Mandy M. Roth's Blog, page 71
May 16, 2013
Goodreads Print Book Contest–10 signed print book copies
Goodreads Book Giveaway
A King’s Ransom
by Reagan Hawk
Giveaway ends June 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
May 7, 2013
Excerpt: Civil Twilight (Project Exorcism) by Mandy M Roth
Futuristic Sci-Fi Shapeshifter Vampire Paranormal Romance
Linked to the following Project Exorcism Books: Paranormal Payload, Force of Attraction, and Point of No Return
Stegian is a man held prisoner in his own body by a demon. A demon hell bent on ridding the planet of all Janelles. He rules by fear and he rules well. But, when a mysterious, gorgeous woman arrives late one night, tempting him, claiming to want to save him from himself, everything changes. He longs for her and wants to believe her words are true—that she can separate him from the vampire he carries within. Dare he hope? Dare he believe?
Jacquelyn Janelle is no longer held to the same rules that apply to her people. She’s ascended and gained valuable insight into the universe and its plans for one thought lost to evil. More than that, she’s fully aware who he is to her—her true mate. She’ll stop at nothing to assure she saves him, even if it’s from himself.
Warning: This novella contains explicit sex and violence. It is a story about redemption against all hope and about how love can transcend time and space. Plus, it has hot sex scenes for those unconcerned with the frilly stuff.
EXCERPT
Must be 18 years and older to read this. If not, please leave this site.
Civil Twilight
Mandy M. Roth
Author’s Series Note
Each book in the Project Exorcism series is written to stand alone; however, I do recommend reading them in order to maximize reading pleasure. To aid any who have not, as of yet, read the other books, or any who are simply looking for a refresher, I thought this introduction might help.
Series background: Twenty-third century—Man has long since achieved space travel. Almost all planets in the known universe are part of the Commission, an intergalactic governing body that oversees the well-being of all within its quadrants.
Supernatural creatures were discovered among us in the twenty-first century and witchhunts quickly began to rid Earth of them. A battle broke out and Earth’s human population dropped. In the end, humans were victorious, but only because a few select figureheads in the supernatural world agreed to the terms of a peace treaty. The terms were simple. The supernaturals were to be escorted off planet Earth and relocated on other planets, ones that were not part of the Commission’s territory. Ones that were agreed upon ahead of time, and ones on which the supernaturals would not be a threat.
Thus began Project Exorcism. Five vessels set out on this mission. Only one arrived at its chosen destination. The others were thought lost during the meteoroid shower that occurred shortly after takeoff. Man now faces a new threat, only they are unaware of it. By shipping the supernaturals off, they unknowingly gave them access to other planets’ resources, including added magikal abilities, the ability to breed with their inhabitants, and so very much more.
Prologue
Nearing planet Sargaidia, onboard one of the Project Exorcism vessels, year 2056…
Vessel sirens continued to blare, announcing what Stegian already knew, the ship was in trouble. It had gotten swept into what he could assume were stellar remains. The ship had been plagued with issues since its launch. Stegian knew why. Those who had forced his kind from Earth cared little about their safety, only that they left the planet. The brains behind Project Exorcism had thought as far as getting supernaturals off the planet and out of the range of Earth. They’d sworn in negotiations that the planets they’d sought out were safe havens and new starts for the supernaturals. It, like everything else, had been lies. He was sure of it. He’d been a fool to believe them—to think mankind had an ounce of decency left in it.
Now, countless light years from home, their ship was damaged because of stellar remains. The pilot of the vessel swore the anomaly was rare and not showing on his instrument panel. Stegian believed the young vampire. He had nothing to gain by lying. He was as trapped on the ship as the rest of them were. Problem was the young vampire wasn’t as trained as he should have been. None of the supposed pilots were. They’d been put through a crash course on the matter prior to their departure. As had all members of the crew.
Stegian scanned the panels, doing his best to assess the damage to the ship. Two of the port side thrusters were completely gone and failing to respond in any way. Already the ship had begun to list to one side, something it should never do—that much he was sure of. It wasn’t like space travel was totally foreign to him. He, like any other well-to-do resident of Earth, had visited other planets for vacation—though he was careful to select ones that didn’t have much in the way of sunlight. Being a vampire left him unable to wake in the sun’s rays. He missed it but couldn’t dwell, not when the ship he was onboard was in such dire jeopardy.
Varying people on board moved quickly from location to location, none seeming to know what to do. Pandemonium broke out. Several of the banshees onboard continued to wail, as if everyone around them wasn’t smart enough to figure out people were going to die. They didn’t need a supernatural alarm stating the obvious. A shifter spun quickly, knocking one of the banshees out cold. Stegian wasn’t big on violence but even he’d wanted to silence her.
People rushed around like mad as the ship pitched hard to the right and then shook violently. He had to reach out to steady himself or he too would have fallen, like so many others had. Sirens blared and alert lights beeped. The computer continued to read out different, yet equally as depressing outcomes.
“We’re gonna die,” one of the men yelled.
Another snorted. “We’ve been as good as dead since the day they loaded us onto this ship like cattle,” another returned.
Stegian staggered towards the control panels. The young vampire pilot was hurt and currently having his wounds tended to. While he would eventually heal, there was no fresh blood at the ready so the medical staff needed to try to stop the rapid rate of his blood loss. A fill-in pilot, one with limited training, was doing his best to gain control of the ship. It wasn’t working.
“Life support systems are down,” Stegian said, remaining calm in the face of certain death.
“I can try to land it,” Yunoc, the young male shifter who was doing his best to pilot the vessel, said. “At our excepted rate of entry and with the velocity we are traveling at, there is a good chance we could burn up in the atmosphere.”
“Do your best,” said Stegian, bracing himself in the co-pilot chair. A planet came into view and Yunoc focused on aiming the craft in that direction. “No promises.”
A natural leader, Stegian was often who the people aboard the spaceship turned to. He’d been instrumental in negotiations with the humans on Earth and had done his best to prevent anymore loss of lives due to ignorance and fear of supernaturals. “Try to land us.”
He sucked in a hasty breath and prepared for rapid decent. It came with a vengeance. He was thrown free of the pilot area and slammed face first into a wall. Pain exploded throughout him, and he was fairly certain he’d broken multiple bones, and they hadn’t even impacted yet. It came with a shuddering, thundering thud and all around him went black for a moment.
Stegian pushed off of the unforgiving inner shell of the vessel he’d been banished to one year prior. The smell of smoke and charred remains coated the area. While he didn’t quite know the extent of injuries on the ship, his senses told him they were grave and many. As if the ship’s crew hadn’t been through enough already.
He snarled at the thought of the ignorant humans who had herded him and the other supernaturals like cattle onto the vessels, hoping to rid Earth of them for good. Their fear of what they did not understand prompted sanctions and even saw death squads coming to be. These squads had one mission, find and eliminate supernaturals. Stegian and a few select other figureheads had tried to reason with the humans. He’d tried to make them understand they did not have to live in fear of them. That supernaturals would police themselves as they had always done, but his pleas fell upon deaf ears. Soon, backlash from the death squads rippled through the supernatural community and attacks on humans began. From there, it was all downhill.
Now, one year later, but in truth, many a light year later, thanks to the courtesy of accelerated speeds and state-of-the-art highly efficient thrust-to-weight ratios, Stegian and his people were far, far from Earth and its reaches. They were, according to his calculations, far off their original course as well.
They’d encountered meteor showers shortly after departing Earth and had never quite been able to get their navigational maps back up and running to standard. No surprise. It wasn’t as if the people running the vessel were top notch. They’d been lucky to have anyone on board who could pilot the ship. Two of the vessels the supernaturals were herded upon had men who had to be trained on the spot to fly them. It wasn’t as if humans would risk or give up their valued human, qualified pilots.
BUY LINKS
http://ravenhappyhour.com/Civil_Twili...
May 4, 2013
Mandy Roth Contest Q & A
Mandy Roth contest Q & A
Q: I won a book by you but I know your situation with Mr Mandy not having a job and that you’re supporting five people… I don’t feel right about taking it (I’ve gotten this a LOT since Mr Mandy lost his job in Nov).
A: Accept the book! You won it! If you really really really want to help out, give it an honest review on a vendor site like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. Reviews help sell books. They really really really do! Also, spread the word about the book to your friends who love to read.
Q: I don’t live in the US. Does that mean I can’t enter your contests?
A: No. I will state very clearly if a contest if for US Residents only. I have only ever in my ten years of writing had a handful of contests that are limited to US. I believe fully that my readers come from all over the world, my contests should be open to all over the world.
Q: Why don’t I have more contests or give out more free books?
A: On average each year I give away over 100,000 ebooks (no, I’m NOT joking and no this isn’t counting pirate sites). I send out over 100 print books–I do NOT get my print books for free. Every print book I have I pay for–these add up. I give out thousands of dollars worth of gift cards. I give out thousands of dollars worth of other misc prizes. I spend thousands on mailing everything. I only make so much money–I think you can see and I’m guessing most readers will tell you all that I do a TON of contests and that I already go overboard prizes so that is why I do not do more.
Q: How soon will my prize be mailed if I win?
A: I do mailings 1-2 times a month. If I don’t do this I’m at the post office nonstop and not writing and earning money [image error]
Q: I missed your last contest. How can I be sure I’m finding out about all you’re doing?
A: Follow my FB Author Page Mandy M. Roth and be sure you set notifications for this to ON, follow me on twitter @mandymroth, check my blog www.mandyroth.com/blog, sign up for my newsletter http://mandyroth.com/newsletter.htm, I have a yahoo group as well that I do things at random on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mandy_M_Roth/join , and I do a LOT within my Street Team (these are a group of people who pass out my promo items, always help spread the word, give honest reviews, etc).
Q: Why do you tell winners if they don’t get in touch with you within 14 days that you will award their prize to someone else?
A: I don’t have the storage space/warehouse space to house prizes for extended periods of time. And I don’t have the manpower or time to keep checking back in.
[image error]
Mandy
May 1, 2013
RT Left Behind Party!
Romantic Times Convention 2013 is happening now! Problem is… I’m not there. Up side to this, a whole bunch of us romance book lovers are not there. My solution? Have a Left Behind Party!
All this week I’ll be hosting a Left Behind Party on my facebook author page. I’ll put up a post each day with directions on how to enter for a chance to win prizes. Sound like fun? I hope so.
My Author Facebook Page is located here.
April 26, 2013
Raven Author: Excerpt: Cupid’s Revenge by Michelle M Pillow
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Cupid’s Revenge by Michelle M Pillow
Naughty Cupid Series Book 2
Paranormal Historical Romance
Cupid’s livid. It’s bad enough he made two people fall in love, but now thanks to King Larus, the whole Immortal Realm knows about it. There’s only one thing a troll can do. Get Revenge.
Lady Mina and her sister, Sophia, are impoverished, starving and their castle is crumbling around there feet. Their father is dead, the servants are gone and it’s the dead of winter. Could things really get much worse?
After Cupid caused a great disruption amongst his lycans by bringing a human to their world, Larus has had to meet with the Council of Elders. He’s made sure it will never happen again. Or so he thought. Hearing two women scream-one whose enchanted to be madly in love with him and one who wants nothing more than to claw his eyes out-he’s quickly learning not to underestimate a troll bent on revenge.
Rating: Contains graphic sexual content, adult language, and violence.
http://ravenhappyhour.com/Cupids_Reve...
EXCERPT
Prologue
Damn the lycans anyway! Cupid’s little black eyes flashed with an inner fire. And damn the council of immortal elders! So what if he took his vengeance out on Ilar by entrancing the whole Lycan Guard at Lycaon to one mortal woman? It’s not like anyone had gotten hurt. Besides, Ilar, Commander of the Guard, deserved it for making fun of him–just as he deserved being forced to lifemate to an ugly human woman.
Cupid shivered in disgust to think of how his plan had backfired. Ilar had fallen in love with the hideous mortal and they were living their fairy tale, happily ever after. It was disgustingly romantic. It was hideously repulsive. It was unbearable to think about.
Bah! Ach!
Now he had to listen to the other trolls tease each time he saw them. They called him a cherub, a matchmaker, a rosy-faced babe who spread love and goodness throughout the world. If he had another basket of love darts left outside his cave door, he’d scream so loud the whole realm of magic would collapse in on itself.
Bah! Bah! Double bah!
Cupid hated the elders. He hated goodness and happiness. He hated Ilar and Rhiannon, his ugly human lifemate. He hated the council. He hated the realm of magic and the realm of mortals. He hated everyone and everything.
And, above all things, he hated love!
His humiliation wouldn’t have been so widely known if the council of immortal elders hadn’t been called forth. He blamed Larus, the elected king of the lycans, for that one. It was Larus’ court at Lycaon that had been affected by his small enchantment prank. He merely made the mortal woman irresistible to the lycan kind and brought the whole court howling to their knees with lust.
But, could the lycan king let it go? No! He had to draw attention to the fact that Cupid had found love for Lord Ilar and Lady Rhiannon. He had to tell everyone who would listen to him that Cupid was personally responsible for Ilar’s eternal happiness.
Now he’d never live his reputation down. First, he accidentally hit a man instead of a goat with a love dart, causing one couple to fall in love four hundred years ago, and now this. He was going to be branded for his immortal life as a matchmaker. It was beyond torture, beyond fair and right, beyond tolerable.
And, as far as Cupid could see, it was King Larus who needed to pay for that!
Chapter One
Lycaon Castle, Realm of Magic
King Larus watched Lady Rhiannon with her lifemate, Lord Ilar. They seemed really happy together and he was happy for them. Ilar was his best soldier, a great leader, and a true friend. He deserved happiness. But the fact that Rhiannon was human still made him uneasy.
Even though he liked Rhiannon, Larus hoped she would be the last human he ever saw in his eternity of living. Humans had killed his family–his parents, his brothers and sisters and cousins, until all he had left was his duty to his people. He did his duty with pride and dedication. For nearly a hundred and fifty years he’d been their ruler and, so long as they willed it, he would remain their elected king.
“Did the elders decide what to do with Cupid?” Ilar asked, coming near the head table of the empty council hall. “Will he be punished for opening a portal?”
King Larus looked up, gazing past the giant circular pit of flames that lit the room. He sat atop a long stone table, scratching thoughtfully at the back of his head. Slowly, he lowered his arms to lie on top of his crossed legs. He came to the hall often, especially when he needed to be alone and think. When it was empty, the room was complete silence, aside from the soft rustling of the fire pit.
“Naturally, they aren’t happy with him,” Larus stated after a time.
Cupid was a squat little troll and like all of his kind he had a horrible temper backed by extreme power. Trolls had no real allegiance to anyone, let alone mortals, and only used their magic for self-gain or mischief. They wouldn’t open the portals to humankind just so the mortals could flood into their world. No, they’d only open them for their own selfish reasons. Their stupid, narcissistic ways could end up being the downfall of the entire realm of immortals.
Larus had been outraged to discover Cupid had opened up the portal between the Mortal Realm and the Magic Realm. He didn’t want to relive the wars between the mortal and immortal. They’d fought once, long ago, and there’d been much death on both sides. In the end, it was decided the realms should be forever separated. That was why the portals had been sealed. That was why they had to remain sealed.
Only a few natural portals remained, as they couldn’t be destroyed. The doors on the mortal side were locked with the strong magic and charms of all immortal races. The only way the portals could be opened was from their side. But once opened, the realms could merge freely.
Cupid had broken the pact of the covenants that protected the Magic Realm from human greed for the last three hundred years. The risk of humans wandering back through was too great. It was a risk none of the elders were willing to take.
The lycans weren’t the only ones to leave the world of mortal men. The vampires, who were also hunted because of their ‘unnatural’ ways, had come with them. As did all things of magic–elves, fairies, even the goblins and dwarfs. They left the humans, tired of being trapped and forced to use magic for mankind’s gain. Then it was believed that humans would kill themselves off. It wasn’t to be so. To everyone’s amazement, the humans thrived. And, until Cupid’s little play of revenge against Lord Ilar, the realms had remained separated.
Larus glanced at Lady Rhiannon and smiled faintly. They were the only three in the hall and he knew, since she was lifemated to Ilar, he could speak freely before her. “Though, the outcome is good, what could’ve been is beyond forgiveness. Cupid risked too much over a petty insult.”
Lord Ilar had drunkenly offended Cupid one night by calling him a rosy-faced cherub. That in and of itself was comical, as Cupid’s wrinkled face was anything but rosy and, with the horrible smell he emitted from his foul, unwashed body, he didn’t come close to reminding them of a cherub.
Cupid, however, obviously didn’t see the humor in the jests. Just to get even, the troll had gone to the realm of the mortals, doused Lady Rhiannon in lycan pheromone to magically enchant her, and brought her to their world. The mere smell of her had sent the entire unmated population into a desperate, lustful frenzy.
The males of the Lycaon court had fought like madmen to possess Rhiannon and the women had fought to kill her. Because of the raging emotions, their telepathic mindlink had been blocked. The mindlink was the only way the lycan could communicate in their shifted form and they used it often to warn of attacks. Without it, their defenses were left weakened. Both Ilar and Larus had feared they were under magical assault until they discovered the real reason.
Knowing it was only a troll’s petty revenge that opened the portals and caused the disruption in his guards, Larus frowned. Cupid risked too much, but then trolls weren’t known for their consideration of consequences. As king, he’d been honor bound to report Cupid’s actions to the council. The troll was in some serious trouble.
“Death seems too harsh of a punishment and yet I feel, with Cupid, anything less would fail to make an impact on his troll brain,” Ilar said.
“Well,” Rhiannon offered softly, pushing her long, curly blonde hair over her shoulder. She looked more lycan than human as she wore the comfortable gown of their people–a large square piece of cloth that was wrapped around the body and secured with a brooch at the shoulder. Though, instead of leaving her body bare beneath, she wore an undergarment with long sleeves. Being human, the slight modification allowed her extra protection against the elements. Her wide blue eyes looked first to her husband and then back to Larus. “At least he won’t be opening the portal again, will he?”
“The council has ordered him not to bring back any more enchanted humans,” Larus said. “Although, they’re unsure what to do with him otherwise. Because no troll sits on the council, we can only do so much.”
“Then, he’s agreed not to enchant any more humans?” Ilar asked, his dark eyes steady.
“Yes, he’s agreed,” Larus answered. “I believe him. I think Lady Rhiannon’s and your happiness is punishment enough. By the time I got done telling the council, and everyone else who would listen, about his ‘good’ deed, he was thoroughly mortified. Word of your love has even leaked to the trolls. If I know that race, they will persecute him enough to ensure he never does anything so foolish again.”
© copyright September 2005, Michelle M. Pillow
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
http://ravenhappyhour.com/Cupids_Reve...
April 25, 2013
The Unspoken by Rory Michaels
Contemporary Western Threesome Romance
A Macon Valley Ménage 3
Back from the service, best friends Wyatt Hews and Clay Miller are ready to seize hold of what they want. Shy, li’l Harley Gainer had held their hearts since High School. She’d been so innocent and so unassuming when they’d shipped out. While she’s certainly maintained her innocence, she learned to put her foot her down and has grown into a beautifully sassy young woman. Neither man can resist her and they’re hoping she can’t say no to them either. See, she’s the woman they want to share their bed and their lives with from here on out and the boys will stop at nothing to get her. Will she agree to a night of passion or will she cut and run out on something that could be wonderful?
Warning: This short story contains ménages a trios, explicit sex, strong language and cowboys who will melt your socks off. This short story also has explicit, graphic sexual content and is not for the faint of heart.
Series Books
http://ravenhappyhour.com/The_Unspoken.html
“F” The Advertising Powers that Be–Erotic Romance Books Sell!
A King’s Ransom (Masters of Pleasure) by Reagan Hawk (one of my pen names) was denied some advertising because the book is erotic. *gasp* (I won’t list what magazine/zine/place that did this.) I’ll admit, it was enough of the advertising that it will impact sales.
I need you, readers, to help me say “F” The Advertising Powers that Be–erotic romance books sell and we aren’t ashamed to read them! How do you do this? The BEST way is to buy the book. The second best way is to spread the word about the book. I’m not a cry in my milk kind of gal, I’m more of a stand up and yell “F” that crap and I want you to stand up with me because that is how we roll (hush, we roll). The absolute best way to teach TPTB that erotic romance books sell (okay, let me amend that to Mandy’s Erotic Romance Books Can Sell Like CRAZY) is to get this title to make the lists. Sales are the ONLY way to get it there. Work your magic peeps!!!!
Buy Links
Here is the buy link for the Amazon US Kindle
Here is the buy link for Amazon US Print
Here are the links for Amazon foreign
Release Date: May 21, 2013
M/F with MFM scene. Is futuristic fantasy with paranormal elements.
Sci-Fi Fantasy Paranormal Erotic Romance
BLURB:
On a quest to find his brother, King Kritan of Katarian on the planet of Panucia finds himself ambushed, beaten, tortured and then sold to fight in the arena games. The people of Tamonius–his rival kingdom–condone slavery, take public sex to new lows and try to turn a profit off anything they can. Nothing can change his hatred for everything Tamonius… that is until he meets the most breathtakingly beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes upon. Surina of the House of Argyros, daughter to a powerful senator stirs the beast within him, making it want to lay claim to her as badly as the man does.
Free or not, Kritan is a master of seduction and has selected Surina as his newest prey. But this virginal beauty has secrets of her own–ones that change everything. And destiny just might have the last laugh.
Warning: Novel contains graphic violence, explicit sex, MF and MFM scenes, forced seduction, raw and gritty scenes of a society without order, sex scenes that may be offense to some, an alpha male shifter king who sees what he wants and goes for it, all else be damned, a head guard who has many secrets but shares a passion for the heroine and a virginal heroine who has longed to be taken rough and claimed fully by a man. This novel is not for everyone or the faint of heart. This novel contains adult content and is intended for mature audiences only. Must be 18 years or older to read.
Excerpt: (Intended for adults only. Must be 18 years or older to read.)
Chapter One
City of Vesta in the Kingdom of Tamonius on the Planet Panucia…
Kritan of Katarius walked through the streets of Vesta, a city known across the planet for its corruption and wickedness. He drew his black cloak around him more—to hide the sword at his side and the dagger in the top of his left boot. The clothing he wore was appropriate for the area, though nothing he’d normally want upon his body—the material was something a commoner would wear and not to his liking. He preferred trews to the tunic with a roped belt. He liked his boots, not the ones he wore now that were more of a sandal, leaving some of his foot exposed. He disliked, too, the ring that held his sword, preferring his sheath. He had not dared to bring his personal sword and shield. They were things that would give his origins—and his role—away.
It was important to blend. At least for now.
Cool wind from the north, from across the Ice Seas, blew past him. It was welcome against the heat of Tamonius’s summer. Kritan preferred slightly cooler weather. While he could warm his body naturally by allowing his beast to rise, he could not cool it as easily.
His lip curled at the sight of three women standing, their breasts hanging out of the tops of their tunics. They were whores. His homeland, Katarius, was not without pleasures of the flesh, but they did not openly display their sexuality as the people of Tamonius did. While Katarius had whores, the guards there policed the streets better, making sure the women who charged were corralled into taverns or brothels, not left to wander the streets aimlessly for any and all to see. So far Kritan had lost count of the number of women he’d seen since entering the walls of Vesta who were selling their bodies for a few measly coins or even stale bread.
Such a state of things. And the Tamoni thought they were so superior to the six occupied countries on their home planet.
Kritan walked with his head up, moving with purpose, though he was not yet sure of where he needed to be. His informant had spoken of a tavern four roads within the gates of Vesta. As Kritan walked the length of the fourth row, he could count at least five taverns directly around him, each filthier than the last.
Unease settled over him. He had known this would be a fool’s mission. One he should not have undertaken himself, but he’d had no choice. He had to find his brother. He had to make amends, and he would walk through the cesspool called Vesta a thousand times over if he thought it would give him a chance to make things right. Banishing Jaelyn all those years ago had been a mistake. One he’d lived with for nearly two decades. Lies and a woman—a woman Kritan had believed meant more to him than she did—had fostered an environment that left him speaking words he could not take back, and sending his brother far from home. So long had gone by with no word on his brother’s whereabouts, that when a missive arrived telling a tall tale—one that spoke of Jaelyn not only being alive but in grave danger, so much so that his brother was suddenly on borrowed time, Kritan could not stop himself. He’d mounted a steed and set forth on a quest to find the man—to hell with the cost. Regardless that he had men to do such things for him. That, as King of Katarius, rushing alone into the kingdom of Tamonius was not simply reckless, it was suicide. This was his brother and he would right the wrong he’d committed long ago.
“You look like you like it rough,” a whore said, cupping her unimpressive breasts as she wiggled for him. It was clear to see the woman had serviced many cocks in her days and life had not been kind to her.
Her friend and fellow whore slinked her arms over the woman’s shoulders and flicked her tongue, as if being offered a threesome would create a more appealing sight for him to behold. Kritan was no stranger to threesomes, foursomes and more. But he would never soil himself with the likes of these women. All the face paint in the kingdom could not hide the signs of disease on their skin, and the reek of strong spirits they’d been drinking could not mask the fact they had not bathed in months. Maybe more. Both looked heavily used and past their prime. Neither motivated his cock.
He had been too long between fucks and should have felt his beast stirring, wanting release. As a Katarian male shifter he was immune to the diseases that plagued the non-shifters—sexual or not. Though dirty whores never tempted him. He had certain standards, ones belonging to a king. There were many women who begged to be at his service within his castle, ready to ease his cock should he but click his fingers. All were screened by him before being granted such a coveted position. And sometimes, when he felt randy, he would sneak away to the buttery with a serving wench or two.
Regardless how long it had been since he’d fucked, his focus remained firm—find his brother.
Find Jaelyn.
Nothing else mattered.
“Perhaps he doesn’t like cunt,” stated the taller whore with an ungodly cackle.
Her friend grabbed a third female, this one smaller, and thrust her at him. “You like your cunt young? You can take her and pretend she’s your—”
Grunting, Kritan held up a hand, stopping the crass woman from going on. The girl could not have seen more than seventeen summers. Reaching under his cloak, he found his coin purse and withdrew a gold coin. He flicked it to the oldest of the women and leveled his hard gaze upon her. The beast pulsed in him, wanting free, wanting to silence the older woman.
The young girl was but a child in his eyes and that of the beast, and both believed children should be cherished and protected, not sold to whomever could pay. He knew his dark eyes now danced with icy-blue flecks and he knew what a show of power such a thing presented to the lowborns. “Take this child from the streets. Feed her. See she sleeps in a proper bed without a man sharing it, and if I see her upon these streets again, or hear of your whoring her out again, I will take your head from your neck. Am I clear?”
The woman clutched the gold coin and nodded, backing away from him. “The devil is in his eyes,” she whispered.
Her accomplice gasped. “His eyes reflect the light. Like an animal!”
The young girl was the only one who didn’t look scared of him. He supposed he was one of only a few men to turn down the offer of time with her, and he guessed she held no desire to be part of the life that had damaged her acquaintances. She didn’t move as she stared up at him with a faint smile touching her lips. “Thank you, sir.”
With a nod, he left them as they hurried away. He knew he’d put enough fear into the older two that for at least a few nights they’d keep the younger woman off the streets. Such was the way of things in Vesta. If it were under his rule, so much would change.
So much depravity would never have been permitted.
He was not a cruel leader. He did not rule through fear, but he did rule all the same. He was respected, and while he understood there were certain elements of society that would never change, he did what he could to control it by whatever means necessary.
Vesta had strayed from the path centuries before Kritan’s birth. Stories told of it once being a great city full of knowledge, arts and technologies. That was long ago. A time nearly forgotten. He did not know what had prompted its downfall, but it was evident it had indeed fallen. He wasn’t sure it could be saved or if the inhabitants even wanted the help.
A street peddler approached, his cart of wares jingling as he walked. The end of the street looked as though it might still be used as a market. Though, to sell what, Kritan wasn’t sure. No reputable person of Tamonius would be caught dead in this section of the city—that is, if reputable persons even existed anymore in the kingdom. He was fast beginning to doubt any did.
The cloaked man, pushing the vendor cart, smelled of mortality and sickness. Dirt clung to his cloak, coating the lower portion the most, as if he’d walked through his fair share of slop. The man slowed his pace as he neared Kritan. “What have you?” the man asked. “Got me a bit of anythin’ you might be wantin’, sir.”
Kritan tried to ignore him, but the man lifted his arms, causing Kritan’s hand to go to the hilt of his sword. The man stared out from one good eye, the other a mass of scars and what looked to be old burns. “None of that now, boy.”
Boy?
Kritan held his tongue. He was far older than this man. He was older than most.
“I’ve the finest goods you’ll find this part of Vesta,” the vendor said, motioning to his street cart. “If you’re into the finer things, which I can tell you are, I’ve decommissioned pieces. The kind others can’t come by. It’s my specialty.”
Alarm raced through Kritan. Most technologies had been banned centuries ago. To be caught with pieces that weren’t fully decommissioned could mean prison. He did not need to be detained now because some street vendor wanted to turn a profit.
Upon closer look, he could see glimpses of old objects once used during the Age of Space Travel. An age that had left the people of Panucia with too much power and too little self-restraint. It was before Kritan’s time, but he’d heard enough stories from his father to know it was a time best left alone.
“Be gone, old man,” Kritan said sternly. “I want nothing to do with what you sell.”
He did not need guards poking around, and the vendor was sure to bring them about. The old man shrugged and turned, pushing his cart and mumbling as he went. “Youngin’ think they know the way of things. They know nothing.”
Light shone from the tavern nearest Kritan. He pushed the thin, worn material to the side in the entranceway and entered. A serving wench nearly plowed into him, her hands full with a tray of mead. She scoffed at him and then carried on with her duties, placing full mugs of ale before already-drunken patrons.
Someone played a flute to the right and the sound was nearly drowned out by the volume of the locals. Kritan’s nostrils flared as the smell of sex washed over him. Sweat. Dirt. Cunt. Cum. Piss and shit.
He stiffened, fighting the urge to lose his lunch.
Filthy heathens.
His gaze moved to the barkeep and then around the room. He looked for a man with a gold wolf brooch. That was what his informant would be wearing. Something the Tamoni wouldn’t normally be caught in. They disliked the beasts from the Northeast greatly. The feeling was mutual. The Katarian held no love for the Tamoni. Kritan knew there was no love lost between Tamonius and the other occupied countries on Panucia. The Vamone’s hatred of the Tamoni made the Katarian’s thoughts on them look downright loving.
No fault could be placed on the Vamone. Tamonius continued to launch raids against them, stealing their women and taking slave labor.
Kritan would not be here if it was not for his brother. The thought kept him centered and focused.
Several of the men looked towards him. Some wore the colors of the Tamoni army—mercenaries who once had order and training behind them but who now worked for senators as guards and hired thugs. Others looked to be civilians out for a good time. As a full-figured woman lifted her tunic high, exposing her sex, two men shoved her back onto a tabletop.
“That’s right, men, step up if you think you’ve got what it takes to impress me,” she said, her accent heavy. She lacked front teeth and had at least a week’s worth of grime upon her face and arms. The men did not seem to care. “I will be the judge of whose cock is bigger. Stick them in me. I’ll test them just right.”
Men lined up and Kritan held his tongue, glancing around, looking for a man with a gold brooch as the woman permitted man after man to take his turn with her. She lay there laughing, sticking her tongue out and pushing several men away by their foreheads so that another could join in the fun. The entire ordeal was revolting. Kritan would never understand the ways or thoughts of the Tamoni.
He exited the establishment, pleased to be free of the scents within. Being one with a beast, and being able to smell things others outside of his kind could not, often left him sensitive to odors. Sounds and light as well. Vesta was full of everything but light. He had yet to see it during the daytime, but he half wondered if the sun’s rays could not penetrate through the horrors of Vesta.
His soft boots crunched the gravel mix beneath his feet. He made his way to the next tavern. He slowed his pace as two men stumbled from the entrance.
“You should see the fine piece of cunt I just fucked,” one said, swaying to the left and then so far to the right Kritan assumed he’d fall over. Somehow he managed to stay upright.
His companion smiled wide, showing off rotted teeth. “Like virgin cunt. Tight. Tender body.”
The other nodded. “She was the best I’ve ever seen. Nothing like chained cunts to satisfy a man and his needs. Three of ’em in there. Sisters. Fine fucks. You can stick your prick in them anywhere you want, as much as you want so long as you buy yourself a drink first.”
Chained women?
“Looked like three virgins of loveliness,” said the swaying man.
“But the way their pussies milked my cock says they’ve known much dick,” the other added. “Just as a woman should.”
Kritan’s temper rose, at odds with his need to find Jaelyn and his need to smash in the faces of these lowborns. He couldn’t in good conscience allow three women to be chained sex slaves.
One of the men clasped his hand on Kritan’s shoulder. “Try their asses too.”
Kritan shrugged the man off and entered the tavern. He was struck instantly with the scent of rotting flesh—corpses. He stilled, wondering why they would keep the long dead among the living. Vesta continued to surprise him when he thought himself a worldly man.
The patrons were rowdy, all gathered around, forming a circle with an open center. Kritan spotted chains hooked to the ceiling. As the crowd parted slightly, he expected to see the three bound young women. What he saw shocked his senses. He was wrong. The smell wasn’t from corpses. Three old hags were naked and bound, each grinning wider than the next as they performed various sex acts upon the patrons.
They were old—very old—from before the height of Panucia’s Age of Space Travel. They smelled of death and magik. As Kritan caught sight of one of their inner arms, he spotted the witch’s mark. He knew then what they were. Fornication Hags. It made sense. They were thought to be extinct, having last been seen in the Valley of the Dead some eight centuries ago. Kritan had thought the rumors of their abilities to wield glamour to be greatly exaggerated. How could these men not see what was before them? How could they not see that what they were so eager to stick their pricks into was a hag as old as time? It was clear by the drunken taunts from the crowd that the lowborn, non-magiks clamoring for a chance to stick their cocks in the cackling hags did not see what was truly there. The fables of the Fornication Hags had not done them justice.
It was said those without magik or with limited magik would look upon them and see them as virginal young women, flawless and highly sexual. In reality, they were ancient and fed off sex and lust. Each man who dared to thrust their cock inside them ran the risk of becoming part of their thrall—to be called upon by them at a later date, forced to serve their every whim. At this rate the three would have the whole of the Vesta tavern district enthralled by the end of the month.
One of the hags was on her hands and knees before a man who wore a high-end tunic—a sign the highborns without magik were not immune to the hags’ charms either. The man’s cock was deep in her mouth and he looked swept up in the act.
The men around the one getting his cock sucked cheered and lifted their mugs of mead into the air. “Finish with her, I want a turn.”
“Fi-ll her belly w-with your seed,” another said, his speech slightly slurred as if he’d had too much drink.
The ignorant fools had no idea what was truly before them. What they were giving away for a chance at perceived bliss.
Their souls.
The hag nearest Kritan paused, her gaze moving to him. A sickening smile danced upon her face. She winked and then brought her index finger to her lips. “Shhh.”
A nod was all he offered. He held no love for the locals and it was evident they were not worth his pity or intervention. The hags could keep their secret. What did he care if they took over the entire city? Would anyone notice? Could it be any worse than it was? He had a mission and they were not part of it. Besides, they had to be doing something with the power they collected from the sexual encounters. He didn’t want to become the target for it.
Movement from the corner of the tavern caught Kritan’s attention. A man with a brown cloak stood there. A gold wolf pin was fastened to the cloak. A sense of relief washed over Kritan. He would not be forced to endure any more taverns on his hunt for his informant. He had found him. His contact motioned for Kritan to follow him as he pushed back a worn, red cloth that hung in a darkened doorway.
All of Kritan’s senses lit, on the ready in case it was a trap. He walked past the three hags. One touched his leg. “Sire, let us please you. It has been so long since we serviced one of your kind.”
He resisted the urge to jerk back from her touch, instead schooling his face. He didn’t need them sending their thralls after him because he’d injured their pride. “I am on a quest. Perhaps after.”
More like never. No amount of ale or spirits would make them appear as anything more than they were and he did not want to have to chew off his own arm to escape them come morning.
More like I’d have to burn off my own cock should it happen into one of them.
She released him, content with his response.
Stepping past the material, Kritan took a deep breath. Sex. The scent was everywhere. He couldn’t escape it. Small oil lamps hung from the corridor’s ceiling, providing very little in the way of light. As a Katarian, he required little to be able to see. He suspected the lighting was as such so those passing within the hall would not easily recognize one another. If he was right, this tavern was much more than a place to drink and eat. It was a Den of Debauchery—where one could come to get their every sexual desire fulfilled, no matter how perverse. And it was more than likely run by someone with great magik. It would explain the Fornication Hags and the overwhelming sense of desire that seemed to float through the air.
There was a flicker from the far right and then the scent of something he could not believe would be happening so brazenly and in the open. Sex acts were one thing, but to use forbidden technologies was another. Kritan watched in stunned surprise as a holographic image of a woman sputtered in and out of focus. She was nude and squeezing her ample breasts while she darted her tongue in and out over her lower lip.
The entire ordeal might have looked erotic and enticing had the technology been in proper working order.
“Drink up,” she said, the sound quality dismal, probably from the age of the technology and neglect. The patrons raised their mugs and shouted for refills, all while continuing to fuck or watch others fuck the Fornication Hags.
What a hole in the ground.
Vesta was notorious for Dens of Debauchery. As was the whole of Tamonius. His kingdom was not without its establishments of ill repute, but it did not flaunt them the way Tamonius did. Higher-end dens in his kingdom were regulated and taxed. The business was profitable and in the end the regulations meant the women were clean and disease-free and well treated by the den owners and operators.
The scent of fresh blood came over Kritan, drawing him from his thoughts of home. He paused, the wolf within wanting to know more. Blood excited the animal. Always had and always would. Kritan pushed one of the curtains aside and spotted a peasant girl astride a man, a knife in her hand as she pulled it down his chest deep enough to draw blood, but not enough to cause real injury. The man’s eyes were closed as he thrust up into her cunt. He enjoyed the pain, the blood.
Kritan could not walk away from the sight of the act. On some level he enjoyed the show. The beast in him longed for the freedom to draw blood during sex. The man in him, while repulsed at the idea of causing his lover that type of pain, was curious as well. He was so caught up in the scene before him that he didn’t sense the men gathering around him until it was far too late. He knew then the blood sex act had been staged. It had been there to confuse his senses. To mask what he now smelled clearly.
Guards.
And they had come in numbers he could not win against.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!
(You have my permission to use the cover to help spread the word. Also, thank you again!)
Excerpt: Space Pirates Bounty
Excerpt for Space Pirates’ Bounty by Reagan Hawk available at Amazon.com
Must be 18 years or older to read
Chapter One
In orbit off Planet Emperius Romanius (Emprom)
Captain Raider of Teranasnu stared at the viewing screen of his ship, the Gallant. Planet Emprom was in sight. A swirl of browns, tans, reds and blues, it was quite a vision to behold if one didn’t realize the atrocities that took place upon its surface. He’d been planet-side on Emprom more than once, and each time it had turned his stomach. There was a vast class separation. You were either rich or you were poor. You were either free born or a slave.
Ever since his first visit to Emprom, he’d been working on a plan to add to his wealth. He was an opportunist, and that didn’t always go hand in hand with his morals—despite how loose they tended to be.
The only way he could get back at the universal system—a system under which he’d been born noble, yet suffered greatly at the hands of those wanting more power, more wealth—was to do what he did best. Steal. He didn’t keep all the bounty for himself—though more than enough to be comfortable. But he was generous with those in need. Those who were born with notes of ownership and debt over their heads before they’d barely drawn in breath. The universe was hardly fair, and while one man could not change the minds of everyone, he could change the minds of a few—enough to help make a difference in at least some people’s lives.
They’d land on Emprom within the hour and then their plan would begin.
“Captain, you sure you’re up for this?” Galwin asked. The man was a master of anything mechanical. He could fix the Gallant in deep space with two pieces of adhesive material and a prayer.
Raider had seen it done before and still wasn’t sure how it was they’d made it to a safe port for repairs. By rights they should have been space dust. Whatever Galwin did had held, and that was merely one of the many fixes he’d done to the ship over the years he’d been part of its crew.
Galwin’s size often intimidated others. At just shy of seven feet, he was imposing. He and his twin brother Ewan, who were matched in every way except personality, often made Raider feel short. Since Raider stood six and a half feet tall, that was a feat indeed.
Every bit capable and able to kill a man, Galwin didn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder. If anything, he seemed to go out of his way to mediate peace whenever possible. And though he didn’t like violence, he was capable of it when the need arose. Raider knew the man’s past and knew why he disliked having to resort to violence.
He couldn’t blame him. He offered a sideways smile at his friend. “Ever known me to miss out on a challenge?”
Galwin laughed. “No, sir.”
Ewan entered the flight deck. His long, dark brown hair that he normally wore tied at the nape of his neck hung free today. His gaze, so dark it often appeared obsidian, flickered over Raider, lowered to his groin, and then back up again.
Heat washed over Raider. He knew the thoughts running through his second–in-command’s head. Knew Ewan was thinking upon last night. The sexual tension that had ridden the air between them. It had been two weeks since they’d last shared a bed. Two weeks since they’d taken solace in one another’s bodies. Two weeks since they’d arrived at an understanding. The time had come for them to move forward with their lives, start families, take the next steps, yet Raider suspected neither was fully ready to do so. Ewan had a crazy notion they could do this together—that they’d find one woman who would want them both and who would want to be mother to both their children, living as one family unit—a union of three.
Raider seriously doubted that would come to be.
“Get in, get the gold, get out,” said Ewan as he neared Raider. “Emprom is backward, and staying too long will leave you nailed to a cross.”
It was well known throughout the galaxies that Emprom had unique ways of dealing with their unwanted and unsavory elements. Their love of public crucifixions wasn’t exaggerated.
“At least I’ll keep my hands if I’m caught,” Raider said, his attempt at humor falling flat. “Unlike what Planet Tresilian would do to a thief.”
Galwin laughed. Ewan didn’t. Instead, Ewan sat in the co-pilot’s seat. “Send one of us. Stay. This is a fool’s errand and you well know it. This Ahenobarbus tale is most likely a trap. No man is that rich on Emprom without being a bloodthirsty tyrant—one who will see a plan such as this coming a light-year away.”
Galwin snorted. “Emprom is full of wealthy, glutinous pigs. Let us pray they are too busy counting their gold to take note of us and this scheme.”
“I pray the tides turn upon them,” Ewan said, disgust in his voice.
Raider reached over and touched Ewan’s armrest. He met his longtime friend’s gaze. “Your distaste of nobles and the rich is noted.”
“You know what I mean,” Ewan muttered, refusing to look at him. “We have more than enough credits and gold as is. Let this one pass. Emprom’s riches are not worth your life.”
“Two weeks and it is done,” Raider stated clearly. “I’ll get in, be hired on and learn all I can about his guard detail, then empty his coffers. We are richer, he is poorer, and we can funnel the money to those on the Waysoni Moon who need it more.”
Ewan snorted. “And you’re sure this background your contact gave you will hold? What if this Ahenobarbus looks too deep into your invented history and backstory? What then? Think it will be too difficult for him to find out you are not Emprom born? That you have never actually served in Emprom’s military or ever worked for anyone in Emprom, let alone high-borns?”
With an amused shrug, Raider smiled. “If the fake papers do not work, then I fight my way clear and leave with his head on the end of my sword.”
Galwin lifted his fist in the air. “May the gods deem it so!”
Ewan cracked a half smile, his hand moving over Raider’s. The men shared a look, one that spoke volumes without any actual words being said. They were friends, yet something more hung in the air between them.
Baton, the only member of the crew from Earth, entered the flight deck and glanced around. “Are we discussing leave time? My dick needs tended to and Emprom is full of whorehouses that would handle that very thing and more. I’ll even pay extra for a pretty one.”
Galwin laughed harder. “Learned your lesson after the last one, huh?”
Baton grabbed his clothed crotch. “The injections to cure the ailment that hussy gave me were not worth the five minutes with her.”
All the men laughed.
“I told you to avoid the ones who discount to near free,” Ewan said cheerfully. “The coin is well spent in certain areas and sex is one of them. Do not skimp or your cock could fall off. Plus, the prices the medical stations around this galaxy charge are far, far more than what the high-end whores ask for.”
“Take leave while I am there,” Raider said to his men. “Tell the others they can as well. Have them drink and fuck their fill, then be ready for me in two weeks’ time.”
“What of your needs?” Ewan demanded, his mouth downturned, his posture rigid. The jovial mood among the crew ended quickly. “Going to see to those as well?”
“Oh shit,” said Galwin before he and Baton moved towards the back of the flight deck, growing quiet. They busied themselves with work that had already been done. Raider knew it was to give him and Ewan alone time.
Raider shifted uncomfortably in the captain’s chair. He wasn’t one to back down from anything, but in this moment he felt guilt deep into his soul. He couldn’t give Ewan what he sought. Raider wanted more. He craved women like the air he breathed. He could not give them up and he strongly suspected that Ewan couldn’t either. That what had happened between them, while certainly pleasing, was not something that would fulfill them for the remainder of their lives. “I require things too. My cock is heavy with the need for release.”
“And you will find a whore to ease the pain?” asked Ewan, his jaw hard and his mouth pinched. Contempt rolled off him in waves.
“If time permits, yes.”
Ewan jerked as if he’d been burned. “I see.”
“Ewan.”
He put a hand up. “No. If this is to be the way of it, then so be it.”
Raider disliked arguing with Ewan. He knew it was Ewan’s nature to lash out in anger first and think harder upon things later. Knowing and accepting it were two different things. Raider was a thinker. In fact he was inclined to overthink just about everything he did. And he wasn’t known to fly off the handle in fits of rage. He tended to keep a level head about him and find humor in most things.
Life had placed him in a privileged circumstance that should have been ideal. Born to nobles. A lord of his own lands. Yet life had thrown him a loop. His parents had been murdered by someone they trusted all because that person wanted more money, more power, more lands. Raider had sworn vengeance that day, not just against his parents’ murderer, but against all who allowed power to corrupt them.
http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/Space_Pirates_Bounty.html
April 24, 2013
Freaky, erm, Wed, Facebook Switch!
Author Yasmine Galenorn and I have swapped facebook pages for the day. I’ll be picking random winners from those who comment on the post swaps.
My post on Yasmine’s Facebook page
Yasmine’s Post on my Facebook page.
April 22, 2013
JUST RELEASED! Space Pirates Bounty (Strength in Numbers II)
Space Pirates Bounty (Strength in Numbers II) by Reagan Hawk (aka Mandy Roth)
M/F/M and M/M/F Threesome Erotic Sci-fi Alien Romance
Book Two in the Strength in Numbers Series
Scheduled to become head concubine for a sadistic master, Lucia longs to be taken from her life. Born a slave, she believes she will die without ever knowing passion or love. Resigned to a life of cruelty, she never dreamed to find herself sailing the stars and sandwiched between two alpha males, each willing to die to protect her and each willing to see to her every sexual desire.
Raider, a Robin Hood of the future and a legend among thieves and space pirates, has amassed a fortune for himself and his crew. Seeking something more daring, he poses as a guard for hire and takes a position within a nobleman’s household with an elaborate plan to claim the man’s riches for himself. He finds himself less concerned about money and more captivated by Lucia–a most alluring bounty. His lust for her is dangerous and could leave them both with a death sentence. He doesn’t care. He wants her and he’ll stop at nothing to have her, to possess her, even if it means stealing her instead of gold.
Warning: Short story contains MMF/MFM (oh, who are we kidding, just about everything and everyone joins in the fun) graphic language, ménage and more, kinky alien sex, extreme alpha males, and pretty much anything else you can think to toss in for sexy fun.
Additional Book Information
Amazon ASIN: B00BL1CVR2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62501-019-3
Release Date: April 2013
Heat Rating: 5/5
Soft release on Amazon Only. (Available at all vendors end of May)
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:
