Georgia Lyn Hunter's Blog, page 6

Breathless: A Contemporary Romance #excerpt included

Title: Breathless #bk1

Series: Players to Men

Genre: A Contemporary Romance

COVER ARTIST: Montana Jade

 

Release Date: December 20th 2016

 

BLURB

When the fairy tale life you believed in falls apart, there is nothing else left…

Or so I thought, until Trouble, wrapped in one hunky body and a sinful smile promising untold pleasure of the carnal kind, lands on my doorstep. Despite what my body demands or the fact that I’m irresistibly drawn to him, I’d been burned too deeply to dare try again. Besides, Max Meade-Sinclair is my younger sister’s best friend—and totally off-limits.

 Ila Logan’s coolly dismissive manner captures and challenges me from the moment our paths cross. What I want, I usually get. A little thing like age isn’t going to stop me. Neither are the men who disappear into her secluded room. However, she proves a difficult opponent who leaves me falling for her a little more at each encounter.

This tempestuous woman is mine, but to win her, I must dig deeper, and show her that beneath my brawling, player facade exists a man who would go to the ends of the earth to make her happy.

But surviving my own dark past may just destroy the fragile bond growing between us…

***

 

Editorial Review:

“G.L Hunter has entered new territory with her first New Adult contemporary romance, and has proven that she can capture hearts with just about anything she writes. A bad-boy hero with heart, an artsy heroine you can’t help but root for, and supporting characters you will want to take home with you, Breathless tugs at the heart strings and carries you on a journey of discovery, ending with a happily ever after I think we all secretly dream of.” ~LITERAL ADDICTION

 

Chapter One
 Max

 

Bile crept up my throat as pain churned in my head. Yet it didn’t stop me from chugging back more of my beer, searching for oblivion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t at the bottom of the bottle. The din of the place grew, competing with the pounding in my skull. I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Lights off!” someone shouted.

Christ. I winced, the yell reverberating in my head as total darkness enclosed me in its stifling hold. Slouching lower in the armchair, I opened my eyes and squinted at the tiny, flickering flames casting an eerie glow over several grinning faces.

Damn idiots! Just how many candles had they stuck on the cake? Because it sure looked like it could light up a small town.

“Happy twenty-first, Max!”

My head protested the loud chorus viciously. Twenty-one, and I felt a hundred. As if I’d lived a lifetime.

“Blow ‘em out. Make a wish.” Jack, the bastard—and my best friend since the crib—gave me a crooked grin. Near him, War, our other buddy, lifted his beer in cheers, then guzzled the thing down.

Jack just had to use my birthday as a reason to party and celebrate my return to civilization after my hiatus in the “wilds” as he called Peru.

Feeling as if my body weighed a ton, I pushed to my feet and crossed to the table in the dining room of the house I shared with Jack, each step jarring my throbbing head. I blew the candles once, twice…three friggin’ times before the flames hissed out.

The noise in the room ratcheted up with whoops and cheers. Slaps resounded, pelting my back, accompanied by well wishes as I headed to where I’d dropped my tote near the front door when I’d walked in a few hours earlier. I needed the relief it held. A blonde lunged at me, and I hit the wall like a bumbling drunk.

“Happy birthday, Max.” She hiccupped, her hands wandering over my chest. Her mouth slid over mine. She tasted of liquor and pizza.

My stomach revolted violently. The beer I’d swallowed backtracked up my throat. “Get off me—”

She flashed me a drunken grin. I shoved away before I hurled on her and lurched in the opposite direction toward the bathroom. I slammed inside, just in time to embrace the porcelain god for several long minutes.

Feeling as if I’d puked my guts, along with the contents of my stomach, I collapsed against the wall, mouth vile and my brain looking for ways to escape the pressure in my skull. I rubbed my temples and prayed for nothingness.

Christ, I hated these fucking headaches.

“Damn, Max, I didn’t realize you were so shit-faced.” Jack’s voice came from a distance. I ignored him, didn’t care what he thought or bother to correct him, really wishing I were drunk.

“Come on, man, let’s get you out of here.” He grabbed me. I was no lightweight. At six foot three, I stood an inch taller than him, but he hauled me up with little effort.

I pushed him away and shuffled for the basin, rinsed my mouth, and caught a glimpse of my reflection. Red-rimmed eyes, waxy-looking skin, and a bisected left eyebrow, the scar giving me a sinister air. For the rest of my life, the latter would serve as a reminder of the horror I was responsible for, the blood on my hands.

My fingers clenched the basin. Before my fist could meet the mirror, Jack dragged me out into the corridor.

“Let us, Jack.” Two giggling girls blocked us. “We’ll take good care of him,” one of them said. “We know ways guaranteed to make him feel heaps better. He’ll regret leaving San Francisco for so many months.”

Jack laughed. “You up for it, bro?”

Not so long ago, headache or not, I’d have taken them both upstairs, their warm bodies the only thing that could give me a moment of reprieve. Now? My dick didn’t even stir at the promise of sex.

Jack peered at me, then his brow creased in understanding. Wanting to avoid another one of his little talks—those ice-gray eyes, too damn perceptive at times—I made for the living room.

A shattering of glass exploded around me. I froze. Unable to breathe, to move, feeling as if a tanker had landed on my chest. I stared at the broken beer bottle lying in a wet, bubbling mess on the floor. The sounds yanked me by the throat to another place, another time…

Slashing rain, glass splintering, crunching metal…screams…

Jack grabbed my arm, hauling me back to the present. “It’s okay, it’s just a bottle.”

“Okay?” I rasped. “How can anything ever be okay?” Breathing hard, I wrenched free. “I have to get outta here.” I headed for the front, grabbed my tote lying near the door.

“Dammit, Max, you’re not fit to go anywhere!” Jack came after me.

“And I can’t be here. Sorry about the party.” Jerking open the front door, I stumbled out into the pelting rain. Pain bleeding into me, I tore down the street and cut through another gloomy thoroughfare, trying to escape the whirlpool of darkness closing in on me.

Finally, running out of steam, I slowed down and leaned against the wall of a gloomy building. My tote fell to the sidewalk with a thud. Panting harshly, I rubbed my eyes, banged my head against the hard surface behind me, trying to dislodge the screams from my mind. I might have run to Peru to escape, but I couldn’t outrun my nightmares, the accident, or my fucking faulty memory, with its holes the size of the Grand Canyon.

The blast of my cell cut through the drumming rain, piercing through the pained haze I was trapped in. I retrieved it from my jeans pocket.

“Maxwell?” A girl’s breathy voice filled my ear.

Shit, not now. “How did you get this number?”

“Don’t be mad. It’s Anabel. I told Jack I had a special birthday present for you, so he gave it to me. Why did you leave your own birthday party?” Her scolding tone grated on my already raw nerves. “It’s barely seven. Where are you? I’ll come over, and we can celebrate together. We had such a wonderful time before you took off for Peru.”

I had no idea who the hell she was. Or cared. At this point, the women all blurred together. I slept with them, took what their bodies offered—a brief moment of forgetfulness.

And they wanted a piece of me, of who I was, heir to a dynasty of pain and death. The fact that it was backed by money made it more appealing. Added to my temper more unpredictable than the fault lines of San Francisco, and my penchant for getting into fights. Yeah, I was the ultimate dangerous draw.

I could hang up. Bottom line? She wouldn’t give up now that she had my number. Jack was so fucking dead.

“I don’t date, don’t do relationships. I fuck and leave—”

“Damn you, Max,” she shrieked as if I’d broken her heart. I disconnected the call. They knew the rules when they hooked up with me. Still, they tried for more. Every time.

With my head buzzing from sleep deprivation, I moved like a robot on autopilot and continued down the street. Had no idea where I was going, just hoping for something to pull me back from the nightmare that wouldn’t quit. Longing for an end. For silence.

Scrubbing a hand over my burning eyes, and wet to the bone, I slowed, stopping beneath the awning of a darkened shop. Cars swished by on the busy street. Buildings loomed. I had no idea where I was, probably somewhere deeper in the city. The bright lights streaming out of the huge windows of a laundromat opposite me drew my attention. The ebb and flow of people as they came and went, none lingering beyond the job… the way I wished my life would be.

My cell beeped. About to switch it off, I hesitated at the abridged message. Hey, Maximus—you okay?

It took a moment to make sense of the text. Ray. She was the only one who persisted in calling me that name. Said I reminded her of a horse from some Disney movie. Stubborn and aloof but with a marshmallow heart.

True. Except for the latter. Yeah, I had one, all right. It simply didn’t function any longer.

Ignoring the text, I reclaimed my lighter and a half-smoked cigarette from a squashed pack in my jeans pocket, put the thing between my lips, and lit it. My gaze returned to the bright lights on the opposite side of the street. Leaning against the darkened windows of the tailoring shop behind me, I blew smoke skyward.

The few people in the laundromat cleared out after a while, and as the last woman left, another walked into the brightly lit place. The girl dropped her bag on top of the machine, then picked up something from the floor. A small, navy t-shirt. She dashed outside, looked left and right, then took off after the woman. “Hey? Excuse me,” she yelled. “I think this is yours!”

I didn’t know what the hell it was, her voice—her—but everything inside me stilled. Quieted. Before starting up again. My heart pounded hard like it was minutes from escaping its cage just so it could be with her.

A car droned by, and the rain continued in a rustle, drowning out her conversation with the other woman. I didn’t care. Mesmerized, I watched her as she handed over the shirt. And with no idea of the upheaval she’d caused inside me, she calmly headed back, pulling out white earbuds from her pocket and popping them into her ears.

In the shelter of the laundromat, she peeled off her jacket and tossed it on an orange chair there, revealing a tank top and dark yoga pants riding low on her hips. Moments later, her laundry sorted, she dumped them into two machines. The chore done, she stepped back, rolling her neck and shoulders, the movements sliding down her spine. With liquid grace, she undulated, moving her hips to whatever song played in her ears. And I stared, held captive.

As she danced, something inside me loosened and eased, as if she soothed the part of me that remained in constant pain and turmoil. She spun around once more and halted just as quickly, casting a wary look around, then she smiled wryly. She radiated like a glowing light bulb.

If I walked over, would she let me into some of the light burning so brightly within her? Because the cold seeping into my soul, one no jacket could ever warm, was slowly killing me. Even my messed-up brain understood that.

Continue reading excerpt HERE

 

Special  pre-order price: $0.99

AMAZON | iBOOK | SMASH | KOBO | NOOK

 

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Color of Love Blog Hop

Hi there,

Welcome to the CoLBH.

For the past 3 years I’ve taken part in this exciting event. And met many amazing authors.

Every year we celebrate multicultural and interracial love in romance novels in our Color of Love Giveaway event with some really awesome prizes.

 

GRAND PRIZES

1st prize $75 GC + 7 ebooks
2nd prize $50 GC + 7 ebooks
3rd prize $30 GC + 7 ebooks
4th prize $15 GC + 7 ebooks
5th prize $10 GC + 7 ebooks
6th prize $5 GC + 7 ebooks

Author’s participating:

1.
Kiru Taye
16.
Sharon C. Cooper
31.
Synithia Williams



2.
Nana Prah
17.
Candace Shaw
32.
L. Loren



3.
Empi Baryeh
18.
Natasha Blackthorne
33.
LaQuette



4.
RWOWA
19.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
34.
Jamie Wesley



5.
Sexy Romance Novels
20.
Kenya Wright
35.
A.J. Locke



6.
Kai Tyler
21.
Delaney Diamond
36.
A.C. Melody



7.
Love Bites and Silk
22.
LaVerne Thompson
37.
Kay Blake



8.
Felicia Denise
23.
Tia Kelly
38.
Sheena Binkley



9.
Guinevere & Libertad
24.
Patience Saduwa
39.
M.J. Kane



10.
G.L. Tomas
25.
Paulette Harper
40.
The Reading Addict



11.
Georgia Lyn Hunter
26.
LENA HART
41.
Reviews by Crystal



12.
Lea’s Crazy Nights
27.
S.W.Frank
42.
Dionne Grace



13.
Lily Harlem
28.
Reana Malori
43.
Nana Malone



14.
Kim Golden
29.
Rina Gray
44.
https://www.ingeriversen.com/blog/coloroflove



15.
Ines Johnson
30.
Joyfully Reviewed
45.
Inger Iversen

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Breathless

Title: Breathless

Genre: A Contemporary Romance

COVER ARTIST: Montana Jade

 

Release Date: January 17th 2017

 

BLURB

When the fairy tale life you believed in falls apart, there is nothing else left…

Or so I believed, until Trouble, wrapped in one hunky body and a sinful smile promising untold pleasure of the carnal kind, lands on my doorstep. Despite what my body demands or the fact that I’m irresistibly drawn to him, I’d been burned too deeply to dare try again. Besides, Max Meade-Sinclair is my younger sister’s best friend—and totally off-limits.

 Ila Logan’s coolly dismissive manner captures and challenges me from the moment our paths cross. What I want, I usually get. A little thing like age isn’t going to stop me. Neither are the men who disappear into her secluded room. However, she proves a difficult opponent who leaves me falling for her a little more at each encounter.

This tempestuous woman is mine, but to win her, I must dig deeper, and show her that beneath my brawling, player facade exists a man who would go to the ends of the earth to make her happy.

But surviving my own dark past may just destroy the fragile bond growing between us…

Special  pre-order price: $0.99

AMAZON

First and foremost, I love writing PNR, but this was something that just called to me and I had to write. I truly hope you’d give #Breathless a chance.

 

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Paranormal Experiences?

Happy Halloween everyone!

In keeping of this day, I’d like to share something with you. I had blogged about it when I first started writing a few years ago. If you haven’t read this, here ya go…

Curious about the paranormal?

I am.

It’s no big secret, all things supernatural fascinate me. After all, it’s why I write in this genre. But what most people don’t know is the little incidents from my past that have shaped my interest in this.

As a little girl, my grandfather lived on sugarcane plantation and I loved going there. I still remember the first time I saw this huge ball of orange rolling across the tops of the sugarcane. I was seven, I stood there fascinated. My grandfather said it was the ‘fire devil’. Maybe he was teasing, but I never forgot that sight. An orange flame, rolling so fast over the sugarcane crops which leads straight down to the Tugela River. To this day, it remains imprinted in my mind.

Curious, I asked him to tell us more and my fascination grew. Our best was ghost stories. My grandfather had loads, like the time he gave a lone woman a lift in the early hours of the morning, except as he passed over a low bridge, she floated out the window and into the stream below. Needless to say, grandfather crashed his truck in shock.

But other little things started happening, as I grew older.

No, of course I didn’t see ghosts, angels, or anything of the sort, but I dream them—ugh, not the ghost, I’d be hiding under the bed then. But about events, little things and they would occur a few days later. It always left me with a sense of deja vu, afterwards. But so far, it’s on a smaller scales, and usually relates to myself, or those close to me…

Now my sister on the other hand has angels and ghosts appearing, while she’s asleep. Yes, seriously! But she brushes it off as normal. And she lives alone. Brave girl.

Several years ago, my cousin’s husband suffered a massive heart attack during the night. He was rushed to hospital. The families didn’t know about this awful happening. My sister who lives across the country, was asleep, woke up in near panic, and was startled to find a familiar figure hovering in her bedroom doorway. She said a sudden chill filled the room. Instantly she knew something had happened, and asked him what was wrong. Like a whisper in her mind, he said, ‘Help her, she needs you.’

She tried to talk to him, find out what happened, but he said he couldn’t stay. Immediately, my sister called my cousin, who burst into tears and told her what happened and that her husband had just passed away. He left behind a gorgeous little girl.

A lot more of these happenings occurred over the years.

One evening recently, my sister said she’d been restless, and for some reason kept checking the windows and doors were locked. Above the door to her apartment, she hung a rosary, which was given to her when she moved into the place.

Uneasy, she fell asleep, only to awaken sometimes in the early parts of the morning, someone was shaking her. She felt as if she was swimming out from a current that wanted to suck her back in. Until a voice, which sounded so melodious that she couldn’t help but listen, told her had to come back. It wasn’t her time yet. Like a drowning person, she gasped for air to find the coppery taste of blood in her mouth. She’d bitten her tongue in her sleep. The vision sat on the bed beside her, had its hands on her legs, and warmth surrounded her. It was dressed all in white, but she couldn’t see its face. Then it rose, it was extremely thin and tall. It didn’t walk, but glided to her closet and disappeared through it.

This was the strangest thing. One none of us couldn’t understand. If it was an angel, then why did it avoid the door where the rosary hung?

An alien? It wouldn’t care, right?

I guess, like some things, it’s a question that will remain forever unanswered.

So, come join me, if you have a paranormal happening in your life, I would love to hear it.

Have a super spooky day!

Update: Echo, Mine

Echo, Mine: The romantic conclusion to Absolute Surrender has an update. It’s at the bottom…

 

 

 

Here’s an excerpt to refresh or wet your appetite 

Beautifully Burned~ C.J. Burright’s newest release & giveaway

It such a great pleasure to host my author friend, CJ Burright and her newest release, Beautifully Burned, today. And she’s giving away a $25 Amazon gift card.

 

Title: Beautifully Burned

Series: Dreamcaster Book 2

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release date: August 23rd

 

BLURB:

Grandma warned me to resist him.

I know what he is. Even if he doesn’t sparkle in the sun, hiss at holy water, or go by the traditional name of vampire, I know.

He doesn’t want or need my blood. He wants my dreams…more specifically, my nightmares. And I’ve got oodles of those, so many they leak.

He’s emotionally scarred, growly, dangerous, and kindles all my senses.  Love isn’t on his agenda. Having him for a guardian isn’t on my list of fun, either. My touch sends him into darkness.

I shouldn’t want him.

I can’t want him.

But I do.

If I surrender instead of escape, I’ll lose everything–my sister, my will, my life. Gran forgot to tell me the most important detail of all: how am I supposed to resist him when he’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of?

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Available: AMAZON

***

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BLURB: Book 1 in the Dreamcaster series

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DREAMS CAN BE DEADLY

Kidnapped by the man of her dreams, she must embrace the darkness within to save her life … and her heart.

She’s an ordinary girl with a nightmare problem

For as long as she can remember, Kalila Montgomery has been tormented by creatures from her nightmares. Doomed to a solitary life with her cats, she’s determined to go down fighting. Until the man of her dreams— literally— kidnaps her and claims to know a cure. If only she could believe him.

He’s no ordinary hero

Lydon v’al Endrian will stop at nothing to be free of the V’alkara, a dangerous brotherhood who feed on dreams. But the key to his freedom, sassy dreamcaster Kalila, might be his toughest challenge yet. No matter how much she protests, he intends to keep her safe from the V’alkara, even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice.

But a girl can dream … can’t she?

Now on the run with a man she can’t quite trust or resist, Kalila must decide— fight for her dreams of a normal life … or embrace a power she doesn’t want, to save Lydon.

.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.J Burright is a native Oregonian and refuses to leave.

A member of Romance Writers of America and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, while she has worked for years in a law office, she chooses to avoid writing legal thrillers (for now) and instead invades the world of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or fantasy.

C.J. also has her 4th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and believes a story isn’t complete without at least one fight scene. Her meager spare time is spent working out, refueling with mochas, gardening, gorging on Assassin’s Creed, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners…always with music. She shares life with her husband, daughter, and a devoted cat herd.

***

Find her here:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TWITTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New paranormal release and giveaway: Jasmine Moon by Celia Breslin

Once again I have the awesome pleasure of hosting my  writer pal, Celia Breslin and her latest paranormal release.

Title: Jasmine Moon

Series: Black Hills Wolves

Author: Celia Breslin

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Publisher:  Decadent Publishing

Date of Publication: June 3, 2016

Cover Artist:  Fiona Jayde

BLURB:

Tech mogul and workaholic wolf Evan Luparell has little time for distractions but takes a break for his brother’s wedding in South Dakota. When asked to escort another wedding attendee from the airport to Los Lobos, he agrees. Then he meets the curvy spitfire, and she ignores him.

Designer and wolf Mina Carver didn’t mean to be rude to the handsome, glowering man claiming to be her ride, but she was busy working. Now she must endure a ride to the Black Hills with the cranky but sexy dominant wolf. Unexpected mating energy sparks between them, but still—should she dismiss, or kiss him?

Kisses win and they agree upon a no-strings fling. But with each wedding activity throwing them together, and their powerful chemistry and mate compatibility complicating matters, can two workaholics truly have their fun then walk away?

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AVAILABLE: All Romance | Amazon UK | Amazon US | BN | Kobo | Bookstrand | Google Play | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

 

Excerpt:

Evan tipped his head and eyed the ceiling. Prompt replies, punctual people. Striking deals and hitting deadlines. These items made his world tick. Not loitering around a miniscule airport pulling a Waiting for Godot moment on infinite repeat for a no-show, flakey designer from California.

God grant him patience and balls of steel when he showed up without the designer and the all-important wedding dress, because his future sister-in-law Darci would certainly be unhappy. He’d have to beg a favor from his assistant, have her snag a couture dress, and fly it ASAP to the Rapid City airport. He could afford a gown from some famous designer in Chicago or New York, something likely superior to whatever his soon-to-be sister-in-law’s no-name friend had created. Right? Shit, he hoped women’s fashion proved so easy.

He took a deep fortifying breath and froze. Airport smells assailed his senses—the sharp tang of bleach and lemon-scented cleaners, the floral perfume from Rental Car Girl who eyed him like a piece of candy. Black coffee, donuts, fried fast food, and under it all, the distinct musk of wolf.

Female wolf.

She smelled damn good. His wolf perked up, and his legs propelled him toward the empty baggage claim, where one bright-pink suitcase covered in Hello Kitty stickers sat, unclaimed, on the unmoving L-shaped conveyor belt. Her scent, stronger here, socked his gut, and his gaze shot to the corner.

The chaos around the woman stunned him silent. Large, paper coffee cup, half-eaten banana, and a quarter of a powdered doughnut perched on a brown paper bag next to her. Crumbs splattered the linoleum and the woman’s long-sleeved blue blouse in a thick layer of white, sugary dust. On her other side, two pink garment bags lay like corpses, along with a bubblegum-pink unzipped duffel as long as her outstretched, denim-clad legs. Some of the bag’s contents—pads of drawing paper and large swaths of fabric—protruded over the opening, the fabric splaying over her legs in a rainbow-colored blanket. Her feet peeked out of the mess, encased in sparkling pink UGGs. Good grief, sequins? She smacked her shiny boots together in a poor imitation of Dorothy and bobbed her head from side to side in time to some music only she seemed to hear. Her shoulder-length red hair, the color of ripe dark cherries—his favorite fruit—gleamed under the harsh airport lighting and curtained most her face from his view, save a pert nose and small chin, both speckled with a generous amount of freckles.

He’d always liked freckles.

Clearing his throat, he stepped closer, but she didn’t flinch in surprise or look up. Her attention remained on the tablet on her lap, the stylus between her pale, freckled fingers swiping without hesitation over her screen. Her extreme focus reminded him of his sister Lexi in one of her artistic frenzies. The resemblance ended there.

While his sister took after the rest of their tall, lean, and tan family, this woman seemed the polar opposite—pale, petite, curvy, and freckled. His preferred type. A flicker of interest stirred in his gut. Did she have those cute little spots on the rest of her? Speckled fur when in her wolf form? His wolf huffed his interest in finding out, but Jasmine the Oblivious Designer didn’t acknowledge his presence.

His fascination faded, replaced by renewed irritation. She damn well should have scented and noticed his wolf by now, and she should have waited at their agreed upon rendezvous point. She should not be sitting on the dirty linoleum of an airport, lost in her work. Didn’t she realize the dangers of ignoring her surroundings?

He positioned himself right in front of her wiggly, booted feet. “Excuse me, J—”

“Sh.” She raised her arm and flicked her hand in the universal get lost gesture.

He gaped at her. “Excuse me?”

Another wave of her hand while her stylus streaked across her tablet screen with the other. “Not interested.”

Nice voice. Low and husky. Her attitude, on the other hand…. “But—”

“Go away.” Her velvet voice carried a stubborn edge.

In other circumstances, he would’ve admired her strength. But he’d wasted copious amounts of time hunting for the clearly inconsiderate and irresponsible female. “Fine. Get your own damn ride to Los Lobos. Jasmine.”

 

About the Author:

 

Celia lives in California with her husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, and the Fae. Her award-winning vampire series – The Tranquilli Bloodline – is available from Champagne Books.  Jasmine Moon is her third werewolf story (and a stand-alone read!) for Decadent Publishing’s multi-author, shifter line: Black Hills Wolves.

When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to Joss Whedon’s TV shows and movies.

 

 

Website: http://www.celiabreslin.com/

Blog: http://www.celiabreslin.com/blog/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/celiabreslin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBreslinAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CeliaBreslin

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/celiabreslin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiabreslin/

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bxqwRL

 

Tour giveaway

 

2 winners – One (1)  $10 Amazon.com US e-gift card each. If winners live in United States, they will also receive one (1) Black Hills Wolves bead-and-charm bookmark (USPS snail mail, US only).

 

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Opening excerpt: Tangled Sin~A Dark Realm Novel

Tangled Sin – A Dark Realm Novel.

This is a standalone and connects with the Fallen Guardians series.

 

COVER ARTIST: Montana Jade

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RELEASE DATE: JUNE 21

BLURB:

 

In a world of encroaching darkness and carnal hunger, a deadly sin awakens…

Bound to a legacy he cannot escape, Riley is a demon unlike any other. With each passing century, his soul grows darker until the seductive trouble-magnet, Saia Sen-Grayson, stumbles into his path and throws his entire world off-kilter. But danger has a way of finding him and destroying anything worthwhile in his life.

The biggest challenge in Saia’s life is evading her matchmaking socialite mother. Then she crashes into the sexiest man in her aunt’s building. One look into his striking green eyes and her fleeing days skid to a halt, except she gets more than she bargains in the sexy, tattooed bartender.

And neither can deny the burning attraction between them.

When his tainted past closes in on him, Riley’s forced to make the toughest decision ever to keep her safe. Then Saia’s hauled by a deadly adversary into his dark and treacherous world of Stygia—a place of old betrayals. Now Riley must face his past and accept his future in order to save the woman who belongs to him.

But danger comes in many forms and the one least expected might be the sin that seals their fates once and for all…

***

Editorial Reviews:

“Ms. Hunter captivates once again with an action-packed and riveting tale of danger and passion. Demons were never so sexy! If gluttony’s a Sin, then throw me in Hell because I definitely want more.”  ~LITERAL ADDICTION

‘Aethan brought me to you… Blaéz made me LOVE you so now Riley makes me wish I lived next door…. I love how you can completely captivate me in your books!!’ ~SARA – REVIEWER

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Excerpt from the opening chapter

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Did the bastard really want to die?

Riley snagged a shot glass and filled the ordered green poison. With Satire’s jam-packed from the rush of tourists, it was the only thing nailing his feet to the floor from an all out fight.

He had another damn tail on him! And this one was brave enough to sit in his bar and eyeball him for the past hour.

In this world, his kind tended to blend in with mortals and usually kept below the radar for a simpler life. But not this asshole. He had no idea he was dancing with death right now.

Already on edge, his body wound tight as restlessness clawed at his psyche, Riley sent the absinthe sliding toward the demon down the counter. The male grabbed the thing and tossed it back like water.

The demon’s human girlfriend leaned against his arm and peered at Riley beneath her lashes. He met her sultry stare as he readied a line of shooters for a noisy trio of college kids.

Oh, yeah, his looks and badass rep were the perfect draw, got him the females. So easy to accept her invite but he wasn’t interested in a quick backroom bang.

He was in need of something violent. Bloody.

A dark haze stole into his mind, knowing his damn past would never leave him alone. His fingers clenched. A loud shatter, and glass rained onto the scoured wooden counter. Blood and vodka ran over his hand, drenching the crystal fragments.

“Rile-man, you okay there?”

A six foot two hulking tattooed male with a buzz cut, appeared at his side. Zacarias. His friend, manager and sometimes bouncer.

A terse nod. He looked up from his bleeding hand, his gaze colliding with those of his watcher.

Anger unleashed, he scaled the counter in movements too fast for human eyes and was across the floor in seconds. Grabbing the dark-haired demon by his shirt, Riley shoved him against the red brick wall. “Why the fuck are you on my ass again? Do you want to die?”

All the demon guards hounding him in recent months were seriously pissing him off. No matter how many he sent back to the Dark Realm wounded or dead, more just took their place.

This idiot didn’t even try to fight back. His gaze grew languid, his smile seductive. “No. But I know what I do want,” he purred, walking his fingertips up Riley’s chest.

The haze turned red. Riley slammed his fist into the demon’s gut. The male squeaked in pain. Startled gasps erupted from the customers. Before he could get in another shot, someone grabbed his arm and yanked him off the cowering demon, who hurriedly slunk away.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Zac snapped. “You want to draw notice, you’re sure going about it the right way. So the guy came on to you, it never drove you homicidal before.”

Riley elbowed Zac off. Not a guard—not a damn guard! He’d hit an innocent demon—one of those docile Otium demons who’d escaped the tyranny of the Dark Realm for a better life here. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“Get your damn self together,” Zac growled. “You don’t want to start an all-out fight in the bar. Go walk the streets, find something outside to kill, and cool the crap off.”

Breathing hard, Riley walked out of the bar and into the crowded street, the familiar reek of seafood enclosing him. Avoiding the noisy tourists and drunks loitering about, he cut through the back alleys in the French Quarter, rife with the stench of decaying waste, and headed for his apartment a few blocks away.

Unable to expend the rage roiling inside him, he pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and made a call. A female answered.

“See you in ten.” He rang off.

Pandora was one of the few humans who knew what he was. She didn’t want the ties either, just some fun time, and she was the perfect submissive when he needed that edge. Tonight, he was definitely in the mood for something darker.

A second later, the sounds of a roaring V8 engine split the silence. A blood-red Corvette Stingray came to a squealing halt in front of his building, the acrid burn of rubber stinking up the night air.

He scowled. “Damn maniacal drivers!”

The door flung open. A petite, but curvy female jumped out and flipped back yards of wavy, inky-black hair, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of her face. Her tan skin revealing her mixed-race ethnicity, her lush mouth flattened in a tight line.

Cursing, she kicked the tire then pressed her cell phone back to her ear. “I swear, Zayn, if you tell Mother you spoke to me, I will personally call all your girlfriends and tell them they aren’t the one…” She laughed evilly. The light, raspy sound grazed his senses with an unexpected sensuality, and had him slowing to a halt in the shadows.

“Yeah, that’s me, spawned from the devil, but Daddy wouldn’t appreciate the comparison…” She listened then snorted, impatiently pushing back her heavy fall of hair. “Liz loves me like her own. Stop complaining and tell Mother you haven’t seen me because I’m not coming to another boring party… Who?— Why would I care if Piers is back in town, he’s your friend…”

She marched alongside her car, hip-bumped the door closed as she listened, the streetlight casting a soft glow over her irate features. “Yes-yes, I’m always careful…” Despite her tart response, she cut a quick look around.

Riley stilled as her dark gaze skimmed past him then darted back to the spot where he allowed his form to blend in with the shadowy trees, the cover of night his camouflage. A frown marred her smooth brow.

She sensed him? How, he had no idea. Obviously, all her senses were in working order.

The faint reek of decaying swamp and sulfur drifted to him. Riley narrowed his gaze. They weren’t alone. And this little human probably couldn’t smell the bile-inducing stench of evil—had no idea how close to danger she truly was.

He willed her to get back in her car and leave. She did nothing of the sort. Instead, she popped the trunk, tugged out a large suitcase, and dumped it on the sidewalk. Then she sat on the thing and continued her call as if basking in the Maldives.

Un-flippin-believable!

Him, she sensed, but the evil drawing closer just flowed over her pretty little head.

For hell’s sake, did she not get a whiff of the damn stink?

***

Continue reading chapter 1 HERE

PRE-ORDER: AMAZON  | NOOK | iTUNES | KOBO | SMASH

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EXCERPT 2 (R)

Saia pushed back her damp hair and tried to comb through the tangles with her fingers when boot steps sounded in the other room.

Her gaze darted to the entrance.

With a quick smile, Ikaria hurried off, abandoning her. Of course, she’d see this as exciting.

A tall, dark figure filled the doorway of the bathroom. Then he stepped into the light.

Christ, she still had to get used to Riley looking this way.

Too big, too handsome. Too…dangerous.

He didn’t say a word. Or look at her.

So he was still mad? That made two of them.

Scowling, Saia watched as Riley undressed. He yanked off his boots, and they dropped with a dull thud on the floor, followed by his socks. His hands lowered to his waist. He unzipped and stripped off his pants, tossing them aside.

Saia stared, unable to tear her gaze away. Naked, he looked incredible. No longer lean. But more muscular. Bigger. Tougher. Hard ropes of corded muscle delineated his abs and flowed to lean hips…and his semi-erect sex.

She swallowed hard. Her gaze rushed to his face, but he didn’t look her way. He stepped into the enormous pool of water she’d just bathed in, sat down, and soaped himself. Hypnotized, she watched his hand slide over his battered skin, across his wide shoulders, thick biceps, down his pecs and below the waterline to his…groin.

She dragged in a raspy breath.

Hair lathered, he disappeared beneath the undulating surface, reappeared, water sluicing over him. He pressed a black stone near his arm. The low ceiling above the bath opened up, and through the millions of holes, the rustling shower fell over him like rain, while the pool drained.

Finally, his gaze shifted to her. The edge of danger she’d always sensed in him was now out in spades. It honed and redefined the angles of his face, his entire bearing.

He leaned back in the bath, his arms braced on the ledge as he studied her with an assessing and very, very sensual stare.

If he thought she was just going to walk over and let him have his way…

His gaze slid from her face to linger on her breasts then moved slowly down her body. She lost her train of thought. How did he do that? With just a look, he left a trail of fire in his perusal.

“Come here, Saia.” The quiet demand had her pulse quickening.

Her fingers bunched the fabric of her dress, her feet trying to find purchase on the marble floor.

When she didn’t move, he rose from the bath, a tower of bronze skin and rippling muscles, water flowing down his mouth-watering body past his erect sex.

She stopped breathing.

He strode over and swept her into his arms. Her breath escaped in a harsh rush, she clutched him around his neck. He walked down the black steps again and stepped into the inch of water remaining at the bottom of the marble bath. From the massive ceiling, the shower splattered down, drenching her within seconds. She blinked the drops from her eyes and scowled. “I’m wet.”

“And I plan to make you even wetter, before I lick every inch off you.” He regarded her with such primal hunger, heat spread through her veins like a runaway fire. He let her slide down his naked body, every hard ridge of him making her senses spin.

He ran his knuckles along her jaw. His gaze softened. “I can fuck you ten ways, Saia. But I far prefer to make love to you…”

***

That’s it for now.

A Perfect Match ~ A new release by Valerie Ullmer

Title: Her Perfect Match,

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Releasing: 31st May

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Blurb:

Gabriel Kane lived by one hard and fast rule.

Never mix business with pleasure.

But the moment Rebecca Cole walked back into his life with only business on her mind, he finds himself forgetting about the rules. Now, he’s determined to go after what he’s always wanted.

The force of her attraction to Gabriel had been immediate and unwavering from the moment he walked into her life. Because of her feelings and knowing that Gabriel wasn’t the type of man to settle for one woman, she kept her distance from the gorgeous and sexy man over the years. But now business had drawn them back together, and she can’t help but wonder if she could work with him and still keep her heart intact.

Available: Amazon

 

 

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Gabriel Kane leaned against the massive oak desk with his arms crossed in front of his chest, schooling his face, and kept his true reaction to the request he’d heard from breaking through.

Over the last fifteen minutes, Rebecca Cole had laid out her business plan for the addition to her dating service, Liaison, in a precise and detailed way. But instead of the typical investment opportunity he thought he would hear, her proposal stunned him into silence. Instead of asking the numerous questions that swirled in his brain, he waited for her to continue.

He watched closely as her eyes wandered to the view behind him, out onto the high-rises of New York City from the floor-to-ceiling windows that surrounded his opulent office on the seventy-second floor in Midtown Manhattan. He had chosen the building for the intimidation factor. Most people were afraid of heights and some of his clients made a conscious effort to avoid the windows. It gave him an advantage even before they uttered a single word. His decorator had completed the rest of the office in solid woods with sharp angles.

He thought his office would have the same effect on Rebecca. But apparently the view gave her the strength she needed, and after taking a deep breath, she continued calmly with her pitch.

“The city is inundated with several hundred dating services, including exclusive online businesses, and if I expand into the male escort business on top of my dating service, I will be able to cater to many different clients at once.”

He chose her moment of strength to give up the pretense of keeping his eyes off her. He took his time as he perused the flattering wrap dress in the color of deep moss that emphasized the curves he had craved for years to touch, and became captivated as the color of the dress brought out the emerald in her eyes, which were fixed on him.

She was an understated beauty. Her hair was a lovely mix of dark amber and natural blonde highlights. Her body was classic, with her curves in all the right places and a tapered waist that drew his eyes as she leaned back in the chair in front of his desk, sending up a fragrance that tightened his body with desire he was unprepared for.

The side of her mouth tilted a fraction, as if she knew that he liked what he saw, and the gesture sent heat washing over him.

Practiced in the art of flirting, he gave no outward signs of his curiosity toward the woman he’d known since she was eighteen. But he had learned early in his life to hide his emotions from everyone around him, including those closest to him.

His parents had strict views on life; never show your hand and always go after what you want, even if it meant some had to be hurt because they weren’t ambitious enough. Because of his parent’s philosophy, he found himself alone and secluded, albeit successful.

That was, until he’d met Lucian Cole, Rebecca’s older brother. Their friendship was immediate, and with it came acceptance into a family that was so foreign to him, the first several visits made him uncomfortable. The level of affection that his family showed to him, and the easy grace in which he was accepted, left him longing. Well, accepted by everyone except Rebecca.

They’d met in the middle of the night as she snuck back in after being out with friends, and when she opened the kitchen door at four in the morning, she had run straight into him.

Pacing from one corner of the room to the other, unable to sleep in the quiet house and too preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn’t hear anyone until he felt her pressed against him. Before the automatic apology left his mouth, the smell of lavender drifted over him and her beautiful face tinted with the barest hint of a blush.

The impact rendered him mute.

His hands tightened where he had grasped her upper arms as he tried to get control of his riotous emotions, but she recovered before he had a chance to formulate a sentence. The flush on her face deepened, and before he could manage a word, she stepped back, out of his arms, and ran up the stairs to her room.

 

Author’s Bio:

 

Valerie Ullmer writes sexy (erotic) paranormal and contemporary romance novels that usually feature strong alpha heroes and beautiful, brilliant heroines.

She lives in Denver, Colorado near the magnificent Rocky Mountains with her husband, the love of her life, and their sassy black lab, Maddie.  She started writing seriously in 2010 after an opportunity led her to become a full-time writer, and although it has taken her awhile, she’s finally realizing her life-long dream of becoming a romance author with four books scheduled to release this year.

As a voracious reader, she’s believes that all writers are rock stars, and she hopes that her stories are enjoyed as much as she loves the romance novels she’s devoured over the years, as well as those to come!

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Website and Newsletter Sign-up | Pinterest | Instagram

 

 

Free Read: A Blaéz and Darci short story

For those of you who want more of my Guardians, here’s a free read.

 

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I’ll be posting vignettes of released books and of course deleted scenes. but those will appear first in my Newsletter.

 

A Blaéz and Darci Vignette. This is a scene from my ongoing series of vignettes exploring the daily lives of my Guardians.

For those new to the series, this is Blaéz and Darci’s story.

Blaéz is a fallen god from the Celtic pantheon, now mated to a human, Darci, whom he loves more than his own life…

This scene takes place soon after their story ends in Breaking Fate.

Here’s a peep into their lives after the HEA…

 

Title: Love’s Remedy 2.1

 

Darci paused in the entrance of the bathroom door, raking back her damp, honey brown hair. Her breath caught as at the sight of her mate dressing—the man responsible for her current state of ragged breaths.

Tall, powerfully built and with cropped ebony hair, Blaéz glanced at her as he pulled on a black t-shirt, covering that sexy body. Leathers encased strong, powerful thighs. But it was his eyes—now a beautiful cobalt blue—that held her attention.

It was still a shock to see them when they’d once been as pale as winter’s snow.

“I’m never going to make my meeting you walk around like that.”

At the soft, accusatory tone, She blinked. Then laughed. “I can’t exactly take a shower with clothes on…not that you were complaining a few minutes ago.”

“True.” A smile tugged that sinfully sensual mouth that could do magical things to her body.

Heck, he’d trapped her against the shower wall, teasing and stroking her, then he’d licked and nipped—hell, he’d just plain tormented her until she was a mindless mess of needs before he sank deep into her and let her come all over him. Yes, her man was ace in making her lose all control.

Blaéz sat on the chest and tugged on his boots, and with an utterly male look, his gaze drifted over her.

“A leannan, you in a towel, naked beneath it, is like a drug to me.”

“Aww, poor baby,” she teased him. “So don’t look at me, and just leave for your meeting.”

“Then I might as well stop breathing.” Blaéz rose to his feet and crossed to her. Cupping her face in his callused palms, he pressed his mouth to hers in a hard kiss. “I’ll see you later.”

Darci quickly slid her arms around his neck, stopping him. Dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’ll be here, waiting… Naked.”

He stilled. Eyes narrowed. He dropped his hands and grasped her by the upper arms. “Behave. I can’t go out there with a damn—fuck!” He nipped her lower lip with a sharp, punishing bite.

“Aww—that hurt!” She scowled and pulled back, licking the sore spot.

“And I have a damn hard on,” he muttered, yet his blue eyes glowed, gone all primal now. He kissed her once more, his tongue gliding over her abused lip. Then without another word, he stalked out of the dressing room to his meeting with the archangel and the other Guardians.

Grinning, Darci made her way to her closet, and then grimaced, a slight twinge squeezing her belly as she changed into pale blue pajama bottoms and a white tank top.

***

Ugh! Unable to relax, Darci tossed her book on the coffee table and pushed to her feet, and paced around the couch in the private study of their quarters a half hour later.

She rubbed her knotting stomach, the small ache from earlier gathering momentum. The spasm shooting through her belly still wouldn’t ease. No longer able to ignore it, she made her way to the bathroom.

God, she hated this time of the month.

She yanked opened the vanity cupboard and found a bottle of pain pills. Opened it. Darn, only one left. As she swallowed it with some water, she eyed the cabinet. She set the glass down and searched through it. Dammit! How on earth did she forget to buy more?

But then with everything that had happened in the past few weeks, meeting Blaéz and the upheaval that followed, her heart still stuttered remembering how badly it nearly ended for her and Blaéz, so no wonder she’d forgotten.

Stifling her groan and rubbing her stomach, she went back to the study, lowered to the couch and picked up her cell from the coffee table. She texted Echo who was still in the Village, visiting her Gran.

Could you get me a box of tampons and a bottle of ibuprofen on your way back, please? The cramps are killing me.

Blaéz was still downstairs in his meeting with Michael and the others. They would be heading out on patrol soon. But if he sensed she was in pain, he’d be here in a heartbeat and she didn’t want to distract him, not with the kind of job he had—killing supernatural evil. Dangerous and extremely deadly.

Keeping her mind-link to him shut, so he wouldn’t pick up on anything, she retrieved her book when her cell beeped with an instant return text. What’s wrong?

She stared blankly at the message. Blaéz? Oh. Shit!

Groaning at her faux pas, she typed again, except a shimmer took form, probably because she hadn’t responded fast enough for him.

Blaéz crossed to her. Concern realigning the sculptured lines of his handsome face, he crouched in front of her, his leathers creaking a little. His tee stretched across the muscular width of his shoulders and his thick biceps bulged, drawing her gaze to the mystical sword tattooed there. He rested his palms beside her hips on the couch.

Heat crowding her cheeks, Darci wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry, that was meant for Echo.”

He reached out and smoothed the pain lines on her brow. “What is it, a leannan?”

She rubbed her flushed face. “It’s nothing really…it’s er”—how the heck did she explain this to him? —“that time of the month. I’ll be okay soon…”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, as if processing her words, then he removed her hand and laid his palm on her stomach. She could feel the slight warmth of his healing powers sweeping through her. His brow creased, his expression troubled. “I cannot heal this…”

“Don’t worry—” aww crap, she broke off, as another spasm speared through her tummy and straight to her back, “It’s normal,” she gasped, not doing a very good job of reassuring her extremely worried mate. When she could breathe again, she smiled. “I’m fine, really. It’s just something women go through, some suffer more than others.”

He was silent for several seconds, his gaze searching hers then he lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. Pushing to his feet, he walked out.

Hmmn, Darci had no idea what to make of that. Sending her text message to Echo, and making double sure it wasn’t any of the warriors, she lay down on the couch, curled into a ball and closed her eyes, hoping the single pain pill would ease her horrible cramps.

***

At the sound of paper crackling, her eyes flickered open. Darci had no idea how much time had past, only aware of the pain curling through her like a nagging toothache.

Her gaze lit on Blaéz. She blinked and sat up. Wide-eyed, she watched as he set a pharmacy packet on the table and another large paper bag near it. The hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, he left on the couch.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, bewildered.

In response, he crouched in front of her again, handed her a glass of apple juice, with another tablet. After she’d swallowed that with her drink, he rose and crossed to the television. Looking through the pile of her DVDs she had stacked on a shelf, he selected one, slipped the disc into the player and came back to her. He sat down, picked her up and settled her on his lap, his arms wrapped around her.

Darci eased back a little, stared at him in confusion. “You’re supposed to be on patrol.”

“You need me more. The others will call, if there’s an emergency.” He pressed his lips to her brow and gave her the hot water bottle. “I wrapped that up, it felt too hot. Here—” reaching out, he pulled out a box of Belgian truffles from the paper bag and set it next to her. “You like those.”

Oh… Tears crowded her eyes. The man made her fall in love with him all over again.

“How do you know all this—what to do?”

“Google. I can’t stand to see you in pain,” he said quietly, brushing a curling strand away from her face. “I have what you need, in there.” He nodded to the pharmacy package.

No, he was all she needed. She hugged him tight, then peered into the packet. Tampons.

Breathing deeply, she eased back into his arms and held the hot water bottle against her sore stomach. God, her man made her want to bawl. And in this emotional state, with her fluctuating hormones, it was guaranteed.

Blaéz took the remote from the table and switched on the digital player. The opening scene of Buffy came on…and there was Spike tailing Buffy through the cemetery.

Darci huffed out a laugh and looked back at Blaéz. She doubted he’d intentionally chosen that one. “You don’t like this show.”

Those beautiful blue eyes met hers. “I don’t like that you like that bleach-haired wanker, but since you like this series, I’ll endure.”

Her heart tripped. Pressing a kiss to his jaw, she snuggled into his embrace and rested her head on his chest. She slid her arm around his waist. “I love you.”

He rubbed his cheek against her hair, his hand slid beneath her tank top, his thumb tracing small circles on her waist. “There are no words for what I feel for you, a leannan,” he whispered. “But I love you will have to suffice.”