Lisa Fox's Blog, page 148
March 27, 2013
Sweetest Salvation by Kacey Hammell
The awesome Kacey Hammell is here today sharing an excerpt from her latest release, Sweetest Salvation!
***
Sweetest Salvation
Contemporary Erotic Romance/Light Bondage
Content Warning: Contains Voyeurism, Spanking, Multiple Partners
ISBN: 978-1-77130-330-9
Available at EvernightPublishing.com
*An Editor’s Pick*
After the deaths of her husband and child, tragedies that she blames herself for, Andrea “Andy” Sheaver has shut herself off from the world. The only place she finds any relief from her shattered heart is Club Splendor, where she and her husband often frequented together. There, Andy submits to pleasure and pain in situations so her grief is forgotten for a little while.
But Hunter Sullivan won’t stand idly by and watch Andy self-destruct. A friend of her husband, and the owner of Club Splendor, Hunter has kept his love for Andy hidden for years. He refuses to think of her at the club, cold and detached as she’s become, looking for an easy fix to take away the pain in her heart. Hunter wants her to vibrant in life again and sets out to prove he is exactly who she needs.
Excerpt © Kacey Hammell, 2013
Hunter sighed, which caught Andy’s attention. Her eyes met his briefly before lowering to her hands, which were clenched tight in her lap.
“Look, Andy,” he began.
“What do you want, Hunter?” Her forest-green-eyed gaze met his. Anger swirled in their depths.
“I’m tired of this. Dammit.” He snarled, rising, and crossed to the fireplace. He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned one arm on the mantel. He looked over at her, stomach churning with indigestion and pain. He’d loved Patrick and Peter too. Could she not understand that she wasn’t the only one suffering?
“Tired of what? I never asked you here.”
“This!” Hunter spread his arms wide. “You. I’m so tired of seeing you locked away in this house, never leaving and pictures gone.”
“Go to hell,” Andy spat and leapt to her feet. She moved behind the loveseat, obvious fury making her hands shake as she laid them on the back of it. “You don’t have any say in how I live. I never asked for your opinion. If you don’t like it, get the hell out of my house. And my life!”
Hunter breathed deep, nostrils flaring. He could no more walk away from her than he could from the Sheavers. She was as much a part of his life, and his heart, as they were.
But his love for her went far beyond sisterly.
He pushed that thought away, buried it deep within himself as he’d done for years. She was Patrick’s girl, his wife. He always honored that.
“Dammit, I don’t want to argue with you, Andy. But you really need to move on. Live life again and leave this house.”
“I leave the house. You don’t know what I do every day.”
“Oh yes, you go out. Like the other night? Why did you go to the club? I thought we agreed you were no longer a member,” Hunter demanded, curious about her answer.
“No. You decided I was no longer a member. Not me. I never said I wanted that. Who are you to make decisions for me?” Andy retorted, cheeks flushed, hands on her hips.
Hunter had to admit he was finally seeing a glimpse of the fiery, strong woman she’d been until this last year. He liked her eyes ablaze, jaw clenched and fury radiating off her body. He just needed to provoke her enough and challenge her to move beyond these walls and back to the things she loved to do.
“I don’t want to make decisions for you.” He took a calming breath. “Listen, the club is not the place for you any longer. Without Patrick… There’s no need for you to be there anymore.”
“Why do you think that?”
“He was the one who wanted to show it to you. He never really thought you’d come to enjoy it as much as you did. Neither of you interacted with others. What can you find there now without him?”
Andy smiled, cold and detached. He hated that smirk.
“Oh, come now. You know what happens in your club. Surely, I don’t have to spell it out for you.”
Goddamn her.
Yes, he knew what she’d done inside the room she’d once used with Patrick. Though he normally didn’t interfere in his members’ activities unless there was a problem, he did ask Paige and Nolan if Andy had simply watched. He’d been shocked, then livid, to learn a few details of what happened between the three of them.
Andy had always been a devoted wife to Patrick, faithful to the core. To know she’d been an active participant at the club for the first time had suddenly left him empty and alone.
But he couldn’t allow his feelings on the matter to distract him from pushing her back into life.
He shrugged. “No. You don’t have to spell it out for me. But is that what you truly want and need in your life? Sex with strangers? Do you need to find comfort in people who don’t care about you?”
Andy glared at him. “That is none of your business.” Her voice rose as she continued. “What I do in my life is for me to decide. I never asked to have you in my life. Don’t expect me to want you there now.”
His heart clenched. Her words were like a punch to the gut.
Yes, he’d sort of come as a package deal when she’d married Patrick. But the Sheavers were the only family he had. And when Peter was born, oh, he’d played the dutiful uncle to the little boy. Though she’d never voiced her frustration at his being in attendance at nearly all family gatherings or taking up some of Patrick’s time once a week for a guys’ night out, he’d understood the stone-faced woman who left the words unsaid.
“I always promised Patrick I’d look after you if he couldn’t.”
“Fuck off, Hunter. Don’t give me that.” Her hands fisted at her sides. “Look, please just go. I don’t need you here. I have things to do.”
He wouldn’t be so easily dismissed.
“Things to do? Like what, plan your next adventure at the club? I don’t think so. Why? Explain to me why you felt the need to go there?”
Arms wide, she yelled, “I wanted to fuck somebody. Is that what you want to hear? That I wanted to have a cock inside me for the first time in almost two years? I wanted to have a man inside, pounding me—brutal and painful. What better place to do that than at the club where I know I’m safe?”
Hunter’s heartbeat accelerated. To know she needed someone that close to her was agonizing. It was a barren and desperate act of someone who had nothing to live for. Or didn’t think she was worth much.
“Why pain? You couldn’t have found satisfaction in that. No pleasure, Andy? You, of all people, found pleasure in that kind of sex? I don’t believe for a moment that you’re now into rough sex,” Hunter said, gruff. His mouth was dry, and confusion made his head hurt. Would he never understand this woman?
Andy crossed her arms over her chest. She looked out the window behind him. Her gaze was unfocused, filled with pain.
“Yes, pain. It’s what I deserve, isn’t it?” Her gaze captured his. Hunter felt his heart crack at her desolate look.
Buy Links:
Evernight Publishing / Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon UK /
aRe / Bookstrand /
~~~
Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres. She is a true romantic at heart.
Where to find Kacey…
Website / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Pinterest
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Kacey Hammell, Light Bondage, Sweetest Salvation
March 26, 2013
Taking Over Me by Sara Brookes
Sara Brookes is here today sharing an excerpt of her latest release, Taking Over Me and doing a giveaway!
***
Yippee—it’s release time for Taking Over Me, the first book of my Geek Kink series! To help me celebrate, some fantastic friends of mine are gracious enough to give me a hand (A list of them can be found over on my site here: http://www.sarabrookes.net/2013/03/20/new-release-taking-over-me-a-special-contest) So here’s the blurb and a little snippet (there are four different snippets around the blitz). Be sure to stick around, there’s a giveaway at the end!
Blurb:
He’s everything she didn’t know she needed…
Allison would rather fix computers than worry about sex. That is, until the newest barista in town changes everything. All it takes is one hot stare with his sinful baby blues to remind her she’s not just one of the guys. She has lusty needs only he can fulfill.
Patrick’s coffee shop is on the verge of an epic failure, until Allison takes charge of his computer system. He may not know anything about motherboards, but he does know how to take control—in and out of bed. Now Patrick is determined to get what he wants—Allison in his cuffs. His sensual mastery awakens an intense passion and under his command, he’ll unlock the geek girl’s darkest desires.
Warning: Collars. Cuffs. Clamps. Coffee.
You may never look at your local barista the same way again.
Excerpt:
He lifted one of her wrists to his lips, surprising her when he pressed a tender kiss to her open palm. “You have your computers and games.” He lifted her other hand and pressed another kiss to the delicate skin. “And I have my own version of hardware.”
Their gazes met as he lifted his head. The smile she’d been about to give him faltered. The intensity sparkling in the fathomless blue of his eyes overwhelmed her. The gentle weight of the bindings made her more aware of her body. The floor swayed under her feet as she tugged on his hold.
She was helpless.
Her breathing sped up as she tugged again in an effort to escape. Each pull only made her powerlessness more evident. This wasn’t her. This wasn’t who she was. No way would she get off on being bound and unable to escape. No way in hell.
Why had she agreed to this again?
Anticipation raced through her veins, touching off feelings and sensations she’d never experienced before. This wasn’t similar to her botched moment with Daniel. Not even close. Her heart raced as Patrick walked in a slow circle around her. From his quiet murmurings, he seemed to be admiring his handiwork. Her breathing quickened when he stopped behind her and simply stood there.
His chest pressed against her back, her heart racing as the length of his hard cock fit against the curve of her ass. Even through the fabric of their clothes, heat built between them. That heat was so intense, she nearly tasted it. He pushed closer, causing her eyes to flutter closed as his mouth brushed over the delicate shell of her ear.
“Does the thought of surrendering wholly and completely to me excite you? All through dinner, I was thinking about locking these cuffs around your wrists. Then I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact I want to discover how you sound when you beg for me to allow you to come. Does that scare you?”
~*~
Sara Brookes is an award-winning author has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story. Born and bred in Virginia, Sara still lives there with her husband and daughter. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow the family to cater to their every desire.
Sara can be found:
Website: www.sarabrookes.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sara_Brookes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brookesofbooks
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorsarabrookes
Special Announcement List: http://eepurl.com/mbG31
Book Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/taking-over-me.html
Giveaway Details:
One winner will be chosen from the Rafflecopter entries for a special Swag Pack (with a limited-edition coffee mug for the coffee shop featured in Taking Over Me). Entries will be accepted from midnight 3/20 and run through midnight 3/27 (all times EST). If you’re unfamiliar with Rafflecopter, it’s an easy way to earn extra entries to the contest! But remember, it’s only mandatory to comment.
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: BDSM, Erotic Romance, Geek Kink, Giveaway, Kink, Sara Brookes, Taking Over Me
March 25, 2013
My Constant Companion
I am blogging over at JAVA KARMA today. Check it out!
Filed under: News Tagged: Coffee, Fantasy Romance, Java Karma, Knightly Desire, Lisa Fox, Love, RT Convention, Sexy Men
March 24, 2013
Sex God Sunday
Here is a snippet from my newly released fantasy novella, Knightly Desire. If you’d like. you can still enter to win a copy of your very own right here: KNIGHTLY DESIRE RELEASE BLITZ & GIVEAWAY
Before he could stop himself, his gaze drifted back down to her mouth and unbidden desire resurfaced in his heart. There was probably a reasonable explanation for his segregation, but their isolation tested the limits of propriety. This woman may be a sister, however youthful her appearance, she was obviously old enough to have taken her vows, but he was an outsider. “Surely they wouldn’t allow a sister to remain alone in the presence of a strange man?”
“Why not?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. The gesture was all at once innocent and impishly wicked. “They say you are a man of honor.” She touched the white stallion emblazoned upon his shield. “They say that this means it is so.” She met his eyes. “Are they wrong?”
Brant’s heart swelled with pride as he looked at the stallion on his shield. It stood for everything he believed in, everything he fought for, held dear and would die to uphold. Honor, justice, duty. He met her gaze. “No, they are not wrong.”
Filed under: Sex God Sunday Tagged: Erotic Romance, Fantasy Romance, Knightly Desire, Sex God Sunday, Sexy Men
March 23, 2013
Saturday Video – Rachel Fridkin – Cups (from “Pitch Perfect”)
Her voice is out of control amazing.
Filed under: Saturday Video Tagged: Amazing, Music, Pitch Perfect Cups, Rachel Fridkin, Saturday Video, Singing
March 21, 2013
Knightly Desire Release Blitz & Giveaway!
Knightly Desire is on sale today from Ellora’s Cave! Leave a comment to win a copy of your very own! (Winner will be announced 3/25/2013)
And I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to all my wonderful friends who helped me announce this release day awesomeness!
Blurb:
A routine mission turns disastrous when Knight Captain Brant and his men encounter a renegade mage. Injured and near death, Brant is brought to a nearby sanctuary of the god Ison, where the chaste sisters heal all those in need.
He is given into the care of Gabrielle, a talented healer. She is young, vivacious, bold—and a mage. She is everything wrong for him, and yet their desire and need can’t be denied.
Brant lives for his duty. Gabrielle belongs to a god. The lust-filled bond between them is powerful, but forbidden. No matter the consequences, their erotic bond cannot be ignored.
An Excerpt From: KNIGHTLY DESIRE
Copyright © LISA FOX, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
“You’re awake,” a female voice said and Brant jumped. He turned his head toward the sound and found a young woman roughly twenty years his junior sitting on a stool on the opposite side of the room. His armor, sword and shield sat on a table beside her. “The Mother feared you would never rise.”
She was a spark of brilliant light in the otherwise barren room and Brant hungrily drank her in, everything in him yearning to absorb all of her vibrant energy. He took in her round face, smooth with the innocence of her youth and marveled at the striking contrast with her wide, sapphire eyes. Those eyes held ancient wisdom in their depths and seemed to know secrets far beyond her years. That look, that shadow, added maturity and dimension to her youthful appeal, making her a devastating woman. He tried to tear his eyes away, he knew his examination was improper, but he couldn’t help himself. It had been too long since he had gazed upon anything beautiful.
She ran her hand over her short, spiky red-brown hair as she studied him. Her eyes trailed over him as she waited for him to respond, her gaze both curious and sensual. Her lips parted as she lingered over his bare chest, and when she dragged her tongue over her plump bottom lip, his cock stirred. Visions of capturing her warm, wet mouth assaulted him, and he could almost feel how soft her lips would be against his, how sweet she would taste. Blistering arousal ignited in his chest, awakening all of the nerve endings in his body, and he was suddenly, acutely aware that he was naked beneath the thin white sheet. Her gaze traveled farther down, leaving a path of fire in its wake, and when she paused at his waist, he almost gave in to the fierce, animal desire.
With a silent curse, he bit down on his tongue, hoping to temper his thundering pulse. It was completely inappropriate for him to respond to her in this manner. Especially since he had no idea who she was or what circumstances had brought him to her. He cleared his throat and tried to shake off the lust racing through his bloodstream. “The Mother?” he asked, and winced as fresh pain shot through him. “Where am I?”
“The Britnol Sanctuary of Ison,” she said, and he blinked, finally taking notice of her robes, the red and white adornments of the sacred Sisters of Ison. Brant let out a disgusted breath. Oh, but he was a fool indeed. Even without the cowl of her station—which was odd, he’d never seen a sister with her head uncovered before—he still should have recognized what she was.
“Where is everyone?” he asked. The other sanctuaries he had been to were bustling centers of activity, the sisters treating multiple patients for a variety of injuries and illnesses. He seemed to be in a private room rather than the main hall of the temple, separated from the other patients, and disquiet settled in his chest. Could it have something to do with the mage? He had been touched by magic, was he now…tainted? He quickly pushed the thought aside. He was whole, weak, but still himself. He glanced over at his newfound companion. She did not seem overly concerned about being in his presence. He didn’t think she would be so calm if there was any reason for worry.
She shrugged one shoulder. “Who knows?”
Before he could stop himself, his gaze drifted back down to her mouth and unbidden desire resurfaced in his heart. There was probably a reasonable explanation for his segregation, but their isolation tested the limits of propriety. This woman may be a sister, however youthful her appearance, she was obviously old enough to have taken her vows, but he was an outsider. “Surely they wouldn’t allow a sister to remain alone in the presence of a strange man?”
“Why not?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. The gesture was all at once innocent and impishly wicked. “They say you are a man of honor.” She touched the white stallion emblazoned upon his shield. “They say that this means it is so.” She met his eyes. “Are they wrong?”
Brant’s heart swelled with pride as he looked at the stallion on his shield. It stood for everything he believed in, everything he fought for, held dear and would die to uphold. Honor, justice, duty. He met her gaze. “No, they are not wrong.”
Her smile brightened her entire face and her eyes sparkled. “Then why do you ask?”
He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Her whole aura demanded it. She may be innocent, but she was also a tad bit too flirtatious for a sister. When the sisters took their vows, they gave themselves to Ison alone. He wasn’t much of a follower, but he did know that Ison was a jealous, possessive god. Brant decided he would do well to remember that—for both their sakes. He forced his face back into seriousness and tried to assume as commanding a tone as possible considering he was lying in a sickbed. “Bring me the Mother. I wish to depart.”
Her smile widened and his blood heated. He had seen beautiful women before, he had mingled with and even romanced some of the refined ladies of the royal court, but none had ever stirred in him the longing that she inspired. It was thrilling. “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said, her tone playfully admonishing. “You were quite wounded when your men brought you here and we vowed in His name to heal you. The Mother is not going to let you go until she feels that is done.”
That was not the answer he wanted and he bristled at the confinement. He needed to get back to his men. That mage had been gathering an army. He needed to make sure that the threat had been eliminated, that everyone was safe. He was almost certain that he had succeeded, but there was always a chance that the man still lived, still posed an immediate and terrible danger. “I’m fine.”
She laughed, a joyful sound that filled the entire room. “Are you? Well then, stand up.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. Was she actually challenging him? He was so shocked, he almost laughed. “What?”
“Come on,” she said, humor and mischievousness and deep knowing in her blue eyes. “Stand up. Prove how well you are.” She rose to her feet and extended her hand to him. “If you can take even two steps, I’ll get her for you.”
She was teasing him. He shook his head in disbelief. And he was enjoying it! “Why do I have to prove anything to you?”
She smiled. “Because, Sir Knight, I am your keeper until you have recovered.”
“You?” he said, and this time he did laugh. “You’re barely old enough to be your own keeper.”
“I am older than I look and we both know that wisdom is not reliant upon age.” She raised an eyebrow and her smile transformed into a smirk. “And you have not gotten out of that bed.”
He told himself that he was not being baited. He was going to get up, prove to her how fit he was and end this ridiculous game. And he was fine. Mostly. Fine or not, he had to get back to his men and resume his command. He wrapped the sheet around his waist and rose from the bed. His legs folded beneath him.
She was by his side in an instant, holding him up. She hugged him tightly and the soft, floral scent of her filled his head. He breathed deeply, taking in her delectable fragrance. Her body moved against him, lithe and firm under the heavy, shapeless robes, and the fire that had been simmering in his blood flared back to life. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. Her smooth, white skin flushed a rosy pink and he could feel her breath catch. His eyes fastened on her mouth and hunger descended upon him in a wave of lust. She lifted her chin to him, her pink lips slightly parted and he leaned into her, accepting the unspoken invitation. The warm flutter of her breath tickled his lips and long buried desires swept through. He wanted to drink in her heat, her beauty, her feminineness, things that were forever missing from his life. His cock awoke with deep, throbbing need and his eyes drifted shut as everything in him yearned for one tiny taste of heaven.
The door opened and Brant started at the sound. The Grand Mother entered the room, frowning mightily as she took in the scene and the girl froze in his arms. The Mother’s steely-gray eyes fixed on the sister and he felt her twitch. “Gabrielle, attend,” the Mother commanded, and his beautiful keeper deposited him on the bed and went to the Mother’s side. “I believe it is your turn to stock the warehouse?” she asked, and Gabrielle flicked him a last look before nodding and leaving.
When the door shut behind her, the Mother turned her attention on him. “Welcome to the Britnol Sanctuary of Ison, Sir Brant,” she said. “I trust you are finding it comfortable here?”
Her voice was sharp with disapproval and it only deepened Brant’s regret for his actions. He had come into this house of a god and tried to take what didn’t belong to him, what he had no right to claim. “Mother,” he said, inclining his head to her. A formal bow would have been better, but it was the best he could manage. He did not think he could stand up again without help. “Thank you for taking me into your house of healing. I am in your debt.”
The Mother inclined her head in return. “We do our sacred duty here,” she said, and then met his eyes.
Brant heard the warning loud and clear. A warning he was ashamed to have to receive. He had tarnished his own honor when he tried to take advantage of the young sister. It was not a mistake he would make again, no matter how much his desire for her enflamed his blood. She was not his for the taking.
Buy: http://www.ellorascave.com/knightly-desire.html
Filed under: News, Writing Tagged: Ellora's Cave, Erotic Romance, Fantasy Romance, Giveaway, Knight, Knightly Desire, Lisa Fox
March 20, 2013
A Fallow Heart by Linda Kage
Linda Kage is here today and she is offering a $20.00 AMAZON Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter throughout the tour!
The Prequel
I rarely talk about my writing to my family and friends, mainly because whenever I mention the subject to my husband, his eyes kind of glaze over and this far-off look enters them before he clears his throat and mumbles, “Huh, what? Oh, yeah. That sounds interesting.”
Well, if my soul mate, who’s supposed to be more interested in my life than anyone else (right?), doesn’t give a flip about what my main character had for dinner, then I don’t figure anyone really cares either.
Ergo, I don’t bring up the subject. If others ask, I’ll answer their questions though. So, a group of my and the hubby’s friends were out to dinner one evening, when one polite woman asked about my newest story. I told her a bit and when she asked if it was part of a series, I said, “No, not really, but it does go with this other story I wrote, except it chronologically comes first.”
“Ooh.” She began to act interested. “So, it’s a prequel, huh?”
Her husband chimed into add, “You know you’ve hit it big when you write a prequel.” Then the conversation drifted on to Star Wars.
I’m in no kind of league with Star Wars, but I DO like writing those prequels.
First of all, it gives you a challenge. You know you can’t write something too big and surprising that should’ve been mentioned in your already published book that chronologically comes after it. But you still have to keep it interesting enough for someone to actually want to read it. It’s like you have these parameters you have to write within, making you really think to come up with a good, fresh idea.
I also love the prequel because you already know what happens to the main and supporting characters later on. You can slip in little lines here than there to foreshadow and help lead up to the next book.
I had so much fun writing A Fallow Heart, my kind-of sort-of prequel for The Trouble with Tomboys that I think I might go earlier back in time to write a related story that would go before both of them. Maybe two stories that go before both of them. It’ll be like writing the series backwards!
What are your views on prequels and writing stories out of order?
Enter to win the $20.00 AMAZON Gift Card right here: A RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
BLURB:
Ten years ago, an oil tycoon’s daughter and a farmer’s son shared a moment neither would ever forget. When she left town in disgrace, a piece of her stayed locked deep within his soul. And like the ground he tended, his emotions lay fallow for years. Cooper Gerhardt’s deeply buried feelings for Jo Ellen Rawlings grew more fertile over time, just waiting for the day she would return to release his deepest desires.
When she strolls back into Tommy Creek, Texas for her ten-year class reunion, Cooper shows her farm boy style exactly what she missed by leaving. Starting a short-term affair is simply unavoidable. But when the week is over, can either of them let go of the responsibilities and apprehensions keeping them apart? Or will their fallow hearts learn to flourish together?
Buy Links
AllRomance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-afallowheart-1036401-148.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-fallow-heart-linda-kage/1114052828?ean=2940016165592
Author Information:
Linda grew up on a dairy farm in the Midwest as the youngest of eight children. Now she lives in Kansas with her husband, toddler daughter, and their nine cuckoo clocks. She works a day job in the acquisitions department of a university library and feels her life has been blessed with lots of people to learn from and love. Writing’s always been a major part her world, and she’s thrilled to finally share some of her stories with other romance lovers.
You can find Linda on the web at:
Website – http://www.lindakage.com/
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/linda.kage
FB Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/authorlindakage
Twitter – http://twitter.com/#!/lindakage
Blog – http://lindakage.blogspot.com/
Google + – https://plus.google.com/117163270588306204279/posts
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003ILJHKM
GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3213942.Linda_Kage
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/lindakage/
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: A Fallow Heart, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, Linda Kage, Romance
March 19, 2013
Hero Inspiration of The Day
Jonathan and Kevin Sampaio
*
Filed under: Hot Men Tagged: Hero Inspiration of the Day, Jonathan and Kevin Sampaio, Sampaio Twins, Sexy Twins, Twins
March 18, 2013
Available on Friday!
I am super excited to announce that KNIGHTLY DESIRE will be available from Ellora’s Cave on Friday! Be sure to stop back by then to enter to win a copy of your own!
Knightly Desire by Lisa Fox
Blurb:
A routine mission turns disastrous when Knight Captain Brant and his men encounter a renegade mage. Injured and near death, Brant is brought to a nearby sanctuary of the god Ison, where the chaste sisters heal all those in need.
He is given into the care of Gabrielle, a talented healer. She is young, vivacious, bold—and a mage. She is everything wrong for him, and yet their desire and need can’t be denied.
Brant lives for his duty. Gabrielle belongs to a god. The lust-filled bond between them is powerful, but forbidden. No matter the consequences, their erotic bond cannot be ignored.
An Excerpt From: KNIGHTLY DESIRE
Copyright © LISA FOX, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
“You’re awake,” a female voice said and Brant jumped. He turned his head toward the sound and found a young woman roughly twenty years his junior sitting on a stool on the opposite side of the room. His armor, sword and shield sat on a table beside her. “The Mother feared you would never rise.”
She was a spark of brilliant light in the otherwise barren room and Brant hungrily drank her in, everything in him yearning to absorb all of her vibrant energy. He took in her round face, smooth with the innocence of her youth and marveled at the striking contrast with her wide, sapphire eyes. Those eyes held ancient wisdom in their depths and seemed to know secrets far beyond her years. That look, that shadow, added maturity and dimension to her youthful appeal, making her a devastating woman. He tried to tear his eyes away, he knew his examination was improper, but he couldn’t help himself. It had been too long since he had gazed upon anything beautiful.
She ran her hand over her short, spiky red-brown hair as she studied him. Her eyes trailed over him as she waited for him to respond, her gaze both curious and sensual. Her lips parted as she lingered over his bare chest, and when she dragged her tongue over her plump bottom lip, his cock stirred. Visions of capturing her warm, wet mouth assaulted him, and he could almost feel how soft her lips would be against his, how sweet she would taste. Blistering arousal ignited in his chest, awakening all of the nerve endings in his body, and he was suddenly, acutely aware that he was naked beneath the thin white sheet. Her gaze traveled farther down, leaving a path of fire in its wake, and when she paused at his waist, he almost gave in to the fierce, animal desire.
With a silent curse, he bit down on his tongue, hoping to temper his thundering pulse. It was completely inappropriate for him to respond to her in this manner. Especially since he had no idea who she was or what circumstances had brought him to her. He cleared his throat and tried to shake off the lust racing through his bloodstream. “The Mother?” he asked, and winced as fresh pain shot through him. “Where am I?”
“The Britnol Sanctuary of Ison,” she said, and he blinked, finally taking notice of her robes, the red and white adornments of the sacred Sisters of Ison. Brant let out a disgusted breath. Oh, but he was a fool indeed. Even without the cowl of her station—which was odd, he’d never seen a sister with her head uncovered before—he still should have recognized what she was.
“Where is everyone?” he asked. The other sanctuaries he had been to were bustling centers of activity, the sisters treating multiple patients for a variety of injuries and illnesses. He seemed to be in a private room rather than the main hall of the temple, separated from the other patients, and disquiet settled in his chest. Could it have something to do with the mage? He had been touched by magic, was he now…tainted? He quickly pushed the thought aside. He was whole, weak, but still himself. He glanced over at his newfound companion. She did not seem overly concerned about being in his presence. He didn’t think she would be so calm if there was any reason for worry.
She shrugged one shoulder. “Who knows?”
Before he could stop himself, his gaze drifted back down to her mouth and unbidden desire resurfaced in his heart. There was probably a reasonable explanation for his segregation, but their isolation tested the limits of propriety. This woman may be a sister, however youthful her appearance, she was obviously old enough to have taken her vows, but he was an outsider. “Surely they wouldn’t allow a sister to remain alone in the presence of a strange man?”
“Why not?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. The gesture was all at once innocent and impishly wicked. “They say you are a man of honor.” She touched the white stallion emblazoned upon his shield. “They say that this means it is so.” She met his eyes. “Are they wrong?”
Brant’s heart swelled with pride as he looked at the stallion on his shield. It stood for everything he believed in, everything he fought for, held dear and would die to uphold. Honor, justice, duty. He met her gaze. “No, they are not wrong.”
Her smile brightened her entire face and her eyes sparkled. “Then why do you ask?”
He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Her whole aura demanded it. She may be innocent, but she was also a tad bit too flirtatious for a sister. When the sisters took their vows, they gave themselves to Ison alone. He wasn’t much of a follower, but he did know that Ison was a jealous, possessive god. Brant decided he would do well to remember that—for both their sakes. He forced his face back into seriousness and tried to assume as commanding a tone as possible considering he was lying in a sickbed. “Bring me the Mother. I wish to depart.”
Her smile widened and his blood heated. He had seen beautiful women before, he had mingled with and even romanced some of the refined ladies of the royal court, but none had ever stirred in him the longing that she inspired. It was thrilling. “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said, her tone playfully admonishing. “You were quite wounded when your men brought you here and we vowed in His name to heal you. The Mother is not going to let you go until she feels that is done.”
That was not the answer he wanted and he bristled at the confinement. He needed to get back to his men. That mage had been gathering an army. He needed to make sure that the threat had been eliminated, that everyone was safe. He was almost certain that he had succeeded, but there was always a chance that the man still lived, still posed an immediate and terrible danger. “I’m fine.”
She laughed, a joyful sound that filled the entire room. “Are you? Well then, stand up.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. Was she actually challenging him? He was so shocked, he almost laughed. “What?”
“Come on,” she said, humor and mischievousness and deep knowing in her blue eyes. “Stand up. Prove how well you are.” She rose to her feet and extended her hand to him. “If you can take even two steps, I’ll get her for you.”
She was teasing him. He shook his head in disbelief. And he was enjoying it! “Why do I have to prove anything to you?”
She smiled. “Because, Sir Knight, I am your keeper until you have recovered.”
“You?” he said, and this time he did laugh. “You’re barely old enough to be your own keeper.”
“I am older than I look and we both know that wisdom is not reliant upon age.” She raised an eyebrow and her smile transformed into a smirk. “And you have not gotten out of that bed.”
He told himself that he was not being baited. He was going to get up, prove to her how fit he was and end this ridiculous game. And he was fine. Mostly. Fine or not, he had to get back to his men and resume his command. He wrapped the sheet around his waist and rose from the bed. His legs folded beneath him.
She was by his side in an instant, holding him up. She hugged him tightly and the soft, floral scent of her filled his head. He breathed deeply, taking in her delectable fragrance. Her body moved against him, lithe and firm under the heavy, shapeless robes, and the fire that had been simmering in his blood flared back to life. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. Her smooth, white skin flushed a rosy pink and he could feel her breath catch. His eyes fastened on her mouth and hunger descended upon him in a wave of lust. She lifted her chin to him, her pink lips slightly parted and he leaned into her, accepting the unspoken invitation. The warm flutter of her breath tickled his lips and long buried desires swept through. He wanted to drink in her heat, her beauty, her feminineness, things that were forever missing from his life. His cock awoke with deep, throbbing need and his eyes drifted shut as everything in him yearned for one tiny taste of heaven.
The door opened and Brant started at the sound. The Grand Mother entered the room, frowning mightily as she took in the scene and the girl froze in his arms. The Mother’s steely-gray eyes fixed on the sister and he felt her twitch. “Gabrielle, attend,” the Mother commanded, and his beautiful keeper deposited him on the bed and went to the Mother’s side. “I believe it is your turn to stock the warehouse?” she asked, and Gabrielle flicked him a last look before nodding and leaving.
When the door shut behind her, the Mother turned her attention on him. “Welcome to the Britnol Sanctuary of Ison, Sir Brant,” she said. “I trust you are finding it comfortable here?”
Her voice was sharp with disapproval and it only deepened Brant’s regret for his actions. He had come into this house of a god and tried to take what didn’t belong to him, what he had no right to claim. “Mother,” he said, inclining his head to her. A formal bow would have been better, but it was the best he could manage. He did not think he could stand up again without help. “Thank you for taking me into your house of healing. I am in your debt.”
The Mother inclined her head in return. “We do our sacred duty here,” she said, and then met his eyes.
Brant heard the warning loud and clear. A warning he was ashamed to have to receive. He had tarnished his own honor when he tried to take advantage of the young sister. It was not a mistake he would make again, no matter how much his desire for her enflamed his blood. She was not his for the taking.
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