’s Day is coming up and we have three pots of gold we’re eager to share!












First, visit our giveaway and enter for your chance to win one of 7 prizes, a Kindle Paperwhite with matching leather case, Kindle Fire, or ebook prize packs where you choose the books on Amazon you want to win!



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And for that third pot of gold, readers will find more than 65 fabulous ebooks to click, buy, and read at our book fair. 




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We have page-turning stories in a wide range of romance genres. 





This Giveaway is Sponsored by






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a Rafflecopter giveaway

14 Days of Romance Giveaway

14 Days of Romance Giveaway



February 1 – February 14 







Whether you’re currently with the love of your life or going it solo, no one should be
without a little love on Valentine’s Day, particularly not our favorite romance readers.
Let us show you our appreciation! 




From February 1 to 14, we’re giving away goodies galore for the romance reader in you.
Enter for your chance to win ebooks and other surprises, including Godiva and Lindor
chocolates, luscious Victoria’s Secret fragrance lotion, a magic romance candle,
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No purchase necessary.










This Giveaway is Sponsored by:







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Munro • Soraya Naomi • Stacy Gold • Stephanie Julian • Stephanie Queen • Susan Jean

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MYSTIC READS PNR/UF LOVERS GIVEAWAY

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Shop Our Book Fair





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It's a Halloween Hop!

How would you like one of 70+ gift cards to dropped in your
Halloween pumpkin? Join me for the Halloween Mega Gift Card Facebook from October
28-31. You can enter to win a gift card from every author on the hop! With gift
cards ranging in value from $5 to $100 up for grabs, that’s over $800 in
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Mark your calendar and make my FB page your first stop on the
hop:




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Or go to http://bit.ly/2xgQPAL
for
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who enters every author’s giveaway on the hop.




Have you entered our two grand prize giveaways?
That’s right, we’re running two big giveaways at the same time. Enter for your
chance to win! We’re giving away multiple Kindles and ebook packages.




Giveaway #1 – PNR/UF Halloween Giveaway  http://bit.ly/2yRyN8A




Giveaway #2 – Falling in Love Romance Giveaway  http://bit.ly/2yShQLb

Blame It On The Voodoo ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

My short story, Blame It On The Voodoo, is today's free ebook at the Halloween Month of Treats Giveaway. This is a fun story inspired by a trip to New Orleans with the Nine Naughty Novelists. I still harbor dreams of turning Zee and Rene's story into a series of supernatural mysteries. They were such fun characters to write. You can get it free today at: https://halloweenmonthtreats.blogspot.com/



Meanwhile, here's an excerpt...



“It’s getting to where you can’t swing a dead chicken around here anymore without it

smacking into one damn psychic or another.”



Zirondelle Doucette couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face as she listened to

her Aunt Serafina’s complaints. Her aunt stood at the window of their family’s shop, staring out

at the street, and Zee didn’t have to guess too hard to figure out the cause for her discontent.

Another “damn” psychic had recently put out her shingle in the previously vacant storefront

directly across from their own.



“And if it’s not a psychic it’s a card reader,” the other woman continued, grumbling

crossly. “Or a palm reader. Or tea-leaf reader—”



“Or a purveyor of Voodoo essentials?” Zee suggested, holding up the little gris-gris bag

she’d just finished assembling.



Serafina turned her head to glare at her niece. “Don’t sass me, Zee. You know exactly

what I’m talking about.”



“Yes, Ma’am, I do.” Ducking her head, Zee started in on the next charm. She knew it

wasn’t psychics per se with whom her aunt had a problem. Serafina was a tolerant soul, not the

kind who’d ever take a stand against anyone else’s religion or spellcraft or spiritual beliefs. It

was the idea of all those make-believe mystics making a mockery of their family’s calling that

was trying the older woman’s temper, and not without cause. The Doucette family had owned

and operated their establishment in the self-same Royal Street location for several generations,

dealing in authentic rituals, in candles and jujus, talismans and spells. It was hard not to take it

personally when your way of life was turned into a kind of circus act by greedy imposters. But as

Zee and her aunt both knew, the charlatans did in fact have a place and a purpose in the grand

scheme of things.



Oh, how the tourists loved them. They ate up their acts and purchased their trinkets as

eagerly as they did the beignets at the Café du Monde. Or jazz on Frenchmen Street. Or

hurricanes in Pat O’s Courtyard. It was all part of the Crescent City mystique, like Po’ Boys and

crawfish, pralines and beads. In an odd way, they kept things safe. They kept the merely curious

from straying into dangerous territory.



“Oh, Lawd.” Aunt Serafina’s sudden gasp caught Zee’s attention. She glanced up in

surprise.



“Auntie, what’s wrong?”



“It’s him.” Serafina scurried back behind the counter where her niece was working,

babbling nonsensically. “He’s back. He’s coming this way. What should we do? What does he

want this time?”



“Do about what?” Zee asked, feeling mystified and mildly exasperated. “Who’s back?”

She loved Serafina; truly she did. Her aunt had taken Zee in after her parents passed, without

question or hesitation—the only member of their somewhat eccentric family who seemed to have

any idea about what to do with a bewildered little girl who’d suddenly been orphaned. Zee would

never forget the older woman’s kindness but, all the same, there were times, like now, when

dealing with her aunt seriously tried Zee’s patience.



The Doucette family had a certain reputation; they were known for being fierce and

fearless. They prided themselves on it, in fact. But Serafina had always been unusually timid for

a Doucette. Right now, her pale eyes, also unusual in a Doucette, were wide with fear, the pupils

dilated; her voice was but a whisper. “Monsieur Boudreaux.”



Boudreaux. The name itself meant very little. It was as common as dishwater around

those parts. But between the look on her aunt’s face and the singing certainty in her own heart,

Zee knew exactly which Monsieur Boudreaux Serafina meant. She meant Rene Alcide

Boudreaux. Zirondelle’s Monsieur Boudreaux. Dominant. Vampire. Master.



But not her master. No, not yet.



As the door to the shop swung open, Zee trembled inside. She couldn’t even raise her

eyes to gaze upon the shadow that she knew must be filling the entryway. Odd, considering that

shadow contained the very thing for which she’d been longing.



“Good evening, Madame Doucette, Mademoiselle.” Rene glided into the shop with his

usual preternatural grace. He had a way of moving that Zee found mesmerizing. And his voice!

That subtle growl, as dark and seductive as midnight, left Zee wanting to fall to her knees at his

feet and declare her submission right then and there. She dared not, however. Not with her aunt

looking on. Not when she hadn’t yet been granted the right.



“Monsieur Boudreaux.” Serafina’s voice shook a little as she returned his greeting.

“What a surprise. We weren’t expecting you.”



“Weren’t you?”



“Well, yes. I mean…no! It—it’s so soon after Monsieur’s last visit.”



That was sadly true, Zee reflected. Although he’d once been a regular customer, stopping

by every few weeks, things had changed in the last decade. Nowadays it was not unusual for a

year or more to pass between encounters. Rene’s last visit to the shop had been three months

ago. The occasion was burned into Zee’s memory because it was then she decided that enough

was enough. It was time to take matters into her own hands, to go after what she wanted, to stop

waiting, hoping or dreaming that Rene might someday recall her existence. She could be dead by

the time that happened!



“Indeed,” Rene agreed. “However, I’m sure you’ll appreciate that circumstances have

made it necessary that I return sooner rather than later. I’m here because of the spell that’s been

placed upon me—the curse, if you will.”



 “A curse!” Serafina gasped in alarm. “Oh, surely Monsieur is mistaken.”



“I assure you, Madame, the mistake is not mine. It would, in fact, be rather impossible for

me to be mistaken about such a thing. You see, if there’s one thing we vampires are very familiar

with, it’s curses. Centuries of people wishing one dead or ill tends to naturally have that effect.”



“But…who would dare do such a thing?”



Zee glanced at her aunt in surprise. Any number of people, she was tempted to reply. Was

that not the very reason Rene had been coming to them all these years? He’d been their most

loyal customer since practically the first day they’d opened for business. The Doucettes had

grown rich selling charms and protection spells to people like Rene Boudreaux. Even if she

privately shared her aunt’s skepticism, surely it was bad business to mention the fact!

Rene’s brow furrowed. He stared searchingly at Serafina for several seconds, then

inclined his head. “I apologize. I’m sorry to have alarmed you, Madame. I can see now that you

had nothing to do with the difficulties I’ve been experiencing. Might I have a word with your

niece? In private?”



“Wi-with Zee?” Serafina stammered. “In p-private?”



Zee could tell her aunt was gathering her courage to refuse. She was touched by

Serafina’s protective instincts, but right now those instincts were as unnecessary as they were

unwelcome.



“Why, Monsieur, I…I hardly th-think that’s necessary.”



“It’s all right, Auntie,” Zee said quickly. “Why don’t you go into the backroom and brew

up one of your tisanes. I’m sure it will help calm your nerves.”



Serafina gazed piteously at her. “Zee…”



“It’s all right,” she repeated, a little more firmly. “Really.” She patted her aunt’s arm and

smiled reassuringly. It was more than all right, actually. A chance to be alone with her beloved

Rene? That was cause for celebration! But even so, as her aunt, with a sad little nod and a

reluctant backward glance, retreated from the room, Zee found a little of her confidence

deserting her. Her gaze dropped once more. The rush of blood was so loud in her ears she could

not even hear Rene’s footsteps on the floorboards. Oh, but she felt his approach just the same.

His powerful presence pervaded the atmosphere. She was paralyzed by it, enraptured, entranced.



“Zirondelle. Look at me.”



Her name on his lips was the sweetest caress. His words were a command she could not

disobey. She glanced up immediately, gaze locking with his piercing blue eyes. “Yes?”



“I know it’s you.”



“Wh-what? Me?” She drew in a shaky breath. “You do?” Well. It was only about time,

wasn’t it? After all, she’d known it was him for most of her life. He was her destiny, her fate, the

other half of her soul.



“Yes. I know it’s you who’s cast this spell upon me.”



Zee’s heart sank. Was that all he was talking about? Disappointment fueled her defiance.

She tossed her head and demanded, “And? What if it was?”



“Then you will remove it. At once.”



“What if I won’t?”



His eyes widened. “You would dare defy me?”



Would she? The thought shook her and, for just a moment, she considered backing down.

She didn’t want him angry with her, after all. Even if she weren’t madly in love with the man,

she still would never want to make an enemy of him—no one with any sense at all would want

that! On the other hand, desperation was a powerful goad. At this point, she was willing to go

pretty far to attract his attention. And if this was what it took, so be it.



Besides, foolish or not, she just could not bring herself to fear him all that much. She’d

known him all her life. This was the same Rene Boudreaux who was so kind to her as a child,

who’d comforted her as no one else could have following her parents’ tragic and untimely

deaths.



It was he who’d found her, hiding beneath a table in the funeral home, paging feverishly

through a book of spells she’d taken from her grandmother’s house, looking for something—

anything—that might bring them back. Curses were not the only things with which vampires

were familiar. They knew death and loss better than anyone else. When Rene had promised her

she would not die from a broken heart, when he insisted no spell was necessary, that her parents

had not really gone anywhere, that those we truly love will continue to live on eternally,

enshrined in our hearts forever, Zee believed him.



Now, remembering that day, remembering all his kindness—both then and after—a smile

curved her lips. “Why not? I think I would. After all, I know you’d never hurt me.” Not unless

she wanted him to.

HALLOWEEN FACEBOOK HOP & PNR/UF GIVEAWAY!

HALLOWEEN FACEBOOK HOP & PNR/UF GIVEAWAY!

Over 70 Authors ~ 2 Awesome Giveaways





Who says Halloween is just for kids? Paranormal romance and fantasy lovers, here’s your chance to grab some sweet, sweet loot! Enter the Halloween giveaway October 10–31 and you could take home one of four prize packages, including the top prize, a Kindle Fire HD 8 and winner’s choice of $35 in ebooks from Amazon. Second through fourth prizes offer more kindle/ebook prizes.





Enter the Giveaway Here

https://halloweenmegahop.blogspot.com/p/pnruf-halloween-giveaway.html





Then, be sure to join us for our Facebook Hop October 28–31, when we will have 70+ gift cards available for over 70 lucky winners. That’s a gift card at every stop on the hop!





Facebook Hop Starts Here on October 28

https://halloweenmegahop.blogspot.com/





(Sponsored by the 34 authors listed below)



Alicia Montgomery • Alyssa Drake • Amanda Uhl  • Anna Durand • Bianca D’Arc • Carrie Whitethorne • Crystal Dawn • Helen Scott • Ivy Quinn • J. Rose Allister • Jody A. Kessler • Karen Michelle Nutt • L.D. Rose • Laura Greenwood • Leigh Anderson • Lianne Cotton • Linda Nightingale • Lisa Chalmers • LJ Swallow • Lynda Haviland • Marsha A. Moore • Mary Abshire • Maureen L. Bonatch  • Mia McKimmy • ND Jones • PG Forte • S.A. Larsen • Shelique Lize • Sherrie Lea Morgan • Tena Stetler • Tmonique Stephens • Traci Douglass • Vella Day • Aileen Harkwood  

Halloween Month of Treats ~ Day 2!

The month of treats continues! And one of today's instant giveaways is my book, Old Sins, Long Shadows, which is book two in the Children of Night series.



This is one of my favorites of my books, and the reason is the chemistry between my heroes, Conrad and Damian. Their reconciliation should probably have happened later in the series, but I couldn't make them wait any longer. Here's an excerpt I very rarely share, it's part of one of my all-time favorite scenes. Enjoy!






“Stop
dropping your guard!” Damian scolded with uncharacteristic harshness. He’d
coaxed Julie into

fencing with him, in hopes a little swordplay would help him expend some of the
pent-up frustration he’d

been left with following his interview with Conrad. It wasn’t working, however.
The girl was proving to be

far too timid an opponent for his needs. “Focus, chica. You’re too
distracted tonight.”





Julie
huffed out an angry breath. “Pot, meet kettle,” she snapped and Damian knew he
couldn’t refute

the charge.





“Again,”
he sighed, annoyed with them both. He was distracted, damn it, but how
could he not be?

Ever since the morning after the party he’d been waiting for the other shoe to
drop. He knew he’d pushed

Conrad too hard. It had been madness to taunt him. It was foolish and
dangerous…and yet, Conrad had not

reacted in any of the ways Damian had come to expect. Quiet, subdued,
forgiving, restrained; this was not

the vampire Damian knew and loved. Fool that he was, he suspected he might actually
prefer a Conrad who

shouted and growled and made his feelings plain. At least then you knew where
he stood with him.





You mean at least you thought you might tempt him to lay his hands
on you in anger, an evil voice

inside his head insisted. Since you can’t get him to do so in any other way.





That
was probably true as well, but if so it was of an order of idiocy beyond
anything Damian had

sunk to in a very long time. And that was definitely not something he wanted to
dwell on.



He froze for an instant when the door to the gym opened and the object of his
obsession appeared.

Fabulous. Just what I need. He and Julie both stared at Conrad in
surprise. As far as Damian knew, this

was the first time he’d been to the gym since his abduction—a good sign, surely.
It was just Damian’s bad

luck he’d chosen to show up now.





“Have
you come to work out?” he asked, trying hard not to stare. After all, it was
hardly the first time

he’d seen Conrad dressed so casually. Even though his current outfit—yoga pants
and fitted T—left little to

the imagination, he’d also seen him in far, far less. He should be inured to
the sight. Still, it had been a

while.

Conrad
shrugged. “It’s a possibility. I haven’t decided yet.” He glanced around
vaguely, then took a

seat on one of the weight benches. “Go on with what you were doing,” he urged,
as he picked up a small

barbell. “Don’t let me disturb you.”



Dios mio. Damian sighed. As if it had ever been possible for him
not to be disturbed when Conrad

was anywhere in the vicinity. Still, the attempt needed to be made. For the
sake of his pride, if nothing else.

He nodded to Julie and they began again—only to be interrupted almost
immediately.





“Julie,
you’re holding back,” Conrad observed, after Damian had scored another easy
point off the

girl. “Push him a little. C’mon, you can do better than that.”





Damian
bit back a growl. The one area where Conrad had mostly treated him as an equal
was in the

care and training of the twins. It didn’t matter that they were in agreement,
in this case, Damian still did not

need—or appreciate—Conrad’s sideline coaching.





“Again,”
he growled, noting with sympathy how Julie’s jaw had clenched, the flush that
colored her

cheeks. Of course she would be flustered and embarrassed with both of them
harping on her like this. How

could she not? He could barely bring himself to offer any additional
instruction himself, at this point, lest

she feel herself completely browbeaten.





They
sparred for several minutes more and all the while Conrad, his own workout
forgotten,

continued to volunteer advice. It was obvious he had misconstrued Damian’s
silence as an invitation to take

over the lesson. Finally, Damian could take no more.





“Stop!”
he ordered.





Julie’s
eyes flashed. She glared at him, clearly exasperated. “What now?”

Damian ignored her and turned instead toward Conrad. “Do you really think
you’re that much better

at this?”





Conrad
appeared momentarily startled. “At what?” he asked cautiously.





“All
of it! The fencing, the coaching, the sword fighting.”





“Sword
fighting? Is that what you call what you’re doing?” Conrad’s eyes glimmered
with

amusement. “Well, as to that, I should hope so, my dear. After all, I do have
quite a few years on you. I

daresay I could still teach you a few things.”





“Do
you? Bueno.” Damian motioned to Julie. “Hand me your foil.”





“What?”
Julie’s eyes widened.





“Your
foil, chica. Now.”





She
handed it over reluctantly. Damian took it and executed a courtly bow. “And
now, if il Maestro,

would be so kind. Perhaps you’d favor us with a small lesson?”





A
disbelieving smile curved Conrad’s lips. “Are you saying you wish to fight me?”





“Unless,
perhaps, you fear it would be too strenuous for someone of your advanced age?”

Conrad
frowned. “No, I believe I can still manage it.” He rose to his feet. “Although
it might prove

embarrassing for you.”





“I’ll
risk it,” Damian replied, promptly hurling the foil at Conrad’s head—tip
first—not overly

concerned with whether Conrad would catch it, or it would catch him. A moot
point anyway, since Conrad

easily dodged and spun and caught hold of the hilt as it flew past.





Julie
scurried away to sit on one of the benches. Conrad approached, idly swishing
his blade through

the air. A fell smile curved his lips. “Very well. Now, what am I wagered?”





“Wagered?”





“It
is customary, is it not? Or am I mistaken? Did you not just issue me a
challenge?”





“I
did. But why waste time now on details? Let us just say that the winner may
demand from the loser

whatever boon he wishes.”





“Rather
a useless victory,” Conrad observed coolly. “Is it not? As your sire, I’m
already entitled to

ask for whatever I want from you.”





“Ah.
You’re assuming you’ll win, then?”





Conrad’s
answering smile was so engaging Damian might have had serious trouble resisting
its

attraction if he weren’t so angry. And if Conrad didn’t compound his anger by
replying with insufferable

confidence, “But, of course.”







“Don’t,”
Damian advised, getting quickly into position. “En garde!”








 Living forever is hard. Loving forever? Impossible.



Of all the mistakes Conrad Quintano has made, driving Damian away is the one
that haunts him the most. He hates the fact that he's hurt the man he loves
more than anything. For the sake of the twins, though, Conrad and Damian parent
as a united front, a challenge that grows more and more difficult with each passing
year. And with Conrad in his weakened state after his kidnapping, it grows more
difficult than ever to be around the one man he can't have.

But an old enemy's mission to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens
the twins' lives, and it's now more important than ever that the estranged
lovers put the past behind them, or everything they hold dear might be ripped
apart.




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