Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 68

New Release: Flight of the Dragon Queen by @TheaLanden #1NS #RPG @DecadentPub

FLIGHT OF THE DRAGON QUEEN

by Thea Landen

For his entire life, Caleb has always been more comfortable surrounded by books and games than other people. When 1Night Stand is recommended to him, he contacts Madame Eve but is too shy to actually meet any of the women she finds for him. Together, they reach a workable solution: a simulated dating experience in a setting reminiscent of his favorite stories.

After following Madame Eve’s instructions, Caleb finds himself in a vivid fantasy world, complete with a damsel in distress who needs rescuing. His objective is clear, but he must find a way around the many obstacles standing between him and Alizeira, the mysterious woman imprisoned in an underground cell.

While working on his plans to save her, Caleb spends time getting to know Alizeira beyond her role as prisoner, and a mutual attraction develops between them. He is unsure whether she’s a real person playing a part like him, or if she’s simply one piece of the elaborate simulation that’s been programmed for his date. Setting her free is the first step to discovering the truth, but how many secrets is Alizeira hiding?

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After racing through a narrow alleyway, we emerged at the edge of the manor grounds, facing the meadow I’d first landed in. Spectre slowed down, and I stared out over the sprawling fields. “Which way from here?” I asked.

Alizeira leaned over my shoulder. “We need to get to the river.”

I searched the horizon for some clue. Mountains stretched above the wide panorama in every direction, but I had no idea where to find the water. “Do you know where it is?”

“I think it’s that way.” She gestured ahead of us and to the left. “But I don’t know for sure.”

I pulled on the reins until Spectre faced where she’d pointed. The discussion about how to proceed, though brief, had cost us precious time. Beneath the horse’s feet, the ground rumbled, the vibrations reverberating up through his legs to where I sat. Angry shouts and hurried hoof beats traveled to my ears. Our pursuers had found our trail.

Clamping both knees around the saddle, I gave his ribs another nudge with my boots. “Come on, boy,” I whispered in his ear. “Let’s see what you can do.”

He followed my commands, and we set out across the open grasslands. Without the hazards of overhanging roofs or gnarled tree roots poking up from dirt paths, Spectre galloped even faster than he had before. Wind mussed my hair and stung at my eyes, and so much adrenaline coursed through me I could barely breathe. Despite any minimal discomfort, the rapid pace and the woman riding with me awakened something deep inside. We embarked on the thrilling adventure I’d dreamed of.

Speeding through the tall, yellowing reeds with the sun blazing overhead, I could push aside the dangers we fled. Alizeira reminded me we’d yet to arrive at a safe location. “The guards are still following us.”

“We’ll be okay.” I yanked on the reins and gritted my teeth against the wind.

The flat landscape of the fields we traversed seemed never ending. I squinted into the distance, but discerned no landmarks or signs. What happened to this river, anyway?

“Hurry!” Her fingertips dug into me. “They’re getting closer!”

Though tempted to turn around and see for myself, I didn’t want to risk losing my balance and falling off the horse. Spectre wouldn’t be able to maintain his lightning-fast speed forever. I’d almost given up hope, but then I spotted the first glints of silvery rushing water up ahead. “There,” I shouted.

The roar of the river crashing over the rocks mingled with the thunder of the hoof beats behind us. Before I could say anything else, the arms circling me loosened. Cool air flowed over my back, and I realized I rode the stallion alone. “Alizeira?”

Spectre skidded to a stop at the edge of the riverbank mere seconds before we would have fallen into the current. I saw no way to cross to the other side, nor did I see any sign of the woman I’d promised to save. Without dismounting, I scanned the area behind me in case she had fallen. She’d disappeared without a trace. “Alizeira!”

The army of soldiers on horseback stampeded toward me, their mounts kicking up clouds of dust and dirt as they closed the distance between us. Captain Sampson led the pack, straddling a steed that, while fast enough, paled in comparison to the stallion I’d stolen from him. As he gained ground, he used one hand to unsheathe his sword and raise it in the air. I pulled on Spectre’s reins and looked around for an escape route, but I was trapped with no way out.

Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and two children. A former educator, she strives to encourage creativity and passion in all those around her, and uses writing to help inspire. Though she reads and writes in nearly all genres, she has a special fondness for science fiction, fantasy, and adventure and anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games.

Email: thealanden@gmail.com

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Would they be together again? #MidWeekTease from NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO @DecadentPub #scifiromance

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for Mid Week Tease! For those who don’t know, Mid Week Tease is an author meme hosted by Angelica Dawson, where authors share snippets from their recent releases, back list titles, and works-in-progress (WIPs). So, please check out my tease and visit the other participating authors listed below.

For today’s post, I’m sharing an excerpt from NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO, which is available individually as an ebook, in a digital box set, and in a print anthology.

Setup: Calla has regained consciousness after being attacked by an unknown creature on the planet Airondelle. Her and Melina have already been together, but that was when she’d believed the man she would one day marry did not care for her anymore.

A hand brushed over her hair, and Calla sensed a body beside her. She shifted to get a better look at Melina staring down at her, inhaling her now familiar citrus scent.

Melina wore a fake-looking smile, her red-rimmed eyes an obvious sign of her worry. “How are you feeling, honey?”

Having just woken up, she wasn’t sure, but the pain had lessened. “Okay, I guess. What happened?” She sat up alongside Melina and noticed tears in her eyes.

The commander cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Calla. I shouldn’t have left you, even for a second.”

She’d found someone who cared, who worried about her. Leaning against Melina, she pulled her arms around her body, finding comfort there. “I’m okay, I think. I’m glad you’re okay, too.” She snuggled into Melina’s soft, ample cleavage.

“I guess we found a new species here. What do you think it was?”

Melina laughed, wiping her eyes. “Always the biologist. I honestly have no idea. I was more concerned with helping Erik get that thing off of you than trying to classify it.”

“Erik?” Why would he have been out in the field? No, she couldn’t think of him. He only confused her.

“He heard you scream when….” Melina ran a trembling hand along her breast and down her stomach, resting it at the edge of her cotton gown. “He thought you were in danger.”

“I guess it’s a good think he showed up.” Her stomach clenched at talking with her new—whatever she was—about her ex, since they themselves had a past.

“I hate to admit it, but yes. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t.” As her voice trailed off, she hugged her tighter.

During the next few minutes of silence, Calla became even more confused about her situation. Erik had heard her screams and came running. Did that mean he still cared? Or had he rescued her only because she was part of the team? But it was Melina who had been by her side when she’d woke. How long had she been there, and was she there as her commander, her friend, or her lover? Would they ever be together again?

Calla drew Melina’s arms off of her and faced her. She needed to know. Her emotions were already invested. “What happened between us, was it a one-time thing, or…?”

Melina pulled her back down. With forceful sweeps, she invaded her mouth, their tongues beginning a drugging dance. Calla’s nipples grew taut with excitement. She backed away to catch her breath.

~ NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO ~

Caught in a tangle of lies, Calla Jacobs must sort through the truth to discover where she truly belongs. A biologist for Planet Core, she finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit. Sent to Airondelle, she must work with a team to prepare the newly discovered planet for colonists from Earth. But the mission does not go as she expected. Her former lover, Erik Edwards, shuns her, sending Calla into the arms of Melina Holloway, their commander, for the attention she craves and more. A confrontation among the trio leaves her with a broken heart, and fleeing from the two people she trusted most.

Attempting to break free from the lies that bind her, she discovers Planet Core has deceived everyone. And when she returns to Earth, Calla learns just how far Planet Core’s control reaches.

       

Also available as part of:

The Complete Underground Series digital box set

Rebels and Romance ~ print anthology

Be sure to visit the other Mid Week Tease participating authors…

 

Jessica E. Subject’s Weekly Writing Update ~ Just another week

Hello! It’s Tuesday, and time for my Weekly Writing Update. This past week, it’s been snow, kids with colds, and hubby on a new shift. Another week gone. But, I do have some good news.

BRYCE ~ I’m now at 11,477 words, for a total of 678 new words.

MADE FOR HER ~ I’ve received the story back from beta readers. Now, I have to do some minor edits, then get it ready for formatting. I’m hoping next week I’ll have some pre-order links.

GOALS FOR THE WEEK ~  I will add as many new words to Bryce as possible. Plus, I will edit, format, and upload Made For Her for pre-order.

Please share what you have been up to this week. Are you reading or writing anything new? 

Contest & Extended Excerpt from Tara Quan’s New #1NightStand FELINE VALENTINE @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub

A year ago, I released Fireworks at Midnight, thinking I would leave the world of A Witch’s Night Out forever (I’d planned the series as a trilogy). Unfortunately, my characters had other plans. Since I’d sicced Madame Eve on her cat familiar, earth mage Shelley Dupree insisted I make things right. To be fair, I’d already given her a magical handicap, forced her under house arrest, and buried her in bills—taking away her feline companion did seem a cruel and unusual punishment.

It took me two months of fictional time to even the scales with Feline Valentine.  Part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series, my interracial paranormal romance is set in Washington, D.C., where magic-wielding folk try to live alongside us pesky humans. It’s my first true “shifter” AND “foodie” romance (talk about ticking two boxes with one book), and a quick read of the blurb should tell you what I mean.

To celebrate this unexpected return to my favorite series, I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave a comment here and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post.

FELINE VALENTINE

A Witch’s Night Out

by Tara Quan

Under magical house arrest in her great-grandmother’s suburban cottage, college graduate and reluctant earth mage Shelley Dupree whiles away most mornings spying on the warlock next door. Though erotic daydreams offer some distraction, she faces long working hours, cash flow problems, and a repeat burglar. On Valentine’s Day, she sets a trap for the mysterious intruder, intent on ending his crime streak once and for all. But her scheming cat familiar foils her best-laid plans, and, with a little help from Madame Eve’s 1-Night Stand service, she discovers a far more dangerous species of magical feline.

After moving in next to a ramshackle building on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., pastry chef Adrien Chatdurois is plagued by repeat sexual fantasies starring the same curvy brunette. In a state of constant arousal, he devotes his early mornings to grueling exercise and spends the rest of his day handcrafting the city’s best chocolates. When his younger brother stirs up trouble on the shop’s busiest day, the frustrated shifter is forced to pay a surprise visit on his reclusive neighbor. He soon learns not all witches are wart-covered hags, and one in particular might prove the most delicious of desserts.

Genres:

Paranormal Romance

Romantic Comedy

Interracial/Multicultural

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Check out the rest of the series here!

Since she’d removed the plastic wrap but had forgotten to eat, Adrien reached over and brought a strawberry to her lips. Shelley stared at him for a long moment. With a shrug and a grin, she swirled her tongue along the chocolate before clamping her teeth over the fruit. Biting off a chunk, she drew back and licked her lips clean.

Shifting his stance, he tried to focus on anything but the blood rushing to his groin. He hadn’t thought his jeans could get any tighter. He’d thought wrong.

The activity in the kitchen screeched to an abrupt halt.

She studied him through lowered lashes. “What? Is something wrong?”

Two could play this game. Caging her between the counter and his body, he brushed his fingers over her upper arm and along her neck. When she tilted her head to the side, he lowered his head so his lips grazed her earlobe. Grinning when her breath caught, he reached around her, his arm missing her breasts by a millimeter as he wiped her lower lip with the pad of his thumb. “You missed a spot.”

Her skin darkened to the color of milk chocolate. Though he couldn’t wait to find out how she tasted, he mustered enough self-control to return to the task at hand. The sooner he fed the witch, the sooner they’d shift to more delicious activities. “Keep eating. I don’t need another tantrum on my hands.”

“Oonn ieet.”

As she polished off the strawberries, he whisked a pair of eggs in a separate bowl before combining his two mixtures. He placed a small container of butter in his palm. A few seconds later, it softened and melted. Shifters generated far more body heat than humans or elemental mages, which came in handy since his host’s microwave seemed to have been rescued from a 1980s Dumpster.

Soft footsteps approached him from behind. “Can I help?”

He turned, glanced at the empty plate on the counter, and answered her sheepish grin with a smile of his own. “Feeling guilty?”

“You’re not off the hook, or anything.” Her cheeks darkened. “But my temper might have been a bit more…explosive than usual. I’m sorry I punched you in the face, but you’re not forgiven for acting like a horny asshole.”

“I kind of am horny thanks to—” He managed to shut his mouth before allocating part of the blame to her vivid sexual fantasies. “Erm…. Anyway…. All is forgiven. Blood sugar dips make women’s moods go haywire. When paired with my lack of filter…let’s say there’s a reason I learned how to cook.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I’m pretty sure male moods are affected by hunger as well.”

“Yes, but we tend to prioritize filling our stomachs over most other tasks.”

Finding an empty patch of counter space, she seated herself and watched as he finished off the batter with freshly grated orange zest. “Do you always say what you think?”

“Yup. It’s a hazard.” Covering the bowl with plastic wrap, he placed it in her fridge to rest. “Then again, there’s no point getting someone to dig a fake version of me.”

He turned in time to catch her rolling her eyes. “You might want to give them some time to warm up.”

“Oh, stop pretending. You like me. Admit it.”

She looked him up and down. “I hate to break this to you, but while I might think you’re hot, your attitude leaves much to be desired.”

He worked on the oranges and lemons for the sauce. “What’s wrong with my attitude? Here I am, slaving away to put food on the table—”

She snorted.

“What? It literally describes what I’m doing. And what about the repairs I did before finding out what you looked like? All my altruism has to count for something.” He floated a pan over to the stove and started melting some sugar and butter. The distinct smell of caramel soon filled the kitchen.

Rolling her shoulders, she arched her back. The stretch puffed out her chest, and his physical reaction almost made him lose control of his telekinesis. He’d never met a female so unaware of the gorgeousness of her boobs. At this rate, he risked permanent damage to a very important body part.

An idea hit him. With a slow wave of his finger, he sent melted sugar into the air, allowing it to cool for a moment before directing a slow stream toward the witch. When she opened her mouth, he deliberately dripped the caramel over her chin and down her neck before bracketing her body with his.

“What”—her voice turned husky—“are you doing?”

“Snacking.” He ran the tip of his tongue from the base of her throat, up the column of her neck. The sauce’s smoky sweetness lingered as he followed the sticky path to her mouth.

When he caught her lower lip between his teeth, her fingers trailed up his forearms to clench over the sleeves of his shirt. He sucked, teased her with light nips until she sighed and melted against his chest.

She tilted her head back, and he took it as permission to devour. Hidden under layers of chocolate and strawberry, he discovered his personal addiction. He pushed her further, forcing her to meet him stroke for stroke.

“This is a bad idea,” she murmured between sipping kisses. “Madame Eve isn’t any old dating service.”

“I don’t care.” He circled one arm around her waist and pulled. Her thighs parted, the counter height positioning her for his taking. He ground his tented fly between her spread legs, relishing her soft moans as she hooked her ankles behind his back.

Lifting a hand to fondle her breast, he pumped his hips. His quest for relief only aggravated his arousal. He channeled his mounting frustration onto her neck, leaving hickeys as he nibbled his way to her collarbones. Pulling down her hoodie’s zipper, he marked the swells of silky skin then tugged at her neckline so he could explore.

When he lifted his head to examine his handiwork, he found her flushed and panting. Each labored breath lifted her plump breasts, their perfection marred by his dark brands. The rush of possession brought an indescribable high, the cat in him recognizing what neither human seemed ready to admit.

“Your clothes,” Adrien rasped. “Take them off.”

“You first.” A split second before Shelley surrendered to temporary insanity, the sharp crack of breaking glass yanked her from the brink. Cursing her wayward hormones, she jumped off the counter and headed for the back door.

With a rumbling curse, Adrien grabbed her upper arm and swung her behind him, using his much larger body as a shield against the harmless kitchen exit. “Stay inside. I’ll handle—”

“Oh please. It’s my house. All you’ll do is stumble around the backyard half-blind. I’ve got this.”

Spinning on his heel, he gaped at her. “You’re seriously pulling a women’s lib moment on me now?”

“Yup.” She pointed at the stove. “Finish the dessert like a good househusband while I deal with the break-in.”

Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, paranormal worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Her characters, armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. To receive updates about her new releases and get a free sexy read, subscribe to her mailing list at www.taraquan.com/newsletter.

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#8Sunday: She would never allow anyone to clone her ~ Made For Her #scifiromance

Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warriors post! I’m having a lot of fun getting to know the other participating authors and reading their wonderful and intriguing snippets.

Earlier in the week, I sent Made For Her to two beta readers, one who had read the story when originally published, and the other who belonged to the Canadian Armed Forces. Their feedback will let me know if everything jives with the revisions I’ve made. Today’s snippet follows immediately after last week’s.

He stepped out from behind his desk, lowering his arms. “I can see how intimate this situation is to you.”

She glared at him. “Oh, really?” The only way to get more personal was if they’d created a clone of herself, and she would never allow that.

“You need to be quiet and listen, or I will have you escorted out of my office.”

Mikayla plopped into one of the leather chairs in front of the general’s desk. She gripped the arms, holding in her anger, though she still had so much of her mind to tell him.

The general sat back down. “Just so you know, Daniel did grant permission to be cloned when he was first contracted to Onatria.”

~ MADE FOR HER ~

After terrorists murder the love of her life, Colonel Mikayla Jones trains squadron after squadron of the clones he brought to life, to take to the skies. When she discovers a young clone of her husband in her newest class, her world spins out of control. How can she command the look-a-like when she can’t help but yearn for him to fill an ache in her heart?

Dare was created to be the best. As the first Daniel clone to leave Onatria labs, he needs to prove he is more than just a DNA copy. To do that, he must rely on the wife of the man who donated his genes. But when she refuses to train him, Dare faces discharge and returning to the labs. Can he convince Colonel Jones to finish his training and find a way into her bed? Or will long kept secrets unhinge the entire clone project?

This story, recommended on both USA Today’s Happily Ever After blog, and io9 is not yet available, but will be soon.

~*~*~

Weekend Writing Warriors is a Sunday short-snippet blog hop in which authors excerpt from their books (published or unpublished). There’s a variety of genres–something for everyone! To visit the participating authors, click on the logo:

Her yellow-eyed alien shifter #MySexySaturday from ALIEN LOVER #scifi #erotica

 

Hello and welcome to the 125th week of My Sexy Saturday.

Here are the details: every Saturday, published and unpublished authors will be sharing 7 words, sentences, or paragraphs from a work-in-progress or an already published story.

Today’s theme is…

MY SEXY SHIFTER

While I don’t generally write about paranormal shifters, I do have some alien shifters in my stories. Here’s seven from Alien Lover. Enjoy!

Set-up: Molly set out on a journey to find her fiance, not believing he perished when his ship exploded. While she doesn’t find him, she does find an alien who looks like him. Here’s where she gets a glimpse of what he really looks like….

Yellow eyes gazed up at her, no longer matching her fiancé’s. “I can’t keep his shape any longer.” His words were strained.

“I don’t care. Please, I offer myself to you.” The time for doubts had come and gone. She would make it work no matter what he looked like.

He plunged his thick muscle inside her, darting it in and out. She rocked against his face, drinking in the intensity of having her G-spot licked. Ohlan’s nose teased her clit, and the combination sent her to the edge and beyond. Her body tensed then released. The orgasm barreled through her in a frenzy of simultaneous explosions.

The creature swirled his tongue around her swollen folds. She struggled to hold still as the sensations continued. Gods, he knows how to draw out pleasure.

In an instant, he raised onto his knees, showing off his sleek figure. He reminded her of a runner, with taut muscles all over his body, his skin a deep purple.

She stared at him with admiration. Never had she met a space traveler from beyond Earth she would consider gorgeous. Not until Ohlan.

She pulled him down, tucking her leg under his, and rolled on top of him. It was her turn to explore. Trailing her fingers down his chest, she followed them with kisses, his skin soft and warm.

~ ALIEN LOVER ~

Unconvinced of her fiancé’s demise, Molly combs the galaxy to search for him. As her supplies run low, she is forced to turn around and set a course for Earth, alone. But, a Moloxian Starcruiser halts her retreat, and the single passenger transports onto her ship without permission. Taser in hand to defend herself, she is startled as the form remolds into her fiancé. Has Diego found her or is her tired mind playing tricks?

Only 99¢ from:

      

*This title is also part of Cosmic Desires.

For more My Sexy Saturday postings, check out the participants’ list

5 Books I’d Love to see Produced for Film or Television

Some of the books I have read and loved have recently been produced in film, The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Host, The Martian, and as of today, The 5th Wave. I’ve even heard that Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout has been optioned for film.

So, I thought I’d share a few other titles that I would love to see produced for film or television….

The Hunt (series) by Andrew Fukuda

This is a series about a world run by vampires. They breed humans to hunt them down. But, there is a human living among them, disguising himself as one of them. I don’t usually read about vampires, but I loved the first book so much, I had to read the rest of the series. I think it would make a great set of movies.

Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher

This story grabbed me from the very beginning, and the concept of aliens as ghosts is so intriguing. I think this would make a great sci-fi movie.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This is one of my favorite series. I don’t want to give any spoilers as to what happens later in the series, but I think it would be fabulous in film or on television as it changes settings.

  

 

Hell Squad series by Anna Hackett

It is in the future, and aliens have taken over the planet. But groups of survivors team together and are fighting back. While the stories are romances, I think the world would make a great television series. Kind of reminds me of Space: Above and Beyond.

Maximum Ride series by James Patterson

A group of kids whose DNA contains that of birds escape from the laboratory that created them. This series is about their adventures and fight for survival. I think it would make a great television series.

What movies would you like to see on film or television?

Detectives. Love. Handcuffs. ILLUSIONS, a #newrelease from @KaceyHammell #romsuspense

ILLUSIONS

By Kacey Hammell

Book 1: In the Arms of the Law

Protection. Adventure. Love.

It’s all found within The Arms of the Law…

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn’t include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancée years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

Author’s Note: Illusions was previously released with another publisher. It has received minor revisions for reissue.  Also includes a bonus short story TIED DOWN.

Genres: Contemporary, Suspense, Paranormal, Erotic, Romance

ISBN: 978-0-9877993-3-3

Word Count: 50,000

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Kacey Hammell, © 2016

Replacing the receiver, she sighed, resigned to leave the comfort of her bed. “Got to go to work, Izzy?”

Brady’s voice came from behind her and not for the first time, Isabella wondered if he realized he used so many variants of her name. She had noticed it a lot in the last few weeks but didn’t think he did. Tonight, for some reason, it bothered her more than ever.

When he was driving into her or when they were warm and cozy, sharing a few quiet moments, he called her Bella. She found herself coming to enjoy every time the name rolled off his tongue. It was special to her but she didn’t want to dwell on why at the moment. Instead, she counted off in her head his use of Isabella.

When they were around others, coworkers or just talking in general, he used her full name. At times like this, when interrupted by her job, he used Izzy in a distant, unaffected tone. The tag was starting to grate on her nerves.

She twisted on an angle toward him, unable to keep from caressing his body with her gaze. The sheet only covered his hips and navel, leaving his abs and biceps exposed to her hungry eyes.

What I wouldn’t give for ten more minutes with him tonight.

“Umm, yeah. It was Connor. I have to go. A woman who’s been missing for thirty-six hours was found dead down by the docks.” She headed to her closet as Brady got off the bed.

“Damn. Connor suspects foul play?”

Pulling a denim shirt from her closet and a pair of jeans, Isabella turned to look at him as he grabbed his clothes. Her breath hitched as he covered his tight ass with his Jockeys and jeans. It was a shame to see such perfection hidden.

With a small shake of her head, Isabella pulled herself from her musings and reached into her top dresser drawer for panties and a bra. “Yeah. The woman’s been missing for over a day and from what he said, she’s naked.” Her hands shook as she put on her panties and willed herself to calm down and think it all through.

“Connor didn’t say much else.” Turning her back to Brady, she shook out her jeans, put both legs in and pulled them up. So lost in her thoughts and trying to get a grip on her emotions, she didn’t hear him come up behind her, until he placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Do you want me to go with you, Izzy? I’ll assist in any way I can.”

Touched beyond means by his offer, she turned in his arms. “Thanks, but no.

You know I’ve been through it all before. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it has to be. I’ve seen this kind of thing many times, over and over.”

She sounded like a bitch but couldn’t let the fact they were having sex get in the way of her job. They had an unspoken agreement, no commitments, and let one another do what they had to do, never coddling each other or making bigger issues of anything.

“I know you have, Izzy, but sometimes…. Hell, never mind. It’s cool.” She could tell by the look in his eyes he was frustrated but didn’t want to show it.

Good, let him be pissed, irritated or anything other than caring. She understood he was a man used to taking care of others, but she’d be damned before she leaned on him.

After taking her gun from where it was locked up, she clipped the holster to the waistband of her slacks and adjusted it to where she liked it. Pulling her hair back into a scrunchie, she turned to face her lover, certain she had her emotions in check. “Thanks for coming over tonight. It was, as always, the exact thing I needed.”

For just a moment, she saw an emotion—maybe anger—cross his face, but it was gone so quickly she might have imagined it.

With what looked like a forced smile to her, Brady shrugged. “Always here for you, babe, whenever you have an itch.” His voice held the cold, detachment she was coming to dislike. He grabbed up his leather jacket near the door, but stopped before crossing the threshold. He turned to her, staring at her in a way she had never seen before. “I know you won’t—seriously know you won’t—but if you happen to need me, I’m only a phone call away.”

She couldn’t even ascertain what sensations spread through her body at his words. As she watched him walk out of her bedroom, she could identify only one emotion.

Loss.

Feeling like she was on a tightrope easily broken at any moment, she shook herself of her musings as she heard the front door close. She patted her pockets and sides. Keys, badge, gun. She was ready to face the night ahead. Detective Isabella Knowles, one of Trenton’s finest, was ready to catch the bad guys.

Too bad she couldn’t allow herself to be caught. Love and the badge didn’t mix. For a few short hours she could let her hair down, let her lover drive himself into her body and fill her thoughts.

But she’d never let a man drive himself into her heart. Never.

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Kissing the wrong man…again! #MidWeekTease from THE STAR PRINCESS @DecadentPub #scifiromance

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for Mid Week Tease! For those who don’t knowMid Week Tease is an author meme hosted by Angelica Dawson, where authors share snippets from their recent releases, back list titles, and works-in-progress (WIPs). So, please check out my tease and visit the other participating authors listed below.

For today’s post, I’m sharing an excerpt from  THE STAR PRINCESS, which is available in ebook and audio book.

This excerpt happens on the lift in the castle. It’s not their first kiss, but the first should have never happened in the first place. Not without Princess Ro’sa knowing the truth.

As his lips touched hers, her body tingled with desire. She moaned into his gentle kiss, unable to control the sound. At the delicate ply of his tongue, she opened to him, her mind filled with a maddening wave of pleasure.

He kissed along her jaw to her neck. Her synapses exploded, and she squeezed his fingers. A ball of desire pooled low in her belly. Her breathing turned ragged, and she yearned for more.

Cyrus continued his torture to her sensitive skin, licking and sucking.

Her moans turned to cries of pleasure. He nudged her legs apart with his knee, bringing the two of them even closer, yet not close enough.

Drawing her hands from his, Ro’sa reached between them, grasping the zipper of his suit. She dragged it down, reaching inside to touch his bare skin. Splaying her hand across his chest, she felt the pounding of his heart. It beat in time with hers.

She rocked her hips, grinding across his thigh. An unfamiliar motion, but she couldn’t help herself.

“I want you,” he whispered across her skin. Grabbing her buttocks, he drew her farther up his thigh.

She wrapped her legs around his waist. Through their clothing, his hardness pressed to her mound, giving fuel to the fire growing inside her.

A sudden ding filled the small space, clearing away the lust in her head.

Cyrus lowered her to the floor and backed away, staring at his feet. “I’m sorry. I only meant to forget where I was for a moment, not to get so carried away. I… I can’t help myself around you.”

~ THE STAR PRINCESS ~

In one week, Princess Ro’sa will board a spaceship, leaving her home on Minjet to be with her betrothed on Earth. The only problem is, she detests the prince’s selfish and arrogant ways, preferring to spend time with his personal aide, a man who stirs her desires in ways she never imagined possible with his radiant blue eyes and smouldering lips. And oh, the way he touches her.

Earth’s post-apocalyptic landscape offers little but the alliance offers much and a princess must do her duty, no matter the danger to her person and to her heart.

     

Also available as an Audio Book!

Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Be sure to visit the other Mid Week Tease participating authors…

 

Jessica E. Subject’s Weekly Writing Update ~ Snow, writing, and more snow!

Hello! It’s Tuesday, and time for my Weekly Writing Update. This week, I’ve had to deal with snow interrupting my writing time. We were lucky to not get much snow at the end of 2015. But, the new year dumped a bunch of the white stuff on us. It disappeared over a weekend, then came again. This past week, it’s been non-stop. I’ve been shoveling every single day, which means less time to write. Yet, I did manage to write every day during the week, which was one of my goals for the new year. I’m hoping it continues again this week.

BRYCE ~ I’m now at 10,799 words, for a total of 1,534 new words.

MADE FOR HER ~ I’ve spent the week revising the story, making sure the parts I’ve added mesh well with the rest of it. I’m almost ready to send to beta readers for their thoughts.

GOALS FOR THE WEEK ~ I will send Made For Her to two beta readers. And, I will add as many new words to Bryce as possible.

Please share what you have been up to this week. Are you reading or writing anything new?