Michelle Roth's Blog, page 27

Author Spotlight – Donina Lynn

I’ve got the fabulous Donina Lynn on my blog today. She’s talking about her new release, Lose Control. I asked her to tell us what separates this story from so many others out there like it. This is what she had to say:

Myles and Cassie’s story isn’t about wine and romance. Their journey is about finding love with someone who you not only click with personally, but physically as well.

Let’s be honest, when it comes to sex we all have our likes and dislikes, right? We have our preferences and what we’re willing to do. On the flipside, we also have that list in our heads of deal breakers that when mentioned make you want to run in the other direction because there’s NO WAY you’re giving that a try. Kink-meter has been officially been pegged, thank you very much.

Lose control is about finding that person you’re compatible and comfortable with. The one who has the same wants and desires, and is perfect for you both in and out of the bedroom. It’s about falling for someone who can love every part of who you are … even if some of those parts can be a bit naughty. ;-)

BUY LINKS:

Evernight | Amazon.com | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks

Myles Oliver Dayton likes control in every aspect of his life. He desires it, demands it in the board room and his bedroom. But when his teenage crush walks into his office to be his temporary assistant, the tight restraint he kept on his emotions starts to come undone. Something he couldn’t allow. His idea of love is demanding and possessive, and in the end there would only be pain—for both of them.

Cassie Sorrelson grabs onto opportunities when they come along and assisting Myles with all his demands is an opportunity she isn’t about to pass up. Sexy and controlling, he has her breathing hard and soon yearning for more than a few days together at the corporate retreat. When he suddenly pulls back, though, and refuses the desire she knows is running hot within him, Cassie is going to have to work at getting what she wants … making Myles lose control.

 

 

EXCERPT:

“What the hell are you thinking?”

The door barely clicked shut before Cassie let loose on Myles. By the time she’d walked down the steps and made it to the furthest room of the lower level—where hopefully neither Blake nor his lawyer could hear what most assuredly was going to be shouting—she’d mentally worked herself up to the boiling point. She was beyond pissed, and he was damn well going to know it, too.

“For a man who likes to proclaim he needs to be in control of everything, you sure as hell don’t show it.” Cassie couldn’t stand still. Her nerves and temper were prompting her to pace back and forth as she flung her hands around in the air, emphasizing her rant. “Did you happen to notice his lawyer? I could see the dollar signs light up in his eyes when you lost it up there. He was just waiting for you to make a move. Ever hear of a lawsuit? You were about an inch away from getting one slapped on your ass. And over what? Because you thought my honor needed protecting? I neither want nor need any protection or help from you.”

Cassie stopped, planted her hands on her hips, and tapped out her annoyance with her foot while she stared at him. Waiting. For anything. Any type of reaction…at all. Of course, there was nothing from him other than the stoic, stern look on his face. The man was insufferable and she’d probably have better luck trying to beat an answer out of a rock.

“For Christ’s sake, Myles, say something.”

“He will treat you with respect. No one talks to what’s mine like that.”

“Mine?” Cassie shouted at him. “Now all of a sudden I’m yours? A few hours ago, you made it clear you didn’t want me and now I’m yours? I’m nobody’s but my own person. Let me make myself clear so there will be no misunderstandings between us. I can speak for myself, fight my own battles, and handle someone like Blake. And who says I don’t want to go with him? If I want to fuck him, the lawyer, or every man in the whole state of Colorado, I damn well will. You gave up the right to have your opinion heard the minute you pushed me away.”

Tears stung the back of her eyes, and Cassie headed for the door before all the anger, frustration, and hurt threatening to pour out ran down her cheeks like a river. Grasping the handle, she threw over her shoulder, “You have no say in what I do or don’t do.”

“The hell I don’t.”

ABOUT DONINA:

Donina Lynn lives in a small rural Pennsylvania town with her daughter and German Shepherd. Coincidentally, it’s the same town where she grew up. There was a time, however, when she ventured away from her home and moved around a bit, crossed a few state lines, and got a degree or two. But, eventually she found her way back to where it all began.

When she’s not at her day job, hanging with her family, curled up with her Kindle, or typing away at the computer, you can find her infront of the TV watching anything paranormal, sci-fi, or a good action flick. Respect and admiration go to any show or movie that can incorporate explosions, big guns, some ass-kicking, and gratuitous butt shots.

Her addiction to romance novels started as soon as she could turn a page and has carried with her until she decided it was time to fulfill a promise she made to herself and give writing one a whirl. Her goal is to create stories and characters that the reader can relate to, laugh with and have them routing for that happily-ever-after. If there happens to be a few steamy scenes, well…that’s just an added bonus.

FIND DONINA ON THE WEB:

Website | Facebook profile | Facebook author page | Twitter | Goodreads

The Contest is over..

The contest for an electronic copy of my entire backlist is over…

Amber McCallister!!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

The Friday Feast – Sweet Corn Salad

The Friday Feast RETURNS! Despite writing like a beast and focusing on promo for my new book, I’ve had a hankering for something fresh and spring timey.

As promised, I was able to get back into the kitchen today. I’ve had this sweet corn from the market hanging out in the fridge for a little while now, I figured it was time to use or lose it.

I started by stripping all the corn off the cob because.. well, I hate corn on the cob. It gets in the teeth, and yeah.. That’s enough, right?

This one was simple. Serves 2-4 depending on what else you’ve got on the plate.

Ingredients:

4 cobs of corn, de-cobbed

2 limes, juiced

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp minced cilantro

3 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything except the corn together in a bowl or measuring cup. Whisk thoroughly to combine.

Mix into corn.

See.. I said it was easy!

Author Spotlight – Morgan Hunter

I’ve got the lovely Morgan Hunter on my blog today talking about her newest release, Filling the Void. It’s the first in her The Blood Lover Chronicles series. This novel promises to be both wicked and sensual. My favorite combination!

From sucking the life from her beloved to asserting herself as a true elite master of blood-filling and sexual prowess, this story follows the bloodsucking adventures of a female vampire that has it all.

Unfortunately, the elite undead still have scrapes with the reaper and this female temptress is beginning to realize that even well-executed plans can falter. Then there’s Daron Alexander; the only human in more than four-hundred years to put her sexual radar through an unnerving series of both gratifying and terrible loops.

Will she allow Daron to be her undoing or will she take her place as the master temptress and destroy all who get in her way? To find out, join the vampire ranks on this harrowing and seductive journey as our female seductress struggles with lust, loyalty, and love.

Buy it here:

EP: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/filling-the-void-by-morgan-hunter/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5UY11C

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fillingthevoid-1782199-340.html



Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/filling-the-void-0

Book Excerpt:

She stood against a light pole near the curb outside a pub I liked to frequent when I was in town, The Axe and Fiddle. I liked the music and atmosphere and, what can I say, it was a great place to pick up fine blood fills. We were in Cottage Grove, ten minutes from Eugene, so I figured she was an undergraduate at the University of Oregon. Her pouty lips accepted a cigarette effortlessly and the smoke enveloped her curves like she had just appeared out of nothing. Her low-cut plaid skirt waved slightly in the subtle breeze and I wondered what I’d find if I got the chance to sneak a peek. I had to go talk to her so I pulled out a pack of Camel’s to show her I was friendly.

“May I have a light?”

I thought I startled her, but she quickly replied, “You…you’re beautiful!” She shook as she held the lighter out for me.

“Thanks,” I snapped as if I was extremely narcissistic or didn’t care. Funny enough, both were true. I had heard that line thousands of times, and it just didn’t have the same effect as it used to when I was a budding vamp. However, since she was my first woman, I thought I’d let it slide.

She just kept staring at me, scanning me with her hazel eyes like she had to take me in a few times so she would never forget what had graced her presence. She was almost as pretty as I was, but I had a beauty secret she could never maintain; fresh unsuspecting blood. It was tragic really, knowing that her death was only hours away at most. But I hungered for wet flesh and she was the prize I craved.

“So, where’re you from?” I asked.

She continued to stare. “I’m…uh…Joana.”

I smirked. “So, you’re from Joana? Where’s that?”

“Oh, um, no! That’s my name…I’m from Portland!”

I winked at her. “You know you don’t have to shout it, darling. I have perfectly good ears. I’m from Salem, myself.”

Her gaze locked on my three carat diamond earrings dangling from flawless lobes. They were spoils from my last rendezvous. “I shouldn’t be talking to you.” She hesitated. “I’m not like you.”

“Well that’s what I was hoping for. If you were just like me, I wouldn’t be able to have the kind of fun that I was hoping for later.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Now, I could have taken it slow and just brushed my index finger across her rosy cheek while talking her up a bit, but I could tell she was the kind of girl that got taken advantage of quite often. She reeked of insecurity and, while I liked the hunt just as much as the next vamp, I thought she would be an easy way to test my curiosity for the same gender. Her needy gaze reminded me of all the men I had seduced. She would do whatever I wanted whether words were involved or not. Just like I craved blood, she craved acceptance and she didn’t care what the price was as long as she got what she needed; no matter how temporary.

Get to know Morgan Hunter:

Author Website: http://morganhunterauthor.wix.com/erotica

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MorganHunterAuthor

Twitter: @MH_Author

Author Bio:

Lots of individuals like to credit their college degree or some life hero for their accomplishments (and that’s fine), but Morgan Hunter prefers to call it an overactive sex-drive coupled with an imagination that teeters on the edge of insanity. After two tours in the military and many a quarrel with the written word, decadent erotic stories slowly began to emerge. Many years later, while sitting comfortably at home, Morgan found a way to make complete strangers’ special places tingle from thousands of miles away.

Oregon harbors the Hunter family along with two spoiled dogs.

Wicked Wednesday:

It’s late in the day, but it’s not any less wicked, I tell ya. NSFW in any way, shape or form, I give you.. The Switch.  Keep in mind, totally unedited. This was my first stab at writing in the first person. Don’t be mean to me if I switched into third at random points. :)

When the door to my office closed, I looked up from my monitor in annoyance. When I saw that it was executive assistant Rosalind, my frown dissolved. Even though I already knew why she was here, I stalled for time.

“Is there something I can help you with, Rosalind?” I asked her. I suspected, from the way that she was chewing on her lower lip and eyeing me, that there was at least one thing I’d be helping her with tonight. When I made this arrangement with her, I didn’t expect her to take me up on it. We had been lovers for a few months. Both in the office and at home I had finite control. I was her Sir, and she was my pet. It pleased us both. Or so I’d thought.

One evening after a particularly satisfying session with the single tail, she’d been very quiet. When I asked her what was on her mind, she’d been quiet. Finally, I pulled my Dom card and made her tell me. She told me quietly, that while she enjoyed our sex life very much, she sometimes missed being in control. At the time, it had come as a shock, but I suppose looking back the signs had been there. I’d just been too enthralled with her to notice, to my shame. Like the Dom that I am, I started looking for solutions. I decided, so that the lines would never be crossed about who was in control, that she would only be able to control me in one place. The office. And so, I became a switch a little over a year ago.

“Charles,” she sighed, as she flipped the lock. “You know that’s not how you greet me, love.”

At the snap of her fingers, I moved from behind my desk, dropped to my knees and then knelt next to her. I rested my head against her thigh. As much as I had blanched at doing this for the first time, I had to admit that I had begun to enjoy our time together when we were like this. There was something so comforting about not having to be in control.

Even with my eyes downcast, I could tell that she was unbuttoning her blouse. It was a familiar sensation, the gentle movementsof her body. I closed my eyes and waited for her instruction.

“That little stunt that you pulled at lunch today. It didn’t go unnoticed by me,” she said as she let her blouse slip to the floor.

I picked it up and folded it neatly, a tiny smirk on my face. I’d purposefully brushed my hand against her nipple under the guise of getting my coat earlier in the day. It was inevitable that she’d be here now. She’d given me a look that promised retribution.

When I heard the zip of her skirt go down, my pulse raced. I knew that I wasn’t going to finish the marketing report I’d been working on any time soon. When she kicked the skirt off, I picked that up and awkwardly folded it as well.

“You may put those down,” she said.

From my knelt position, I leaned across her and set the clothing on the guest chair in front of my desk. I could smell her arousal already. my mouth watered. Eating pussy was one of my greatest joys. There was something about the way that Rosalind squirmed against my face that made it so gratifying.

When she walked to the couch and then said, “Turn to face me, Charles,” I turned, eager to see what she had planned.

She slid her panties down and kicked them off. I scrambled to get them. Picking them up off the ground, I felt the slippery wet material and groaned. I desperately wanted to bring them to my nose and inhale her scent. I didn’t though. Last time I’d paid dearly. She’d put a plug in my ass!

Instead I folded them and set the panties aside.

Rosalind draped her leg over the arm of the couch and said, “You were very bad today at lunch, getting me all hot in public like that. You know what your touch does to me.”

I bowed my head, though I wanted to absorb the stunning view of her pussy. Dutifully, I murmured, “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“You may look,” she relented.

I raised my head, my eyes zeroing in on her bare, wet cunt. I licked my lips, wondering if I’d be allowed to taste her.

She let her hand drift over her breasts. She played with her nipples, pinching and pulling them. She made soft little moaning noises that drove me mad.

When her hand eventually strayed down to her pussy, she traced her french manicured tips along her slit. She moaned, “Charles. I’m so wet.”

“May I please you, ma’am?” I asked, hopefully.

“You mean please YOU,” she accused. “I know how much you enjoy my pussy.”

“I do, ma’am,” I admitted.

“Very well,” she said. “You may please me.”

When I scrambled around to the couch, she stopped me inches from her beautiful cunt and then said, “You may please me by sitting there and watching me fuck myself with my fingers until I come. Then, you may lick my fingers clean.”

An almost inhuman moan ripped from my chest as I leaned back. This was going to be fucking brutal. I reached down subconciously and palmed my cock. She raised an eyebrow and said, “None of that. Sit there like the perfect little sub that you are. That’s it,” she praised, when I’d turned my palms up and placed them on my thighs. She was going to pay for this tonight when we got home. Dearly.

“On second though,” she said, perhaps reading my expression, she said, “You may stroke yourself.”

At her change of heart, I unzipped my pants and pulled out my straining cock.

“Stand for me, love,” she commanded.

I watched as her fingers dipped between her folds with a groan. Then I began to stroke myself.

“One more thing, Charles? You may not come.”

At my downtrodden expression she smiled and asked, “Did we not discuss that this was a punishment?”

Seeing my sullen nod, she kicked off her other heel and propped her foot up on the edge of the couch. She was spread out like a buffet before me and all I could do was jerk myself off. But of course, not to completion.

My hand glided as gently as possible over my cock. There was no way that I was going to last. Not right now, with her fingers buried in her slippery pussy. Not with her in that Domme voice telling me that I couldn’t come. That I wasn’t allowed.

“You can do better than that, Charles. I want to see you really stroke it. You know what that does to me,” she panted, her fingers rubbing furiously at her clit.

I groaned and gripped my cock more tightly, stroking as if my life depended on it. My balls were already beginning to tighten up. This was not good.

When she plunged her fingers into her pussy, I knew she was very close to coming herself. I could only hope I was able to hold on.

As her whimpers grew more loud, I felt my orgasm beckoning. I begged, “Please ma’am. May I come?”

She shuddered and moaned as if my pleas had sent her over the edge. She moaned, “I may come. You may not.”

I released my cock knowing that with just a little more attention, I would be shooting ribbons of come all over the place. I couldn’t remember the last time that my balls had ached this badly.

“Lick,” she commanded, holding out her slick fingers. Moaning, I took them into my mouth, licking every bit of her delicious cream that I could find.

When she traced a finger lightly over my swollen cock, I almost lost it.

“My poor baby,” she said as she pulled her fingers out of my mouth. “You may put that away.”

I put my cock away, though it was difficult with a throbbing erection. As she began to dress, that was a signal to me that our playtime was over.

I said, “This was cruel and unusual, darling. Don’t think you won’t pay for this later. I believe I’ll use the crop tonight.”

She shivered as she buttoned her blouse and said, “I’ll see you at home, then.”

Author Spotlight – Maia Dylan

I’ve got the fabulous Maia Dylan here with me today. We’re discussing her BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW release, Just Lucy’s Luck. This is the second in her Grey River series and it looks sensational!

For all of you readers out there, if you’ve got BURNING questions, just hop on Twitter and ask @Maiadylanauthor. Be sure to use the #GreyRiver hashtag!

 

 

PG EXCERPT:

Lucy’s jaw dropped and she felt the color rise in her face, “Cody! You shouldn’t say things about my, my…girl parts!”

“Why the hell not? I have a feeling your girl parts are going to be one of my most favorite things in the world, so why wouldn’t I talk about them?”

Cody looked at her as she was the one talking crazy. She looked to Brendan for some semblance of sanity and he was nodding in full agreement. Oh, for the love of peanut butter cups! Closing her eyes in exasperation, she took a deep calming breath. “We seem to have gone off topic here.” She opened eyes and all thoughts on what she was going to say next evaporated. Somehow they had crossed the room in complete silence and were standing so close to her. Their scents filled her head and clouded her thoughts.

“I don’t know about that, kitten. I think I like the current topic way more than the last one.”

Brendan’s throaty, raspy voice had turned her into the I’d-do-anything-for-you Lucy. Golly, they didn’t fight fair.

“Lucille, we know you want us, the smell of your pussy getting all wet, slick and hot for us, makes me so hot, horny and hard it physically hurts. You are not alone in the attraction stakes here. If you put yourself in our hands we will protect you, keep you safe, and do everything in our power to make you happy.”

“You happiness will be our life’s work, pet.”

Cody stepped forward and lifted his hand to cup her cheek. His eyes bored into hers, and she started trembling, wanting to simply give them everything she had and everything she was, for just one moment of actually belonging to them. “All you have to do is say yes, Lucille. Let us help you to shoulder whatever it is troubling you and let us love on you until you know where you are meant to be.”

Brendan stepped up to her other side and slid his arm around her back, settling his hand on her hip. “We’re here for you Lucille, and unless you tell us there is no chance in hell that you could ever feel for us what we are starting to feel for you then we have no intention of leaving you or allowing you to leave us. Take a chance, kitten. Say yes, Lucille.”

Lucy started to tremble at the thought of taking that risk. It wasn’t a matter of trust. She knew she could trust these men to see to her safety, but she knew what was coming. She knew who was coming. And she knew without a doubt that if it were just her facing Mani and his men on her own, there would be no chance of winning. She would be signing her own death warrant.

When she had taken off that night, it had been in a desperate attempt to save her life. But she had known it was going to be short-lived, that she didn’t have the strength, skills, or resources to survive on her own. Mani was too powerful, too rich, and too desperate for her to disappear. And she had resigned herself to that to a certain degree. Not that she had a death wish or anything, it’s just she was a realist.

Now? She wanted to live! She wanted the chance to stay in Grey River and become someone who might actually be worthy of these two men, men she knew were strong enough to help her, but were they strong enough to take on Mani and his men? The question she really needed to answer for herself was if her fear that staying could bring trouble to their door was stronger than her desire for a future with Brendan and Cody.

And the answer was no.

Well, hello there epiphany! It was really quite simple. Nothing was stronger than her desire for a future with Brendan and Cody. For that she could face anything and anyone. She must have stood there having her epiphany in silence because both men frowned.

“Lucille?” Cody asked quietly.

“Lucy.” She couldn’t help smiling as their frowns deepened.

“What?” Brendan said.

Her smile widened and she felt a weight suddenly lift from her spirit. “Lucy, my name is Lucy Blake, and my answer is yes.”

© MAIA DYLAN, SIREN PUBLISHING, 2015

Excerpt R

“Now, Cody and I are real men. Men who know just how unbelievably lucky we are to have you in our bed. We want—fuck we need—to bring you pleasure. We have to prove to you that we are worth taking a risk on so that you will let us love on you every day for the rest of our lives, starting right now!”

Brendan leaned over, took her nipple into his mouth, and tugged on it strongly. She moaned a loud, and Brendan looked up just in time to see his brother lean over her and swallow her cries with his own mouth. When she arched back, pushing her breast into his mouth as if to say get a move on, he smiled against her skin, then drew on her nipples again, swirled his tongue around, and even grazed his teeth against them.

After a short while, he left her breast, and then dropped kisses down her torso as he moved to lie between her legs. She froze a little and pushed Cody back so she could sit up a little and watch. “Brendan?” He stared into her eyes as his fingers played along the lips of her labia, gently swirling figure eights in the hot desire that pooled there.

“I told you that you smelled fucking delicious.” Brendan rasped as he pressed a hot opened mouth kiss to her inner thigh. “Your scent drives my fucking wolf to distraction. I gotta taste you, kitten.” He dropped his head a little farther, never taking his eyes off her. He swept his tongue over her cunt, giving her a long, slow lick. Her mouth opened on a silent o as he pulled his tongue into his mouth. Her flavor burst in his mouth, and what seemed near on impossible only seconds before now became a reality. His dick got harder, and his arousal reached a fever pitch.

He pressed two fingers into her pussy, twisting them in and out. He glanced against her G-spot, which sent her hips rising into his hands, but he wasn’t quite ready for that part yet. Lowering his mouth he pressed his tongue inside her and took every drop of her sweet musk into his mouth. Damn she was wet! And from the way her pussy was clenching against his fingers, she was close to coming.

“Damn, you look beautiful spread out on our bed, pet,” Cody whispered.

Brendan opened his eyes and saw Cody leaning over their mate, looking down over her body. Lucy’s head was thrown back, and her breasts thrust up. When Cody tugged on one rhythmically, more moisture slid over Brendan’s tongue.

“Oh God, Brendan, that feels so amazing, I never knew…”

They could hear the wonder and excitement in her voice.

“I want to taste you two as well. I want to make you feel as amazing as you make me feel.”

Brendan’s cock twitched and a shit-eating grin graced his brother’s face.

“Well, what my mate wants, she gets! Far be it from me to keep you from getting a taste, pet!” Cody leapt to the head of the bed and knelt next to her head. He spread his knees wide so that his dick was close and lined up perfectly. Lucy reached out a hand, and he groaned as she wrapped it around his cock. “Fuck, pet, you have beautiful hands. Squeeze me, pet. Just a little harder. Yeah! That’s it! That is fucking perfect. Now, take me in your mouth and suck me beautiful.”

Lucy leaned forward and disappeared from Brendan’s view, behind his brother’s leg. From the way his brother roared with pleasure and threw his head back, Lucy had obviously followed his instructions. From the way her body released more of her cream, she was enjoying giving him head as much as it appeared he did receiving it. Brendan swirled his tongue against her clit then twisted his fingers to hit the bumpy ridge deep inside her cunt, finding her sweet spot deftly.

Lucy lifted her hips and rolled them against his mouth, pressing her pussy harder against his tongue, her garbled scream echoing through the room was matched by his brother’s. Within seconds, Brendan had her hovering on the edge. He sucked the swollen nub of her clit into his mouth and gently squeezed it with his teeth, and she flew.

© MAIA DYLAN, SIREN PUBLISHING, 2015

Five questions for the author

Q: What inspired you to write your first book?

A: I have always been an avid reader. I am never without a book or two to fill my day, especially as I got older and my career took me around the world giving me plenty of airports and flight time to fill. I would find myself continually thinking, what if that book ended in a different way? The next thing you know, on a recent flight and hotel stay, I started writing Lost Faith!

Q: How much real life do you put into your books?

A: When it comes to my characters, quite a bit! I have met so many wonderfully strong men and women who have overcome tremendous odds to live full lives and love hard that I often think of them as a character comes to life. In terms of the locations, they are fictional but VERY real to me, and I hope others find them just as realistic.

Q. What genre do you like to write and why?

A. I love everything to do with the paranormal! I love the idea of shape shifters, and people who have extraordinary gifts. I am also a firm believer that love comes in all shapes and sizes! Ménage romances are one of my favorite genre’s to read, and I am really enjoying writing them. I think I am still finding my way with my writing, but in my world anything is possible, and one of the things I love about writing is that you are only limited by the scope of your own imagination… and my imagination is huge!

Q. What are you working on at the moment?

A. Grey River has so many stories to tell, and I am currently working on telling Noah, Chris and Angel’s story in book five of this series. A few weeks ago, I had this pushy shape shifter nag me until I wrote his story. His name is Micah and his book is due to be released on May 20. I am working on his brothers Travis and Cole and their Fire Goddess’ story.

Q. Do you have anything to say to your current readers or to those that haven’t yet read you work?

A. If you have read Lost Faith, thank you so very much! It blows my mind that someone has actually read something that I wrote, but gosh I hope you enjoyed it! Did you? Please let me know, I find I suffer from a slight case of needy-nelly with my writing. If you haven’t read my book, but you love erotic romance stories between strong men and an independent woman, where the path to their happily ever after can be a bumpy one, but there is always a happily ever after, and their love and laugher is real on every page, then you’ll find my books right up your alley!

Author bio:

Maia Dylan lives, loves and works in beautiful New Zealand. She married her best friend and they have two adorable, but stubborn children who obviously take after their father.

Maia’s career has featured a lot of travel, and she has filled her time at airports and in the air with books, books and more books. Her love of erotic paranormal romance has seen her amass a huge library. She has been an avid reader and lover of ménage romances since she read her first book in this genre about three years ago.

In January of this year, Maia submitted her first ever manuscript to Siren Publishing. She wasn’t at all confident that it would be accepted and in fact she was expecting a nicely worded email with a resounding no! Much to her surprise less than two weeks later she had an acceptance and a signed contract in hand. Since then she hasn’t looked back and currently has three books in her Grey River series set for publication.

Outside of writing, Maia loves to eat, so she loves to cook! Her herb garden is legendary, but she still has issues getting tomatoes to grow. She’s been a performer for years, and has even sung on international stages, she would love to own a classic Ford Mustang one day and of course have the opportunity to race it on a race track without fear of a speeding ticket.

Although ultimately her dream is to be able to write full time on a sandy beach with a Mai Tai at hand, she is quite happy to fit her writing in when she can. As long as someone reads her books, gets a laugh and maybe come to love her characters and much as she does, then she feels that she is living her dreams no matter what!

Social Media Links:

Publishers Author Page: http://www.bookstrand.com/maia-dylan

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/maiadylanauthor

Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/Maiadylanauthor

Website – http://www.maiadylan.com

Blog – http://www.maiadylan.com/#!blog/c112v

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/maiadylan/

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Author Spotlight – Peri Elizabeth Scott

I’ve got the always fabulous Peri Elizabeth Scott on my blog today talking about her steamy mainstream romance, His Rebel Countess. This is the first in her new series, Challenging the Ton. I’ve got to admit. I don’t remember the last time that I read a historical romance, but this one has got me intrigued! Read on and you’ll see why!  ;)

Oliver Birmingham, Earl of Leith, is an aristocrat—albeit socially minded—and in the market for a bride. Beautiful, intelligent Abigayle Windsor is a commoner, one the Earl is impossibly drawn to, and when he accidentally compromises her, he insists they wed.

Despite her misgivings, Abby agrees to marry Oliver and their honeymoon lays the foundation for a loving, wonderful marriage. But back in London, Oliver is again the Earl, and Abby finds herself adrift and uncertain, unable to fit in, and she garners considerable attention from the gentlemen of the ton.

Frustrated with Abby’s apparent refusal to adapt, and driven wild with jealousy he refuses to acknowledge, Oliver disciplines his bride one fateful night. He then decrees that if she won’t act the part of his Countess, providing him heirs will suffice, and effectively breaks her heart.

Have Oliver’s actions cost him Abby’s love? Or can he leave his father’s influence behind, and make it up to her?

Story Excerpt: 

No matter how she cajoled, Mr. Landbourne wouldn’t be convinced to share anything with her, other than his information was relevant to a bill being discussed in Parliament on the morrow. He insisted it wasn’t for the ears of ladies, no matter if this lady had her husband’s ear as she implied, and Abby’s mood soured by the minute. Her curiosity ran rampant as well.

Thomas brought refreshments—tea and pastries. Nothing stronger to give the impression the small gathering was anything more than innocent. And he left the door wide open, his shadow passing by frequently. Belatedly, Abby came to the conclusion that entertaining Edwin might not have been the best choice. She wished for Oliver to hurry home.

Be careful what you wish for. The ominous words filled her head as the front door opened and closed, loud in the quiet of the house, followed by a murmur of voices. Her husband’s large frame filled the doorway, incredulity a dire mask on his features before he composed them. Abby chilled to the bone in the face of it. “My lady. Landbourne.”

His freezing tone didn’t totally hide the bubbling fury in his voice. Abby intuited that Oliver was in a towering rage such as she’d never witnessed, and instinctively stood to insert herself between him and Edwin, who was also on his feet and babbling anxiously.

“Leave. Now.” Where was the Earl of Leith, that paragon of manners and proper behavior? The Earl of Hauteur? Mr. Landbourne obviously looked for him too, going pale and blinking frantically. His lips flapped but nothing intelligible emerged.

Then this new Oliver set her aside, merely grasping her upper arms and lifting her clear to set her away from them, before bearing down on the inoffensive Edwin. Twisting the youth’s arm up behind his back, Oliver frogmarched him out of the room before her astonished eyes, ignoring his pleas. The sounds of a scuffle diminished, then she distinctly heard the slamming of the entry. Thomas dashed in to widen his eyes at her, and tried to say something, only to retreat, as with a measured tread, Oliver gained the room again and crossed to loom over her. Had he always been so tall?

“What were you thinking?” His intimidating near growl frightened her but also sparked her temper, a faint hint of guilt fueling the fire.

“I beg your pardon?” She too could sound icy and forbidding, having been schooled by some of the best in the ton, and Oliver’s eyes flashed in response.

“Entertaining Edwin Landbourne. When you were unwell, too ill to attend the Dowager Duchess’s ball. The event of the season and one extremely important to my status in Parliament. I would have thought you’d hope to showcase your considerable charms to a wider audience.”

The attack on her reputation was the final straw. She’d had enough. Damn his status. And damn his insinuations. What about their marriage? What about her? If Oliver chose not to hear Mr. Landbourne out then it wasn’t her place to tell him the young man had come to share information perhaps very relevant to tomorrow’s day in Parliament. To her husband’s oh-so-precious duty.

“There is nothing to say. And certainly nothing to defend. I have no interest in those balls and parties and soirees you insist upon. I have no interest in any part of this social life you have thrust me into, using me to further your political interests! That you no longer even share with me! I have no interest in being your wife.”

A horrible stillness settled over Oliver, and the difference in him became even more pronounced. He somehow grew taller, his shoulders wider, and the very flesh on his cheekbones thinned to give him a cruel, finely etched appearance. She barely recognized him. His next words flayed her, delivered in such a silky tone it nearly masked the venom.

“But you are my wife, Abigayle. My countess. And as my wife you will take my direction and advice and obey me henceforth. Without negotiation. Without complaint or protest, or pay a very dear price for defying me.”

Aghast, she retreated as far as the couch behind her would allow and shook her head. “No. I can’t live like that.”

“Then you leave me no choice.”

Bearing her out of the room with no care to her protests and struggles, he took her to a small room at the end of the hall. Her eye caught the quick movements of the servants and she was mortally embarrassed to be handled in such a way in front of them. What transpired next was something she somehow retreated from in order to deny him further and only consider later when alone again in her room, deposited there by a man she no longer knew, yet was married to and forced to deal with for her lifetime. If only at his time and choosing.

Author Bio:

Peri Elizabeth Scott lives in Manitoba, Canada. She and her husband have a wonderful son, and a houseful of animals. She closed her part time private practice as a social worker and child play therapist to spend more time with her husband. Peri has written for years, mostly short stories and poetry, and reads everything she can lay her hands on. She more recently turned to penning contemporary romance, although has published dark erotica under another pen name.

Get to know her:

http://www.perielizabethscott.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peri-Elizabeth-Scott-author

Man Candy Monday: Athletes Edition

Hey there, folks. It’s that time again. MAN CANDY MONDAY!  Not much to report here, so I’ll just bring on the men!

Author Spotlight – Jennifer Denys

Today I’ve got Jennifer Denys with me here, talking about her latest book release, BDSM Weekend. Graciously, she’s given us quite a bit of detail about her vision for the characters, her vision of Lindsey Manor Park and the direction that the series will go in the future.

This scorchingly sexy book is the second in her Manor of Decadence series. The book reads well as a stand-alone, but .. I have to admit, I went back and picked up the first in the series, Kink After Dinner. It’s a short one but it, too, will leave you fanning yourself. :)

A weekend of BDSM activities for beginners. That was what James Shaw had booked at Lindsey Park Manor. He was now anxious about telling his wife, Caroline. In the past, they had tried out various implements at home, and were keen to take it further—even considering joining a ‘swingers’ site—but it was quite daunting doing anything with others! And then a shock awaits them on arrival in the form of James’ best friend.

As they progress through the various events—cropping in the stables, fellatio in the ballroom, and an unusual fox hunt—they have to deal with animosity, jealousy and the dropping of inhibitions, as all of them grow in their knowledge of a lifestyle which is exciting, yet challenging.

Just as the dynamics of their threesome change considerably, a further surprise awaits them at the end of the weekend.

Buy links:

Luminosity Publishing

Amazon US

Amazon UK

All Romance ebooks

Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

“My dear, you don’t strike me as particularly submissive.”

James held back a smile—well, a smirk, actually—at the comment Master George just gave Caroline. The Master of Lindsey Park Manor was spot on.

After leaving Mark, they had gone to the reception desk to make their workshop bookings and then went for a walk outside to allow Caroline time to calm down. By the time they reached the fountain she was able to laugh at the statue of the sea monster in a clinch with a buxom woman. They then made their way to the Master’s Study on the ground floor for their private tutorial. It was a good opportunity to ask burning questions with just him, Caroline and the Master.

Glancing out of the corner of his eye, James saw his wife flushing deep red at this criticism.

“Don’t get me wrong, Caroline. There is nothing wrong with you if you are not submissive. However, have you considered a role as a Dominant? Or even someone who can switch from one who follows, to one who leads, and back again?”

Caroline looked at James in confusion. It matched his own feelings. Neither of them had considered Caroline in any other role—at least not in bedroom activities.

James sat forward. “I’m not sure I understand, Sir. Are you suggesting Caroline carries out BDSM—wields a whip or whatever else—with someone else?”

Master George responded. “Not unless she wishes to. Since Caroline has shown a distinct lack of submissive behaviour since you entered the room, I was wondering how you felt about her taking the role of the Dominant over you?”

Leaping to his feet, James cried, “You have to be kidding!”

Waving a hesitant James back in his seat, Master George continued, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I wanted to see how important it was to you to be the one in control—and judging by your reaction, it clearly is. As Caroline’s only reaction was to gasp in shock, rather than exclaim in delight at my suggestion, I gather this had never entered her head.”

Settling down again, James ran a nervous hand through his hair. “It didn’t enter mine, either,” he muttered, to himself as much as to the others in the room.

Although no shrinking violet, Caroline had naturally assumed the submissive role in their bedroom activities. Out of it, she was just as likely to tell him what to do. Now he was thinking hard about whether he could let Caroline top him.

Jesus! Can I lay there and let her spank me? Or more?

Caroline entered the conversation, staring at James as she spoke to Master George. She always knew exactly what he was thinking. “It has never occurred to us before. And, despite being fairly strong-willed, it isn’t something I want to do.”

Phew!

“And that could be because your current roles are most suited to your personalities,” continued the Master. “So my next question is, how experienced are you in the ménage? Do you frequently enjoy sexual dalliance or use implements with others?”

Caroline went even redder if that was possible. “We—we’ve never done anything with anyone else—always been happy just to practice with each other. The point of coming here was to learn more. Maybe see others also trying it out, and not feel we are freaks in any way, if that makes sense.”

Master George nodded his head knowingly. “I can understand that entirely. It is the reason we organise these weekends. The intention of the tutorials is to analyse where you are in your discoveries into alternative sexual practices, and make you think about where you can go from here. Do feel free to experiment while you are here. That is the purpose of your visit, after all. However, don’t feel pressured into doing something either of you do not want to do. Our policy is always that it must be consensual.”

James had got over his earlier shock and found the Master’s words to be thought provoking.

Their host hadn’t finished. “Now, what about letting others into your play? Do you know anyone else who is here?”

Before James could react, Caroline adamantly declared, “Absolutely not!” His lips quirked at her outburst.

Master George sat back in his chair, his hands clasped with forefingers against his lips in a reflective pose. “Can you elaborate, my dear? Do you simply refuse to contemplate any outsiders, despite the fact you said you wanted to watch others in their activities, or is it that you are not familiar with anyone else and that puts you off?”

As Caroline glanced at James he just raised his eyebrows at his wife. She had to get herself out of that one.

She stuttered as she answered, indicating her nervousness. “We—we do know one other guest, Mark Fuller. I would feel very awkward doing things with him. In some ways it would be easier with strangers.”

James nodded. He actually agreed with his wife. At the same time, he felt very sad for Mark and wondered if his friend would find someone else with whom to hook-up. His mind strayed then, and James started thinking about Mark having sex with Caroline. He grimaced. Although he quite liked the idea of watching her with other men, it didn’t feel right her doing it with Mark. It might make things awkward for their friendship afterwards.

“So, James,” Master George was talking to him and James started, realising he had to concentrate. “Let’s consider that. How do you feel about involving others in your play if they are strangers?”

Glancing at Caroline, James saw her give a slight shrug. It was one thing to joke about doing it, but quite another when it was presented to you as something that could well happen. “I think we would talk about it first. We’ve always discussed these things together. But we might possibly do it.”

“Very good. People in general would find a lot out about themselves if they opened up more,” stated the Master rather enigmatically. He was writing in a large, ornate notebook. “I will see what I can arrange.”

James’ heart leapt in his chest. Jesus! What have we let ourselves in for?

Hotter excerpt:

“Hey man,” called James. “You’re not going, are you? I wondered if you and Caroline fancied having some action.”

Mark’s jaw dropped. He was thoroughly shocked. It took a few seconds before he could speak. “You’re kidding me?”

“If you don’t want to, it’s okay. Caroline and I discussed it earlier before the treasure hunt and decided to suggest it if we saw you, as it’s something we had considered doing with others. It’s clear you want Caroline, but might be too afraid to say, and as this weekend is about trying out new things, we thought we’d ask you,” explained James as he relaxed in his chair, stroking Caroline’s thighs. “The only stipulation is no penetration.”

“And Caroline agrees, too?” Mark’s voice was very wobbly.

She shrugged and grinned. “I’m game if you are.”

“Get your clothes off, Caro,” demanded James, pushing her off his lap.

Jumping up, she quickly undressed. Mark continued to stand there flummoxed.

“Come on, or are you scared?” Caroline moved onto the bed, lounging in a provocative pose, stroking her naked breasts.

Hell no! “Well, if you two are okay.”

Climbing onto the bed a little tentatively, Mark felt like he had been set up and they were about to jump up crying out, “April Fool.”

“Err. What shall we do?”

He looked over at James. It seemed natural to ask his advice.

“Well, since she is nude, why not suck her clit? Do that and you are on her Christmas list for life.”

Does that mean Caroline has done this before?

His friend chuckled. “Mark, your face is so expressive. No, this is our first time doing it with anyone else—at least, since we met. I just know how much she loves it. She’s as nervous as you are. It’s just that Caroline is a very good actress.”

“Oh!”

He looked at Caroline. Her cheeks were a little flushed, either from the champagne, or because she was embarrassed, he wasn’t sure which.

“Don’t take too long, mister, or we’ll ask someone else!” She settled on the bed, opening her legs wide. If she was uncertain, she sure didn’t show it. Moving in between them, Mark stared at her gorgeous pink pussy.

Shit. I’m about to give Caroline cunnilingus!

As he hesitated she made a sound and he lifted his head wondering if she was about to tell him to go. Instead, she grabbed his hair to pull him down to her.

James demanded. “Get on with it, bro, or she’ll turn on you! Just be gentle, she had a pounding earlier today.”

“Okaaay.”

He went back to the lovely pussy lips beneath him with some trepidation.

Neither of them seemed to have any problems. No one raised any concerns or protested. The only issue now was him. It was a far different proposition to steamily kissing her lips to kissing her other lips!

You’ve done this to countless other women. Caroline is no different.

Taking a deep breath, he settled down, leaning over her right leg.

“Caro, widen your legs some more, I want to see this action,” requested James from his chair.

She lifted her head and growled at her husband, startling Mark. “You bloody widen them. They are aching too much from this afternoon in the boathouse, and then running around the estate.”

“Shall I go?” Mark asked solicitously.

It was his turn to get Caroline’s full glare.

James thumped him on the back, making him jump up from the bed.

“No, you idiot. I didn’t mean you to get up. Just move over,” James requested. “Once I’ve given her a spank for her attitude, I’m going to hold her legs apart. Caro, shift around the other way.”

Mark watched as Caroline moved to lie horizontally across the bed and James stood at her head pulling his wife’s knees so they bent back to her stomach. He saw that it was easier for him that way as he could kneel at his side of the bed.

As Mark started to dip his head again, James cried out, “Hang on a moment.” After giving his wife her due punishment, James then tipped his drink until the liquid ran onto Caroline’s pussy.

“Ahh! It’s cold.”

“Stop being a pussy and open that pussy, my girl.” James laughed at his joke and lifted his glass, drinking the remainder.

Mark moved back in and ran a finger along Caroline’s glistening labia, and then raised it. Sniffing it like a connoisseur first before tasting it. “Very nice. I can taste earthiness, with a hint of lime, juniper and sex. I think I’ll go back for seconds.”

James chuckled, while Caroline demanded, “Well, get on with it then!”

“Give her another slap if you wish, Mark, she has been entirely too mouthy this evening,” declared James.

He raised his eyebrows and did as his friend suggest, eliciting an “Ow” from the woman beneath them.

“Serves you right, sweetheart. Lie back and think of England,” directed the man standing at the side.

Mark laughed as he dipped his chin and lapped at her pink lips.

When he starting nibbling her, she jerked. “Don’t do that!” he yelled in panic. “I might bite you by accident.”

“Keep still, Caro,” demanded James gruffly as he put his drink down to hold her legs back out of Mark’s way.

Her answer was to groan in frustration.

Moving in again, Mark was a little hesitant.

“Use your mouth, not your teeth,” was the suggestion from his friend. Actually, it was more of an order. James had somehow become more dominant since they arrived.

Good advice. He didn’t want to hurt Caroline, so Mark nudged in until he could locate her clit, sucking deeply.

The noise he made sucking always amused him, but Caroline’s cry as she pressed upward drowned it out. “Oh God.”

“Is that good, Caro?” asked James in a mocking tone, seeming to enjoy the show from above them.

“Yessss!”

Grinning broadly, Mark raised his head.

She responded immediately. “Nooo!”

“Don’t be impatient. I have other things to do while I’m down here.”

Pressing her thighs even further apart so he could see more clearly, Mark played with her pussy entrance, opening it between a thumb and forefinger of one hand as he inserted the index finger of the other. Pushing in, he turned his hand so he could rub the inside of her vaginal wall, knowing this was often a sensitive spot for many women.

He wasn’t expecting her to jerk upwards violently with a yell. He glanced upward at James wondering if he had done something wrong.

James chuckled. “Yep. You got the right place.”

Series info

‘Kink After Dinner’ is the first book in the ‘Manor of Decadence’ series – a short story written as a taster story with references to Lindsey Park Manor, the setting for ‘BDSM Weekend’.

Get to know the main characters

James Shaw – 33, dark hair, slightly curling at neck, fit but not hunky, 5ft 10, grey eyes, to become the dominant in the threesome

Caroline – 32, long blonde hair, good figure, fit, tall – 5ft 8, blue eyes. Strong willed, takes quite a bit for her to accept James’ dominance.

Mark Fuller – 30, 6ft, very hunky, looks like a male model with light brown hair with highlights, chiselled cheekbones, green eyes.

Author Bio

Jennifer is a bestselling author in various genre (BDSM, contemporary, sci-fi, paranormal, with historical and fantasy in her works in progress) with several different publishers.

An Englishwoman through and through, she lives in a beautiful historical city and is game to try most things once. She’s had a tattoo done on her calf, flew down zip wires 100 feet up in the trees, and was photographed nude by a professional photographer. All of which have taken place since she turned 50!

Many of her experiences end up in her books… but you will have to read them to find out what!

Author website/blog: http://jennifer-denys.blogspot.com/

Q&A

Why set your story in an English country manor?

*laugh* Do you realise how many double entendres you can get from an English stately homes? In my story a riding crop is used in the stables – but not on the horses! A private tutorial is undertaken in the ‘Master’s Study’. A swing in the garden is part of a group activity – but there are no children in sight. And a fabulous ball takes place in the ballroom – with the emphasis on a different type of ‘balls’, to name but a few.

Are you going to do more stories set in Lindsey Park Manor?

Oh yes, as there is a secondary story that is going to ‘arc’ throughout the rest of the series – but I can’t say any more as it relates to a surprise discovery by the main characters in the first book.

Is it a real stately home?

Nope, just based on every one I’ve ever visited (and I watched Downton Abbey VERY closely in the last series!). But it is set in Lincolnshire and called Lindsey Park Manor after the districts of East and West Lindsey in that county. I looked at a map and found a nice big common/forested area in one of those areas and used that as the grounds for the estate.

There’s a map in the front of the book – tell me about it.

I drew it to help me when I was writing the story – and had great fun thinking about what buildings there were likely to be around a manorial estate. When Luminosity Publishing accepted my story, I asked if it was possible to include the map in the book to enhance the story and help the reader as the characters made their way around the estate. I was delighted when they said yes – and they did a wonderful job with my original drawing.

Are there any manors in England that put on BDSM events?

*sigh* If only! If anyone is aware of any – let me know!!

Is this your first story set in England?

No – the first book in this series ‘Kink After Dinner’ was written as a short taster story for this series (Manor of Decadence) and, although it isn’t set in the Manor, it has several references to what takes place there.

What else have you got planned for future stories at Lindsey Park Manor?

Hanging from the laundry racks, role play in the servants’ quarters, feather play in the aviary, bondage from a four poster bed, spanking over a saw horse in the carpenter’s workshop… oh, were you asking about the plot?

*wink* you’ll have to wait and see!

Author Spotlight – April Zyon

 

Adira’s Mate
Space Wars 1
by April Zyon
Published by Evernight Publishing

 

**Cover created by the amazing Jay Aheer

Purchase Links: 

 

All Romance Ebooks
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Bookstrand
Evernight
Smashwords

Blurb:

Facility. On the day that he’s able to escape he’s faced with one of the biggest surprises of his life.
Adira Lora is the head of the Medical Ministries offices of Imaria and she learnt that there is

something seriously wrong with one of the facilities. Something that she has to  go and figure out for herself since she trusts no one else.
Taken hostage by the tall, dark Craegin was not what Adira had in mind when she got to the facility, but it seemed as if Fate and the Spirits had something else altogether in mind for

her.
She should be wary of the man who could tear her apart but she’s not. She’s drawn to him, she achesfor him and she’s desperate to heal his injuries but he pushes her away at

every turn.
He can’t let her too close, he’s far too attracted to the small Imarian that he dragged with him

onto her crawler. He only wanted to get home, back to his people and away from

the slow death that her people were giving him.
Once the pain of his injuries starts to ease and the reality of who little Adi is to him sets in Fin

realizes that he will have to protect her from more than just his people. Fin realizes that he would also have to protect her from  hers as well.
When Adira finally submits to Fintan however he knows that he will never let her go. He owns her

now, she is his in every sense of the word for now and all time and nothing would come between them.

Excerpt:

Adira went stiff as a board when the pistol was lifted to her temple. She took a deep breath and nodded. She understood what he was saying, understood and would comply. She had no idea who it was that had her, so she would play along until she could be free.

She listened to the man’s breathing and frowned. He was in pain; it was clear from how he was gasping for air but there was something more. He wasn’t breathing as an Imarian would, three sharp intakes of breath and one exhale.

Her stomach felt as if it were in knots. She felt ill because she suddenly knew that she wasn’t being held by someone that was on the island and had no idea who she was. She was being held by one of the Craegin that her people had kidnapped and had been torturing.

Stars. She was in deep trouble. “You really don’t want to do this,” she told the man. “I’m more trouble than I am worth. Ask anyone. I’m seriously not a good person to take hostage.”

“I don’t have what one would call a lot of choices here.” His voice was low, but she could hear the underlying growl that gave it a certain rough quality. “One way or another you are my ticket out of this hellish place. So you can either help me willingly, or I start to break bones. Nothing important, but I know the ones that will cause you immeasurable pain while still allowing you to function enough to get me free. The choice is up to you. What will it be?”

There was no choice. Adira was a lot of things, but able to withstand pain was not one of them. She just nodded. “What do you need?” She would get him to where he needed to be in order to get free. Then she would run as far and fast as she could.

He let out a harsh-sounding breath. “I need you to guide me to the ship bay here. Preferably to one of your crawlers. Then you and I are going to leave on that ship, and get me to a place where I can contact one of my own vessels to pick me up. If you behave yourself, don’t try anything to alert anyone, and generally do not make yourself an annoyance to me I might let you go free. Depends on how bad my mood is by that point.” She felt him shift slightly, his arm slowly letting go of her neck.

“We’re going to take the path of least resistance. No guards, as few cameras as possible, and you are not going to let anyone know anything is amiss in any way. I have zero problem shooting a woman, but I’d rather not have to drag you around at my heels to break free of here.”

Stars. “Okay,” she said with a wobbly voice. “Then the best way to go will be back the way that I came.” She had already killed a guard. This had to be her punishment. She knew it. She had killed one of her own people so this was the spirits’ way of punishing her. She was going to be this Craegin’s shield to get free of her people. “I have a crawler. I came over from one of our other worlds.”

The weapon lowered until it was pressed into her lower back, right on her spine. At that range he’d never miss, and if she wasn’t dead she’d definitely be paralyzed. “How many guards between here and the bay?” he asked. He’d given her a nudge to get her moving, but a hand on her arm slowed her pace. Adira couldn’t see much of him beyond the one arm down at his side. But she did notice he seemed to be limping, even dragging one of his legs slightly.

“None. There was one but he won’t be a problem.” The physician in her wanted to heal him. She wanted to reach out and find out what was wrong, but the prudent part of her kicked in and she knew that would be just plain dumb. She did, however, slow down. She ensured that she kept a pace that would keep them moving, but wouldn’t push him too far. She didn’t know what to expect of this Craegin, especially since the female captive had so easily sold out her people.

“What about the cameras? How many are we going to have to contend with once we’re past the holding areas?” The pressure of the weapon on her spine eased a little. She knew it was still there, but he wasn’t digging it in any longer. He might be injured, but she didn’t think for one moment he wasn’t aware of everything around him.

“None.” She had disabled them so that she could wheel the body out and dispose of it. Why hadn’t she thought to reenable them? “I had disabled them,” she told him. “I had been so caught up in my own mind that I forgot to reenable them,” she added honestly. “My crawler is the one closest to the exit doors as well, so there shouldn’t be anyone in the bays that will see us as that side is blocked from view by my crawler.”

“Good,” he grunted out. Suddenly his hand came up to her arm, pulling her to a stop. “Shh,” he hissed. The pressure of the weapon was back for a moment as the sound of boots on the tiled hall could be heard. They faded a few minutes later, and he released her arm. “Go.”

She nodded and went. There was something about his touch. It was odd. She didn’t focus on it, though. Instead, she concentrated on getting through this alive.

She made several twists and turns, being stopped a few times by the rather large male that held a weapon at her head, and finally they were before the bay doors. “When we enter we need to be fast. Get on my crawler. I need to make a call to the booth. There is audio as well as visual so you will have to stand far to the left behind a console and have to trust me. I really don’t want to die, so I will get you out of here.” She would have somehow gotten him free anyway because she didn’t believe in the tortures her people were inflicting upon this male.

His hand was on her arm again, holding tight. “Say or do the wrong thing when you talk to them and you won’t live long enough to make another mistake. If need be I can fly this thing out of here, but I’d really rather not have to do it with your blood all over the console.” He gave a light but firm squeeze of her arm, then let go. “Move,” he said under his breath.

She nodded and moved as quickly as his pace would allow to her crawler. The medical insignia on the side denoted it to be the head of their Medical Ministry, her. Her hand to the panel at the side had the doors sliding open and engines starting. She explained, “I’m still a doctor. My crafts need to be able to go the moment I get in, just in case of an emergency.”

No words came from him, just a grunt. A hard hand landed on her shoulder as soon as they stepped into the crawler. She could see the weapon out of her periphery as it was sweeping around the space. He was ensuring they were alone in the small craft. The hand eased and gave her the smallest of pushes toward the cockpit as the doors sealed behind them with a hiss of air.

Adira settled into the pilot’s seat and strapped in. Looking back at the male, she viewed him for the first time. He was large and impressive, handsome even. He was also severely injured. “Stand just to the left there,” she told him as she pointed to a console. “Now, please. They are beeping to get through.” She adjusted herself slightly, and when he was hidden pulled up the view screen. “Sorry that took so long, gentlemen. I had to take another call. I have an emergency on Talaxia five. I need clearance to scuttle quickly.”

The man on the screen was looking around the inside of her cockpit. “Likely a good thing you’re getting out of here now, Doc. Sounds like there’s an escapee in one of the wards. No clue how the freak got loose, but he’s extremely dangerous. He’s killed three of our men already, the spirits only know what he’d do to a woman,” he said. The hangar bay doors began to open. “You are clear for departure. Head straight out, and stay in the lane until you clear the beacons. Safe journeys.”

“Thank you.” She winced. Oh God, had he really killed three men? Or was the man she killed one of those? She closed off the view screen, then looked back. “You might want to hold on to something.” She began to move her crawler into place and took off as quickly as she typically would in any emergency situation.

Ten minutes later they were free of the planet and she looked to him once more. “Where are we headed?” She knew that he had said to a planet where his people could pick him up, but she had no idea where.

Easing around the equipment board he’d hidden behind, the Craegin male came forward. He leaned over the console to input some coordinates. “There,” he said. “Set the autopilot, and then we’re going to check the rest of this crawler over.” There wasn’t a whole lot left to check, except for the kitchenette, a tiny medical bay, the small sleeping quarters, and the bathing room that approximated to less than a closet amount of space. Crawlers were meant for short runs, not for comfort. Beyond that there was a storage area, but it wasn’t accessible from inside, only from the exterior of the craft.

Once she’d set the autopilot, he leaned in once more to type something else in. A quick glance showed he’d just locked down the entire panel. Without the code he’d entered she couldn’t call out, or fly the craft. Which meant she had to keep him alive if she wanted to survive this. “Stay here,” he ordered. Now that she couldn’t alert anyone to the fact she was a hostage, he likely felt secure in leaving her in the space. A hard look from his bright gray eyes under the heavy fall of badly tangled black hair, and he turned to leave the cockpit.

He had to keep his head lowered to move through the spaces, being taller than the average Imarian male. She noticed he was also broader, more heavily muscled than an Imarian. Not that she should be noticing anything about him, but it was hard not to when he seemed to take up so much of the space around her.

“Since you have locked everything down you should let me have a look at your injuries.” She should just let him bleed to death, but with him having locked her out of her own ship that would end very badly for her. “It’s beneficial to me for you to survive. The least I can do is tend to your injuries. I am a medical doctor, allow me to assist you.”

A derisive snort was her only answer as he continued away from her. He disappeared from view a couple of times, checking out the additional spaces afforded on the craft. Finally he reappeared from the sleeping quarters and signaled her toward him.

Adira cautiously moved forward. “Yes?” she asked as she looked up into his gray eyes. They were actually rather beautiful and ringed with a bright green that captured her interest. Adira shook her head. No, not her interest, something else. “I have a full medical bay. It’s very small but it has everything that we could offer. I could close your wounds and do a scan of your leg to find out what’s wrong with it. If you will let me?” She couldn’t push him to do as she asked, but she itched to ensure that he was okay.

“I know what’s wrong with it. I was there when they did it,” he said. No, it was more of a snarl, given the curl of his lip. “Inside. You’re going to sit on the edge of the bunk and not move while I clean up. I need to get the blood off of me so I can evaluate the exact amount of damage your colleagues inflicted.”

She winced and nodded. “I know that this isn’t a good time to tell you this.” She settled on the bunk and watched him as he moved. “And please don’t shoot me for telling you this truth.” She was chewing her lower lip as she watched him and gasped at the injuries that he wore. “By the stars, how can you even be mobile?” Gone was what she was going to tell him about the Craegin female. Instead her medical training kicked in and she wanted to heal.

He turned a cold look on her as he dropped the coat and shirt he’d removed to the floor. “Sheer will to not die in an Imarian testing facility. It’s amazing what the body and mind can do when the goals are so simple. Do not move,” he warned again. He took the pistol, and one other she hadn’t realized he had, and set them inside the shower—up high so they wouldn’t get wet, and where he could easily reach them but she couldn’t. He turned on the water and dropped his pants. No warning, no closing the small sliding door, nothing. Down they went, and a moment later his ass disappeared behind the sliding pane of the enclosement.

Adi simply watched him. Her mouth had gone suddenly dry and her mind went places that an Imarian held captive by a Craegin should never go. He was stunning. His height was massive, over two meters tall, easily, and his build was thick but it was the markings on his body that captured her attention. Well, that and the musculature and his ass. By the mother, his ass was impressive. “I’m sorry that you were taken,” she told him honestly. “There was a Craegin female that was held there as well.” Please don’t let them be related, she prayed.

“So I’d heard.” His words were barely loud enough for her to hear. “She was the one feeding your people information about us. Once I’m back I’ll be ensuring that anything we’d done prior is never done the same again. I will not allow our people to be easy prey for you sick freaks.”

“How did you know?” she asked with a frown and tilt of her head. “Yes, she has been feeding my people information for years, from what I surmised. They are sick.” She mumbled that last part. She didn’t protest on the sick freaks comment, because he had that right. Sadly. Her people weren’t supposed to ever take prisoners of war and abuse them as this man had been abused. “She watched. She took glee in telling me that when they did their first procedure on you she was able to watch. I’m so sorry.” Her people had a lot to answer for, but not every being who was Imarian was a sick freak, as he had stated.

“It’s amazing what we can hear in that place. They figure since we’re all going to die they don’t need to watch their words.” She watched him tip his head back, his face into the spray. He was tall enough that his shoulders, neck, and head were above the partition. The water shut off a moment later, and he shook his head before slicking his hair back from his face. He locked eyes with her as he pushed the partition aside and stepped out to collect a towel.

“Holy mother,” she whispered a moment before she turned her face from him. He was…there weren’t words to describe the perfection of this man. Even with the injuries that he had sustained he was impressive. Her gaze had gone straight to his cock and she had to bite her lip at the memory of that brief glance. He was soft, but his shaft hung low and was thick. He was very large, all over, and he made her heart do things that no Imarian had ever made her do before.

She could hear him toweling off. A soft clunk sounded, and she shot him a look to see he’d collected the laser pistols. The towel was wrapped around his waist, barely covering everything of importance. He was peering into the mirror on the wall, twisting this way and that to get a look at all the damage done. His back was a mass of bruises, as were his legs and arms. His chest had some bruising, but older from the colors she could see. Fresh nicks and cuts were all over his body. The leg he’d been favoring, though, looked the worst. His leg looked as if there was a heavy bruise that was practically fully black from his knee up to somewhere under the towel. She cringed at the sight. The pain that he was in had to be terrible. She hurt for the man. Obviously someone had repeatedly struck that leg.

“Will you please let me scan your leg at least? I know you have no reason at all to trust me, with what they did to you, but I need you to understand that it’s hurting me to see you hurting, especially since I can do something about it.” She wanted to help him. He could think all that he wanted about her people, but seeing him injured was hurting her. She had never hurt before like this. It was as if she could feel his pain.

He turned his head slowly to give her a look. She could practically see him thinking through all the options, considering every angle, and coming to a decision. With a small jerk of his head he gave her permission. “I need something to wear. This towel is not exactly comfortable over the wounds inflicted on a certain part of my anatomy. I need pants at the very least, but a shirt wouldn’t be amiss either.”

“I should have a medical uniform that will fit you.” She pointed to the drawer to his left. “There should be one in there. It might be a bit short on you but the male who wore it was rather overweight, so it should fit across your chest. I hope.” She winced and chewed her lip again. “I’m so sorry.” She seemed to continue to say that to him, but there weren’t enough words to tell him just how horrified she was that her people had done this to him.

“Your words hold no meaning to me, Imarian, so you may as well quit spouting them,” he said coldly with his eyes narrowed. Digging through the drawer, he pulled out pants and slipped them on. They were definitely short, only coming down to the top of his calves. He was a lot taller than the average Imarian, and definitely taller than her coworker. The shirt he pulled on after dropping the towel to the floor. It was definitely tight, but he seemed to have no loss of movement. “Good enough,” he muttered.

She nodded. “We should go into the medical bay. There’s a handheld scanner there and I can check to ensure that they didn’t break the bone. If they have, then I can put you into an air cast to help ease the pain.” Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Are you going to be okay if I get up and go get medical ready for you?”

His head whipped around to look at her. “We’ll go together,” he said. He picked up one of the laser pistols and quickly took it apart, dropping the parts, except for the power source, into the disposal unit. He picked up the other one, but kept it down at his leg as he waved her out into the corridor.

“Okay.” She moved away from the large Craegin and toward medical bay. Looking over her shoulder she saw him following slowly behind her. Once that was done she pulled down supplies. “If you will have a seat on the bay bed there? I will scan you from head to toe. I would feel much better knowing that you are at least mostly healed before you go to your people.”

He eyed her up and down for a long moment before moving to the bed. Easing up on it slowly, he let out a hissing breath. Not that his face showed any of his discomfort, though. Once he was laying down she moved closer to him and saw he still had one hell of a grip on the weapon.

“I won’t hurt you. I know you have no reason at all to believe me but I will not hurt you,” she assured him. “It’s not who I am. I’m a healer,” she told him quietly. “Oh this is not good.” She paused the scan over his knee and bit her lower lip. “It looks as if they have dislocated your knee. I can set it and that will ease much of your pain.”

The Craegin gave her a grunt, but didn’t move. Adira was going to take that as acceptance of the help she was offering. He also didn’t shoot her, so that was a huge plus. “Apparently not all your healers have the same beliefs as you do.”

“I can’t speak for them, only me. I can’t believe that they did this. We have laws in place for a reason.” She was muttering as she spoke to him. “No one is supposed to ever be subjected to the pain and suffering that you were submitted to. For that I am so sorry. I want to kill my people for doing this.” Especially in her facility. She was not pleased at all.

The look on his face said he didn’t believe her. “If you plan on fixing my leg, sooner would be appreciated. I’ll need all the time possible to heal before we reach our destination. Especially since it won’t be in friendly territory, for you.”

“You aren’t going to put me off at a neutral planet?” she asked with a frown and sat back on her heels on the floor in front of him. “Oh stars.” She was so totally screwed. She was never going to live through this one. “Okay.” At least she could set his knee and help him heal, that was what she could do.

“There are no neutral planets anymore,” he said. “There are only ones slightly less hostile than the others. The one we’re aiming for is the least hostile around. But if your brethren weren’t so determined to exterminate us we wouldn’t have this problem. Would we?” he asked with a hard look at her.

Sadly he had a point there, but she didn’t say anything. Instead Adi worked on his leg, then passed him a medical hypospray. “You should give this to yourself to help you with your healing. It’s only vitamins, it shouldn’t harm you.”

He took the hypospray, looking it over a moment, then tossed it aside. “No drugs, nothing from an Imarian. I’ve been given more shots since my arrival than I have in my entire life. No more.

Especially something I didn’t load myself from supplies I trust. Fix my leg, or move so I can get up.”

She nodded and put her hand on his knee. “It’s going to hurt,” she told him only a moment before she popped his knee back into place. “So sorry,” she said once more and moved back. Standing, she looked over him. “No drugs, then. Sorry I offered them to you.” Maybe she should drug herself and be done with it.

He hadn’t even flinched. Either his pain was already so great he hadn’t felt what she’d done, or he was so well trained he’d been able to hide the reaction. She had a feeling it might have been a little of both. Easing to a sitting position, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and slowly put weight onto his leg. “Better,” he muttered. “You really shouldn’t be apologizing to anyone, especially your enemy. It leaves you in a weakened position, more so than you currently are in.”