Zoe Perdita's Blog, page 17
July 8, 2014
An Interview! With me! About stuff!
Want to know what I think about gay romance and other writing stuff, including some of my books? Check out this interview on Jamie Lake's blog.
It's funny. It's enlightening. It's other good stuff.
And here's a sexy pic of Tim Drake (Robin III) and Superboy (Kon-El). Because Tim/Kon makes me happy and gives me oh so much inspiration. Pic from Kaciart.
It's funny. It's enlightening. It's other good stuff.
And here's a sexy pic of Tim Drake (Robin III) and Superboy (Kon-El). Because Tim/Kon makes me happy and gives me oh so much inspiration. Pic from Kaciart.
June 30, 2014
Tiger's Den: Black Wolves (Haven City Series # 5) Release!
Ring the gong!
The book is live!
Drink some wine!
(Oh, too early?)
I'll wait until noon then.
Check it out:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance
Kobo (soon)
Milo, the Black Wolves’ omega wolf, always stayed on the sidelines. He’s a hacker – not a badass. Hell, he can’t even get laid, much less play the part of a dangerous gang member.
But, in order to stop an ongoing gang war, Milo is unceremoniously thrust into the middle of the Tiger’s den as a nark (for the cops) and a spy (for the Black Wolves). Not to mention the dead sexy Tiger leader, Xian Fei, insists Milo stay by his side at all times. For protection purposes, of course. Milo’s not even sure if he’s gay, but Fei makes his stomach do backflips, and his cock – well, that’s another story.
Yeah, the omega is pretty sure he’s fucked, and he likes it. A lot.
Fei clawed his way to the top of the Tigers after years of serving the desires of others. He’s close to ruling his gang in peace, if he can protect the hot little wolf in his care. Problem is – Fei’s not sure he can keep his paws off Milo. While Fei plays the confident leader, he’s hiding a dark past and a vicious secret.
Milo’s the only one who can break Fei’s cool – the only one who can bring the tiger to his knees.
Passion burns between Fei and Milo, but will the lies and twisted loyalties tear them apart before they find a happy ending?
Contains graphic gay sex scenes.
Excerpt:
Fei’s hand froze, and he stared at Milo right in the eye. “This isn’t a pity fuck.”
“Then what is it?” Milo didn’t believe Fei was doing this because the tiger was attracted to him. This was a lesson so they could get Jin’s cell phone. Not anything more.
It couldn’t be anything more, and Milo was okay with that.
Really.
A strand of long black hair fell into Fei’s eyes. Must’ve come loose from his braid. It was messier than usual, as if he threw it back in a hurry and didn’t bother with it since.
Milo itched to feel that hair between his fingers, but it might be weird since Fei was giving him that look.
No one ever looked at him like that before. It wasn’t pity or annoyance or even lust that burned in Fei’s eyes. This expression reminded Milo of Ian when the boss was trying to win a game of chess against Sebastian. Concentration and slight confusion. As far as the omega knew, Ian always lost.
“What do you want it to be?” Fei asked, his voice gruffer than Milo’d ever heard it.
It raked across his skin.
“I don’t know.” Being here was better, even without Smile and the ficus for company.
Fei was here. Even if it was nothing but a game to him, it might be the closest Milo ever got to sex.
A relationship.
A mate.
Not just any mate – Fei as his mate.
Milo heard Fei’s heart pound out a rhythm with his – like they were two drums vying for dominance. His erection, tented in his jeans, throbbed with it.
“You’d do anything I said, just because your alpha wants you to get that cell phone?” Fei asked. He sat so close Milo saw the rim of gold around his irises and felt the heat of his body. Fei’s fragrance, tiger musk and spice, tickled Milo’s nose.
Milo wanted to lean into those taut arms and lick his way down Fei’s smooth chest. Shit. He never imagined he’d want to do that to a guy.
Weird.
And awesome.
Why couldn’t those hands touch him again?
Milo chewed his bottom lip. “Yeah, but that’s not the only thing. The other part is super embarrassing, and I don’t think you’d like it much. But. Well.” He shifted in place, and raised his eyebrows. Why couldn’t Fei get the hint without him saying it out loud?
You really turned me on and now I have to jack off, didn’t really have a nice ring to it. Especially when the guy used to be a whore for the Triad. People like that were screwed up and usually hated sex, right?
Fei took a sharp breath through his nose. His lips were so close.
Just a few more inches. . . and bam!
“You still want me even if you think I’m only doing this for a mission? Milo,” Fei growled the last part.
A shiver shot up Milo’s back, and his cheeks burned. He knew it colored his ears too. He was bright red by now, like a stupid tomato. “Not just that. I’m – I suck at this, don’t I? But you’re really amazing, and I wouldn’t mind messing around with you. Okay. Not just that. I really want to have sex with you. But I know that’s not fair for me, because it probably makes you uncomfortable considering everything that’s happened. But that’s it. Truth. Sorry, I’m a jerk, right?”
Fei’s lips quirked, and that dimple showed up, if only just. His eyes were still narrowed, but that old light burned in them. “Rule number one: an active partner is always better than an inactive one.”
Milo blinked. Was it really happening now? He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Active. Got it. So I shouldn’t wait for someone else to make a move, I should do it myself? Like this?”
His mouth met Fei’s, and the tiger jolted at the touch. Milo almost lost what little self-confidence he had right then.
Fei didn’t want this – he was forcing it and that was the worst possible thing he could do!
Then Fei’s slender fingers gripped Milo’s shoulder, and his lips came alive. His other hand braced the back of Milo’s head, fingers trailing through the hair. The sensation woke whatever nerves were still asleep in Milo’s body, and he moaned.
Warmth filled him.
A shock of electricity tingled down his legs and settled in his toes.
His cock ached with it, and Milo rubbed his body against Fei’s so their groins bumped. His vision blurred at the sensation. It took every spare ounce of willpower not to grind against him like a fucking teenager.
Fei pulled back, breathless, and Milo tried to focus on Fei’s face. But he was too close. His scent intoxicating and overwhelming. He had to feel Milo’s erection, pressed into his thigh.
Milo figured he should be embarrassed, but he couldn’t muster it. The urge to do something more shot through his veins, hot as lava.
Then Fei whispered something in Cantonese, and he yanked Milo up. They stumbled, and he hit the wall with a dull thud.
His body begged for something – anything.
“Is there another rule?” Milo asked, his fingers twitching against Fei’s suit jacket.
Those slanted eyes locked on Milo’s, but he didn’t answer. His slender hand pressed flat into Milo’s chest.
Should he take his clothes off or –
Fei’s palm wandered lower, and Milo sucked in a breath and shifted his hips as it cupped his very hard and hungry cock. Fei looked away briefly as he pulled down the zipper, then his eyes focused on Milo’s face once more.
Milo whimpered.
The book is live!
Drink some wine!
(Oh, too early?)
I'll wait until noon then.
Check it out:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance
Kobo (soon)
Milo, the Black Wolves’ omega wolf, always stayed on the sidelines. He’s a hacker – not a badass. Hell, he can’t even get laid, much less play the part of a dangerous gang member.
But, in order to stop an ongoing gang war, Milo is unceremoniously thrust into the middle of the Tiger’s den as a nark (for the cops) and a spy (for the Black Wolves). Not to mention the dead sexy Tiger leader, Xian Fei, insists Milo stay by his side at all times. For protection purposes, of course. Milo’s not even sure if he’s gay, but Fei makes his stomach do backflips, and his cock – well, that’s another story.
Yeah, the omega is pretty sure he’s fucked, and he likes it. A lot.
Fei clawed his way to the top of the Tigers after years of serving the desires of others. He’s close to ruling his gang in peace, if he can protect the hot little wolf in his care. Problem is – Fei’s not sure he can keep his paws off Milo. While Fei plays the confident leader, he’s hiding a dark past and a vicious secret.
Milo’s the only one who can break Fei’s cool – the only one who can bring the tiger to his knees.
Passion burns between Fei and Milo, but will the lies and twisted loyalties tear them apart before they find a happy ending?
Contains graphic gay sex scenes.
Excerpt:
Fei’s hand froze, and he stared at Milo right in the eye. “This isn’t a pity fuck.”
“Then what is it?” Milo didn’t believe Fei was doing this because the tiger was attracted to him. This was a lesson so they could get Jin’s cell phone. Not anything more.
It couldn’t be anything more, and Milo was okay with that.
Really.
A strand of long black hair fell into Fei’s eyes. Must’ve come loose from his braid. It was messier than usual, as if he threw it back in a hurry and didn’t bother with it since.
Milo itched to feel that hair between his fingers, but it might be weird since Fei was giving him that look.
No one ever looked at him like that before. It wasn’t pity or annoyance or even lust that burned in Fei’s eyes. This expression reminded Milo of Ian when the boss was trying to win a game of chess against Sebastian. Concentration and slight confusion. As far as the omega knew, Ian always lost.
“What do you want it to be?” Fei asked, his voice gruffer than Milo’d ever heard it.
It raked across his skin.
“I don’t know.” Being here was better, even without Smile and the ficus for company.
Fei was here. Even if it was nothing but a game to him, it might be the closest Milo ever got to sex.
A relationship.
A mate.
Not just any mate – Fei as his mate.
Milo heard Fei’s heart pound out a rhythm with his – like they were two drums vying for dominance. His erection, tented in his jeans, throbbed with it.
“You’d do anything I said, just because your alpha wants you to get that cell phone?” Fei asked. He sat so close Milo saw the rim of gold around his irises and felt the heat of his body. Fei’s fragrance, tiger musk and spice, tickled Milo’s nose.
Milo wanted to lean into those taut arms and lick his way down Fei’s smooth chest. Shit. He never imagined he’d want to do that to a guy.
Weird.
And awesome.
Why couldn’t those hands touch him again?
Milo chewed his bottom lip. “Yeah, but that’s not the only thing. The other part is super embarrassing, and I don’t think you’d like it much. But. Well.” He shifted in place, and raised his eyebrows. Why couldn’t Fei get the hint without him saying it out loud?
You really turned me on and now I have to jack off, didn’t really have a nice ring to it. Especially when the guy used to be a whore for the Triad. People like that were screwed up and usually hated sex, right?
Fei took a sharp breath through his nose. His lips were so close.
Just a few more inches. . . and bam!
“You still want me even if you think I’m only doing this for a mission? Milo,” Fei growled the last part.
A shiver shot up Milo’s back, and his cheeks burned. He knew it colored his ears too. He was bright red by now, like a stupid tomato. “Not just that. I’m – I suck at this, don’t I? But you’re really amazing, and I wouldn’t mind messing around with you. Okay. Not just that. I really want to have sex with you. But I know that’s not fair for me, because it probably makes you uncomfortable considering everything that’s happened. But that’s it. Truth. Sorry, I’m a jerk, right?”
Fei’s lips quirked, and that dimple showed up, if only just. His eyes were still narrowed, but that old light burned in them. “Rule number one: an active partner is always better than an inactive one.”
Milo blinked. Was it really happening now? He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Active. Got it. So I shouldn’t wait for someone else to make a move, I should do it myself? Like this?”
His mouth met Fei’s, and the tiger jolted at the touch. Milo almost lost what little self-confidence he had right then.
Fei didn’t want this – he was forcing it and that was the worst possible thing he could do!
Then Fei’s slender fingers gripped Milo’s shoulder, and his lips came alive. His other hand braced the back of Milo’s head, fingers trailing through the hair. The sensation woke whatever nerves were still asleep in Milo’s body, and he moaned.
Warmth filled him.
A shock of electricity tingled down his legs and settled in his toes.
His cock ached with it, and Milo rubbed his body against Fei’s so their groins bumped. His vision blurred at the sensation. It took every spare ounce of willpower not to grind against him like a fucking teenager.
Fei pulled back, breathless, and Milo tried to focus on Fei’s face. But he was too close. His scent intoxicating and overwhelming. He had to feel Milo’s erection, pressed into his thigh.
Milo figured he should be embarrassed, but he couldn’t muster it. The urge to do something more shot through his veins, hot as lava.
Then Fei whispered something in Cantonese, and he yanked Milo up. They stumbled, and he hit the wall with a dull thud.
His body begged for something – anything.
“Is there another rule?” Milo asked, his fingers twitching against Fei’s suit jacket.
Those slanted eyes locked on Milo’s, but he didn’t answer. His slender hand pressed flat into Milo’s chest.
Should he take his clothes off or –
Fei’s palm wandered lower, and Milo sucked in a breath and shifted his hips as it cupped his very hard and hungry cock. Fei looked away briefly as he pulled down the zipper, then his eyes focused on Milo’s face once more.
Milo whimpered.
June 29, 2014
It's almost time. . . Print Cover Reveal: Tiger's Den: Black Wolves (Haven City Series # 5)
I almost forgot tomorrow was June 30th! Yeah, it's been one of those crazy I-haven't-been-able-to-take-a-day-off-because-I-have-a-book-coming-out kinda weeks. Full of last minute everything. So, pretty much every week leading up to a big release.
Hey, I got a bottle of sparkling Italian wine to celebrate. It's a small bottle, and I'm gonna drink it all.
The book will be live tomorrow (fingers crossed).
Also, I'm about half way done with Omega in the Light. Simeon makes me smile because he's pretty funny (and crazier than his brother). Zev, the alpha, is cool too. Much lighter personality than Rowan, and Zev's been through some shit, so that's saying something. I know Rowan went through shit too, but Zev's is worse. PTSD kinda worse, yet he manages to keep upbeat (until Simeon pisses him off. And Simeon excels at pissing people off). Weird how that works.
Anyway, here's what (some?) have been waiting for. The print cover in all its glory!
Hey, I got a bottle of sparkling Italian wine to celebrate. It's a small bottle, and I'm gonna drink it all.
The book will be live tomorrow (fingers crossed).
Also, I'm about half way done with Omega in the Light. Simeon makes me smile because he's pretty funny (and crazier than his brother). Zev, the alpha, is cool too. Much lighter personality than Rowan, and Zev's been through some shit, so that's saying something. I know Rowan went through shit too, but Zev's is worse. PTSD kinda worse, yet he manages to keep upbeat (until Simeon pisses him off. And Simeon excels at pissing people off). Weird how that works.
Anyway, here's what (some?) have been waiting for. The print cover in all its glory!
June 26, 2014
Chapter One Sneak Peek: Tiger's Den: Black Wolves (Haven City # 5)
It's almost time! Poor Milo gets sent to live with (and spy on) the Tigers. The Tiger's leader, Xian Fei, is hot and sweet, but he has a dark secret (gasp!). Milo is horny. What will happen? (Spoilers: sex and love. That's what!) Oh, and all the gang war stuff is wrapped up too.
Tiger's Den will be out June 30th!
Since the second chapter is short, I'm gonna send the second and third chapter of Tiger's Den to my mailing list this time. If you want to read it first, then join here!
Enjoy!
1
Milo was a lot of things: a hacker, a tech genius, an omega – but he wasn’ta spy. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop Ian Black from giving him this stupid (and impossible) mission.“It’s an order, not a suggestion. Xian Fei wants one of the Black Wolves in exchange for one of his Tigers. It’s how the Triad does things,” Ian said. The alpha wolf leaned back in his chair. The overhead light in the church’s basement cast unflattering shadows on his handsome face. Milo swallowed the lump in his throat. “But, uh, boss, we aren’t part of the Triad. We’re only working with them until this gang war blows over and the Black Wolves rule the Flats and clean up the crime and all that stuff. You know, the thing we’ve been working at for years.”Breaker, the beta, stood behind Ian. He was frowning, which wasn’t unusual. Milo didn’t expect Breaker’d actually stick up for him. He followed Ian’s orders – even if those orders hurt him. Well, maybe not now. If those orders hurt Breaker’s mate, Fisk, he probably wouldn’t follow them. Fisk, said cat thief, perched in the corner next to his twin, Sebastian. Although identical, Sebastian’s hair was shorter at the moment so Milo could tell them apart. Both of them eyed the omega carefully. “This is part of my deal with the Tigers. I chose you, Milo, and you’re going to do as I say,” Ian growled, though his shoulders didn’t tense. That meant he wasn’t really angry. He was just playing big mean crime boss even though they were the only ones around to see it. Ian got really good at playing his part recently.That also meant Ian was serious, and that didn’t bode well for Milo. Surrounded by a bunch of Tigers? It sounded worse than going back to middle school, though only barely.Milo didn’t know what to say. Or, actually, he knew what he wantedto say, but he wasn’t about to say it to his alpha. Especially not with the rest of the pack (and those two cats) watching him. “This is about losing Sebastian that one time, isn’t it? I said I was sorry that he sneaked away. Nothing more I can do to apologize. I mean, I guess I could grovel. Do you want me to grovel?” Milo asked and balled his hands. “No!” Breaker and Ian said at the same time. Ian leaned back and looked at the beta with his eyebrows raised. Breaker stepped around the desk and gripped Milo’s shoulders. “We’ve been together for a long time. We take care of each other. And even though you’ll be in Fei’s care, we’ll be watching your back.”Milo nodded and dropped his gaze to the floor. Breaker’s shoes shone in the dim light, and he smelled as comforting as ever, like musk and soap. No matter what else happened, Milo always had a pack to fall back on. It’d been that way since they were kids. Break and Ian had Milo’s back, and here he was trying to turn away from a mission because it sounded crazy and like it’d probably get him killed. “I know, but how am I supposed to spy on him in plain sight? What should I look for? What if I get caught? Or they try to kill me? A bunch of Tigers. . . . I know what they do to people who cross them. I don’t want to end up floating in the river—”Breaker tensed. Oops. Bad choice of words. The beta almost drowned in the river a few months before. “You won’t,” Breaker said. Of course, the two mating pairs weren’t going to send one of the cats to the Tiger’s gang. Not with the Flats falling apart around their ears. Ever since the last run-in with the Russian Bears, Haven City was more dangerous than ever. Security in Russian territory beefed up over night, and the Triad gangs were holding back the brunt of the attack on their own. As far as Milo could tell from the chatter he picked up on his surveillance, the Monkeys still didn’t have a leader and tensions were running high because of it. If one of them didn’t step up soon, the Russians would make their move and take Chinatown. Not only that, but the attacks picked up force as well. The Russians and Triad infiltrated each other’s territory on a daily basis. Most of those attacks left shifters on both sides dead, not to mention the perfectly innocent bystanders that got caught in the crossfire. And all of this went down while the Black Wolves were stuck in hiding because their leader was wanted in relation to a murder he didn’t commit. In short, Ian’s well-laid plans got shot to shit.Milo took a deep, steadying breath. “Do you ever think we could just—”“Just what?” Ian asked, his fangs showing. Walk away before we all end up dead and leave what we’ve done a waste of time and energy and life. Leave town so the cops can’t find us. Of course, he didn’t say that. Not to his alpha – his boss.Any doubts he had about the Black Wolves current operations were clamped inside to fester with the rest of his opinions and ideas. An omega wasn’t good for that. Milo sighed. “Why do you have to send me?” “You mean, why doesn’t Ian send me?” Sebastian said and stood up. He wasn’t tall or impressive, but he was broader than Milo. No one else was a skinny as the omega. Milo nodded and avoided Ian’s eyes. The boss was probably glaring at him for bringing it up. “I told Fei that Ian was my mate, but that’s not the reason Ian’s sending you,” Sebastian said and leaned against the desk. His cheeks weren’t as sallow as they used to be. Milo knew it had something to do with the Pharaoh’s Staff healing some of Sebastian’s silver poisoning, but he hadn’t been around to see it. Like usual, he was holed up in his cave of tech. Not that he was complaining. Watching from the sidelines was part of his life – being thrust into the spotlight didn’t appeal to him at all. The last time that happened, he almost got shot up by a bunch of Bears. Breaker was the muscle. Fisk was the thief. Sebastian was the brain, and Ian ran the gang. Milo was the only one whose talents, while helpful, could be tossed aside. “I know why he’s sending me,” Milo said and blinked his stinging eyes. “I get it. I’m dispensable. Fine. I’ll go. But, uh, someone needs to watch my plants and feed my fish while I’m gone. I’ve had that ficus for years. And the computer set up will take a while to explain. I guess I can write the instructions down. Nah, that’ll take a whole book to—”“Milo!” Ian said, and the omega clamped his mouth shut. Now the boss was going to rub the bridge of his nose and say he was getting a headache again. Milo needed to learn to shut up sometimes. Too bad his mouth moved before he could stop it. “I’m not sending you because you’re dispensable. You’re my Queen. The best piece I have on the board. I can’t leave this place because the arrest warrant. Breaker is too fucking conspicuous. The Triad and Bears know about Fisk and Seb now, so that leaves you. You’re the only one who can do this,” Ian said without a hint of humor. Milo’s chest swelled like a balloon. “Are you saying I’m your only hope? The chosen one? The last stand? The— okay, I can’t think of anymore references.”Ian nodded grimly. “And you know what we have to do. This isn’t just about spying on the Tigers. It might be the only chance we’ll ever get to reach Jin Yue.”Jin Yue – the leader of the Dragons. It was the only Triad Ian couldn’t gather info on because Jin wouldn’t deal with him. It sounded like a great idea, but it put Milo in the deep end of a very murky situation.A shiver shot up Milo’s spine. Dragons might be worse than Tigers and Bears combined. “But I don’t know how to spy in real life. I do all my work behind a screen.”“It’s easier than you think,” Fisk said and crossed his arms. Sebastian nodded. “Plant some bugs. Pay attention to everything. Report back to Ian. That’s it. Just don’t get caught,” the cat said with a twitch of his lips.“Not planning on it.” Milo couldn’t tell if Sebastian was joking or not. The twins always seemed right on the cusp of telling a joke, but they never got around to it. Or maybe he just didn’t get their senses of humor. They aligned with Ian’s too neatly for Milo’s comfort. “Good. Just keep a low profile, and you’ll be safe,” Ian said and nodded at the beta. Breaker put a strong hand on Milo’s shoulder. They walked out of the cramped office. The strong summer sunshine waited outside the church, but it didn’t warm Milo’s skin. He was the last hope for the Flats. If he failed, the Black Wolves would lose everything they worked for. And his friends, his pack, could lose their lives. No pressure, right? Wrong.
* * *
Xian Fei came for him the next day. Milo spent the whole night packing, unpacking, and then pacing around his small rooftop apartment. Even the cool light from the aquarium didn’t calm him like usual. His stomach twisted into knots. He tried to eat a pack of Sour Patch Kids, but they didn’t taste good. He tossed the package aside and slumped in his computer chair instead. Then he practiced pronouncing Xian Fei properly. According to Sebastian he said it wrong. It sounded like She-on Faye to him. Milo couldn’t do that thing with his voice – that added inflection. Hopefully, he wasn’t going to insult the Tiger’s new leader. When his cell rang, he jolted awake and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Uh, Break? What’s up? I’m getting ready. You know me! Lots to prepare. Are you coming to get me or . . . .”“Fisk is there. Show him what to do with the computers and the plants. Fei will pick you up at noon. The boss wants you here before that.”Of course he did. “Sure thing! I just gotta shower and finish packing. Should I take all my shirts or just a few?”Breaker sighed. “If you need more clothes you can always drop by your place and get it. You’re not a prisoner.”The beta might say that. He might even mean it, but it wasn’t entirely true. It felt a whole lot like being a prisoner to Milo, but he kept that thought to himself. He’d already packed almost everything anyway. He was just delaying the inevitable. Then Fisk tapped at his door, and Milo frowned. “See you soon!” he said and hung up on Breaker. It’s the first time he ended a phone call to the beta – maybe to anyone. When Milo opened the door, grinning to hide his nervousness, Fisk raised his eyebrows. “And I thought Ian was a slob,” he muttered as he stepped inside. Several months ago, the cat shifter wouldn’t have said something like that to one of the Black Wolves, even if Milo was the smallest and weakest member. Now Fisk ranked higher than the omega. Beta’s mate was always higher than the lowliest member. Still, Milo couldn’t blame Fisk’s assessment. He didn’t have Breaker to clean up after him, like Ian. And he couldn’t hire a maid with the little money that trickled his way. It was hard enough to pay the rent. “Been busy with stuff. No time to clean, you know? Or not. Are you a neat freak like Break? I mean, he’s not a total neat freak, but he does keep things tidier than Ian. Or me. But you know that considering you live with him.”Fisk glanced around the small one bedroom apartment and shrugged. “Not a neat freak, but I don’t live like this,” he said and nudged a pile of laundry with his shoe. Milo bundled it in his arms and tossed it in the overflowing laundry basket. If he had more of a heads up he could’ve organized the apartment before he was banished to the Tigers. “The plants are over here. The ficus is pretty finicky – get it? Finicky ficus? Ha! Anyway, she needs water a couple times a week. Make sure the soil is always damp to the touch but not soaking wet. Same with the orchids. And over here is Smile the clown fish. I know he’s not really smiling, but since he’s a clown fish it sounded good. Better than Nemo, right?”Fisk snorted and tapped the glass. “Guess so.”“His food is on the shelf. He needs a pinch of it once a day. No more, no less. Pretty easy. But he’ll get lonely if I’m not here to keep him company. He likes to be talked to, and he’s a really good listener. Oh, and he tells great jokes. Okay. Not jokes. But he does this cute thing with his lips, and he blows bubbles and. . . . never mind. You’re not gonna eat him, are you?”The caramel colored hair fell into Fisk’s bright green eyes, and he swept it away. “Eat him? Because I’m a cat shifter who likes fish? Are you gonna sniff my ass?”“No!” Milo said and frowned. “But you still didn’t answer my question. Is Break gonna take care of this place or—”“Seb and me are gonna do it,” Fisk said and crossed his arms. Milo nodded and moved on to the computer setup. He explained everything as well as he could, but Milo couldn’t tell if the cat shifter understood it or not. Fisk didn’t ask any questions. Milo left a few notes pinned to the wall incase the system needed to be restarted. But just leaving her there like that felt almost as bad as abandoning his office at the old Black Wolves’ headquarters. He’d have his trusty laptop, but it wasn’t the same. Then Milo showered and dressed. He put on a T-shirt (Green Lantern) and a pair of jeans that didn’t drown him, though the pant legs bunched at his ankles due to the length. Fisk lounged on the couch, his eyes shut, but he jumped up when Milo grabbed the backpack and duffle bag. “Uh, I guess I’m ready to go now. Or maybe we could stop for breakfast on the way there. I haven’t eaten yet, and I could use something to—”“Just stop!” Fisk said and swung the door open. “You’re not ready, and you’ll never be ready for a situation like this. You think I’m ever ready when I go on a job? No. But we do it because that’s what we have to do.”Milo stared at the cat’s retreating back. Fisk’s shoulders bunched, ready to pop, but his words made sense. Even if they didn’t quell the growing unease raking across Milo’s skin. He sighed and shut the door. He really had to do this. Be the hero of the Black Wolves. Who would’ve guessed? Not him. His stomach grumbled as they drove to the church. Fisk took pity on him and pulled into a drive-through. Milo forced himself to eat the burger and fries, though he hardly tasted either. When they arrived, Ian, Breaker and Sebastian waited inside the church. He gripped his bag and slumped into a pew. Hopefully, the Tiger’s leader would be late. No such luck. Only a few minutes after Milo and Fisk got there, the door of the church creaked open and Xian Fei stepped inside. A second tiger followed Fei, the one replacing Milo, and a sulky alpha wolf. Detective Conner Sharp. One of the cops Sebastian and Xian Fei rescued from the Bears. What was he doing here? Milo glanced between the newcomers and the boss. Was Ian expecting this?Ian’s eyes narrowed. “Detective, did you come to thank my mate for saving your life again?”Milo took that as a no.Sharp wore plain clothes and scratched one of the scars on his cheek. “No. We have a proposition for you.”“I think you’ll want to hear him out, Mr. Black,” Fei said. Like Ian, Fei wore a fitted designer suit. His long black hair was tied into a neat braid, which fell down his back. His dark slanted eyes swept over the room. A sense of unease settled around him. Like a great cat watching from the reeds and waiting for the kill. Seeing him knocked the air from Milo’s lungs, and he frowned at his reaction. Nobody that pretty, male or female, would ever notice Milo. He glanced at the other tiger. She was small – just around Milo’s height. Her hair was cut boyishly short and she wore a black suit, just like Fei. Ian nodded. “Well?”“You’re in a difficult position. Pinned down by the Bears and the Triad. But we think we can help you, if you’re willing to help us. This shit goes higher than me – all the way to the top. Humans might not know what you reallyare, but they sure as shit understand organized crime. The police chief agreed to drop the arrest warrant if you get us enough information to shut down the Russians and the Triad,” Sharp said. He looked at Ian without blinking. “If you don’t agree, I can’t guarantee anything.”“That sounds like blackmail, detective,” Ian growled. Sharp shrugged. “It’s called cutting a deal.”Ian stared at Sharp, then at Fei. “You’re willing to inform on your own gang? Or do the cops have you by the short and curlies?”“Unfortunately. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but now I’m cleaning up the Tigers. I thought you didn’t like drugs in the Flats either. Or did you want this gang war to keep getting worse?” Fei asked. His voice was even. Measured. He slipped his hands into his pockets as if he were waiting in line at the bank and expected it to take a while. Breaker took a step forward, and the floor creaked under his weight. “Boss?”“It’s nice to finally see eye to eye with a Tiger,” Ian said through gritted teeth. His voice held the same edge it did when Milo wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or threatening. “Look. We don’t have the same abilities you do. But we know the Russians are setting up to move a lot of Rapture. If it floods the streets, we wouldn’t be able to stop it,” Sharp said. “I don’t have a lot of time here. You’re in or you’re out, Black.”The boss studied his nails, and Milo figured he was doing that on purpose. Ian hated getting shoved into a corner. But if the cops really took down the Russians and the Triad with their information, it’d be a lot easier to keep the Flats safe. Plus, a distant warmth welled in Milo’s chest. This is exactly what the boss did to him. And look how little Ian liked it. “How the hell am I supposed to gather information when I’m stuck here?” Ian asked, waving his arms at their surroundings. The detective shrugged. “Get one of your peons to help. In or out? This is the only time I’m giving you the offer.”This cop had balls to walk into Black Wolves territory and throw ultimatums around. Milo almost whistled.“In. Not that I have much of a choice,” Ian said and put on his sulky face. “Fei, meet Milo. He’s your new peon. Let me guess? You’ll rat on the Triad while I have to rat on the Russians?”“That sounds fair.” Fei’s eyes briefly flicked to Sebastian, then landed on Milo. His chest ached. Of course Fei wouldn’t notice him first. Story of his life.Fei inclined his head and smiled, his cheeks dimpling. That was not the sort of smile most gang bosses possessed. It didn’t bite and grate. Instead it appeared genuine. Milo’s stomach did a backflip. Fei’s eyes raked over his body. “He’s your omega, right?” “Is that a problem?” Ian asked.“Not at all. I’ll be sure to treat him well. He’ll help me gather information on the Triad?” Fei asked. Milo stood so still he felt like a statue that might break into pieces. The boss just offered him up as a nark and a spy. Yeah, he’d end up dead for sure.“Of course. Milo’s excellent. He can gather information from a distance as long as you help him plant the bugs,” Ian said, just shy of a growl. At least the vehemence in his voice was real. It’s the only comfort Milo got from the whole conversation. “Who do you have for me?”Fei smiled peaceably and the tiger at his side stepped forward. “This is Meilin. She’s very good at her job – small enough to fit anywhere and quiet. Plus, she’s mute so you won’t have to worry about her talking to anyone.”Meilin bowed and glanced around the church with guarded interest. Here they finally got a girl in their mix, and Milo had to leave. Just his very bad luck. “I’m not worried about that. We trust each other,” Ian said and smiled at Meilin before taking her hand and kissing it. Unlike most women, Meilin didn’t blush. She pulled her hand away and scowled at the boss. Milo felt sorry for her – or maybe he felt sorry for himself. No way in hell Ian trusted Fei, not after this stunt. At least he wouldn’t be around to hear the boss complain about it. Then Milo remembered where he’d be instead and frowned. “Yes. Of course,” Fei said without a hint of doubt, and held his hand out for Milo. “We should be going.”Ian nodded.“I’ll be in touch,” Sharp said. He’d watched their entire exchange closely and Milo wondered what he thought. The detective didn’t say. Then Breaker patted Milo’s back, and Fei held the door. He imagined this is what going to summer camp for the first time probably felt like. Or leaving home for college. Or some other life changing event that Milo had never experienced. The Black Wolves were his only family, and he had to leave them behind. He’d been ordered to leave them behind. For the first time in his life, he regretted eating a burger. It sloshed in his stomach as he followed Fei outside toward an uncertain future. Funny, the boss said he was the Queen. Milo felt more like a pawn.
Tiger's Den will be out June 30th!
Since the second chapter is short, I'm gonna send the second and third chapter of Tiger's Den to my mailing list this time. If you want to read it first, then join here!
Enjoy!
1
Milo was a lot of things: a hacker, a tech genius, an omega – but he wasn’ta spy. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop Ian Black from giving him this stupid (and impossible) mission.“It’s an order, not a suggestion. Xian Fei wants one of the Black Wolves in exchange for one of his Tigers. It’s how the Triad does things,” Ian said. The alpha wolf leaned back in his chair. The overhead light in the church’s basement cast unflattering shadows on his handsome face. Milo swallowed the lump in his throat. “But, uh, boss, we aren’t part of the Triad. We’re only working with them until this gang war blows over and the Black Wolves rule the Flats and clean up the crime and all that stuff. You know, the thing we’ve been working at for years.”Breaker, the beta, stood behind Ian. He was frowning, which wasn’t unusual. Milo didn’t expect Breaker’d actually stick up for him. He followed Ian’s orders – even if those orders hurt him. Well, maybe not now. If those orders hurt Breaker’s mate, Fisk, he probably wouldn’t follow them. Fisk, said cat thief, perched in the corner next to his twin, Sebastian. Although identical, Sebastian’s hair was shorter at the moment so Milo could tell them apart. Both of them eyed the omega carefully. “This is part of my deal with the Tigers. I chose you, Milo, and you’re going to do as I say,” Ian growled, though his shoulders didn’t tense. That meant he wasn’t really angry. He was just playing big mean crime boss even though they were the only ones around to see it. Ian got really good at playing his part recently.That also meant Ian was serious, and that didn’t bode well for Milo. Surrounded by a bunch of Tigers? It sounded worse than going back to middle school, though only barely.Milo didn’t know what to say. Or, actually, he knew what he wantedto say, but he wasn’t about to say it to his alpha. Especially not with the rest of the pack (and those two cats) watching him. “This is about losing Sebastian that one time, isn’t it? I said I was sorry that he sneaked away. Nothing more I can do to apologize. I mean, I guess I could grovel. Do you want me to grovel?” Milo asked and balled his hands. “No!” Breaker and Ian said at the same time. Ian leaned back and looked at the beta with his eyebrows raised. Breaker stepped around the desk and gripped Milo’s shoulders. “We’ve been together for a long time. We take care of each other. And even though you’ll be in Fei’s care, we’ll be watching your back.”Milo nodded and dropped his gaze to the floor. Breaker’s shoes shone in the dim light, and he smelled as comforting as ever, like musk and soap. No matter what else happened, Milo always had a pack to fall back on. It’d been that way since they were kids. Break and Ian had Milo’s back, and here he was trying to turn away from a mission because it sounded crazy and like it’d probably get him killed. “I know, but how am I supposed to spy on him in plain sight? What should I look for? What if I get caught? Or they try to kill me? A bunch of Tigers. . . . I know what they do to people who cross them. I don’t want to end up floating in the river—”Breaker tensed. Oops. Bad choice of words. The beta almost drowned in the river a few months before. “You won’t,” Breaker said. Of course, the two mating pairs weren’t going to send one of the cats to the Tiger’s gang. Not with the Flats falling apart around their ears. Ever since the last run-in with the Russian Bears, Haven City was more dangerous than ever. Security in Russian territory beefed up over night, and the Triad gangs were holding back the brunt of the attack on their own. As far as Milo could tell from the chatter he picked up on his surveillance, the Monkeys still didn’t have a leader and tensions were running high because of it. If one of them didn’t step up soon, the Russians would make their move and take Chinatown. Not only that, but the attacks picked up force as well. The Russians and Triad infiltrated each other’s territory on a daily basis. Most of those attacks left shifters on both sides dead, not to mention the perfectly innocent bystanders that got caught in the crossfire. And all of this went down while the Black Wolves were stuck in hiding because their leader was wanted in relation to a murder he didn’t commit. In short, Ian’s well-laid plans got shot to shit.Milo took a deep, steadying breath. “Do you ever think we could just—”“Just what?” Ian asked, his fangs showing. Walk away before we all end up dead and leave what we’ve done a waste of time and energy and life. Leave town so the cops can’t find us. Of course, he didn’t say that. Not to his alpha – his boss.Any doubts he had about the Black Wolves current operations were clamped inside to fester with the rest of his opinions and ideas. An omega wasn’t good for that. Milo sighed. “Why do you have to send me?” “You mean, why doesn’t Ian send me?” Sebastian said and stood up. He wasn’t tall or impressive, but he was broader than Milo. No one else was a skinny as the omega. Milo nodded and avoided Ian’s eyes. The boss was probably glaring at him for bringing it up. “I told Fei that Ian was my mate, but that’s not the reason Ian’s sending you,” Sebastian said and leaned against the desk. His cheeks weren’t as sallow as they used to be. Milo knew it had something to do with the Pharaoh’s Staff healing some of Sebastian’s silver poisoning, but he hadn’t been around to see it. Like usual, he was holed up in his cave of tech. Not that he was complaining. Watching from the sidelines was part of his life – being thrust into the spotlight didn’t appeal to him at all. The last time that happened, he almost got shot up by a bunch of Bears. Breaker was the muscle. Fisk was the thief. Sebastian was the brain, and Ian ran the gang. Milo was the only one whose talents, while helpful, could be tossed aside. “I know why he’s sending me,” Milo said and blinked his stinging eyes. “I get it. I’m dispensable. Fine. I’ll go. But, uh, someone needs to watch my plants and feed my fish while I’m gone. I’ve had that ficus for years. And the computer set up will take a while to explain. I guess I can write the instructions down. Nah, that’ll take a whole book to—”“Milo!” Ian said, and the omega clamped his mouth shut. Now the boss was going to rub the bridge of his nose and say he was getting a headache again. Milo needed to learn to shut up sometimes. Too bad his mouth moved before he could stop it. “I’m not sending you because you’re dispensable. You’re my Queen. The best piece I have on the board. I can’t leave this place because the arrest warrant. Breaker is too fucking conspicuous. The Triad and Bears know about Fisk and Seb now, so that leaves you. You’re the only one who can do this,” Ian said without a hint of humor. Milo’s chest swelled like a balloon. “Are you saying I’m your only hope? The chosen one? The last stand? The— okay, I can’t think of anymore references.”Ian nodded grimly. “And you know what we have to do. This isn’t just about spying on the Tigers. It might be the only chance we’ll ever get to reach Jin Yue.”Jin Yue – the leader of the Dragons. It was the only Triad Ian couldn’t gather info on because Jin wouldn’t deal with him. It sounded like a great idea, but it put Milo in the deep end of a very murky situation.A shiver shot up Milo’s spine. Dragons might be worse than Tigers and Bears combined. “But I don’t know how to spy in real life. I do all my work behind a screen.”“It’s easier than you think,” Fisk said and crossed his arms. Sebastian nodded. “Plant some bugs. Pay attention to everything. Report back to Ian. That’s it. Just don’t get caught,” the cat said with a twitch of his lips.“Not planning on it.” Milo couldn’t tell if Sebastian was joking or not. The twins always seemed right on the cusp of telling a joke, but they never got around to it. Or maybe he just didn’t get their senses of humor. They aligned with Ian’s too neatly for Milo’s comfort. “Good. Just keep a low profile, and you’ll be safe,” Ian said and nodded at the beta. Breaker put a strong hand on Milo’s shoulder. They walked out of the cramped office. The strong summer sunshine waited outside the church, but it didn’t warm Milo’s skin. He was the last hope for the Flats. If he failed, the Black Wolves would lose everything they worked for. And his friends, his pack, could lose their lives. No pressure, right? Wrong.
* * *
Xian Fei came for him the next day. Milo spent the whole night packing, unpacking, and then pacing around his small rooftop apartment. Even the cool light from the aquarium didn’t calm him like usual. His stomach twisted into knots. He tried to eat a pack of Sour Patch Kids, but they didn’t taste good. He tossed the package aside and slumped in his computer chair instead. Then he practiced pronouncing Xian Fei properly. According to Sebastian he said it wrong. It sounded like She-on Faye to him. Milo couldn’t do that thing with his voice – that added inflection. Hopefully, he wasn’t going to insult the Tiger’s new leader. When his cell rang, he jolted awake and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Uh, Break? What’s up? I’m getting ready. You know me! Lots to prepare. Are you coming to get me or . . . .”“Fisk is there. Show him what to do with the computers and the plants. Fei will pick you up at noon. The boss wants you here before that.”Of course he did. “Sure thing! I just gotta shower and finish packing. Should I take all my shirts or just a few?”Breaker sighed. “If you need more clothes you can always drop by your place and get it. You’re not a prisoner.”The beta might say that. He might even mean it, but it wasn’t entirely true. It felt a whole lot like being a prisoner to Milo, but he kept that thought to himself. He’d already packed almost everything anyway. He was just delaying the inevitable. Then Fisk tapped at his door, and Milo frowned. “See you soon!” he said and hung up on Breaker. It’s the first time he ended a phone call to the beta – maybe to anyone. When Milo opened the door, grinning to hide his nervousness, Fisk raised his eyebrows. “And I thought Ian was a slob,” he muttered as he stepped inside. Several months ago, the cat shifter wouldn’t have said something like that to one of the Black Wolves, even if Milo was the smallest and weakest member. Now Fisk ranked higher than the omega. Beta’s mate was always higher than the lowliest member. Still, Milo couldn’t blame Fisk’s assessment. He didn’t have Breaker to clean up after him, like Ian. And he couldn’t hire a maid with the little money that trickled his way. It was hard enough to pay the rent. “Been busy with stuff. No time to clean, you know? Or not. Are you a neat freak like Break? I mean, he’s not a total neat freak, but he does keep things tidier than Ian. Or me. But you know that considering you live with him.”Fisk glanced around the small one bedroom apartment and shrugged. “Not a neat freak, but I don’t live like this,” he said and nudged a pile of laundry with his shoe. Milo bundled it in his arms and tossed it in the overflowing laundry basket. If he had more of a heads up he could’ve organized the apartment before he was banished to the Tigers. “The plants are over here. The ficus is pretty finicky – get it? Finicky ficus? Ha! Anyway, she needs water a couple times a week. Make sure the soil is always damp to the touch but not soaking wet. Same with the orchids. And over here is Smile the clown fish. I know he’s not really smiling, but since he’s a clown fish it sounded good. Better than Nemo, right?”Fisk snorted and tapped the glass. “Guess so.”“His food is on the shelf. He needs a pinch of it once a day. No more, no less. Pretty easy. But he’ll get lonely if I’m not here to keep him company. He likes to be talked to, and he’s a really good listener. Oh, and he tells great jokes. Okay. Not jokes. But he does this cute thing with his lips, and he blows bubbles and. . . . never mind. You’re not gonna eat him, are you?”The caramel colored hair fell into Fisk’s bright green eyes, and he swept it away. “Eat him? Because I’m a cat shifter who likes fish? Are you gonna sniff my ass?”“No!” Milo said and frowned. “But you still didn’t answer my question. Is Break gonna take care of this place or—”“Seb and me are gonna do it,” Fisk said and crossed his arms. Milo nodded and moved on to the computer setup. He explained everything as well as he could, but Milo couldn’t tell if the cat shifter understood it or not. Fisk didn’t ask any questions. Milo left a few notes pinned to the wall incase the system needed to be restarted. But just leaving her there like that felt almost as bad as abandoning his office at the old Black Wolves’ headquarters. He’d have his trusty laptop, but it wasn’t the same. Then Milo showered and dressed. He put on a T-shirt (Green Lantern) and a pair of jeans that didn’t drown him, though the pant legs bunched at his ankles due to the length. Fisk lounged on the couch, his eyes shut, but he jumped up when Milo grabbed the backpack and duffle bag. “Uh, I guess I’m ready to go now. Or maybe we could stop for breakfast on the way there. I haven’t eaten yet, and I could use something to—”“Just stop!” Fisk said and swung the door open. “You’re not ready, and you’ll never be ready for a situation like this. You think I’m ever ready when I go on a job? No. But we do it because that’s what we have to do.”Milo stared at the cat’s retreating back. Fisk’s shoulders bunched, ready to pop, but his words made sense. Even if they didn’t quell the growing unease raking across Milo’s skin. He sighed and shut the door. He really had to do this. Be the hero of the Black Wolves. Who would’ve guessed? Not him. His stomach grumbled as they drove to the church. Fisk took pity on him and pulled into a drive-through. Milo forced himself to eat the burger and fries, though he hardly tasted either. When they arrived, Ian, Breaker and Sebastian waited inside the church. He gripped his bag and slumped into a pew. Hopefully, the Tiger’s leader would be late. No such luck. Only a few minutes after Milo and Fisk got there, the door of the church creaked open and Xian Fei stepped inside. A second tiger followed Fei, the one replacing Milo, and a sulky alpha wolf. Detective Conner Sharp. One of the cops Sebastian and Xian Fei rescued from the Bears. What was he doing here? Milo glanced between the newcomers and the boss. Was Ian expecting this?Ian’s eyes narrowed. “Detective, did you come to thank my mate for saving your life again?”Milo took that as a no.Sharp wore plain clothes and scratched one of the scars on his cheek. “No. We have a proposition for you.”“I think you’ll want to hear him out, Mr. Black,” Fei said. Like Ian, Fei wore a fitted designer suit. His long black hair was tied into a neat braid, which fell down his back. His dark slanted eyes swept over the room. A sense of unease settled around him. Like a great cat watching from the reeds and waiting for the kill. Seeing him knocked the air from Milo’s lungs, and he frowned at his reaction. Nobody that pretty, male or female, would ever notice Milo. He glanced at the other tiger. She was small – just around Milo’s height. Her hair was cut boyishly short and she wore a black suit, just like Fei. Ian nodded. “Well?”“You’re in a difficult position. Pinned down by the Bears and the Triad. But we think we can help you, if you’re willing to help us. This shit goes higher than me – all the way to the top. Humans might not know what you reallyare, but they sure as shit understand organized crime. The police chief agreed to drop the arrest warrant if you get us enough information to shut down the Russians and the Triad,” Sharp said. He looked at Ian without blinking. “If you don’t agree, I can’t guarantee anything.”“That sounds like blackmail, detective,” Ian growled. Sharp shrugged. “It’s called cutting a deal.”Ian stared at Sharp, then at Fei. “You’re willing to inform on your own gang? Or do the cops have you by the short and curlies?”“Unfortunately. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but now I’m cleaning up the Tigers. I thought you didn’t like drugs in the Flats either. Or did you want this gang war to keep getting worse?” Fei asked. His voice was even. Measured. He slipped his hands into his pockets as if he were waiting in line at the bank and expected it to take a while. Breaker took a step forward, and the floor creaked under his weight. “Boss?”“It’s nice to finally see eye to eye with a Tiger,” Ian said through gritted teeth. His voice held the same edge it did when Milo wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or threatening. “Look. We don’t have the same abilities you do. But we know the Russians are setting up to move a lot of Rapture. If it floods the streets, we wouldn’t be able to stop it,” Sharp said. “I don’t have a lot of time here. You’re in or you’re out, Black.”The boss studied his nails, and Milo figured he was doing that on purpose. Ian hated getting shoved into a corner. But if the cops really took down the Russians and the Triad with their information, it’d be a lot easier to keep the Flats safe. Plus, a distant warmth welled in Milo’s chest. This is exactly what the boss did to him. And look how little Ian liked it. “How the hell am I supposed to gather information when I’m stuck here?” Ian asked, waving his arms at their surroundings. The detective shrugged. “Get one of your peons to help. In or out? This is the only time I’m giving you the offer.”This cop had balls to walk into Black Wolves territory and throw ultimatums around. Milo almost whistled.“In. Not that I have much of a choice,” Ian said and put on his sulky face. “Fei, meet Milo. He’s your new peon. Let me guess? You’ll rat on the Triad while I have to rat on the Russians?”“That sounds fair.” Fei’s eyes briefly flicked to Sebastian, then landed on Milo. His chest ached. Of course Fei wouldn’t notice him first. Story of his life.Fei inclined his head and smiled, his cheeks dimpling. That was not the sort of smile most gang bosses possessed. It didn’t bite and grate. Instead it appeared genuine. Milo’s stomach did a backflip. Fei’s eyes raked over his body. “He’s your omega, right?” “Is that a problem?” Ian asked.“Not at all. I’ll be sure to treat him well. He’ll help me gather information on the Triad?” Fei asked. Milo stood so still he felt like a statue that might break into pieces. The boss just offered him up as a nark and a spy. Yeah, he’d end up dead for sure.“Of course. Milo’s excellent. He can gather information from a distance as long as you help him plant the bugs,” Ian said, just shy of a growl. At least the vehemence in his voice was real. It’s the only comfort Milo got from the whole conversation. “Who do you have for me?”Fei smiled peaceably and the tiger at his side stepped forward. “This is Meilin. She’s very good at her job – small enough to fit anywhere and quiet. Plus, she’s mute so you won’t have to worry about her talking to anyone.”Meilin bowed and glanced around the church with guarded interest. Here they finally got a girl in their mix, and Milo had to leave. Just his very bad luck. “I’m not worried about that. We trust each other,” Ian said and smiled at Meilin before taking her hand and kissing it. Unlike most women, Meilin didn’t blush. She pulled her hand away and scowled at the boss. Milo felt sorry for her – or maybe he felt sorry for himself. No way in hell Ian trusted Fei, not after this stunt. At least he wouldn’t be around to hear the boss complain about it. Then Milo remembered where he’d be instead and frowned. “Yes. Of course,” Fei said without a hint of doubt, and held his hand out for Milo. “We should be going.”Ian nodded.“I’ll be in touch,” Sharp said. He’d watched their entire exchange closely and Milo wondered what he thought. The detective didn’t say. Then Breaker patted Milo’s back, and Fei held the door. He imagined this is what going to summer camp for the first time probably felt like. Or leaving home for college. Or some other life changing event that Milo had never experienced. The Black Wolves were his only family, and he had to leave them behind. He’d been ordered to leave them behind. For the first time in his life, he regretted eating a burger. It sloshed in his stomach as he followed Fei outside toward an uncertain future. Funny, the boss said he was the Queen. Milo felt more like a pawn.
June 3, 2014
Sexy Summer Book Sale!
In honor of Pride Month, I'm having my semi-annual sale throughout June. All books, novellas and book sets are on sale through the end of the month.
Check them out on the following sites:
Amazon
All Romance
Barnes & Noble
I even made a lovely cover to celebrate. Enjoy ^_^
Check them out on the following sites:
Amazon
All Romance
Barnes & Noble
I even made a lovely cover to celebrate. Enjoy ^_^
May 28, 2014
In which I apologize for a publishing delay. . . . again. This needs to stop being a thing.
Remember how I said Tiger's Den: Black Wolves (Haven City Series #5) was gonna be out on June 3rd? Yeah, that's not happening.
The new release date is (for sure) June 30th!
After a long conversation with beta readers and my editor, we all know revisions need to happen. And revisions take time. So much for me liking the second draft. Shows what I know (not much ^_^)!
However, the good news is the book will be better for it. Plus, Lost Wolves Book Two will be out at the end of July, so it's almost a double whammy of wolf shifter loving (set a month apart, but who's counting?)
I'll have some pre-release info for Tiger's Den soon. Oh, and I'm having a sale in June, so look out for that!
The new release date is (for sure) June 30th!
After a long conversation with beta readers and my editor, we all know revisions need to happen. And revisions take time. So much for me liking the second draft. Shows what I know (not much ^_^)!
However, the good news is the book will be better for it. Plus, Lost Wolves Book Two will be out at the end of July, so it's almost a double whammy of wolf shifter loving (set a month apart, but who's counting?)
I'll have some pre-release info for Tiger's Den soon. Oh, and I'm having a sale in June, so look out for that!
May 19, 2014
Cover Reveal: Tiger's Den: Black Wolves (Haven City Series # 5)
I'm finishing up the editing/revision touches on Tiger's Den right now. So far, I'm pleased, which is amazing. Usually, I hate my books when I'm done with them. Then I complain to my BFF and betas until they tell me how stupid I am and to get over it. Ah, the life of a writer!
But I'm pretty happy with this one. Milo is adorbs (and horny as all hell, which I didn't expect, but I went with it), and Fei is sexy and mysterious. Oh, and we get to meet Jin, the leader of the Dragons. He's sexy too. Too sexy to let me leave him alone. I'm already plotting his book and the dude he gets to mate with. It'll be hot. Mostly because he's going to meet Rory, from the Rogue Wolf books. A dragon and a fire mage. What better couple could there be?
Tiger's Den should be out on June 3rd.
Here's a look at the cover!
Yeah, the guy isn't Chinese. I know. Finding hot dudes with long black hair is hard. Finding pictures that I can use of a hot Chinese dude with long hair was impossible. So I went with a non-Chinese dude, which I hope doesn't offend anyone. I tried.
I wish he wasn't wearing a shirt either, but I can't strip a picture. If only. . .
Enjoy!
But I'm pretty happy with this one. Milo is adorbs (and horny as all hell, which I didn't expect, but I went with it), and Fei is sexy and mysterious. Oh, and we get to meet Jin, the leader of the Dragons. He's sexy too. Too sexy to let me leave him alone. I'm already plotting his book and the dude he gets to mate with. It'll be hot. Mostly because he's going to meet Rory, from the Rogue Wolf books. A dragon and a fire mage. What better couple could there be?
Tiger's Den should be out on June 3rd.
Here's a look at the cover!
Yeah, the guy isn't Chinese. I know. Finding hot dudes with long black hair is hard. Finding pictures that I can use of a hot Chinese dude with long hair was impossible. So I went with a non-Chinese dude, which I hope doesn't offend anyone. I tried.
I wish he wasn't wearing a shirt either, but I can't strip a picture. If only. . .
Enjoy!
April 30, 2014
Omega in the Shadows (Lost Wolves Book One) Release!
*Cue the marching band*
What? We didn't get the marching band? Damn! *blows kazoo*
Here it is. The moment everyone (okay, me) has been waiting for. Snarky omega assassins and sexy stoic alphas unite! Or, more like, they argue and have sexy times and then unite!
The book is now live on (almost) all channels after a slight hiccup yesterday! Kobo, Smashwords and Google Play are coming soon.
Check it out here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance
Rowan Gregor is a CIA agent who vows never to get close to another wolf after his pack is brutally murdered by hunters. Enter Elijah Kane, an efficient and shadowy omega assassin on the run from the CIA. When Rowan is tasked with hunting down Kane, he ends up at the mercy of a wolf with nothing left to lose – a wolf who is sure Rowan is his mate – even when Rowan is sure he’s not gay.
Elijah Kane is hell bent on proving he’s stronger and smarter than every alpha he meets – including the alpha CIA agent sent to kill him. But Rowan lights a fire of lust that Elijah can’t ignore. They share a rare connection – a mate connection – and he’s not going to give up on Rowan until the man sees it too.
Trapped in a snowy wilderness and besieged by hunters, desire sizzles between Elijah and Rowan. Can they overcome their differences, and their pasts, and forge a bond to save their future?
Contains graphic gay sex scenes.
Sexiness excerpt:
Originally, Rowan planned to run through the woods and hunt game on the full moon. It was the best way to keep out of the village and away from innocent people. Now that plan was bust. And once he turned, they’d lodge a silver bullet in his brain.
Then he remembered Kane’s threat and frowned.
No – they’d torture him for hours, maybe days, then kill him.
The second heart pounded in his chest, stronger than before. Its pace quickened, and Rowan caught the gentle pat of shoes against the flagstones.
Kane.Rowan glowered at the bars as that angelic face slipped around the corner.
Kane smiled and slid a comically large key into the door. It looked like something from a cartoon. The iron squeaked. It sounded like a dying rat. He didn’t bother shutting it behind him, but he hung the ring of keys on the wall before he stepped forward, flipping a bottle of water in his hands.
“I like you like this. All chained up and angry. Kind of a turn on,” he said.
He wore the same suit he had earlier. Some big shot designer by the cut and quality of the material. The gray was light enough that he didn’t look as pale as he did in black, and the blue shirt brought out his eyes – like he needed them to stand out.
Why the hell did Rowan even notice? He never noticed shit like that before. Not with anyone.
Kane frowned and kicked a loose pebble across the floor. It clattered against the wall. “Oh, are we not on speaking terms anymore? I did this for your own good, you know. Banik needs to die, and I need to kill him. Couldn’t have you messing that up.”
Ousting him as a wolf to a whole town of superstitious Slovaks for his own good? Did Kane believe all the crazy he spouted?
“What do you want?” Rowan growled.
“Not much. I’m a simple man, really. Maybe a chateau in the south of France,” Kane said, his shoes slapping against the floor. It echoed throughout the room. The sound was hollow. His lips turned into the slightest of smiles, and Rowan’s breath hitched in his throat. It was the first honest smile he’d seen on Kane’s face.
Still, he wasn’t about to respond with words. Instead, he rattled the chains and glowered.
“Oh, you meant what do I want from you. I get it,” Kane tapped his nose and the real smile slid into one of his fucking smirks. “There’s something perplexing going on. I think you feel it too, don’t you?”
With Kane that close, the dual heartbeats throbbed in his chest, pounding in his ears. Or maybe that was the rush of blood to his head, heating his face and urging the wolf to wring Kane’s slender neck – a neck as smooth as alabaster.
“I feel nothing,” Rowan grumbled, baring his fangs.
Kane raised his eyebrows and held the water to Rowan’s lips. “Scary, aren’t you? And a liar. I expected more.”
He stopped just close enough that Rowan could make out the slight scar on Kane’s jaw – white and about the length of a forefinger. Those gray blue eyes studied him, and he slowly ran the pink tip of his tongue over his lips. His heat radiated into Rowan’s body. It warmed the chill soaking into his flesh.
Rowan took a long gulp. The water did nothing to quell the fire in his belly. He frowned.
Then Kane reached forward and ran his slender fingers down Rowan’s jaw. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two, and the rough red stubble covered his cheeks and neck. He stiffened under the touch. The fingers sparked static through his veins, and he pulled his head back. It smacked into the wall and light flashed before his eyes.
“Easy there. I’m not going to hurt you,” Kane said softly. His heart sped up, thumping like a drum.
Rowan shook the pain from his skull and glared. “I’m going to kill you when I get free.”
“Do we really have to do this? You threaten to kill me and I say something clever that catches you off guard. It’s getting old. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
The moment when Rowan was helplessly chained to a wall. His face burned and he lunged forward as far as the chains would allow – barely eight inches. Fuck!
Kane ignored the outburst and brushed his hand over Rowan’s chest. His muscles tensed under the touch. Why wasn’t the assassin hurting him? Instead, Kane was caressing him the way a lover would.
Oh, fuck no!
“I’d rather you hurt me,” Rowan grumbled.
“No, you wouldn’t. How’s the shoulder?” Kane asked and his fingers trailed toward the phantom wound, mirroring his own.
Rowan tried not to flinch under the touch, but like the omega’s, it was still sore. Still fresh. Silver had a way of sticking around when one wanted it gone. Kane’s touch was too light – too gentle. A man like him shouldn’t be capable of that.
Then Kane leaned forward and took a deep breath. “Mm, I hear you when I sleep. You snore. It’s light, hardly perceptible, but I can hear it. I’m surprised none of your conquests pointed it out before,” he said, and there was an edge to his voice Rowan never noticed before.
Was that jealousy?
If so, he might have leverage over Kane. Given the circumstances, he needed all the leverage he could get. “Maybe they don’t mind.”
The top button of his shirt popped open. Then the next. Kane’s fingers moved down them slowly, expertly, revealing Rowan’s taut and powerful chest to the chilly room. A fire roared in Rowan’s gut, chasing the cold from the room as well as a fire might.
“I’m sure they mind. Women are so picky about certain things,” he breathed. “But you don’t stick around long enough to find out, do you?”
The truth stabbed Rowan in the chest. This damn assassin read him perfectly.
Suddenly, Kane’s breath blew across Rowan’s neck. The heat of those lips brushed the skin, branding it. “You know why you leave?” Kane asked.
“My job,” Rowan growled, and he leaned as far back into the wall as possible. He was not going to give in like this. Not when Kane had him chained to a wall. Not when Kane was the last person Rowan wanted in the entire world.
That cocky smile slipped over Kane’s lips, and he pressed the length of his body against Rowan’s. His hip pressed into Rowan’s groin, and the alpha responded, throbbing and raging like he always did when he needed release.
“No. You leave because they aren’t what you’re looking for, and you know it deep down.”
The alpha stirred in his gut, and Rowan fought to think of anything else – Kane killing Brooks and breaking that woman’s arms. Agent Thompson and her brownnosing. Nothing dissuaded the jolt that shot to his cock – the throbbing need growing with each of Kane’s words.
“What do you think I’m looking for?” Rowan asked, his voice raspy and thick with something he couldn’t explain. Hatred. He hated Kane – that was it.
A hand cupped his pounding cock, rubbing it reverently.
Rowan fought the moan threatening his throat and turned it into a growl.
“Me. And you know it. Yue, that lovely goddess of ours, is trying to tell us something,” he whispered, breath tickling Rowan’s ear.
Rowan shook the chains on his wrist and waist, pulling his head forward as hard as he could. No way in hell he was going to do what Yue wanted. Not when she had some crazy ideas about how his life should turn out.
The chain on his neck held him firm, and the look in Kane’s eyes clouded. A peculiar expression flashed across his face – almost too quickly for Rowan to notice. “Oh? Still don’t think you’re gay? Did it ever feel this good with a lady friend?” Kane asked as his fingers slipped down Rowan’s zipper.
Rowan’s heart pounded – or maybe that was Kane’s heart. They beat together in his chest and brain. The throbbing in his cock, aching for release, didn’t help clear his mind. It fogged with the alpha’s desire inside him – the desire he didn’t want.
“I’ll kill you,” he growled again.
Kane ignored him, and Rowan’s thick length popped free. The head glistened with pre-come, slick and ready. His blood boiled in his veins.
“Lucky you, gay guys are so much better at giving head. We know what it feels like and what to do,” Kane sing-songed as his fingers brushed the oversensitive flesh.
Rowan’s hips bucked involuntarily, and he cursed the moon for the hundredth time. The Colonel wanted him to pretend to get close to Kane, not to actually fuck around with him.
But he was chained to a wall with nowhere to go. No escape from those eyes or that alluring mouth.
Fuck!
The alpha didn’t even jump out to help. To shift. It bubbled deep inside, urging his body to give in – give up. What the hell kind of wolf was he?
“Tell me you want me to suck you dry, Rowan,” Kane said, flicking his tongue over his lips hungrily.
Rowan did not want to know what Kane’s luscious mouth tasted like – or what it felt like wrapped around his cock. “Fuck off!”
That strange expression flashed across Kane’s face again, and for a moment Rowan thought it was hurt. How was that possible? His refusal hurt the assassin’s precious feelings?
Then lips burned his chest, and Kane’s soft black hair tickled his flesh. Every touch lit a new fire – a fire he rushed to stamp out. But those slender fingers wound over his skin, and that mouth inched toward his hardened nipples. The tongue flicked out to taste him, and Rowan hissed as it made contact.
He should hate it – hate the sensation as much as he hated the man doing it to him. But the alpha clawed and howled, begging Rowan to give in to the pleasure crawling over his skin.
The wolf betrayed him. That’s why his animal side needed to be kept in check – hidden away.
It wasn’t really him.
Kane sucked the nub of flesh, eliciting another croak of pleasure from Rowan. Shit. The fucking alpha was making noises for him now. The desperation behind that moan sounded nothing like his normal voice.
Nothing at all.
Lips smiled against his stomach, moving lower.
Rowan fought to ignore the omega raking the coals of his desire into a raging inferno. He pressed himself into the cold wall, but it only served to remind him how hot he was – how feverish. The icy flagstones chilled his flesh, peppering it with eager goose bumps, and allowing his knees to sag and buckle.
Dammit.
No escape.
That pink tongue darted out again and trailed over Rowan’s taut stomach, the defined muscles and his heaving navel. Kane was too close now, and no matter what Rowan did, he couldn’t deny the inevitable.
His cock pounded for it. Throbbed and beat, aching for a touch to ease the pressure building in his balls. No matter how Rowan tried to shove it away, the alpha’s need rose into his chest, choking him with desire.
Slowly, he looked down at the assassin on his knees. The way his dark hair fell into his eyes, and how his ears poked out at just the right angle. Kane’s capable hands gripped his hips, and he breathed on the urgent shaft, the lips hovering just in front of it.
Rowan held his breath, tried to keep as still as possible. Steeled himself for the coming sensation.
The chains rattled.
What? We didn't get the marching band? Damn! *blows kazoo*
Here it is. The moment everyone (okay, me) has been waiting for. Snarky omega assassins and sexy stoic alphas unite! Or, more like, they argue and have sexy times and then unite!
The book is now live on (almost) all channels after a slight hiccup yesterday! Kobo, Smashwords and Google Play are coming soon.
Check it out here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance
Rowan Gregor is a CIA agent who vows never to get close to another wolf after his pack is brutally murdered by hunters. Enter Elijah Kane, an efficient and shadowy omega assassin on the run from the CIA. When Rowan is tasked with hunting down Kane, he ends up at the mercy of a wolf with nothing left to lose – a wolf who is sure Rowan is his mate – even when Rowan is sure he’s not gay.
Elijah Kane is hell bent on proving he’s stronger and smarter than every alpha he meets – including the alpha CIA agent sent to kill him. But Rowan lights a fire of lust that Elijah can’t ignore. They share a rare connection – a mate connection – and he’s not going to give up on Rowan until the man sees it too.
Trapped in a snowy wilderness and besieged by hunters, desire sizzles between Elijah and Rowan. Can they overcome their differences, and their pasts, and forge a bond to save their future?
Contains graphic gay sex scenes.
Sexiness excerpt:
Originally, Rowan planned to run through the woods and hunt game on the full moon. It was the best way to keep out of the village and away from innocent people. Now that plan was bust. And once he turned, they’d lodge a silver bullet in his brain.
Then he remembered Kane’s threat and frowned.
No – they’d torture him for hours, maybe days, then kill him.
The second heart pounded in his chest, stronger than before. Its pace quickened, and Rowan caught the gentle pat of shoes against the flagstones.
Kane.Rowan glowered at the bars as that angelic face slipped around the corner.
Kane smiled and slid a comically large key into the door. It looked like something from a cartoon. The iron squeaked. It sounded like a dying rat. He didn’t bother shutting it behind him, but he hung the ring of keys on the wall before he stepped forward, flipping a bottle of water in his hands.
“I like you like this. All chained up and angry. Kind of a turn on,” he said.
He wore the same suit he had earlier. Some big shot designer by the cut and quality of the material. The gray was light enough that he didn’t look as pale as he did in black, and the blue shirt brought out his eyes – like he needed them to stand out.
Why the hell did Rowan even notice? He never noticed shit like that before. Not with anyone.
Kane frowned and kicked a loose pebble across the floor. It clattered against the wall. “Oh, are we not on speaking terms anymore? I did this for your own good, you know. Banik needs to die, and I need to kill him. Couldn’t have you messing that up.”
Ousting him as a wolf to a whole town of superstitious Slovaks for his own good? Did Kane believe all the crazy he spouted?
“What do you want?” Rowan growled.
“Not much. I’m a simple man, really. Maybe a chateau in the south of France,” Kane said, his shoes slapping against the floor. It echoed throughout the room. The sound was hollow. His lips turned into the slightest of smiles, and Rowan’s breath hitched in his throat. It was the first honest smile he’d seen on Kane’s face.
Still, he wasn’t about to respond with words. Instead, he rattled the chains and glowered.
“Oh, you meant what do I want from you. I get it,” Kane tapped his nose and the real smile slid into one of his fucking smirks. “There’s something perplexing going on. I think you feel it too, don’t you?”
With Kane that close, the dual heartbeats throbbed in his chest, pounding in his ears. Or maybe that was the rush of blood to his head, heating his face and urging the wolf to wring Kane’s slender neck – a neck as smooth as alabaster.
“I feel nothing,” Rowan grumbled, baring his fangs.
Kane raised his eyebrows and held the water to Rowan’s lips. “Scary, aren’t you? And a liar. I expected more.”
He stopped just close enough that Rowan could make out the slight scar on Kane’s jaw – white and about the length of a forefinger. Those gray blue eyes studied him, and he slowly ran the pink tip of his tongue over his lips. His heat radiated into Rowan’s body. It warmed the chill soaking into his flesh.
Rowan took a long gulp. The water did nothing to quell the fire in his belly. He frowned.
Then Kane reached forward and ran his slender fingers down Rowan’s jaw. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two, and the rough red stubble covered his cheeks and neck. He stiffened under the touch. The fingers sparked static through his veins, and he pulled his head back. It smacked into the wall and light flashed before his eyes.
“Easy there. I’m not going to hurt you,” Kane said softly. His heart sped up, thumping like a drum.
Rowan shook the pain from his skull and glared. “I’m going to kill you when I get free.”
“Do we really have to do this? You threaten to kill me and I say something clever that catches you off guard. It’s getting old. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
The moment when Rowan was helplessly chained to a wall. His face burned and he lunged forward as far as the chains would allow – barely eight inches. Fuck!
Kane ignored the outburst and brushed his hand over Rowan’s chest. His muscles tensed under the touch. Why wasn’t the assassin hurting him? Instead, Kane was caressing him the way a lover would.
Oh, fuck no!
“I’d rather you hurt me,” Rowan grumbled.
“No, you wouldn’t. How’s the shoulder?” Kane asked and his fingers trailed toward the phantom wound, mirroring his own.
Rowan tried not to flinch under the touch, but like the omega’s, it was still sore. Still fresh. Silver had a way of sticking around when one wanted it gone. Kane’s touch was too light – too gentle. A man like him shouldn’t be capable of that.
Then Kane leaned forward and took a deep breath. “Mm, I hear you when I sleep. You snore. It’s light, hardly perceptible, but I can hear it. I’m surprised none of your conquests pointed it out before,” he said, and there was an edge to his voice Rowan never noticed before.
Was that jealousy?
If so, he might have leverage over Kane. Given the circumstances, he needed all the leverage he could get. “Maybe they don’t mind.”
The top button of his shirt popped open. Then the next. Kane’s fingers moved down them slowly, expertly, revealing Rowan’s taut and powerful chest to the chilly room. A fire roared in Rowan’s gut, chasing the cold from the room as well as a fire might.
“I’m sure they mind. Women are so picky about certain things,” he breathed. “But you don’t stick around long enough to find out, do you?”
The truth stabbed Rowan in the chest. This damn assassin read him perfectly.
Suddenly, Kane’s breath blew across Rowan’s neck. The heat of those lips brushed the skin, branding it. “You know why you leave?” Kane asked.
“My job,” Rowan growled, and he leaned as far back into the wall as possible. He was not going to give in like this. Not when Kane had him chained to a wall. Not when Kane was the last person Rowan wanted in the entire world.
That cocky smile slipped over Kane’s lips, and he pressed the length of his body against Rowan’s. His hip pressed into Rowan’s groin, and the alpha responded, throbbing and raging like he always did when he needed release.
“No. You leave because they aren’t what you’re looking for, and you know it deep down.”
The alpha stirred in his gut, and Rowan fought to think of anything else – Kane killing Brooks and breaking that woman’s arms. Agent Thompson and her brownnosing. Nothing dissuaded the jolt that shot to his cock – the throbbing need growing with each of Kane’s words.
“What do you think I’m looking for?” Rowan asked, his voice raspy and thick with something he couldn’t explain. Hatred. He hated Kane – that was it.
A hand cupped his pounding cock, rubbing it reverently.
Rowan fought the moan threatening his throat and turned it into a growl.
“Me. And you know it. Yue, that lovely goddess of ours, is trying to tell us something,” he whispered, breath tickling Rowan’s ear.
Rowan shook the chains on his wrist and waist, pulling his head forward as hard as he could. No way in hell he was going to do what Yue wanted. Not when she had some crazy ideas about how his life should turn out.
The chain on his neck held him firm, and the look in Kane’s eyes clouded. A peculiar expression flashed across his face – almost too quickly for Rowan to notice. “Oh? Still don’t think you’re gay? Did it ever feel this good with a lady friend?” Kane asked as his fingers slipped down Rowan’s zipper.
Rowan’s heart pounded – or maybe that was Kane’s heart. They beat together in his chest and brain. The throbbing in his cock, aching for release, didn’t help clear his mind. It fogged with the alpha’s desire inside him – the desire he didn’t want.
“I’ll kill you,” he growled again.
Kane ignored him, and Rowan’s thick length popped free. The head glistened with pre-come, slick and ready. His blood boiled in his veins.
“Lucky you, gay guys are so much better at giving head. We know what it feels like and what to do,” Kane sing-songed as his fingers brushed the oversensitive flesh.
Rowan’s hips bucked involuntarily, and he cursed the moon for the hundredth time. The Colonel wanted him to pretend to get close to Kane, not to actually fuck around with him.
But he was chained to a wall with nowhere to go. No escape from those eyes or that alluring mouth.
Fuck!
The alpha didn’t even jump out to help. To shift. It bubbled deep inside, urging his body to give in – give up. What the hell kind of wolf was he?
“Tell me you want me to suck you dry, Rowan,” Kane said, flicking his tongue over his lips hungrily.
Rowan did not want to know what Kane’s luscious mouth tasted like – or what it felt like wrapped around his cock. “Fuck off!”
That strange expression flashed across Kane’s face again, and for a moment Rowan thought it was hurt. How was that possible? His refusal hurt the assassin’s precious feelings?
Then lips burned his chest, and Kane’s soft black hair tickled his flesh. Every touch lit a new fire – a fire he rushed to stamp out. But those slender fingers wound over his skin, and that mouth inched toward his hardened nipples. The tongue flicked out to taste him, and Rowan hissed as it made contact.
He should hate it – hate the sensation as much as he hated the man doing it to him. But the alpha clawed and howled, begging Rowan to give in to the pleasure crawling over his skin.
The wolf betrayed him. That’s why his animal side needed to be kept in check – hidden away.
It wasn’t really him.
Kane sucked the nub of flesh, eliciting another croak of pleasure from Rowan. Shit. The fucking alpha was making noises for him now. The desperation behind that moan sounded nothing like his normal voice.
Nothing at all.
Lips smiled against his stomach, moving lower.
Rowan fought to ignore the omega raking the coals of his desire into a raging inferno. He pressed himself into the cold wall, but it only served to remind him how hot he was – how feverish. The icy flagstones chilled his flesh, peppering it with eager goose bumps, and allowing his knees to sag and buckle.
Dammit.
No escape.
That pink tongue darted out again and trailed over Rowan’s taut stomach, the defined muscles and his heaving navel. Kane was too close now, and no matter what Rowan did, he couldn’t deny the inevitable.
His cock pounded for it. Throbbed and beat, aching for a touch to ease the pressure building in his balls. No matter how Rowan tried to shove it away, the alpha’s need rose into his chest, choking him with desire.
Slowly, he looked down at the assassin on his knees. The way his dark hair fell into his eyes, and how his ears poked out at just the right angle. Kane’s capable hands gripped his hips, and he breathed on the urgent shaft, the lips hovering just in front of it.
Rowan held his breath, tried to keep as still as possible. Steeled himself for the coming sensation.
The chains rattled.
April 29, 2014
Slight Publishing Delay. . .
Just a heads up to everyone who was looking for Omega in the Shadows today. It's actually launching officially tomorrow (April 30). There was a publishing delay on Amazon, so I'll announce everything when it goes live on all sites!
Now I need to get back to writing Tiger's Den.
For now, enjoy a picture of my cat sleeping. He's the sweetest little pumpkin in the world ^_^
Now I need to get back to writing Tiger's Den.
For now, enjoy a picture of my cat sleeping. He's the sweetest little pumpkin in the world ^_^
April 27, 2014
Omega in the Shadows Print Cover
Only a couple more days until the book is out! Here's a look at the lovely print cover.
