Sascha Illyvich's Blog, page 21

On the reading docket – JR Ward’s Lover Reborn

It’s about time I got back to reading.  After what I’m going to propose in a later post about writing, I realized I’ll need to read a LOT more in the coming weeks in order to fill the mind and restore the creative juices so I can get the words flowing.

I’m about  halfway through Lover Reborn by JR Ward and without wasting space on a review, you already know I love it.  Good ol’ Black Dagger Brotherhood goodness, true.  No frontin with this story though I’d like to know where she’s going with Xcor and his band of bastards, aside from the obvious.  The best part about this book for me is the head hopping.  Yes, I’ve stated before I HATE it even though she’s interwoven the stories pretty tightly, but in this book it’s done pretty seamlessly.  I don’t feel like she’s cut parts out then brought them back in later, ya know?

This is Tohrment’s book and I have to be honest.  I really have trouble picturing No’One as a beautiful woman, because Ward’s words in earlier stories make her seem..fragile and frail.  Then she’s possibly paired with a Brother, and Tohr at that?

Like I said, only about half way through the book, between edits, my own work, etc I should finish it by end of the week.  And yeah, I was told I needed to get Qhuinn and Blay’s story so fuck…fine LOL!

Oh the pic is probably from when I was reading at Ohlone Cigar Lounge this past Sunday.  Oh and that’s the J. Fuego Triple Siete ZERO I smoked while reading.  What would you expect from your favorite bad boy?

Will You Give In To Me?

In my latest EDGE story “Treasure’s Gift” the theme revolves around giving in to our personal desires and wants.  In the story, both Mark and Treasure have an intense passionate interest in the other, but they’ve remained best friends for the last several years.  Yet neither has taken the plunge, always with that great fear of ruining the perfect relationship.

Well I ask if it’s so perfect how come they’re not fucking?

Seriously!  Women, being more intuitive, tend to have a more emotional involvement it’s said, but that’s not always the case.  Years ago, I had a friend I had the hots for, and only when we’d been friends for years had she confessed the reason she didn’t try to sleep with me was that I was engaged at the time.  Damn was I dumb, but it’s okay.  Lesson learned.

Mark and Treasure had a similar set up, however Treasure is a more intense woman to contrast against Mark’s workaholic incompetence.  Oh, he’s not bad, but he is terrible at getting the clues. Instead of noticing the way her hand lingers on his skin, he pays more attention to the raging erection she gives him and realizes that his mind is playing tricks on him.  Or..is it?

Only when she forces his hand and shows up in front of him, dressed to seduce, does his brain disengage and his body take over .

Then, just to make sure he can’t back out of his own desire, Treasure intensifies the sensuality and carnal delights The heady combination of both women, one who owns his heart, the other who will satisfy his fantasy can only lead to one thing.

Recognition of deeper desires realized.

Steamy Excerpt from a Romance Novel

SEO demanded I use that title LOL!  Seriously though, I was planning another excerpt from something.  Perhaps  ENDANGERED – since I’m keeping up interest in that book as Red Sage would like me to make you all wet with desire for the book…

Anyway that’s how I roll.  So…here we go:

She grabbed and sucked him into her, pulling his body into hers.  “Wolf, I cannot hate you,” she murmured into their kiss.

“I know,” he seemed smug.

“I cannot turn you away, either.”

“Are you attracted to me?”  Joséf looked into her eyes, noticing how beautiful hers were, sadness clearly expressed in the pools of color of her eyes.

“Differently than I was to your father,” Isabella replied.  “I loved him with my entire heart.  You would have been…”

Grabbing a breast, he squeezed.  Not caring where this line of thought was going, he waited for her.

Isabella groaned, parting plump lips.

He enjoyed her moans sending vibrations throughout his body.  The feeling of her licking his ear made his breath catch in his throat.  He traced circles around her ear and licked slowly down her neck.

Isabella’s hair fell forward, her eyes looked more determined.  Her lips fell to his and another hand caressed her breast.  It was Livía’s, with Joséf’s hand beneath hers.  “Like this, my drágám.”  My darling.

Isabella arched forward, reaching to Livía and Joséf.  Her fingers wrapped around his arm, she thrust her torso toward him.  “Touch me,” she begged.

Joséf splayed a hand over the span of her stomach, rough fingers massaging her smooth flesh.

She pealed her top off, tossing it aside.

Joséf looked at her full breasts bobbing.

Standing only in low slung blue jeans, she came back to them.

“Take those off,” he whispered.

Isabella stood, shucked her jeans and stood before him, naked.

He looked back at Livía, her robe still covering her, but open enough to give him a perfect view of her round breasts.  He licked his lips, mentally saw the wolf inside wagging his tail even faster.  His cock ached.

Livía started stroking Joséf’s cock through the sheet.

He thought he couldn’t get any harder, any larger,  his body couldn’t possibly pump more blood into his cock.  He was wrong.

Isabella sat on the side of the bed, spreading her legs open for him.  Scents of vanilla and sex filled his nose, her lips shaved. “You two are definitely different.”

Livía giggled.  “Farkas, she has…a more modernized look?”

Isabella threw her head back in laughter.  “Period clothing went out of style and I began to care less about my appearance as a Magyar.  I like it better, don’t you?”

“Yes.  But you are always a Magyar, always my drágám.”  Livía’s tongue licked around the nape of his neck where a thin sheen of sweat had appeared.  It was hot in his room.

Isabella touched him, her fingers stroking his muscled thighs.  Each touch started low, caressing his legs and moving higher upwards until she’d reached his cock.  “This was nice earlier,” she snaked a hand down his stomach.  Cupping his balls, he watched her mouth open as she leaned forward.

He hesitated.

Livía’s hands over his back threatened to melt him as Isabella leaned in closer to his cock.  Hot breath against his skin had him pleading with his eyes, arching his hips upward.  He wanted inside her mouth, inside Livía.

Isabella lowered her lips over his cock, shut them tightly and drew him in deeper, tugging the sensitive skin of his balls.

Joséf groaned, feeling Livía’s tongue on the back of his neck.  Each pump sent blood racing toward his crotch, each tender touch of Livía’s tongue had him shuddering, feeling the pressure build low in his balls.  The wolf inside wagged its tail faster, Joséf swore he saw it smiling in his head.  Wolves didn’t smile.

They grimaced maybe, but they didn’t smile.

Unless they were eating, killing or mating.  The thought came out of nowhere, but it didn’t matter.  Joséf eased a hand over Isabella’s head, clutching thick auburn strands in his fist when she darted her tongue over the head of his cock.  He heard Livía’s laughter from behind him, shook when her tongue slid inside his ear.  He reached back, touching her thigh.  When had she slipped both of her legs around him?

Isabella’s head bobbed up and down on his cock, her lips sealing tighter as she neared the head.  She moaned, reaching a hand beneath her to reach her pussy.

Every muscle stiffened, adding to the strain in his body.  Every chord, nerve and cell in his body was ready to explode, but Isabella stopped, reaching out for his chest and moving to lay on her side, still a hand between her thighs.  The other hand caressed his cock.

He shuddered against her.

Isabella reached for his chest, placing her hand where his heart was.

Her hand was warm, fingers nimble.  Her eyes were so very pretty, he thought.

Livía’s joined hers and they rolled his nipples into pebbles.

Arching his back from the exquisite pain, Joséf thought he couldn’t take anymore, but Isabella’s lips sealed over his cock and pumped him faster and faster until he neared orgasm.

“If you don’t stop, I’ll come.”

“Good,” she giggled.  She reared up on her knees.

Get your signed copy of Dark Sensualities and Primal Instincts!

NOW!  That’s right, I’ve got a few copies of Dark Sensualities and Primal Instincts left from Frolicon.  And I’m spring cleaning BWAHAHAHA!

You can get your very own signed copy for $30.  That’s right.

“A wonderful, erotic storyteller … turns you on and tugs your heartstrings at the same time!” –Sabrina Smith Moses.

Sascha Illyvich, the famed “Bad Boy of Romance”, is noted for his dark, paranormal erotica — and the best of it is here in this enthralling collection which includes a complete novel of vampires and eros (Dark Traders), a wonderful novelette of lycanthropy and romance (Wolf Magic), a short story about a man enslaved by a sexy female demon who is also a dominatrix (“His Demon Mistress”), plus more unforgettable novelettes and short stories.

Two short stories, two novellas.  In Aqua Dream, a beautiful woman washes up on shore and is rescued only to reveal a secret to her oh so sensual rescuer.

Dark Traders -

Miranda is the SEC’s sexiest and savviest investigator. But she meets her match when she is assigned to investigate the X Corp, a company founded and run by vampires. But before she can determine if the undead have violated fair trading rules on the NYSE, Jet Curtis, vampire – and X Corp.’s top hit man – is sent to kill her.

However, once Jet sees Miranda his thoughts turn to kissing, not killing. The two make passionate love — and then Jet turns her into a vampire like himself.

Miranda disappears. Then a year later, she returns, now one of undead, with vengeance on her mind. Can she and Jet settle their differences in order to stop X Corporation from causing chaos on the stock exchange and ruining the American economy?

Here is a premium blend of dark eroticism and vampiric carnality for those who like their vampires with just a dash of sex.

Bound to Me – A little 1,000 word vignette written for someone special, a wolf of mine.

Wolf Magic -

An enthralling contemporary fantasy, and a passionate erotic romance. Marco and Selene. Werewolf and witch. He is the sexy, rebellious young werewolf whose anger and violence are legendary. She is a sexy, mature witch into whose care the elders of his pack have given Marco. At once she realizes he is more dangerous and powerful that the other werewolves.

To Marco, she is the most desirable woman he has ever met, and he knows he will never give up until he possesses her. As she attempts to show him wisdom, he subjects her to his very considerable charms. Something has to give — and does.

As nights of torrid lovemaking alternate with nights of the full moon when he tears himself from her side, neither suspects that they are at the center of a conspiracy by the leaders of Marco’s pack, or that they may all be pawns in an ancient prophecy from the dawn of time. For the love that binds them both is bringing death nearer with every beat of their hearts. Marco is strong and Selene wise, but these are as nothing to the power of the danger that threatens them.

The Test – It’s gay.  That’s all I remember, and it was for some anthology I did, I’m pretty sure.

Paypal $30 via paypal (preferred) to stpbigbangbaby@yahoo.com

Dark Knight – a 1NS submission

Hey Folks,

I’m coming off an editing project by one of our new, talented Sizzler Editions Authors and wanted to share the latest for those following along with my author career.

As many of you know, about two weeks ago, I finished “Dark Knight” as an intended submission for Decadent Publishing.  I’d had some success with my earlier 1NS books, talked things over with the agent of awesome, Saritza and then decided to give them a few more.  So, here’s the plot:

Best Selling Romance Novelist Mark Knight is stuck, and tired.  The rut he’s been in has hindered his creativity over the last few weeks such to the point that he’s behind deadline (aren’t we all?) and unable to really find his muse for the next book in a series.  That is, until his friend Jason (You’ll recognize him and Siddella from Menage Bound)

Katherine “Katie” Harpner is recently divorced, tired, stressed and in need of a drastic change.  Her friend convinces her that the 1NS service can grant her every fantasy, including a special one involving Fiji, meeting a stranger and giving her a chance.

When the two meet…

Let’s just say Katie giggles a lot.  Sexy giggles.

I hope this story does what I want it to, for the muse I wrote it for.  And I hope the folks at Decadent Publishing enjoy it enough to publish it.  I’m still waiting to hear back on Paula’s Craving, so hopefully I’ll have those two plus a third once I write another 1NS later this Spring.

Oh, in case it’s not obvious, I’m VERY fond of curvy women.  Just like Mark Knight.  Perhaps…a tiny sneak peak.

 

He made his way back into the kitchen.  Looking at the time he realized he needed a drink.  Madam Eve promised Scotch, a few bottles of wine, juice, water and of course food.  Once he’d poured his first drink, Mark brought the glass to his lips and started to take a sip when he heard a soft click.  The door opened.

As Mark started to sip, the most gorgeous woman walked through the door.

He stood, half sip in hand, staring at her.

“Hi.  You must be Mark.”  She stepped in, gently shut the door behind her and looked at him.

“Either that’s really good scotch or you’ve never seen a woman before.”

The haze he’d been in shook off and Mark swallowed the gulp of whiskey he’d just taken, coughing from the burn down his throat.  “No,” he poured a glass of water, took a drink, then set the glass down.  “Just not used to seeing a truly beautiful woman walk through the door.”

He swore he saw round cheeks turning red.

Dark brown hair fell around her face, framing it and giving it a fullness that reminded him of the moon.  Vibrant, perfect.

She had to have some Indian in her if he had to guess.  Smooth skin bared and showed cleavage that hardened him instantly.  Her tight fitting jeans hugged luscious curves and showed off firm legs he hoped would wrap around him later this evening.

The most intriguing feature of her though, remained her eyes.  Sparkling green emeralds, wide with…an emotion he couldn’t name, blazed brightly in her face.  Hell, her perfect mouth had his cock standing at attention but he couldn’t tear himself away from her eyes.

“You’re either using that as your pickup line or…”  She stepped forward. “I’m sorry, it’s been a long flight.”

He nodded and watched her with predatory precision.

Jerky movements became smoother as she made her way toward the kitchen.

“I’m Mark.  How about I pour you a drink.  Then we can sit and relax.  This is…a little unorthodox for both of us.”

She nodded, dropped her suitcase by the couch and made her way to the bar stool across the counter from him.  “I’m Katherine—Katie though.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance Katie.”  He hated how ‘fake’ he sounded just then.

She must have picked up on his thoughts because she giggled.

Music to his ears.  This woman could be…

No.  It couldn’t be that simple.  Nothing ever was for a writer.

He shook off the thought, extended his hand like he had manners and waited.

“I’d love a drink,” she reached across the marble counter, gripped his hand in hers.

A firm, yet feminine handshake greeted his, made his cock harden even more.

She ran fingers over her ear, brushing back strands of hair he imagined had to be silken smooth.  Hell, it looked perfect, framing her face, softening her features.  It also drew attention to her lips.

Perfect lips, her moth a veritable dessert all its own if he had to guess.  Which, he hoped to taste shortly.

“Mark?”

The roughness in her voice reminded him of honey, slow, dripping over a woman’s body while he licked it up and devoured her, enjoying the sounds of her need in every breath.

He again forced himself to focus.  This was a match making service.  They needed to establish if they even had anything in common, and a drink was the ultimate icebreaker.  “Scotch?  Or do you have a preference?  We’ve been fully stocked.”

New Sizzler Editions site LIVE!

Sizzler Editions, a/the premier publisher of erotic eBooks since 1998, announces a new site for erotic literature junkies to access their catalog of 1500 titles, sizzlereditions.com. [http://sizzlereditions.com]

Built on a new, more flexible, platform with additional layers of subcategories, the new Sizzler Editions site features the ability to find related books by theme and series. Next to each book cover, readers will see convenient tabs featuring the book’s description, direct purchase links and other information. The updated site also incorporates video trailers for featured Sizzler Edition titles, and expanded Author bio pages.

Of the new site, Publisher Jean Marie Stine says, “Perhaps the biggest change is the fact that we no longer host and sell books ourselves. Readers will instead find a links, which take them directly to a book’s Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iBooks page.

“At the redesigned Sizzler Editions site, readers can not only easily find  the book they like, but they can buy it from their preferred vendor in a new tab  – and have it downloaded instantly into their ebook reading device – without ever leaving the Sizzler Editions site.  It’s a win-win for both readers and for us!” 

Stine reveals that the site is continuing to add improvements above and beyond the update unveiled April 2, 2013. “The new site is still very much a work in progress. We will add audio interviews with our authors, include even more features to enhance the visitor’s search experience and more titles from new erotic authors are always being added to our catalog!”Debut releases at the new site include bestselling bondage author, Powerone’s new Cold War spy shocker, Slave of the Kremlin, two novellas of paranormal romance by Sarah Bella, author of Bound by Blood, and a first-ever collection of Herotica editor Marcy Sheiner’s stories, Love & Other Illusions. Also scheduled for release in the coming weeks are Love’s Storm by Margie Church and K. B. Cutter, the second installment of their controversial trilogy about polyamory, plus a new collection of erotic science fiction stories, Skin Effect, by M. Christian. Coming soon to Sizzler Editions are the first of three books books by sexologist Amy Marsh reporting back on Love’s Outer Limits, and new books by Terri Pray, David Jewell and other bestselling authors.


Bookmark sizzlereditions.com now, and start exploring the new features rolled out in the first phase of the update, and  be sure to come back for the official grand reopening on May 1st, when there will be free eBooks, special prizes and other delights.

About Sizzler Editions:

Sizzler Editions is one of the leading ebook publishers of erotica on the internet. Sizzler issued their first ebooks in 1998, and since that time have published over 1500 ebooks books. As of 2013, Sizzler Editions has more than 1,300 erotic ebooks available for sale, and a growing list of new titles.

Sizzler Editions prides itself on presenting the finest in erotica for every sexual interest and orientation. Sizzler Editions imprints include Intoxication (Erotic Romance), Submission (Bondage and BDSM), Attraction (GLBT Erotica), Scorcher (Hot & Hetero), Hot Flash (Short & Collections), Encounter (SciFi and Fantasy), Sexerience (Nonfiction), HerSelf (Women’s Erotica), Platinum (All-Time Best Sellers), Victoria (Erotic Classics), Bounty (Bargain Omnibuses), and Thrill (Mystery & Adventure).

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Sascha Illyvich

Editor – Intoxication line:  Erotic Romance

wolfprinceeditor@gmail.com

Sizzler Editions
2930 Shattuck Ave. Suite 200-13
Berkeley CA 94705

Sascha has a new Personal Assistant!

I’d like to take a second and ask you to welcome my new personal assistant, Katie Sparkles to the fold.  Since my previous PA had to return to the work force for personal reasons, I’ve been floating aloof because she did so damn much for me.  She let me breathe, freak out, but mostly she let me write for you.

Katie Sparkles is going to take over and already has Diane’s blessing.  I couldn’t be happier to have someone doing the tough nerve wracking things for me once again so I can do all of the above and knock out only the hottest, heart warming romance novels you’ve all come to enjoy.

Please join me in welcoming her to the team!

There’s a lot going on in the Sascha Illyvich universe as always.  Soon there will be the standard work load post but I’m going to change things up a bit in hopes of bringing in some of my writer friends to share the pain LOL!

Until then, know I’m working on an exciting new 1NS for Decadent, hoping to get the details right so I can set the climax in beautiful Fiji!

Crap, I actually have to do research that doesn’t involve killing someone or taking down a government or spies or guns or…

5 Questions and Answers

Video Update

Sascha Illyvich talks latest plans, frolicon, books!

A little backstory and an excerpt from Endangered

The way things are looking right now, Endangered will probably see a winter 2013 release date from Red Sage.  We’re hoping to give them time to make the biggest splash they can in reviews, and promo while I pimp myself out all over the internet for this book.

Thought I’d share a little back story.

When I wrote this story a lot was going on (kinda like right now) in my life.  I’d just moved to California, dug deeper into a somewhat new relationship, shifted my entire life.  I had a lot of anger that came from personal issues but ultimately went into Josef.  He started out self destructive and self loathing to the point where he merely wanted to do one good deed, one grand gesture before he died.

He knew he’d die at the hands of the Syndicate.  They owned me thanks to the addictive drugs he’d craved and stole.

I’ve never been an addict but writers have addictive personalities.  Things become habit, people become routine and life ceases to have any meaning outside of said routine.

Josef couldn’t hack it alone.  He needed two strong lovers in his life to guide him, to show him he had redeeming qualities and was a good man.  No one said that task would be easy.  Since this book is about redemption, it will tackle the path traveled by those damaged from inside out while love heals over time.  Nothing will be easy for anyone, especially once I start bringing in the secondary character stories.

The writer in me can’t wait to let the soundtrack evolve too.  I wrote Endangered to Korn, Megadeth, Saliva, Flaw, VNV Nation and some other really great musicians but since writers grow and change our tastes must follow suit.  Well, I got angrier.  Djent and sludge-djent gave me more of an outlet to put these characters hearts on the line.

I can’t wait for you to see what’s what in the books!

Here’s an excerpt!

Numbness. Ice cold numbness set in as he tried to move his body.  Joséf knew there was another being around, could sense the magick that was whatever animated the undead.  Where was he?  How’d he get here?  Oh, right.  The fight with his brother.  His fur was a mess, smelled of copper, body fluids and bile.

The scent of roses hung thickly around his muzzle. “My head hurts so much.”  I can’t feel my body. Where am I?  The wolf opened his eyes and saw his body cradled in Livía’s warm arms.  Her sweet smell alerted him of his life’s value to her.  Too bad he didn’t see the same thing in himself that she did.

Her eyes closed, she hummed, breaking the silence around him with her sweet voice.  She glowed, but settled safety around his tired body.  Mentally worn out, he tried to find the strength to lift his head but couldn’t.

“My poor Farkas.  Come back to me.” A tear fell from her eye to his fur.

No one had ever shed a tear for him.  He’d just killed his only living family member.  The taste of bitterness was still fresh in his mouth.  He opened his eyes just a little, the lights in the office were dim.

“Come back to me, my sweet Farkas.  Please, don’t leave me alone.  Come back to me.”  Her hand covered his heart.

“Please help me rescue Miles, and come back to me.  I don’t want to remain this way without you.”  More tears fell on his fur.

If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose too much blood.  I’m not dead, Livía.

She blinked.

Joséf opened his eyes wider and lifted his tired head to see her face.  For a vampire, her face wasn’t nearly as pale as it usually was.  In fact, apparently knowing he was alive

brought a kind of joy to her heart.

“Change!”

He transformed automatically.  He lay there on the ground, bullet wounds still fresh.  Her attempts at cleaning them had been just that, attempts.  At least the bleeding stopped.

“How can you call my power?  Why did you come after me?  I thought you only wanted the one thing.”

“Silly Farkas.  I wanted both.  Miles returned to his mother and you back with us, safe and in one piece.”

“But I am not yours.”  He turned his head away, thinking about the vile things he’d done recently to those people.  Thugs yes, but they were still human.  At least that was the lie he told himself.

Livía carefully took his chin in her hands and forced him to face her.  “The necklace marks you as mine and lets me control your changes in times like this.  If we had time for paramedics to attend to you, I’d have to change you into a human in order to get you the best treatment.”

“But still, I am not yours.”

“You’ve been mine since you were born, farkas. That is how I called your human form back from the beast.”

Joséf looked away.  He must look like shit, his face was a mess, and he had dried blood on his clothes. Obviously, Livía didn’t care.  She hugged him closer to her and he snuggled against her warmth.

Odd that a vampire was warm.

“Why are you warm?”  He blinked.

“Because my heart aches for you,  aches for the pain you refuse to let go of.  Blood pumps through my veins, warming my body to respond to yours when you let me heal you.  That will be soon.”  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

He frowned.  “And how will you do that when I’ve done my job and left?”

A twinkle danced in her

eyes. “I will call you to me, and we will mate as our line of vampires does.”

He let out an exasperated breath. “The same way I helped to heal you?”

She nodded.  “That is correct, Farkas.”

Bruised and bloodied, and sure that he had a broken rib or two, plus the fact that his leg was pulled from the socket, the thought of being inside of her still stirred his arousal.  He burst out laughing, tossing his head back into her lap.

“What’s so funny?”  She smirked.

“You are.  This situation is.  I just…ouch!”  His ribcage hurt when he laughed harder.

“Farkas, I do not understand.”  Her facial expression changed, one eyebrow lifting along with half her mouth.

He groaned and put a hand to hers.  “Trust me, when it’s all over, you will.”

She interlaced their fingers. “We will lie like this in our bed soon.”

Our bed?  The thought held merit.  It certainly was more comforting than laying on the cold carpet of his father’s former office.

“I mean it, I love you.”  She nuzzled his neck, warm breath spilling out over his skin.

“I know.”  He shrugged, groaned from the pain, and let out a long breath.

Silence occupied the room and spilled into the hallway.  Amalie was in the building, Her presence his skin itch.

Yeah, she waited for him.

Peace spread between them, tranquility and a quiet place where Joséf could exist, because he didn’t have the energy to run.

The calm before the storm, it had to be that,  it couldn’t be anything else.  Amalie’s energy had risen and Joséf’s levels dropped.  She wasn’t milking him, he was just tired and weak.  Rest would do him good, food would be better.

And all Livía could offer any normal man in that instant included great sex.  Healing through sex, a magic he’d heard about from his mother, and experienced firsthand through Livía,

Photo copyright belongs to the original owner.

frightened him.  Sex was always a bond with women, and even worse, because his mother raised him to love others with his entire heart, a bond with him too.  So coitus equated to love until the Syndicate took his parents from him.  That was what had happened, no matter what Draiman said before his death.  Their father had to do what he did to provide for them, otherwise he was just an empty shell without his mate.

Mom.

His brother was still wrong.

His mother loved them both and Livía’s heart seemed to be on par with his mother.  What should I do?

“Love me, Joséf. It’s all I’m asking.”

Straining his neck to see her better, he smirked.  “You read my mind.”

She patted his chest lightly.  “I almost always do.  How do you think I know when you’re in trouble?”

She couldn’t see the pain he clung to, didn’t need to know of his inner demons.  The betrayal, the drugs, the people he’d killed in the name of self-defense.  Livía, vampire Queen, had the heart of a savior, even though her mask said sinner.  “Stay out of my head, Goddamnit—ouch!”  Sharp pain in his ribs jolted him in her arms.

Livía’s fingers ran through his hair, relaxing him.  He could stay like this if he had to, if he didn’t have other things to attend to.

A part of him wanted to give in to her ministrations, not the voices in his head.

Hopefully, being a shifter meant that his body healed faster than normal humans.  Though he figured the mental anguish would double.

Her smile reached her eyes now.  “I’m not in your head,  I’m in your heart.”

Her words struck him, hard.  She wouldn’t stop expressing how much she cared for him no matter what, he knew that now.  His only choices were to either love her back and scar her, or to run away and wound her.

“You don’t need to bother with all this, Livía.  I…I don’t want it.”

“Everyone wants comfort and security, Farkas.  Most of all, those of us who have never had it.  And I want to give you what you have not had in a very long time.”

Joséf sighed.  He lifted his head, looking into her beautiful blue eyes.  Her tender smile showed her every emotion.

She set a palm down over his chest and he knew what she was doing.  Her hand began to glow, producing a circle the same color as her aura.  She pressed her hand to his skin, it was warm against his chest.  His rapid heartbeat tried to keep pace with how much blood he was still losing from his open wounds, but within a few seconds, his pulse had slowed.

Sweat dripped down his brow.  He would go through shock next if he didn’t get medical help immediately.  “Don’t I heal faster as a shifter?”

“Yes, but you haven’t experienced a full moon yet.  I brought your wolf out early by accident.”

Her lips hovered above his head.  He could smell her fear of losing him and it made him cuddle closer against her.  Pain shot through his hips.  He sniffled and gritted his teeth.  The two wounds in his hip began bleeding again.

Livía put her hand over the wound, he ached even more with the pressure she applied until he looked into her eyes.

“Let yourself fall prey, Farkas.”

His stomach clenched, causing him more pain as he chuckled.  “I can’t, it hurts too much.”

“Then let me heal you.”  Her soft voice barely registered in his ears.