Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 546

First Time in Print!

NaNo Day 1:

Viking-2—2055 words

GWB-Me—784 Words

For those of you who are still addicted to the feel of a paper book in your hands, here's your chance to own three of my hottest stories in one volume!

These cowboys like the horses fast, and know exactly how to spur a woman toward her greatest pleasure…

Saddled

After rescuing a beautiful woman when her car slides into an icy creek during a snow storm, Bobby Blackhawk and Cale Yancey do the only thing two lonesome cowboys can—they take her to their isolated cabin and get naked.

Unbridled

Justin Cruz has waited a long time for this moment. He knows his bad-boy reputation, but since he seduced Rowe Ayers, he's been a one-man cowboy—waiting for pretty Dani Standifer to return and become the delicious fulfillment of his and Rowe's needs. If she's up to the challenge.

Unforgiven

For Cutter Standifer, the pretty little redhead who opened a café in Two Mule, Texas, was "the one". Until he caught her in a compromising position with the town's worst womanizer. A year later, he still can't forgive Katie Grissom. And forget? Forget, hell. He's ready to kick his code into the nearest manure pile and take what he never had from her—full satisfaction.

Click on the novella titles to read an excerpt!

Find Your Passion!

Okay, this one's been on Amazon for a couple of weeks, but today's the official release date!

"Passion delivers just what you would expect – super hot stories with sex that burns up the pages. Don't miss it!"—USA Today and Essence bestselling author Kayla Perrin

"Talk about a collection of stories to make you squirm in your seat! Chilly fall night or a quick pick-me-up to get in the mood—this is the one!"—Whipped Cream Reviews

Love and sex have always been intimately intertwined, and Passion shows just how well the two can merge. This collection of steamy stories combines rich and explicit imagery with tales of classic love, letting the best writers of erotic romance bring to life tales that can be read aloud in bed. From long lost lovers reunited to love at first sight to romance rekindled, Passion's succulent stories quicken heartbeats and appeal to everyone, from the least to the most romantic of souls.

Read an excerpt from my story, The Morning Ride:

With a schedule more predictable than the subway train she waited on, Sophie's chest constricted as though a cinch slowly tightened around her ribs. Left breathless every morning as she waited on the platform beside the tracks, her odd affliction only intensified once she boarded. The journey never varied, beginning in Upper Manhattan and continuing southward. Her body had acquired the habit, reinforced not by some psychological disorder, but by the need for one specific miracle to occur every morning as she took her usual seat along the far wall of the car.

She sat, then rose and sat again to rearrange her skirt beneath her. She pulled at the hem, and then slid it just high enough to attract attention but not so high she looked like a slut. She ignored the low "mmm-mm" from the college-aged boy with bed-head who sat beside her.

Her attention remained focused on the stations. "125th Street." She straightened her back and took a deeper breath, hoping to quell the heat entering her cheeks. "59th Street". She unwrapped her fingers from around her purse straps because her knuckles were whitening. When the car slid to a stop at 42nd, she held her breath and averted her glance from the sliding doors, watching instead from the corner of her eye as passengers stepped inside, sought their seats and settled in for their morning commute.

She saw him, or at least from the knee on down. Shiny black loafers. Knife-edged creases on his charcoal trousers. Sweeping her gaze upward, but still not looking directly, she eyed his tall, lean body, embracing the quickening tattoo of her heart. Dark hair, still glossy from his shower curled close to his scalp. The scent of aftershave, spicy and fresh, followed him, and she inhaled sharply to catch it. When he took his seat along the opposite wall and two seats down, she let out the breath she'd held, the pinpricks of darkness that had narrowed her vision to a tunnel, fading back. All was right in her world again.

Never mind, she'd spent another restless night, fighting the blankets and the dreams that left her so hot and frustrated she'd retrieved the vibrator from under her bathroom sink to take off the edge. Last night had been the best, or the worst, depending on whether she wanted to sink into the dream or cry over the fact she was tired. Even now, the potency of the dream was so strong, the details so vivid, it was easy to slide back into the moment when she'd stumbled against him as they both debarked at Chambers Street and he'd slid his hand around her waist to steady her…

He'd caught her against his chest, and she'd been forced to glance up, staring into his face fully for the first time.

"Gotcha," he said softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

When he didn't release her, she didn't comment, not even when people jostled past them. "I've noticed you before," she said.

"I wanted to say something, but…"

"Yeah." She pried her fingers from the lapel of his suit and backed away. His arms slid slowly from her as though he was reluctant to let her go, and she glanced up again.

He swallowed hard. "Coffee?"

She shook her head, not understanding for a moment then gasped. "Please."

Only when he pushed through the glass doors of the coffee shop he led her to, they entered a bedroom. Hers. And it was pristine for once, covers turned down. Rose petals spread across the robin's egg blue cotton sheets.

He bent to pick her up, and suddenly they were both nude. Climbing onto the mattress, he lowered her slowly to the bed. He didn't give her time to savor the moment, coming over her, a knee between her thighs, opening her.

His hand cupped her pussy, and his lips pulled away from his teeth amid tight, reddened features. "Sorry, I can't wait. Been waiting so long…"

She embraced him, pulling him closer as the round knob of his cock nudged her lips. When he thrust straight toward her womb, her back arched and her breasts tightened. A long thin moan ripped from her throat. It took only three strong thrusts before she came.

"Fuck," he muttered, then followed her, giving a muffled shout as he hammered between her legs. Even when his arousal waned, he circled inside her, hips rolling and rolling, dragging on her heated walls until she groaned and rocked against him and he was hard again.

This time, he let his weight pin her to the mattress, bracketed her face between his large palms and held her while he rubbed his lips over hers then thrust his tongue inside.

She sucked on it, the way she wanted to suck on his cock, and he must have read her mind because he groaned into her mouth and then pulled away, backing onto his knees. His cock pulsed, tapping his belly. He stared down it, then aimed a hot glance her way.

Sophie got her elbows beneath her. "Fuck my mouth."

He stepped over her until his knees were braced apart on either side of her chest, then he leaned over her, a hand against the wall as he guided his cock into her mouth.

Her tongue lapped at the smooth head. Her lips closed around the shaft, just beneath the glans and suctioned hard while he began to move in and out. Past her teeth, along her tongue, against the back of her throat. She swallowed, caressing the head.

A hand cupped the back of her head, giving her support, and his strokes quickened. "Swallow, baby. Take it," he whispered.

Her muffled mewling cries vibrated around him, and he cried out, thick surges of cum splashing at the back of her throat.

When he pulled away, he scooted down until he could bend to kiss her mouth. "Baby, that was so goddamn hot."

The dream had ended there with his wet cock digging into her belly—before they'd shared names, before they'd agreed to see each other again. Not the sort of dream she'd ever had before—or at least not so long and detailed. Like a scene from a smutty romance novel, rose petals and all.

Still, she'd been left wet, aching, and the dildo hadn't filled the empty space inside her. If only she had the courage to approach him. Maybe he'd be as sexy, well-endowed and skilled as her dream-lover—or maybe he'd be a complete dick.

Either way, she'd bring an end to this wanting.

October Wrap-up

I wish I could say I was on fire for the month of October. But if that were the case, I wouldn't be facing Hell Month.

True, I lost several days to a trip to Ohio for Romanticon, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Still, when memories fade and I'm staring at the word count I have to achieve in November, I wish I'd cloned myself before I took that trip.

High points?

* I have tentative acceptance for a short story for a paperback erotica collection I can't name at the moment.

* My next MIK story, A Long Howl Good Night, released!

* I completed a new short story and shipped it the editor of the collection.

* I completed the latest installment of Bad Moon Rising and posted it on my free story page.

November will be a stress-fest!

* I have to write the next 49,000 words of Viking-2

* I have to write 15,000 words of a Bite for Harlequin Nocturne

* I have to write 4,000 words of a short AND the foreword for Girls Who Bite

* I have to finish reading, selecting, and editing the stories for Girls Who Bite, then ship the collection to Cleis

Sound like I have enough on my plate? Nuff said, I think.

Happy Halloween/Sunday Report Card

Okay, so that was my annually resurrected Pumpkin Butt picture. Happy Halloween!

Do you sense a note of "Bah! Humbug!"? That's because I don't have time to go play. November's Hell Month.

Like I've said before. I have three books due on December 1st. So, I have to hunker down and "get 'er done" (*gagging* I may have lived in Texas but that phrase makes me cringe).

What am I doing to make sure I get there?

I've gone no mail on most of my loops because I'm getting ready to drop off the face of the earth for 30 days. Not that I won't still be here. Blogging is so ingrained. It was a hard habit to make, but now it's like getting up to pee first thing in the morning.

I've joined National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) again this year. See the blue calendar icon on the left? If ever you see red on any of those days—get on my ass!! It means, I failed to meet goal. And if you're a writer and planning to NaNo too, here's my profile page so you can friend me and nag me up close and personal. I'll do the same for you. Delilah's NaNo

I have most of the family on board with the idea that I am crawling into a hole and only coming up for air when I can't stand the smell or need something to feed the engine. Most, I said, because I still have to contend with kids.

I have stocked up on teas and coffee. Have a box of energy drinks stored next to my fridge.

My desk and office are clean, ready for that starting gunshot…

So, you want to know how I actually plan to get 75,000 words on the page (most NaNo'ers are going for 50,000) by the end of the month? By writing 2500 words every damn day, come rain or shine. And if I knock 'em out in the morning, I can actually spend some time doing something lazy. But if I screw around, or get covered up in kids, I'll be up late, sucking on Red Bull.

I'll be back later tonight with my monthly wrap-up.

Guest Blogger: Sloan McBride

My guest, Sloan, is on a blog tour. Be sure to check out her blog to find out where she's going next! ~DD

So today is my busy day. Pumpkin picking, haunted hayrides and haunted houses, oh my. Me and my daughter and three of her friends are spending the day and night doing spooky things. Then, if memory serves, something was said about burrito night and major chocolate milk shakes. Guess who will be cooking and doing that….LOL

Q: What is your favorite part of Halloween?

A: I'm not really sure I have a favorite part. I like dressing up, spooky places, all the

kids dressed up who come to my door for treats. Caramel apples, bonfires, hayrides.

There are just too many things to pick just one.

Do you have a favorite part of Halloween? Please share.

Remember, to enter to win the prize for today you must leave a comment.

TODAY'S PRIZE: A DOWNLOAD OF MY DEBUT NOVEL, HIGHLAND STONE.

SLOAN MCBRIDE

~~Love Spans All Time~~

www.sloanmcbride.com

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

From the Heavens comes a hero who will take your breath away.

Reese Whittaker dreams of falling for a man who shares her love of archeology and ancient civilizations. But being attacked by a horde of demons and rescued by a Sumerian God—a well-armed, gorgeous Sumerian God—opens up a whole new world she never knew existed. And awakens a mysterious power within her that attracts all kinds of supernatural attention.

Dagan, son of the Air-God Enlil and a Time Walker, is sworn to protect the human race in general, and one young woman in particular—Reese. He's not the only one mysteriously attracted to her powerful life force. Underworld leader Kur craves it for the untold power it will give him to strike a blow at the deities of Dilmun.

Dagan is forbidden by law from interacting with Reese, but from the moment he sees her, the fury—an intense sexual need for bonding—blinds him to all the rules. Should the pantheon discover he has fallen for a human, the punishment could mean suffering beyond imagining for him…and death for her.

Warning: Contains language, lots of action, Sumerian Gods, gorgeous men, tough, stubborn women and some creatures from the Underworld that make life hell.

So stubborn I'm stupid

So, picture this.

My driveway's looooong, and yesterday the UPS guy left a rather large package next to the gate, which looked long and skinny from the distance, but wasn't, which had me saying as I walked up the drive, "I don't need no stinkin' hand truck."

I get to the box. It's big. I think, "It's only a hundred fifty feet. I'm not gonna go all the way back for that little wagon now."

A third of the way down the driveway, I set it on the ground huffing, gather my breath and shout for the 6-year-old whizzing by on her Tyko trike. We set the box on the trike and get maybe 20 feet, kicking the wheel all the while to keep it going straight, when the plastic body of the trike bends at the middle, suspending the wheels.

I set the damn thing on my foot. Lift foot, scoot. Lift foot, scoot. 10 feet to go and mom comes out. "How come you didn't ask for help?"

Grumbling, I let her grab one end and between us we wrestle it to the garage. Then I lean back and stretch—and ouch!

Now, my back's tight and achy. I took a Metha-something pain pill, laid on my couch and didn't give a crap about anything. I think I watched three TIVO'd episodes of Grey's Anatomy, but I can't tell you much about what I saw, except I'm ready to bitch-slap the Asian chick. Oh, and isn't OWEN HAWT?! She so doesn't deserve him.

This morning, I'm moaning, not because I still hurt. The pill relaxed the pain away, but now I have a ton of catchup to do.

Guest Blogger: Myla Jackson (aka my sister!)

Hi Sis! Thanks for having me on your awesome blog. Congratulations on all your releases this year. You are on fire!

I must admit I wasn't sure I could pull off a good ménage story when I started writing HONOR BOUND, especially since I started with a little man-lovin'. But I knew how tantalizing it was with just the thought of having two men making love to one woman at the same time. As it happened, the writing came easy, fast and hard…Oh wait, the fast and hard part was what the men were doing to Honor!

I had so much fun writing the male, female, male ménage that I decided to give Jake a female, male, female ménage to make up for leaving him without a woman at the end of HONOR BOUND. That will be DUTY BOUND in January. And that was soooooo much fun, I'm continuing the BOUND and TIED series with ménage stories.

And what's so fun about a ménage? The thought of getting all those sensitive spots attended to at once? The idea that more is really better and why settle for less? No longer leaving the odd man (or woman) out? Sharing in the sexual pleasure?

I'd love to hear from all of you on why a ménage could be fun. I'm giving away a download of my Fit to Be Tied to one lucky commenter.

Also visit my website for more chances to win books at http://www.mylajackson.com/

For a hot and sexy historical western and ménage, check it out!

Two lonely miners in the Colorado Gold Rush and one tempting widow-turned-thief get tied in knots over each other.

When what feels right could get a man killed…

Zach Braun struggles to resist his unnatural desire for his claim partner, Jake. The two rugged miners have been alone in the mountains for months, with no women to relieve them. Exhilarated by the discovery of gold, they give in to their lust and discover sexual delights in each other.

A witness to seduction…

Widow, Honor Whitaker, is on the run from her Indian captor, when she stumbles upon two men whose sexual activities intrigue her and make her want to join. Determined to retain her independence she takes what she needs from a cabin and runs.

When a thief attempts to steal their gold, Zach and Jake aren't quite sure what to do with her, so they tie her up. They are shocked to discover their thief witnessed their sexual antics and that she was aroused by what she saw.

Together the three learn to let go of social mores and to accept what feels good as right, not the devil's work. But their newfound delight in each other might come to an end when a savage comes to claim what is his.

Buy Link

A Long Howl Good Night is here!

Psst! The name of yesterday's winner is at the bottom of this post.

It's here! That story with the really long title and the hooker heroine! I think you'll like Jack and Kynan and you'll for sure want to be Aila. The Parker brothers aren't perfect guys, but they really go after what they want and need. Grrrrrowl!

Happy Reading! ~DD

Werewolf Aila Mack is ready to get her groove on during a full moon. She's a part-time hooker because she prefers to keep her liaisons strictly about the sex. She's had a taste of were-domination and prefers to be in charge of her own destiny.

Brothers Kynan and Jack Parker are on a mission. Their species is in need of breedable females. When the Dark Mountain clan finds a sex agency dealing in female werewolves, they aren't happy women are selling their bodies in order to take care of their monthly itch. They take action when it's discovered there's a fertile female in the agency's stable.

Kynan and Jack are given the job of bringing home their mate but discover quickly there's more going on beneath the surface than simply a stubborn female who refuses to be collared. Aila's tempted as never before, as the brothers, one gentle and one fiercely intense, peel away the hard shell surrounding her Wolfen heart.

Buy it here!

The winner of yesterday's contest (by random number generator), and pulled from entrants here on this blog and Facebook, is…Valerie in Germany! Congrats, Valerie! Be sure to email me with your choice from my backlisted MIK titles!

A Long Howl coming in 1…

If you post a comment today, you'll be in the running

for a free download of any backlisted Immortal Knight book!

The name of yesterday's winner is at the bottom of this post.

Well, I'm running out of days to show you all the snippets of wolfdom I have in this series, but here's another where the were isn't the good guy. And since you've been good, there's a nasty bit of ménage to wash it down with.

Remember, tomorrow's the day A Long Howl Good Night releases!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"…Delilah Devlin is a wonderful author and First Knight is a good example of her amazing skill with the written word. This novella pulls you into the life of Mattie. She is a sweet character with a huge stubborn streak. I love the way she is such a strong woman, she just takes charge of things other people would lose hope about. Garon is a super sexy warrior that is just full of surprises. All the characters come to life with their vivid descriptions. The whole story is full of action. With great sex scenes throughout the entire story. This is a tale of deep, true love with a little something extra! I enjoyed First Knight and think you will too!" 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio

"Delilah Devlin creates a world that effectively meshes the genres of paranormal, romance, and a bit of history into a story that keeps the reader enchanted from beginning to end…" 4 Stones from Siren Book Reviews

"Ms. Devlin gives the readers what they want and so much more. I loved First Knight and it rocked my world." 5 Angels from Fallen Angels Reviews

While hiding her true identity, Maddie must seduce the mysterious Lord Garon to cement their marriage contract to ensure she won't be returned into her lecherous stepfather's care.

Fresh from Crusade in Palestine, Lord Garon has a secret he must hide, a hunger that must be fed, and a dark and uncertain future. Having shed himself of a fiancée he never met, he's home to lick his wounds. The only thing he wants is a warm-blooded meal—but the new housekeeper is strangely insistent on giving him much more.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She stared at Garon then glanced at Raymond, whose body was readied for her. His reddened cock thrust straight up from a thatch of dark hair. Every sharpened edge of his body and face reflected a powerful, primitive need.

He was so like her husband. In every way.

Garon didn't want her to feel guilt for her pleasure. Maddie didn't want him to worry that she wasn't grateful for all the thought he'd given to her future happiness. And she certainly didn't want Raymond thinking there would never be room in her heart for him. She only hoped he'd understand that, for now, Garon held precedence.



Maddie accepted Garon's hand and came to her knees, moving to the side and beckoning Raymond with a gesture to take the center of the bed.

Raymond lay down, emotion tightening his jaw. His gaze never left her face. Even lying down, his frame was impressive. Broad shoulders, muscles defined by deep valleys and swollen hills. The dusting of dark hair that stretched between his flat nipples arrowed down his abdomen, broadening again to frame his sex.

His cock drew her fascinated gaze again. It stood perpendicular to his body, pulsing. The satiny cap offering the only hint of softness or vulnerability. All else was hard, veined and twitching for her to do something.

Still holding Garon's hand, Maddie straddled Raymond, but too low around his hips to take him inside her. She scooted down the bed, her knees enclosing his thighs, and then bent to caress his sex with her mouth.

She hoped her husband understood. That she wanted to prove to Raymond she desired him as well as his seed.

Raymond's garbled curse made her smile. His hands clutched the bedding beneath him, bunching up the sheets, but he seemed to fear touching her.

She licked him up and down then grasped his shaft and swirled around and around the crown. Only then did she meet his gaze, challenging him with her eyes.

Fierce color flooded his face. His hands lifted slowly. Fingers thrust through her hair. Still he didn't guide her, simply petted her head while she took him deeper into her mouth.

His scent and taste was unique. Not off-putting in the least, but not the same as Garon's. She liked that, knowing that she'd be able to distinguish them even in the dark.

When at last she rose and fitted his cock between her legs, his hands clutched her hips with familiarity.

Maddie braced her hands against his chest and eased down his cock, the long glide soothed by the moisture her body spilled. When her mons met the crisp curls at his groin, she glanced to the side.

Garon's face was red and sweating. His eyes a little dazed when they met hers. "I didn't know I would be so aroused watching you take another."

Maddie smiled. "You can do more than watch."

Garon's smile was slow and stretched to reveal the twin points that descended with his rising passion. He crawled behind her and cupped her buttocks, helping her to rise and fall faster on Raymond's cock.

"I would halt my own pleasure and see to yours," Raymond ground out. "If you would stop moving…milady."

Maddie thought his formality comical and giggled. She slid a hand between her legs and ringed his cock. Air hissed between his teeth.

"Is that better?" she asked.

"Sweet God," he whispered. "Garon, she will kill me."

"Maddie likes to be in charge," Garon murmured. Then he pushed her down until she bent low over Raymond's chest.

This close, face-to-face, she could only stare into his brown eyes and note the gold flecks that surrounded his pupils. A difference. One she hoped would be passed to her children because they softened his stare. Oddly, lying here with their faces poised inches apart was so much more intimate than being joined below. She was tempted to explore his mouth, but she'd promised Garon.

Garon shaped her hips, tilting them up. His finger circled her forbidden hole.

She bit her lip and felt heat flood her cheeks.

Raymond's mouth stretched into a masculine grin, the sparkle in his eyes saying he knew exactly what Garon dared. Her husband had played there before. Used fingers and the tip of his cock to tease her, but she didn't know if she could do this with Raymond knowing just how wanton she really was.

Garon thrust a finger into her arse and Maddie cried out, rolling her hips and dragging her quim forward and back along Raymond's cock.

"Your wife's pleasure is drowning my cock," Raymond gritted out.

"I have need of her moisture for what I want."

"Thanks for warning me," Raymond muttered.

Garon sank behind her, his tongue tracking the crevice of her ass then circling her hole, lapping lazily around and around, wetting her. His fingers slid along the outside her folds, skimming the moisture, no doubt skimming against Raymond's cock, but Raymond only lifted an eyebrow in response, daring her to mention it.

Maddie grinned down at him and rubbed her pebble-hard nipples against his chest. "Do you know that Garon considers me insatiable?"

"I gathered that. I have been positioned at your door every night since we arrived."

"Did it bother you, listening to us?"

"A time or two the twins gave me sweet release while I listened."

She wrinkled her nose. "Will you continue to turn to them? Not that it's any of my concern."

Raymond scooped his lips along her cheek. "I believe I will have no need of them."

"Everyone in the keep will wonder about you."

"Do you want me to fuck the sisters?"

"Not really. But I don't want you to think me greedy or jealous."

"Your husband is first in your heart. I understand that. I am here only because he needs me. You need me. It is enough for now."

She kissed his cheeks, one at a time then groaned because Garon had decided that he wouldn't be ignored. His cock slipped between her buttocks and traveled up and down the crease. Then he held her cheeks apart and pushed the tip against her hole.

Maddie's eyes closed and she moaned as he pushed inside.

Raymond slipped a hand between their bodies and rubbed her love knot.

Garon pushed deeper and shivers racked her body. Her jaw dropped open and her pulse built at her temple, in her sex, until she felt on the verge of exploding.

"It's all right, Maddie," Raymond whispered, kissing her cheek and her hair. "Let go."

A kiss landed on the back of her neck and Maddie sobbed, canting her head. Garon growled against her skin then bit deep.

The bite spurred them all on. Raymond's fingers swirled over the top of her sex, his hips bucked beneath her, driving his cock deep.

Garon suctioned against her skin, pulling blood from her and stoking the fire curling in her womb until it flared and she screamed.

The men moved her forward and back with their strokes, firm hands molding to her curves. Maddie could only weather the storm erupting inside her as first Raymond then Garon shouted and pounded faster. When at last their movements slowed, Maddie sagged against Raymond's chest.

All three were coated with sweat. The smell of sex permeated the small room. The wet sounds the men made as they disengaged from her body made her smile as she drifted into sleep.

"How can she look so innocent when she sleeps?" Raymond whispered, turning to deposit her on the mattress.

Garon grunted. "She has no shame. 'Tis a blessing."

Raymond sighed and pushed his hair off his face. "I supposed I should slip away. I'll meet you inside the bailey so no one thinks anything's amiss."

Garon reached across Maddie and gripped Raymond's forearm. "Thank you."

Raymond shook his head. "There's no need. You honor me."

Garon let his hand slide away. Raymond strode out of the room. His gaze returned to his wife who sleepily opened her eyes.

"So many blessings," she said, sighing.

Garon kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to his body. "Blessings," he repeated then realized it was true. While his time with Maddie would be fleeting, he'd carry the joy in his heart for all his life. He'd have the duty of watching over the family she made, the family who would carry his name.

* * * * *

The horses whinnied shrilly, waking him. Then a rustling at the doorway drew Garon's attention from Maddie, and he looked up to find a wolf filling the doorway, its head lowered and its hackles raised. Howls yipped around the clearing beyond the door, and Garon's heart thudded sluggishly in his chest.

Good lord, he hadn't seen this coming. His outriders had followed Eustace all the way to his keep, and he'd kept men roaming the outer edges of his own demesne to watch for signs the wolf might return.

So this was how it would end. "Eustace," he said softly. "Let's take the battle outside."

Maddie stirred beside him, her eyes slamming open and her heading jerking to the fading light spilling through the doorway, framing the dark wolf.

The wolf snarled and snapped its teeth but backed away from the doorway, allowing Garon a moment to push Maddie firmly away.

"You can't," she whispered, trying to hold him back. "He'll kill you."

Garon gave her one last look. "Don't give him a reason to harm you. Raymond will come for you."

Then he walked nude into the clearing outside the door. Men encircled the cottage. Scurrying feet farther in the forest indicated at least two more wolves served as sentinels.

Garon strode to the well and slowly pulled on his clothing, careful not to move toward his weapons. Eustace seemed content to savor the moment, his wide canine smile displaying his large fangs. A wolf in the woods yipped then howled, and then all three raised their voices.

They celebrated too soon.

The whistle of arrows, one after the other, sent Eustace's men scurrying for cover, but they fell like trees, toppling into one another. In the forest, a wolf yipped then made a frenzied growl that lengthened, deepening in its fervor until it abruptly ended.

Garon stood, staring down at Eustace, whose frame quivered as his gaze darted around the clearing at the small contingent he'd brought with him. All dead now.

Raymond strode out of the forest, carrying a bow with an arrow already nocked and the string pulled taut.

Garon held up his hand to halt Raymond. "Only if he defeats me," he said. "Protect Maddie."

He locked his gaze with the wolf's. "We finish this today."

The wolf trembled then shook his fur and padded side to side as Garon bent his knees and let the change overtake him, the bony structure of his forehead and cheeks crackling as they pushed outward, his arms, legs and torso expanding and hardening.

He called to his inner beast and let him crawl forward, crowding Garon into the back of his own mind where he watched as the beast shook his head, cracked his neck side to side and hastened the descent of his fangs.

The winner of yesterday's contest (by random number generator), and pulled from entrants here on this blog and Facebook, is…Kirsten! Congrats, Kirsten! Be sure to email me with your choice from my backlisted MIK titles!

A Long Howl coming in 2, 1…

If you post a comment today, you'll be in the running

for a free download of any backlisted Immortal Knight book!

The name of yesterday's winner is at the bottom of this post.

I like playing with my heroes. Giving them huge problems to overcome. Alex has two huge problems—how to save his brother Max from his were-clan and how to get the girl who'd loved Max to trust another man.

So along the way he does a couple of unsavory things. You tell me—does he go too far? Read on!

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"You will be shocked, surprised, and crying before you get to the last page." 5 Angels, Fallen Angel Reviews

"A paranormal experience reader's won't soon forget, with very sensual characters and a terrific plot…"4 1/2 Blue Ribbons, Romance Junkies

After the death of one of the members of the super-secret police unit aligned with the Vampire Council in southern Florida, werewolf Max Weir becomes the chief suspect. Sure a greater villain has used a were-clan's hatred of vamps to strike against the unit, Max travels to the mountains of North Carolina to seek the truth and hopefully renew the centuries-old truce between the weres and vampires.

Alec Weir has a problem on his hands. The new sheriff on Dark Mountain must walk a fine line between upholding were-clan laws and saving his vamp-loving brother from certain death. Alec must find the traitor in the clan responsible for the attack on the vampires or watch his brother die. If that wasn't enough, his chosen mate, Stasia McGwyre, seems to still hold a candle for Max.

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With his hackles rising, Alec eyed his older brother, barely sparing a glance for the vampire at his side.

Is he so arrogant he thinks I won't kill Garcia where he stands? Yeah, he knew who the vamp was—he'd shared a beer or two back in the days before Joe joined the fanged brotherhood. Before he'd become "the enemy". But he could dust the bastard later. Instead, he narrowed his gaze at Max.

What was Max thinking, entering were territory when he'd aligned himself with the other camp? He'd fucked a vamp female and not by accident. He decided to cut him where it hurt. "Put the vamp in the pit," he growled, looking over Max's shoulder to his deputies.

"Back off!" Max glared behind him, halting the deputies, then shared a charged glance with his buddy.

That little look riled Alec even more. Max had chosen an enemy over family. "You aren't in charge here," he said, his voice low and lethal.

Max's eyebrows lowered, and his shoulders bunched. "This isn't about us. This isn't about The Wars either. It's bigger, little brother. We've come to ask your help."

Alec's lips lifted in a snarl. Max's life was in his hands—and he knew it by his wary stance. The knowledge was gratifying after the way Max had turned on him in Vero when he'd taken the battle into his own hands. But curiosity about Max's "problem" and the need to prolong the satisfaction had Alec raising a hand to stay the deputies surrounding the two interlopers. "Put them both in the pit."

Max's hands curled into fists. "We don't have time for this shit."

Alec snorted. "Sure you do." He nodded to Todd and another deputy who clamped handcuffs to the men's wrists.

He was disappointed when neither resisted. So rather than stay there and let Max's frustrated glare undermine his authority, he swept past them and strode down the long aisle to the doors and out into the parking lot.

Darkness had fallen, and a hot breeze stirred the trees.

A pickup turned into the lot, lights arcing, and his body roused instantly—urgent and hard. Stasia.

The driver's door opened and slammed, and Stasia's light footsteps slapped the pavement. She drew around the end of the pickup and planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips. Her dark gaze pinned him and fevered color filled her cheeks. "Is it true? Did Max bring a vamp here?"

Alec smothered his irritation she hadn't bothered to offer him a greeting first before launching a conversation about Max. The oversight only reminded him that once, a long time ago, Stasia had shared his brother's bed, too. When he'd been top dog.

Alec ran a finger along her cheek, his gaze falling to her mouth and that full upper lip that formed a permanent pout. "Are you asking because you're curious or because you're worried about your old boyfriend's safety?"

She slapped away his hand. "He's fucking a vamp! What interest would I have in him now?"

Her vehemence sounded a little forced to his ears. Alec gripped her upper arms and dragged her close, bending to glide his lips along her cheek. "I don't know. Why are you so hot about it?"

She stiffened. "I'm not. I just can't believe he'd be so stupid."

"Forget Max. Run with me tonight," he whispered.



Her head jerked back and she glared. "Will you tell me what he's doing here?"

Will Max always be between us? Alec let her go and raked a hand through his hair. "Stasi, must it always be a transaction?"

Her gaze faltered.

Another sin to lay at Max's feet. When the warlairds had called for volunteers, Max had been so eager to infiltrate vamp territory he'd left Stasia without a backward glance. What remained of her heart was a hollow space she guarded like Fort Knox.

At least her hormones were still ruled by the moon. "Run with me," he repeated, his hand slipping beneath her T-shirt to cup a heavy breast.

Her breath caught, and a hardening nipple poked against his palm. "Is our clan alpha asking?"

Frustration made him mean. He squeezed her breast hard. "Yes, damn you."

She shrugged from his embrace and pulled her T-shirt over her head. "Can't say no, can I?" she drawled, her gaze boring into his.

Alec trembled with rage. Does she think to shame me into rescinding my invitation? While he seethed deep inside, he reached for the button at the top of his uniform shirt and flicked it open. "Just strip," he commanded.

The parking lot lights illuminated them, so that anyone looking out the station windows could see them both tearing away their clothes. Alec didn't care. His body tightened, reacting to the rage his brother's return and Stasia's continuing rejection had built. Through the blood challenge a month ago, he'd won the right to choose his mate—choose as many as he wanted. He'd have her whether he was her first choice or the very last. Damn her!

Naked, he felt the breeze lift the hairs sprouting from under his skin. He watched hungrily as she pushed her jeans down her slim, muscular legs and flipped them into the bed of her pickup truck. Her long brown hair curved around her shoulders and her full breasts below. Her eyes, with their slight upward cast, glinted mysteriously in her oval face.

The start of her transformation shone in those eyes, light reflecting against the golden irises. "Think you'll catch me?" she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, not caring she'd just bared her breast to his view.

Alec growled and let his change flow rapidly. When he dropped to his paws, his intellect faded, replaced by a hunger that burned in the wolf's loins.

The wolf raised its head and howled, and when the woman melted and shimmered into a lean, brown-furred bitch, it loped across the parking lot and into the forest beyond.

* * * * *

Alec rolled from his side to his knees, leaves sticking to his moist skin. Beside him, Stasia stirred and sat up. He cursed. His cock was limp and wet, and he had only fading memories of mounting her body.

"Well, that was quick," she said, shaking out her hair, a trace of mockery in her voice.

He flushed, angry she'd prodded him into taking her in his wolf-skin, again. Frustration, sharp and fierce, rushed through him. He sprang on her, forcing her back against the carpet of leaves. When he stretched over her, pinning her limbs beneath his, he held his lips a fraction of an inch above hers. "Did I disappoint? I can remedy that," he drawled, slipping a knee between her thighs.

"I wasn't disappointed," she blurted. Blood pulsed at her temple. Her nostrils flared.

Was she wary or aroused? "No?" he said, dipping his head to drag his lips across hers. "Then you came?" he asked, his tone silken.

She arched, trying to lift him. "I don't remember," she ground out.

"Can't have you wondering." He centered his hardening cock between her thighs and nudged between her slick folds.

"Alec! Enough!" Stasia tried to roll to the side.

He braced his legs, resisting. His gaze was unwavering—as was his intent. He had her attention now.

After several moments of futile writhing, she went still beneath him and glared. "Don't you think we should get back? Max and that vamp—"

"Are being taken care of."

She pushed at this chest. "You said you'd tell me why he's here."

"And I will—when I know," he drawled.

Stasia gasped. "You don't know?" Her voice rose. "You led me on!"

His gaze pierced hers. "You thought you could get what you wanted by giving me sex."

Her brow creased as she scowled. "So what? I have to do it anyway."

"It's not enough, Stasia," he said, his throat tight, fighting the overpowering need she inspired. But why her? He nuzzled under her jaw and growled, "I want you howling in my arms."

"I already did," she gritted out.

"I don't think so." He nipped her earlobe. "I would have awakened with the sound ringing in my ears, I've waited so long."

She shoved him. "Let me up."

Her scent was strong, ripe—arousal perfumed the cream seeping from her body. She could deny him until Christmas, but he knew her body wanted this.

He settled more heavily onto her. "Not yet. I'm still hungry." He nudged her again, but when her legs pressed in at his sides, trying to close access, he pulled away. They both knew he was stronger and he could overcome her physically, but he wanted her participation this time. He rose up on his arms and quickly moved down her body, nipping her collarbone and the top of her breast as he went.

Frantic now, she slapped his shoulders and pulled hard on his hair, but he clamped his lips around a spiking nipple and bit.

Stasia cried out and clawed at his back. When he didn't let go, she yanked harder on his hair…but her legs rubbed restlessly against his.

Alec growled again, this time in smug satisfaction. He'd finally found the key to her passion. The little wolf-bitch wants to play games. Releasing her nipple, he pried her hands from his hair and stretched them above her head. "So you like it rough, baby?"

"Bastard. I don't like it any way with you," she spat, her body shivering beneath his. Her expression was fierce and unrelenting, but her pungent arousal scented the air.

"Liar," he whispered. "Was Max rough? Is that what you miss?"

Her mouth tightened. "I don't miss Max! Get off me."

He rasped his chin across her nipple. "Not until I have my due." Then he opened his mouth wide and sucked as much of her plump breast into his mouth as he could hold. With one hand holding her wrists away, he dragged the other down her body, following the honed and rippling muscles of her abdomen and hips. Arching his middle over her, he made room to sink his fingers between her legs and into her silky, slick cunt.

Her body betrayed her instantly. Stasia's hot pussy released a stream of molten excitement that coated the fingers shoving deep inside her.

Alec groaned, pleased beyond words at her response. His own body reacted to her quickening pulse with a hardening that threatened to release the wolf. He let go first of her breast, then her hands and scooted farther down her body. When his nose nudged her pussy, Stasia whimpered, but her thighs spread wide.

Pulling out his fingers, he parted her dripping flesh and tongued the edges of the thin quivering lips, while dipping between to lave the cream her body offered. His tongue lapped inside, sliding over the silken folds, stretching to caress her inner walls as her hips jerked and rolled beneath his mouth.

He spread her sex wider and pressed a thumb to pull up the delicate skin that shrouded her hard clit. Exposed and engorged, it ripened further as Alec rubbed his thumb in ever tightening circles. A sliver of moonlight revealed the swollen pink lips below were darkening as her passion increased.

"Too much. Alec, it's too much!" she keened.

He tongued her clit and murmured, "Sensitive here, are you?"

"Please, Alec," she sobbed. "Please stop."

Regret thrust a shard of ice into his chest. "Can't, baby." Even if I could. "I'm hard as a rock—ready to explode if I don't have you now."

"I hate you," she said, her voice hoarse.

"Do you?" Maybe she does. "I don't give a damn. Long as you want me," he lied, plucking her clit between his thumb and finger.

Her belly and legs vibrated, and she hiccoughed. "I don't want you."

"Liar." Alec crawled up her slender body, sliding his skin over hers, eliciting shivers as his chest hair grazed her inner thighs, her belly and her breasts. "Little liar," he whispered again, settling his hips between her widespread legs.

When his cock poised at her sucking entrance, he rose on his arms and stared down into her moist eyes.

"Just get it fucking over with," she said, her voice and face tight.

With her pussy caressing the head of his cock, a flush of anger heated his skin. The little bitch would never give him an inch—but he could take—and she'd love it. To prove his point, he speared into her, hard and sharp.

Stasia gasped and convulsed around him, her cunt rippling, squeezing—her channel tightening along his shaft to pull him deeper.

He lunged his hips, tunneling deep, and then arched to withdraw and slam back inside. The tug and pull became relentless, instinctive motions—again, again, and again.

Her silken sheath caressed his shaft. Her hips tilted to take him deeper still. Her hands clutched his buttocks, her nails spearing his skin. All the while her head thrashed restlessly as she snarled her defiance.

Inflamed by her growling response, he pounded into her tight cunt with little rhythm or grace—just answering a need to mark her, stretch her—brand her as his with each deep, hard stroke. And yet, he wanted to be deeper still.

He pulled away and flipped her onto her stomach.

Stasia came to her knees and bolted forward to escape, but Alex understood now. He grasped her hips and steadied her for just a moment, and then slammed inside her again.

She screamed and clawed at the ground in front of her, cursing his name.

But Alec hammered at her, so sharp his belly and thighs slapped her skin, the sound joining the wet slurping of their sexes gliding together, and their moans as they raced to the finish.

"Alec—"

"Baby, I want your howls."

"Never! Bastard, stop!" she sobbed.

Alec had a moment of doubt, so anguished was her cry—but then she howled, her pussy clasping his cock hard as she slammed back to meet his strokes. Her inner muscles dragged at his dick, sucking him into her body. Let her try to deny she wants me now!

His knees ground into the dirt, his thighs hardening to stone as he hammered faster.

Stasia's cries grew choppy, breathless, and her shoulders slumped to the ground.

Alec reached around her belly, fingers plucking a breast and tapping her clit.

Her bottom lifted into his hips, giving him deeper access, and she squirmed to press as close to his groin she could get.

Christ! She was tight and hot as hell. Cream smeared her thighs and his.

Then his balls erupted, pushing cum through his cock to jet deep into her body. His howl joined hers, wrapping tight around her cry as his body hunched over hers—ending when his teeth gripped her shoulder.

He held her like that for long moments afterward, rocking his hips against her bottom, his arms encircling her belly so tight she gasped for breath.

When her arms shook with the effort to hold them both up, he relaxed his grip and disengaged his teeth. "Are you all right?" he asked, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder.

She nodded, her chest expanding with her deep breaths. "Now will you get off me?"

The winner of yesterday's contest (by random number generator), and pulled from entrants here on this blog and Facebook, is…Diane Sadler! Congrats, Diane! Be sure to email me with your choice from my backlisted, downloadable MIK titles!