Eliza March's Blog, page 33

Who Do You Write For? Know Your Audience.

Researching marketing tools and advice brought me to this question and revelation. I don't know about other authors but the light bulb went on when I realized I write for readers like me. If that's true then who knows my audience - ME - better than I do? I sort of chuckled at the moment of enlightenment. I like a little mystery with my romance. I don't have much patience for sexual tension or heroines who are too stupid to live. I don't want closed doors between me and the sex scenes ... I'm a voyeur at heart. I like my heroes, big, good looking, alpha with a beta side, a sense of humor, and a healthy sex drive. My characters are loyal, quick witted, and occasionally funny. I enjoy not knowing all the details of my plots so I can be surprised at the end along with my readers when all the threads are tied up.
Some of my all time favorite authors [the ones I'm addicted to - panting after the next release] I'm listing here. I figure if I like them then I must take something away from years of reading. Here's what I think is the main element I admire of each.
Nora Roberts - voice (and prductivity - lol)
Christine Feehan - description and rhythm
Sherilynn Kenyon - plot and wounded heroes
Karen Marie Moning - character development and interaction
Alyssa Day - pacing and story
JR Ward - ensemble casts and dialogue
Laurell K Hamilton - world building
Lori Foster - sensual content (opening the bedroom door)

It's no wonder I'm frustrated. That's a heavy list to live up to. GRIN

My latest effort will be available at Amazon on August 1st.

Defeat the Darkness: Demons of the Bayou (Hearts of Darkness, book 1)


Possessed by evil, ruled by lust, driven by hunger. Can love defeat the ancient demon and turn the darkness into light?  Max Hamilton and Shelby Mackenzie go way back to being in diapers together. Over the years, they’ve shared playgrounds and fishing, first dates and first sexual experiences. So it wasn’t a surprise when she followed Max to Tulane Medical School where they shared Kyle Lachlan—Max’s new friend and Shelby’s first real love.  Before Kyle, something had always been missing in the romance department for Shelby. So when Kyle announces he’s joined Physicians International Charity and is heading out to save innocent lives after the mudslides in Guatemala, Shelby is devastated. Until, he gives her a family heirloom engagement ring.  Kyle is determined to make up for his privileged Boston upbringing even if it means being separated from Shelby for a few months while she finishes her residency. But when he arrives in the makeshift medical camp, strange things begin to happen. Local legends inspired by the jungle jaguars tell of men who shift into the form of the large cats.   While out searching for a missing boy, Kyle is attacked by a rogue jaguar. His life changes, instantly and so does he. His former beliefs and ideals manifest into the myths and legends of a bad "B" horror flick.  Pursued by a demonic vampire, the exquisitely beautiful yet evil, Amyra de la Santiago plans to use him for her own selfish purpose. Kyle is determined to fight becoming the dark demon he senses within her.   She will stop at nothing to fulfill her ambitions, and Kyle is the answer she’s been waiting over three thousand years for. Leverage is what she needs to convince him, and who better to use against him than the people he cares about most?  Kyle will do anything to protect innocent lives like Max’s and keep the woman he loves safe even if it means sacrificing himself to the demon. What does it matter since his soul is already lost to the darkness?   Shelby must learn to believe in Kyle, again, then trust him and finally, she must be willing to fight for him. Later, there will be time to deal with the secret need she developed from the transition he caused. The hunger for sexual satisfaction drives her the way a vampire is driven by the need for blood. Max is always a willing partner, but as relationships change, so do their needs.   Will Kyle adjust and accept their new roles? After the danger is past, will Kyle be able to love a sex fae?   Shelby holds out hope since she is the light to his darkness. Only she can defeat the demon darkness taking over both Kyle and Max.

Do you like #True Blood? #Vampire Diaries? #Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Coming August 1stIf you like sexy paranormal stories like True Blood, Vampire Diaries, or Buffy, you're sure to enjoy Defeat The Darkness [Hearts of Darkness, Book One - Demons of the Bayou] by Eliza March. The Hearts of Darkness series has an ensemble cast of characters, danger, and adventure that will have you wanting more. Book one is due to be released as an e-book August 1st on AMAZON KDP and in trade paperback soon after. Book two, Damned by Darkness: Conquer the Highland Beast [Dylan's history] is scheduled for a November 1st release as an e-book. Book three, Embrace the Darkness: Feed the Heat [Dylan's story] should be out right after the first of the year, 2014. Go to Eliza's Amazon Author page to sign up for release notifications.
~~~~  Available NowThe fourth book in Eliza March's erotic Enchanted Mountain series following The Moon, The Madness, and The Magic is  WereCat Fever  and will be published by Siren-Bookstrand this October...You can sign up there to be notified when Author, Eliza March has a new release. 

Back cover blurb for WereCat Fever

Weeks after their engagement, Bryan disappeared. Worse yet, the last time Lacey saw him he was covered in blood after a blackout. What should she think later when her father is found killed, a victim of an animal attack? 
Hunter searched for Bryan, his lost litter-mate, for years and rescues him when he’s severely wounded by Werecats. Hunter can help Bryan adjust to being a shifter, if he’ll let him. Unless the woman Bryan imprinted on accepts him, he’s doomed to being chained during every full moon.
After checking on Lacey, they discover Bryan infected her, and she’s showing signs of changing. 
Although she’s going to need help, she’s spitting mad, and when Hunter tries to help, his cat imprints on her, too. Bryan must convince Lacey he’s innocent of her father’s murder—Hunter must convince her he loves her in spite of the bond between them. Can she accept her shifter nature and devote her life to two men.

Continued: Wrapping Up The Book

Eliza March writes about Wrapping Up the Book at my new BLOG Romance On The Wilder Side. There are still a few unedited excerpts on that blog. This is a continuation from last weeks blog here on this site. Visit my Eliza March website.

The Process - Wrapping a Book Up

For those of you who are used to my novellas, this is not short. This is a  full length novel - the first in a series. 
How steamy is it? Very. How explicit? Somewhat. These are, of course, Vampires and Shifters and Demons--Oh My!  There's plenty of sucking and getting naked and blood and violence. Sorry if that offends. Expect the language to be appropriate for the genre.
I'd say this is more of a paranormal love triangle with an inconclusive yet satisfying ending than it is a menage. So don't expect a three way...but maybe there will be one in the future. 
I'll be sharing the opening of Book Two at the end of Book One.
No, it's not finished yet, but here's the cover for Book One. Like it?
Yes, I'm writing Book Two.
I'm hoping to have the final revisions done this week for DEFEAT THE DARKNESS. Copy edits and then galleys next. The wrap up is taking longer than expected because this book is the cornerstone for the rest of the series -- lots of details to check. Imagine the charts I had to develop for all these characters. I developed family trees to explain the DNA sequencing of my paranormal beings, not that you'll ever see them. I hadn't planned for the characters to go beyond a single book but once I got to know them I could see them in  major roles in the follow ups. Characters from my next books kept showing up in this one for the action. I love the ensemble cast of characters and I hope you do too.
One of the most enjoyable moments in writing is when I'm surprised by my own stories. And I especially love it when the characters are so well rounded I can hear them talking in my head. (It makes for better dialogue too.)  
 Here's some dialogue my characters wrote:

“A few times since all this, I sensed an internal struggle. I think there’s more than one beast inside me. If you’re right, the jaguar and my lupine nature are not happy sharing the same space.”
 “Sounds like an identity crisis.” Dylan snorted. “Bet your lupine nature was surprised when you shifted into a cat.”“Yeah, well my human nature was pretty damned surprised, too.” Kyle chuckled.Dylan outright belly laughed at that. “I’m not laughing at you, man. But you have to admit you’re beginning to sound like a supernatural schizophrenic.” “I am,” he snarled. “And it’s a good thing I have all those parts fighting off the damn demon that bitch shared with me when she forced me to take her blood.”“Oh, hell. A demon, too? So you’ve a bit of the dark in you, eh?” “You could say that. I saw it rise in Amyra once. Frightening. Thank God, I’ve had no manifestations so far, and I’d like to keep it that way. Let’s just say I don’t want to ever fight back that kind of darkness.”“Completely understandable. You’re going to need a lot of training. Salazar was right to send you here. We’ll look after you until you get the sum of your parts under control.”

 I love it.

Covers serve a bigger purpose these days.

While I write a book, I like to have an idea visually of the cover and what applies. These are two mock ups of book covers I did for my latest book when I thought I would self-publish it. I still may if the publisher doesn't offer a contract for it. But these need plenty of work.

The final decision to submit WereCat Fever to my publisher came because this book fit in more with my Enchanted Mountain paranormal/fantasy series. It is paranormal, it is a menage (although these two men are real brothers so they don't become involved with each other), it takes place near Arctic, CO the home of Enchanted Mountain and Fantasy Lodge from the two previous books in the series: The Lion, The Leopard, and The Wolf and The Moon, The Madness, and The Magic, and there is a happily ever after between the three main characters. At the end of the book...oops I guess I shouldn't print any spoilers, but you'll discover there's more going on around Wilding's Plain, CO than we first believed.

I actually purchased these photos for my books from Bigstock but did the mock ups with the wrong download. Ugh! It's why I should leave covers to the cover artists.

Covers serve a bigger purpose than most readers are aware of. Look at the web pages filled with covers. What do you pick out first? What jumps out at you? (My honest answer is - I enlarge the ones that I can't make heads or tails of, saying "What the hell is that?" LOL When I first realized I needed glasses I did that a lot. Now when I start doing that again I know it's time for an eye exam.) I'm also drawn to anything with contrasting colors. My pet peeve is not being able to make out the title or author name.

So I'm on the hunt for another three covers for the Hearts in Darkness series, because I am going to self-publish them. I have a basic concept but it's not set in stone yet! All that being said, and not to demean the importance of a cover, I usually check out the best sellers for an answer. BLEEEEEP! No correlation between good covers and best sellers. There might be something to be said for the concept of having a title and author name that's easy to read on a cell phone screen, though. There might be something to be said for having a well-known name, a well-known publisher, good distribution, and good editing. And there's always something to be said for a great story. Promotion, exposure, social networking can't hurt your sales, but out of all these options, I believe good writing makes great sales.

I'm holding off posting the next chapter of Defeat the Darkness until I see what Blogger plans to do with these adult blogs. I'm a little annoyed about being threatened with a take down. I'm thinking of moving my content to my web page and keeping this page as a writing blog. What do you think of the erosion of rights?  

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS: Faery Dust Sex

FreeDigitalPhotos.net
By imagerymajestic,
published on 06 July 2012We are getting close to the climax in more ways than one. Enjoy the next unedited scene. ~~~ElizaSex Fae Sex Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.
Exhausted after his second orgasm, Max kissed Shelby’s neck, slid out of her, and rolled to his side, studying her.Normally she felt self-conscious when anyone stared so intently at her, but she was high on the energy from the sex. “Those wings are awesome.” He ran the tips of his fingers over an edge. They vibrated and she shivered. “Feel good?” he asked.Shelby nodded. All sorts of heated desire sizzled straight to her core. She trembled with the arousal, turned and stared back at him. “Wow, your orgasm filled me with so much vitality I almost feel sated.”“Almost?” He groaned and flopped on the pillow. “What’s it gonna take to fill you to the brim?”Kyle. She blinked, glanced away, and pushed the thought away. It wasn’t going to happen. He’d locked himself in a vault to keep away from her until they both figured out how to control their urges.Max turned her face back to examine her expression and sighed with a sad smile. “Never mind.” He frowned. “I know.” He scooped her into his arms and squeezed her. “It’s all right to need Kyle, too. You don’t have to protect me from your feelings, Shelby. I love you, babe. This is who you are now and I’m fine with it.”“I don’t want you to think I’m insulting to your virility when I say there’s still room for more, especially after gobbling up the energy from your last scrumptious orgasm and mine.” “My male ego is just fine. If you need more sustenance, sprinkle a little of that special dust and I’m here for you.”“The experience tasted mouthwatering—like a ten-course meal. And that doesn’t even take into account the way you make my body feel.” She lightly kissed his lips, releasing a slow moan as she ran her tongue over his full bottom lip, and nibbled. When she ran a fingertip across his tan male nipple and watched it tighten, he covered her hand with his, patted it, and sat up to look down at her. Dylan had explained her need for Kyle, and possibly others to them. She was still trying to come to terms with separating her physical needs from her emotional ones.“Our personal commitment to each other makes what we have unique to us,” she said.“But you and I have a relationship with Kyle that I can’t ignore." Max lifted her chin. "That isn’t going to change, ever.”“I guess you’re right. I just haven’t accepted all this yet.”“That’s okay. Who could? Now, are you still hungry or are you going to put these wings away for a while?”“I could go for dessert…” She gave him what she thought was her most seductive look and did her best to overpower him. Max didn’t actually fight back when she dropped the sheet and climbed on top of him. He laid himself back against the sheets as she straddled him.Her wings sent a fine mist of shimmering dust into the air as she bent over and kissed him—this time slowly and more thoroughly.“God, I love the way you make me feel,” he murmured against her lips before he opened again. Their hot tongues twisted in sensual battle, fighting for dominance within the desperate kiss.He pulled his head away and asked, “You want control for dessert?”
When she nodded, he completely gave himself and control up to her. Although he’d been sexually spent after making love to Shelby earlier, touching her magical wings had him ready for her all over again. She rose above him naked and painfully beautiful. Her gossamer wings spreading out behind her, wrapped around her and caressed him. That quickly, he became aroused. Nothing ever affected him like that before. The dust was better than the little blue pill.Her sweet pink nipples peeked through the strands of red hair teasing him as she leaned over his chest and rubbed them lightly down his abdomen. The tips of her wings firmly held his arms outstretched as she lowered her mouth to his chest. Her warm, moist tongue slowly slid in a straight line down his body until she reached his groin and licked her way up the length of him. He arched against her tongue, and ached to be inside her mouth“Geez, Shelby,” he gasped with pleasure, “I wasn’t expecting to actually bedessert.”“You don’t want to be dessert?” she asked with a sly grin.Her tongue circled the tip of his dick before he could answer. “Oh hell, yes, he gasped out, “I wanna be your ice cream cone, babe.” The heat of her breath brushed over the most sensitive part of his anatomy making him moan. If he had to, he’d beg. “Please, lick away, but don’t forget to take me deep down your throat the way I like it.”“Hmm, are you giving direction? Because I swear I heard someone say I could be in charge for dessert.”She took a long swipe of her tongue from base to tip that had him arching against her lips again. “A-ah, I remember. You go ahead. Take whatever charge you like. Just don’t stop. Please.”God, her mouth was sexy as hell. Her fae hunger was almost tangible as she feasted on him. The fact he could feed her like this also turned him on. It was a bit like tapping into the nurturing part of his nature that he wasn’t aware of. His arousal fed her like an appetizer. His sexual pleasure fueled hers. Their mutual orgasms satisfied both of them. More importantly, it re-energized her while she was suffering the effects of the moon cycle. She experienced her own pleasure and fulfillment along with his, and that satisfied Max more than any sexual act he’d ever encountered.As she sucked him into her mouth, licking, pulling, and nipping—he immersed himself in the sensations so she could experience his desire, smell his arousal, and feel the pleasure as the temper of his growing erection pulsed thickly within her mouth. The erotic sound of her ragged breathing had his own respiration racing when the tip of her tongue dipped into his slit, encouraging the creamy drops to rise to her lips as he tried to hold his orgasm back. As soon as she tasted the first drop seeping to the surface, she moaned. Knowing she took so much pleasure with a single taste from his body, he anticipated the next moment. The moment when she encouraged him to ejaculate so she could feed, both figuratively and literally, from him. He wanted to feel the pull of her lips as she suckled his essence and swallowed, taking a part of him inside her. He longed for that moment when he brought her more than physical satisfaction, because theirs was more than a physical bond—theirs was a bond forged by a deep abiding friendship and that knowledge further aroused him—if that was even possible.“I want to touch you,” Max growled in a voice so sexually charged, he almost didn’t recognize it as his own.Shelby laughed and let out a short snort. “Soon. Relax. Enjoy the moment. Let me give you this pleasure, Max. This is all for you.”“No! You have to take the energy. Tonight the moon is at its fullest. You need everything I can give you, babe. Take it. All of it,” he groaned as her mouth and tongue continued to pleasure his dick. “I won’t come ’til you promise.”“We’ll see.” She moved to his balls and behind to the perineum. A bit farther up, she circled his tight opening with a damp finger. His balls slammed against his body. The tension mounted. Holding himself in check was nearly impossible when her mouth covered his full length, and she took fully down her throat. “Oh, Shelby, that—feels—awesome. So—fucking—good.”   When one hand lightly squeezed his balls as she sucked, he shouted out an oath. The pressure behind his balls sent his release shooting down her throat with each rapid thrust she coaxed from his hips. He couldn’t stop as she drew more and more from him with her talented mouth.When he finally finished ejaculating, he lifted his head and opened his eyes to watch. She looked up, licked her lips, and gave him a slow sexy smile. By the time he focused on anything other than her mouth, faery dust covered him from head to toe, and he realized she’d sucked up every, last drop he’d spilled. The satisfied look on her face told him she’d enjoyed dessert.“You're an awesome sex fae, babe.” Shelby pushed her hair back off her face, ran both hands over her breasts and down her body. “I am. Aren’t I?” She cupped her mound, closed her eyes, and smiled. Lifting her hips over his still erect dick, she said, “For us,” and took his length inside her.“Us? Release me, then. I am going to touch you this time.”Shelby chuckled and the hold she had on his wrists lightened. The tickle of her wings traveled up his arms and over his shoulders as her hands caressed his chest. He flipped her to her back, careful not to bend those beautiful wings, and thrust inside her. He tasted the faery dust on her breasts when he took a tight nipple between his lips. The aphrodisiac effects took over making him even more desperate than he already was for her. He licked and nipped each nipple the way she liked before he suckled. He smiled against her skin when he drew a surprised gasp from her. She loved having him press his thumb to her clit as he thrust. But he wasn’t finished with her yet. He withdrew and lifted both her calves to his shoulders, bent down, and kissed her softly between her legs—one swollen lip then the other. Finally, he parted her lips with his fingers so he could see the swollen nub protruding from the folds, and lightly kissed her there. Her entire body spasmed beneath his light touch. He slipped two fingers inside searching for the spot behind her clit—the spot that set her on fire and released the cream before the orgasm sent the liquid honey pouring from her. He watched her eyes as he found the spot, rapidly rubbed it, keeping pressure it at the same time he leaned in to kiss her. At first, she fought her response. Tossing her head from side to side, she tried to scoot away from the intensity of the sensation. He kept up the pace until she relaxed in his hands and gave in to the building tension. When she thrust into his hand, her hot velvety channel clenched around his fingers with her need, and her engorged clit pressed against his thumb. She screamed his name, and suddenly the juices building up inside her exploded, squirting and soaking his hand. As the sweet scented cream spilled from her, he drove back inside her, content that he’d brought her satisfaction. As her walls clenched around him, he realized this wasn’t going to be a gentle moment. He pulled out and flipped her to her stomach, lifted her hips in the air, and licked the juices from her. All the while, she moaned with pleasure, and the sound of her throaty voice whispered, “More, more,” spurring him on. He placed his hips against her plumb ass cheeks and roughly entered her again—this time pounding into her. The sound of his body slapping against hers aroused him even more. The sensation of the sweaty glide of skin against skin had him as hard as ice-forged steel as he pumped into her. She gasped beneath him. “Is this too hard or hard enough?” he asked, still thrusting.“H-harder,” she begged.He slapped her ass and smiled when she cried out, “More.” He held back his climax and plunged repeatedly inside her like it was his last fuck, slapping her ass cheeks pink, and riding her to the finish line. When they climaxed together, she said, “Ah,” and collapsed into the pillows, on her face. A moment later, she turned to look at him as he kissed her neck. “Mmm…that tasted like an after dinner aperitif as it hits the back of your throat—shocking, scorching, smooth, and satisfying.”“Thank you…I think.” Max said and lightly touched the pink on her backside. “You might want to put some cool cloths on that or soak in the tub. Will you be okay if I check out what Victor’s been working on so far?”“Mmm. The tub sounds like a great idea.” She reached around looking for assistance to get up. “Help me. I have over-cooked spaghetti legs.”He took her hand and pulled her up against his chest, nuzzling her neck. Go on before you get me going all over again. He tapped the pink spot as she walked by. “You liked it rough with a little spanking?”“I did,” she answered with a puzzled expression. “It took the pleasure to a new level. I don’t think I’d like it any rougher, but I trusted you to contain yourself.” She blew him a kiss as she disappeared into the bathroom.He was a sweaty mess. He should join her. Nope, if you do you’ll end up right back in this bed.
He sniffed, found the earlier shower had been sufficient, and put on the shirt he hadn’t had on for more than a half hour at a time since he arrived this morning. Max used the hall bathroom to wash off any remaining faery dust, figuring Victor would have to live with any lingering after effects. 

...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March 

New Chapter...Succubus Advice for a Sex Fae

Defeat The Darkness . . . continuedChapters posted in March through May are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.
... SUCCUBUS ADVICE The tank top worked out fine once Shelby figured out where to situate the thin string straps around her wings. Her wings? They actually were lovely. Delicate. Fragile. Colorful. Iridescent. A contrast to the dark, powerfully masculine wings Kyle managed to get back under control with Victor’s help--once he and Max arrived.Kyle’s wings were contained under his skin along his spine for the time being, but she knew he was keeping his distance to maintain his self-control. She twitched hers and they moved a fraction of an inch spreading a fine shimmering dust (similar to the kind on butterfly wings) into the room all around her. All the men groaned at once and backed away from her. Apparently, the dust acted like an aphrodisiac. “Ah, sorry,” she said, suddenly feeling hungry again. As quickly as her hunger started, it stopped. She suspected Dylan was the one controlling not only her hunger, but also, what under normal circumstances would be, her and Max’s hysteria.Victor still hung back with Kyle while Dylan finished explaining everything to her and Max. “I’ve called Simone. She’s a succubus, the closest thing we have to a sex fae in the area. She should be able to assist with questions and be able to teach you something about your powers until I can locate another of your kind.”“A succubus? What’s the difference between us?”“A succubus can be deadly when out of control. They sneak into your mind while you sleep and exist off sexual dreams. They are dark fae and are likely to kill their hosts without consideration. Simone has learned how to exist in our world without killing. She will be very helpful to you.”Max had the next question. “And you’re saying the difference between Shelby and Simone is that one lives off waking sex and the other dream sex?”“Not exactly. Shelby would never kill her partner. She can pleasure herself and survive off her own orgasms if necessary. A succubus feeds off the orgasm created during a dream, during a deep dark sleep. It’s dangerous for the host because they want to remain in the state of ecstasy—that moment of the perfect orgasm. They don’t want to awake.”Max said, “Shelby is undergoing changes. Her blood has the same virus as Kyle’s.”“Yes, it is the jaguar virus. But she can’t change the way Kyle can. She has no shifter DNA. The one symptom she is experiencing is the cat’s estrus. With the full moon, her needs are great.” Victor explained.“Hey, ya’ll. I’m really not comfortable having this conversation with all you men.” Shelby spit out.“I’m sorry, Shelby, but Dylan is here to help you and Max remain calm while you assimilate all this information, and Victor is the only authority we have on my condition.” Kyle looked remorseful when he spoke to her, and he should. He was the one who’d gotten them into all this.“You and your big ideas. I hope those wings haven’t given you a super-hero-complex to go with your plans to save the world.”Max interrupted and damn, the man sided with Kyle. “Wait a minute. You can’t blame this on Kyle’s good intentions. The blame rests squarely on that woman’s shoulders.”Shelby slumped and sighed as she sank into the nearest chair then jumped when her wings bent. She stretched them wide and re-situated herself forward in the chair. Damn she needed to learn how to fold them up and reabsorb then into her skin. Dylan had done something to keep her from feeling the sexual hunger so she wasn’t ready to hump the first man who stepped within her grasp, but the effects made her snappy. “You right, Max.” She held up her hands in defeat. “I didn’t mean that, Kyle. This isn’t your fault.” With her elbows on her knees, she dropped her head in her hands. “Everything is that bitch’s fault, and so help me I am going to find a way to even the score.”A knock at the door had everyone except Dylan jumping. He motioned to Shelby. “Simone’s here. You won’t feel so put upon by us males.” He chuckled on his way to answer the door.“Right. And I’ll be safe and comfortable as long as I can keep my eyes open,” Max said. Shelby's laugh was sarcastic. “Not from me, if Dylan let’s down my guard. None of you will be safe until the full moon is past.”She heard the rumble coming out of Kyle’s chest from across the room and pointed her finger at him. “Tell me you didn’t activate my sex-fae-in-heat-gene and now think you can get all pissy over my one source of survival…sex. Because if that was a jealous sound instead of a whatever-gets-you-off-babe sound I am going to personally sic the succubus on you.”Simone slinked in the room, red dress cut to her navel, and hips swaying like there was a strong breeze. She was every man’s image of a wet dream—long blonde hair, large breasts, and legs that didn’t stop. She followed Shelby’s pointed finger, stared at Kyle, and said, “Be my pleasure, chér. He looks like a meal I could feast on for weeks.”Kyle said, “Very funny. Are you coming with me, Victor?”Victor bowed to the succubus and expressed his pleasure at meeting her. Max and Shelby followed suit and introduced themselves—she with her heated cheeks about getting caught threatening Kyle, and Max uncomfortable with an obvious erection in his pants. Guess two sex fae, one light and one dark, in a room was more than most men could handle.“Why don’t you ladies take this room while Max and I go watch Victor train Kyle. If you need anything, think about me and I’ll know.”Simone sized Shelby up as soon as Dylan and Max left. “The big blond guy and the dark surly one are both hot for you?”Shelby shrugged uncomfortably.“You’ll get over those old human inhibitions after a few more moon cycles. The blond is easy going enough, but I’m not sure the dark one is ever going to accept your fae nature,” she shook her head slowly while inspecting Shelby carefully. “Can you live with that?”“Do I have a choice?”“No, chér. It’s not like you can undo what has been done. You can make the best of it and remind him, you wish it was different.”“I don’t need anyone but him,” she said, sounding like a petulant child.Simone smiled. It was a sad, patient smile. She spoke softly as if she were speaking to a small child, “Chér, he will not be enough. He cannot be with you every minute of every day. He cannot be steak when you crave ice cream. You will wither and die without variety. He wouldn’t want that. None of them understand your true nature, chérie…not yet. Give it time and have patience. Do not be concerned. I sense the dark one cares enough to share you if he must.”“That’s a relief but it isn’t the biggest hurdle. He is a shifter, a vampire, and the demon beast. His jaguar imprinted on me, and I go into heat at the time of the full moon. If what you are all saying is true, I’ll need more than Max can supply for me, yet I don’t want to be with anyone other than Kyle. Max has agreed to feed my hunger because Kyle won’t.”“What is wrong with Kyle? He wants you. I sensed it. Why won’t he service you?” She looked Shelby up and down as if trying to see what he could possibly find missing.“His powers are new. I’m mortal and he’s not. He’s afraid he’ll kill me.”The succubus tapped her finger against her plump lip. “What do you believe?”“Never. He’d never hurt me.”“Then do what sex fae are born to do. Seduce him, chér. When you are ready he won’t be able to resist you.” Simone’s voice tinkled when she laughed and the sound lightened Shelby’s heart.  “Yeah,” Shelby grinned. “I guess I’ll have to get used to the idea. I have the power to bring any man to his knees if I want him.”“Yes. Now let’s teach you how to control that power so you don’t have a caravan of men following you around being obvious.” “Good thinking.” The image made Shelby giggle. When she tried to move, she got tangled in her wings. “Oh, and have you had any experience with wings? I could use a little advice about using them and putting them away. They seem to always be in my way.”“No experience with wings. Sorry. But I wonder if controlling them is similar to the way I turn into shadows.”“Shadows? You dematerialize?”“Yes, chér. That is how I enter dreams…as a shadow. Once I’m in the dream, I am much the same as a sex fae.”“What about the wings?”“Imagine them folding up, rolling into the skin beneath your back. Close your eyes and try it.”Shelby did as Simone instructed and on the second try, the wings returned into the decorative pattern on her back. She exhaled and sat down heavily. “That was exhausting. I’m suddenly ravenous.” Sweat burst out on her upper lip and chills spread over every inch of skin. The sound of Simone’s voice became muted.“Dylan?” Simone called aloud. “Shelby think of Dylan. He needs to send the willing one to you.”“Dylan?” she murmured, and did as Simone said. Max? Her vision narrowed and she collapsed. Kyle! Her heart screamed.Shelby, stay with us. Dylan’s voice reassured her mind. Max is on his way. Her soul cried out for Kyle, but he did not answer. If he didn’t feel ready to do this, Kyle was right, they should wait until he was strong enough to control the demon beast. She thought of Simone’s suggestion. Seduce him. Whether he fought the attraction or not, the inevitable pull of the jaguar bond would force Kyle to come looking for his cat’s mate before the full moon waned. …and she would be waiting. 

...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March 

Defeat the Darkness: WIngs - Light and Dark

Chapters posted in March through May are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.
SEX FAE Chapter continued...~~~~Shelby sensed Kyle and his desire even though he wasn’t in the same room with her. The sexual tension between them had never been so intense. And she remembered there were plenty of times in the past as passion filled and satisfying. Now, she couldn’t get enough of him. She felt as if she were starving for him. With every minute that passed, her hunger for him grew, her body ached with need, and her skin itched for his touch.  Shelby couldn’t wait for him any longer. The room was stifling and hot. She rose off the bed, not bothering with the sheet, and stretched. The sensation made her breasts tingle and increased the dampness between her legs. Her insides were burning up, tight and throbbing for attention.Although she didn’t know where he was, her senses knew how to find him, and every one of them was on high alert, searching for him like a radar beacon. The pull of her body led her down the hall in his direction. She followed the sound of his voice and his delicious masculine scent through the hallway until her vision narrowed and everything turned to shades of black and white. The closer she got to the sound of his voice, the higher the flames built within her, and crimson replaced the previous visual grey and black monotone shades. Kyle was still on the phone. She paused listening to the deep resonating sound of his voice. It sent chills up her spine until his words cleared the sexual haze cluttering her mind.“Sex fae," Kyle said. "That’s right, Dylan. That’s what Victor said. He’s on his way back here now.”He paused while Shelby assumed Dylan took over the conversation. Sex fae? Her? She ran her hands up her body and caressed her skin. Mmm, whatever. It feels wonderful.“I’m not going to be able to stay here through the full moon. She’s already affecting both of my beasts. Yes, I know. Victor warned me I could be dangerous under the circumstances. He's convincing Max to come. I could kill her in either one of my states without knowing what I was doing. You know I won’t risk that.”What was he talking about anyway? A sex fae? His beasts? Had she heard him correctly? Or was the medicine he kept shoving down her throat causing more weird side effects. Shelby leaned against the cool mirrored wall dismissing Kyle’s concern, and thinking only of how the coolness felt so sensual against her heated flesh. At this point, running ice down her body and letting it melt between her legs would be enough to send her into a lengthy orgasm. Better yet, would be convincing Kyle to fill her and thrust inside her until that sexual itch was thoroughly scratched, satisfying the hunger. Temporarily.Shelby must have groaned because she caught his reflection turn and look at hers. She watched his eyes and saw what he saw. She was naked and flushed. Her breasts were swollen, high and full with desire. Her nipples, tight little points poking through a few loose curls, were aimed straight at him. His gaze dropped lower taking her all in. A strange glow emanated from her body. Her skin glistened, almost shimmering with a fine aura of golden particles that dusted the floor around her. She never felt so beautiful before—never was so beautiful before. The sight of her own image astounded her.She glanced up when a growl filled the space between them. For a moment, she saw a variety of desires cross over Kyle’s face. Fear. Sorrow. Lust. Love. Finally, resignation.“I trust you, Kyle.” Of one thing she was certain, he would never hurt her, even unintentionally.He shook his head and narrowed his eyes. They flashed with a reddish glow before he lowered his lids and his thick black lashes hid the color from her. He turned away from her and spoke into the phone, “Yeah, Dylan, I’m still here, but I’m going to need some help before Victor and Max get back. Give us a minute to get decent.”He walked toward her, unwrapped the towel around his waist, then covered her in it. “What—?” she started to ask. He only shrugged a shoulder and steered her back to the bedroom.The low growl she’d heard coming from him earlier stopped. He tried to finish the conversation he was having with Dylan while embracing her. “Once Max understands the circumstances, he’ll do what’s necessary to keep her safe and satisfied.”“What’s Max going to understand?” she asked.He mouthed, “I’ll fill you in later.” “No, I’m not going to give her up.” Kyle kissed the top of her head. “But I need Victor to help me figure out how to use these damned wings and control this demon inside me before I test my resolve on Shelby.”He's not giving me up--awe... Damned wings?When she lifted her head and looked at Kyle, her knees buckled. His eyes were blood red, he was hard as steel, pumped with desire, and behind him she saw humongous, talon-tipped black wings. Shelby blinked several times trying to clear her vision, but nothing changed. The shock of seeing him like that cooled her ardor. Fear was a powerful emotion."You think these are impressive? Wait 'til you see yours," Kyle said and handed her, her clothes. “Put these on, quickly. Dylan is on his way.She realized too late, Kyle was the only thing keeping her upright when he released her and turned to leave the room. 
Shelby sank to her wobbly knees, too confused to argue. Mine?
...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March 

Let's talk about fairy tales and paranormal powers

I've been on vacation with my grandchildren this week. There's nothing like Disney World to spark the imagination! So although I didn't post the next installment of Defeat the Darkness [You have time to catch up ;-) now] I did do some research. Heroes and villains--Disney's full of them. Romance is an important element too. We started young. Think about Lady and the Tramp, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid...even Peter Pan had a crush on Wendy. That was a little love triangle considering Tinkerbell liked Peter. Are we teaching our children about the pros and cons of romance?

I have some quick questions for you readers and writers. What kind of powers do you like to see in your paranormal characters? I like a meeting of the minds--the ability to read each others thoughts. That close bond between my hero and heroine always intrigues me. When I'm doing plot twists I feel like I have to make the ability believable. In my recent series Hearts of Darkness the characters can only be turned if they are descendants of paranormal ancestors. It doesn't matter how many generations back.

What sort of beings have you read about recently? Any unusual beings? Any unusual powers? I like to weave the powers into the plot. Such as what's just happened with Shelby in Defeat the Darkness. How do you think she's going to react to finding out she's a descendant of a sex fae? More over how is she going to react to discovering this whole world of paranormal beings have existed with humans all along?

How would you react in the same circumstances? Me? I think I'd be looking more closely at all those conspiracy theorists. LOL

Have a good week. Please come backThe next chapter of Defeat the Darkness will be posted next Sunday.  

Sex Fae - Defeat the Darkness by Eliza March

Inspiration for this scene

Thank you for coming back to follow my WIP. This week I went back and made some changes in the previous chapters, because due to a plot twist and a character change in this week's scene the details had to be inserted. I had a tough time reorganizing everything after what you will discover happens to my heroine in this scene. We're about to see the plot unfold... Enjoy!Disclaimer - Warning: It's unedited. This is the first book  in the Hearts in Darkness Trilogy, which,  believe it or not, is almost completed. The two other books are close to completion as well. Read about all the characters at the link below.Chapters posted in March through May are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.  continued...SEX FAE
Kyle kept his mouth shut and suppressed the guilt. All along, he’d suspected he was the one who infected Shelby with the jaguar virus. The flashbacks from that night progressively grew more vivid. Over time, details he hadn’t remembered came to him through his sense of smell and taste. What Victor was going to discover after compiling all their test results was that she was infected with his jaguar DNA.That night in Guatemala, after Amyra left the tent, Kyle was too weak to fight his jaguar. He overpowered him and tried to claim Shelby. By the time he was able to fight back the cat, he’d already inflicted a small puncture wound on her neck. He licked the spot to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. Too weak to do more than stumble back to his bed, he passed out. She was gone when he woke in the morning. He remembered nothing but the shame from the previous night, and now he knew she suppressed the nightmares of his attack that haunted her dreams. So far, the virus hadn’t killed her. Now his biggest fear was that it would drive her insane as so many of the jungle tales warned. The shifter gene he inherited from an ancient ancestor saved his life. Otherwise, the attack would have killed him or caused him to go mad. What were the chances she had a werewolf in her family tree, too?After Shelby went back to bed, he asked Dylan, “If the jaguar bit her and she ran a fever with all the symptoms, why hasn’t she shifted?” “She can’t shift because it’s not in her nature, and she hasn’t gone through stasis to blend her DNA.”“Will she go mad or die as the villagers claim?”“No. Stop worrying, Kyle. If it hasn’t affected her before now, she’ll live. The only explanation for her survival is that she must have acceptable DNA. She’s not a shifter, but she’s definitely something. We just don’t know what.”Kyle exhaled heavily. “What now?”“I’m going back to my wing. Call me if you need me. I have the wolves out looking for any sign of Amyra.”“Is she going to be all right?”“Victor says the draught you’re giving her will suppress all her pain. She won’t shift as you did, but whatever powers she inherited should begin manifesting soon. Keep your eyes open for clues.”“I will.” Kyle walked Dylan out. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I would have done—” Kyle’s voice cracked under the emotional strain.“You don’t need to say anything. Along with my mental abilities, my mother gifted me with a bit of her empathic side. I know what you’re feeling. You need to put the blame at Amyra’s feet, not take it on as your own, boy.”“It’s not easy not to blame myself for what’s happened to her.”“Go take care of your woman. I sense her soul needs you, too.” With those parting words, Dylan vanished.~~~~Thirsty. Shelby needed water. Itchy. If only someone would please scratch the itch across her back. Burning. Her skin was on fire. But what she needed were Kyle’s hands all over her and his mouth kissing and suckling. Hunger. She was starving. She wanted to taste every inch of him and ride him until the ache between her thighs subsided. Sex. He could feed this hunger, fill her empty heart, and soothe her aching body. Her needs were insatiable, and she didn’t understand what was happening to her, but at least the joint pains and nausea dissipated. ~~~~“Kyle, where are you?” Shelby’s voice sounded needy and whiskey smooth when she called to him. “Right here.” He turned on the shower for her.He’d just finished having another round of marathon sex with her and although they’d both been satisfied, she was ready again. He could smell the clean scent of her arousal calling to him. Strange thing was his body couldn’t stop responding to her need. If she was ready, so was he.“Do you want me as much as I want you?” she asked.The simple question hit him with an erotic slam to his libido. “More,” he said. As if he needed to add to his already heightened awareness of her. Part was caused by an intricate mental link they’d developed in recent hours. The other part was something he suspected was from that secret genetic code of hers. He wasn’t sure what she was, but whatever it was, was damned sexy. He’d never met a woman more sensual than her anyway. In retrospect, he saw how the potential for this new being was there all along. The sexuality had never been exactly dormant. This new erotic element of her nature was just another layer to discover about Shelby. No, if he had to describe how he envisioned that layer, he would describe it as molten lava bubbling beneath the surface of an inactive volcano, waiting for the right moment to escape.“Kyle, I need you to scrub my back. I think I have a rash.” Shelby tried to see her back in the mirror, but Kyle steered her into the shower. She didn’t need to see this yet.“It’s not a rash.” It was wings. Fascinating. “Come. I’ll wash you all over.” He soaped up his hands and began the full body wash, complete with massage.“Oh, that’s perrrfect.” She moaned and had Kyle’s cock bobbing up as if he hadn’t just had the woman three times.The ripple under the skin along her spine reminded him of his own. They probably wouldn’t surface until she went through stasis. He was curious to see what hers would be like.“The twitch in my back is so irritating,” she complained, then sighed. “I guess I should be happy the pains are gone.” “Don’t worry. The irritation should let up soon.” He handed her the jungle potion Victor concocted. “Drink this, baby,” he said, then carried her back to bed. He climbed in beside her, cocooning her with his body. He skimmed his hand down her silken skin and marveled at how lucky he was that she didn’t blame him for all this.His phone rang, interrupting him before his hand reached the point of no return. When he looked at the screen and saw it was Victor, he slid from the bed and stood. “I need to take this,” he told Shelby. “Can I get you anything while I’m up?” He punched the button before she responded and said, “Kyle here,” into the phone. Victor’s words on the other end of the line left him speechless.“Water would be nice,” she said. This was a conversation he needed to take into the other room. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.“Come right back,” Shelby said to his retreating back. Her words had that husky tone her voice got when she was aroused, only now it shot blood straight to his groin. Again.  As soon as he was out of hearing range, he spit his words into the phone in a low whisper, “She’s a what?”Victor repeated exactly what he’d just said, and Kyle still didn’t know any more than he had a minute ago.“What the hell is a sex fae, Victor?” The Spaniard tried to explain. “A sex fae ingests the essence of an orgasm for sustenance. They need sex to survive. They consume sexual energy the way vampires consume blood. Shelby needs sex to live, and at the moment, thanks to the jaguar virus, she is also experiencing symptoms similar to a female cat in estrus.” “Heat? She’s in heat?” Kyle grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and turned back to the den.“Kyyyyle, where’s my water?” Shelby’s normally husky tone sounded even more ragged than usual. The pitch alone made him hard as stone.He ran his hand over his face and groaned. “Listen Victor, I have to go.”“Are you up to the task of…caringfor her?”“Don’t you worry about whether I can handle my former fiancée. We never had problems in that department before.”“This is different.” Victor ignored Kyle’s sarcasm. “Max is returning with me later. The council reviewed the situation and gave Dylan permission to have the discussion with him. And, I will try to explain to Shelby what she will face in the coming few weeks.” Victor cleared his voice and Kyle knew he chose his next words carefully. “Her sexual appetites will confuse and distress her. She was never a sex fae before.”“I was never a shifter or a vampire. For that matter, I’ve never been a hell’s spawn before, either. You of all people should understand the driving sexual nature of my demon. The jaguar’s no slouch in the sex department, but the demon’s sexual prowess is formidable. One reason I’ve kept it suppressed is I’m not willing to risk Shelby’s life for sex.”“You need to be careful. Her demand on you will call to your beasts. It is important you know she will be voracious until she goes through stasis.”“That wasn’t so different from when she was human.” Kyle chuckled lightly.“Later she will regain some control. Until then, Max will stay with you, too.”“What the hell—?” The growl rumbled through his body. “No. No Max.” He’d seen the way they looked at each other. He wasn’t opening that door again. “Somewhere along the way she also bonded to him. Dylan sensed it the same way he saw she was your soul mate. If this is true, she will need Max to survive—at least until she completes stasis. There is an advantage to him being a human. He won’t kill her in the process if she gets too demanding.”Shelby’s need drove him to distraction. “Kyle, please. I need to come,” she cried out.The jaguar roared and the demon attempted to unfurl his taloned wings. Kyle needed time to think with a clear head, away from the damned beasts inside him clamoring for release. He had to get a grip.“You understand this is for her own safety?” Victor asked. “Kyle, are you all right?” he repeated when Kyle didn’t answer.“I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you when you get here.” Kyle clicked off, tossed the phone carelessly across the room, and strode back to the bedroom. His blood boiled for her, and he was so damn hard he thought he was going to explode. He needed her as badly as she needed him.Fuck it all. I’ll share her with Max to keep her safe if I have too, but I don’t have to like it.
...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March