Mandy M. Roth's Blog, page 74
March 13, 2013
Excerpt: Pleasure Cruise (Pleasure Cruise I) by Michelle M Pillow & Mandy M Roth
Paranormal Erotic Romance
Clare needs to loosen up and have some fun—not to mention some hot sex with someone other than herself. Her best friend, Kira, knows exactly what she needs—a vacation full of hunky single men who’ll knock her panties off. When she booked the cruise for Clare’s birthday, the travel agent left out one tiny detail. It’s a supernatural cruise, and they aren’t getting off until they’re married.
The powers that be are tired of waiting for the supernatural to find their own mates and reproduce. In a desperate act to get the dwindling population back up, they’ve decided to take matters into their own hands. Dominik, a lycan, and Braden, a vampire, are just the two perfect candidates to start this experiment. They’re sexy, in the prime of their reproductive immortal lives and ready to mate—just as soon as they can seduce their unsuspecting brides, or at the very least, keep them from swimming back to shore.
WARNING: This book contains hot, explicit sex and violence explained with contemporary, graphic language.
EXCERPT
Must be 18 years and older to read. If not, please leave the site.
An Excerpt From: Pleasure Cruise
Copyright © MICHELLE M. PILLOW AND MANDY M. ROTH
Prologue
Interoffice Memo
From: The Powers That Be
Re: Pleasure Cruise, Cruise Line Corporation, Pilot Program
TOP SECRET
Due to the dwindling population of certain supernatural factions and the reluctance of the supernatural kind to take mates for all eternity, we will be establishing a comprehensive program to repopulate the various supernatural species. Many of the supernaturals we’ve observed are unwilling to take mates from within their own population. This reluctance has been exacerbated in large part by the old grudges still held from the Middle Ages. In addition, the ratio of supernatural females to males have widened considerably. There are significantly fewer females for men to choose from. We assume Global Climate Change is to blame—if not, it does seem a good scapegoat.
In an unprecedented move, we will now be allowing humans on the Pleasure Cruise to participate in the preordained mating process. Because of existing prejudices against supernaturals in human culture, some human participants will not be aware of the paranormal elements on the cruise. However, these humans will be blessed with a sixth sense so as to subconsciously recognize their mates upon first sight. We do not wish to have a boat full of frightened humans defying our will. Some resistance is expected, but in the end, we gods know what’s best for them.
We do expect some opposition amongst the supernatural factions to this plan. Not all species will be happy to have their food source considered as suitable mate material. If questioned, you are authorized to cite declaration thirteen: The gods have willed it so. If they continue to question our judgment, turn their names over for possible smiting. We expect banshees and leprechauns to give us the most problems. You all know how they are when dealing with change.
It is our hope that, by introducing humans into their bloodlines, the supernatural will be less reluctant to take a mate. All humans who mate themselves to a supernatural will be blessed with eternal life. They will also be given the gift of procreation. If this goes well, we will be slowly introducing humans into our other business ventures as well, including Pleasure Air and Pleasure Train.
Chapter One
Clare grimaced as she looked at the gangway of the cruise ship and took a deep breath, trying to steel herself to get on board. The walkway looked nothing like she’d imagined. It was a long, plastic-covered hallway leading from the second story of the check-in building.
A long strand of wavy, blonde hair worked itself out of her loose ponytail. Kira had talked her into the highlights, and every time she saw them it caused her to pause. Frowning, she pushed the lock of hair out of her face and reached down to grab her duffel bag. It was the only bag she’d managed to convince the rather pushy bag boys at the port loading zone to leave in her care. Of course, this was seconds before they demanded a tip for carrying her belongings two feet and handing them off to the next person. Already the cruise was starting off on a sour note.
Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she looked around. She felt like a product in an assembly line. First stop, luggage drop-off. Wait in line. Second stop, health declaration. Wait in line. Third stop, check in. Wait in line. Fourth stop, go upstairs to, yep, wait in line. Fifth stop, photographer. Clare sighed. Apparently waiting in multiple lines was a major memorable event on a cruise ship. And finally, wait in line to get on the boat.
Cruising on a luxury ship wasn’t something she’d ever imagined herself doing. No, she was a career-driven woman who never thought of anything beyond deadlines and new deals. Clare was still shocked Kira had gotten her to agree to this trip.
“Welcome to the boat of love. I wonder what will happen on this week’s exciting journey? Will the captain steer the boat off course and into a giant iceberg? Or will the tired executive toss herself overboard due to lack of intellectual stimulation and line waiting?” she muttered, a little too sarcastically.
“That was the Titanic that hit the iceberg. And for the record, I graduated with honors… summa cum laude, baby. And I’d gloat but you graduated with the same honorable distinction,” Kira, answered, batting her eyes in a dramatic fashion.
“I know. If you recall, I was there. Besides, I wasn’t implying you aren’t intelligent. Though I am happy to see you’ve decided to admit you’re smart. Why you always feel the need to hide it is beyond me,” Clare said. “You’re the top of your field. You should be proud of it, not ashamed. If men are intimidated by that, they don’t deserve you.”
“And then I’d never get laid.” Kira shrugged, as carefree as ever. The line inched forward, winding slowly through the clear plastic hallways. “I’m not ashamed. I just don’t want to be labeled as some boring pinstripe workaholic prude because I happen to be good at my job. I hate stereotypes.”
“We’ve already agreed to disagree on this topic. Because I love you like a sister, I’ll let it drop.” Clare did her best to appear chipper. This was a vacation, after all.
“Thank you,” Kira answered, grinning. “I don’t complain about your boring life and you don’t complain about my wild one.”
“Kira…”
“Okay, dropped.” Kira winked before whispering, “For now.”
“You know I’m not used to taking trips like this. I spend my life avoiding time-sucking getaways. You can’t get more useless than sailing on a boat that goes absolutely nowhere. Does this thing even make port anywhere interesting? Did you even check?”
Kira pursed her lips.
“You didn’t check the itinerary the booking company sent you?” Clare asked, surprised. Kira had refused to send it to her.
Kira shrugged again. “I looked to see what time to board. Don’t worry about it. Anyway, continue, you were on a pretty good rant of some sort.”
“Can’t a girl be left in her nice little pessimistic place?” Clare grumbled. “Even you have to agree that drowning might be preferable to learning how to play shuffleboard.”
Kira laughed. “Yes, I totally agree about the shuffleboard thing. Besides, with my lack of grace, I’d only end up slipping in front of the world’s sexiest man. Hopefully, he’d be a lawyer. Then he’d want to talk to me about a possible lawsuit. We could discuss it over a lovely night of screwing.”
“Kira!” Clare scolded.
Tossing her hands in the air, Kira snickered. “Just kidding. But thanks for taking on the stern mother role you do so well.”
“Someone has to try to keep you in line.”
“Ah, yes. Considering I’m a grown woman and have a mind of my own, the key word there is try.”
“Believe me, I know.” Clare took a deep breath. This was an old argument. She could no more control Kira than she could the shining of the sun. She loved her friend despite her quirks. The only thing she could do, as a friend, was to be supportive of her. “If one more person tells me to control you I’m going to scream. Short of locking you in the house, I’m screwed.”
“Tell them to kiss your ass. You aren’t my keeper, and if they want to try the job on, let them. I could use a good laugh.” Kira’s words were clipped. Clearly she was annoyed with the entire topic.
Deciding to make Kira smile, Clare changed the subject. The line moved, inching slowly forward. The people around them were busy pointing at the boat and paid no attention to their conversation. “Just think, if you do manage to fall while playing shuffleboard, you may end up with a hot doctor on board to care for you.”
“Oh my… I can’t believe you just said that. There may be hope for you yet, Clare. I’m proud of you.”
Thoughts of the endless times she and Kira had made fools of themselves around hot guys popped into Clare’s mind. Chuckling as the plastic hallway finally opened up to the fresh sea air, she took in the sights and sounds of the ship. It was breathtaking, much bigger than she had expected the boat to be, but Clare would wait to admit that to Kira. She waited to see what her friend would do next to try to cheer her. The woman had an endless supply of one-liners and the dirtiest mind in the world, but that was part of what made Kira unique. If Kira’s personality had been the same as Clare’s, they never would have become friends. Thankfully, it wasn’t, and neither one of them could deny how beautifully they gelled. Kira was the yin to Clare’s yang.
“Okay, getting a little touchy-feely,” Kira said, making a face. “Before we grab each other and hug for the entire week, can we at least find our stateroom? I love ya to death, babes, but this bag is heavy.”
Clare snickered, knowing that as open as Kira was, she didn’t like to get weepy. “It’s a deal. Besides, some of that body glitter you always wear might get on me. My luck, I’d spend the entire week with hives.”
“I’m willing to risk it. Heck, I’d even sit with you and hand you anti-itch cream as needed. Not as sexy as suntan lotion by the pool, but what are friends for?”
Picturing the scene in her head, Clare rolled her eyes. “Thanks for not saying you’d rub it on for me.”
“Ha, I almost said that. Damn, you know me well.” Kira sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Are we there yet, Mom? Seriously though, the boat of love joke sort of fits. It’s a floating paradise. That’s what the brochure claims anyways.”
It was early evening and a purple haze spread beautifully over the rolling waters of the ocean. A cool breeze whipped Clare’s gray T-shirt against her slender frame, and a strange feeling unfurled in her gut. Her knees weakened in apprehension, and her feet refused to move from their spot. Slowly, she began to back away from the large ship.
Great, I’ve reached whole new levels of neuroses.
Clare laughed softly and did her best to stay on top of their conversation.
“At least we look good in swimsuits. Unlike…” Kira pointed toward a short man with a gut that hung a good six inches over the top of his tight swimsuit. He glanced in their direction and cast them a smarmy smile. Kira leaned in and whispered, “I’ll bet he wears a budgie smuggler.”
“Budgie…? No, I don’t want to know. Kira, tell me again why I let you talk me into this?” Clare gave her a pointed look.
Grinning, Kira innocently tipped her head. Clare wasn’t buying it. “Because you never have any fun, you’re too serious and you’re too polite to say no to a birthday present from your very best friend. Who was very willing to kidnap you if need be to get you on board.”
Clare’s lip twitched as she fought back a laugh. That answer was so very like Kira. Everything she did in her life screamed carefree and confident. She oozed sex appeal from her long, straight black hair to her dark red lips. Her green eyes flashed with constant mischief. Regardless of what she was doing, she always looked like she was up to something sinful. From Clare’s experience, she usually was. Life without her, while quieter, would also be boring.
“Sometimes I really want to bop you over the head with a wet noodle,” Clare mumbled.
“Who says that? Bop me with a wet noodle? What are you? Pushing ninety? Man, Clare, we really need to get you out more. Oh, but if you’re willing to make the wet noodle a dildo, I’ll think about letting you.”
That did it. A steady stream of giggles escaped them both. They’d been friends for a long time and neither one of them took the comment seriously. Clare looked over the ship and shook her head. She’d really hoped that being friends with someone as carefree as Kira would’ve rubbed off on her. So far, unfortunately, none of Kira’s confidence and exuberant behavior had come her way. Next to her friend, Clare knew she looked like the ultimate prude. Just thinking of it caused a wave of sadness to overtake her. Perhaps she was.
Perhaps? I’ve spent the last three weekends alphabetizing my collection of dictionaries from around the world just because it annoyed me that they weren’t in order.
“You’re going to have to select another weapon for me to use. I’d freak out about hitting you with a dildo,” Clare whispered, not a fan of even saying the word out loud.
“A flogger?”
“No.”
“A horse whip?”
“NO!”
BUY NOW
http://ravenhappyhour.com/Pleasure_Cr...
March 12, 2013
Find me on Social Media
I am on social media. I use one account (my main writing name–Mandy M Roth) but talk about ALL my pen names on it. Following me on the various social media outlets is a great way to find out what I’m working on, when something is releasing and more. Be warned I do tend to post a lot. Also, be sure you’re signed up for my newsletter. I also send out only one under my main writing name but it lists all my pen name works as they release.
You can visit my website here
http://www.mandyroth.com/
Reagan Hawk Website here
http://www.reaganhawk.com/
Excerpt from Rescuing Reya (The Beast Masters Series) by Reagan Hawk releasing March 19th!
Excerpt from Rescuing Reya (The Beast Masters Series) by Reagan Hawk releasing March 19th! Pre-Order your copy from Amazon today!
Reya coughed again, the air from the slave trader vessel hurting her lungs. Each breath she took was agony, and she’d taken more breaths than she could count since she’d been captured and imprisoned aboard the trader vessel months ago. Her upper back was rubbed nearly raw from heaving with her back pressed to the rusty metal wall of her holding cell. She’d been too weak to do much beyond lie there for most of the agonizingly long journey.
The cell door scraped open and she looked up to find one of the two Voxenite guards who normally checked on her. He was the nicer of the two, if you could call only jabbing her once with his electric prod ‘nice’. He’d done that on the first day of her arrival but hadn’t done it again.
He tipped his head and the gills on the sides of his face flapped. He wore a breathing apparatus over his nose and part of his mouth. The sight of him used to cause her to slink back and gasp. She was used to him and the others like him now.
“Come,” he said.
She tried to stand but was too weak.
He glanced down the long outer corridor and then stepped into her cell and bent. He lifted her gently and carried her out of the cell, down the corridor and to a large decontamination chamber. She’d not had a decent bath since she’d been taken from Earth, Old World Section Seven, and she nearly cried tears of joy at the sight of the unit. The guard eased her to her feet and motioned to the unit.
“Enter.”
She eyed him cautiously. “Really?”
She couldn’t be sure but she thought he may have done his version of a smile. “Yes.”
The idea of being clean put a spring in her step. She moved as quickly as she could to the decontamination unit and stripped the rags she’d been wearing from her body. The unit kicked on, cleaning away the grime and filth of the past few months. Her long blonde hair fell freely over her shoulders, clean once more. The unit kicked off and the door to it slid open.
Nude, she stood before the guard and lowered her gaze, fearful of what would come next. The guard eased closer to her, holding material in his hands. “Do not fear me.”
She looked up.
He held the material out for her. “This is for you. Dress in it when I am done here with you. Someone should pay a good price for you. You are—” He raked his gaze over her. “—most pleasing to look upon.”
She blushed and eased the material from his outstretched hands.
“We are not compatible,” he said, his voice slightly garbled because of the breathing apparatus.
Tipping her head, she stared at him, confused as to what he meant.
“Sexually,” he supplied. “My species and yours, we are not compatible. If we were, I would have purchased you for myself.”
“Th-thank you.” She bit her lower lip. “I think.”
“Dress. We land soon. Soon you will be bought.”
She tensed.
He touched her cheek gently and then turned to a shelf near her. He handed her a small vial. “Take this. It will help here and here.” He boldly touched her upper chest and then reached around her touching the raw skin on her upper back. “Your cough is worse. This will help. It will help your back heal quickly as well. Slaves are not permitted to it under normal circumstances. It is all I could steal from the supply room. I am sorry.”
She understood the risk he was taking to assist her and appreciated it more than he’d ever know. She went to her tiptoes, totally naked, holding material to her chest, and she planted a kiss upon his gilled cheek. “Thank you.”
He caught her around the waist. “Take the vial.”
She swallowed what was in it and nearly gagged. She thought he’d poisoned her but her airway began to ease nearly instantly. It wasn’t perfect but it was much, much better.
The guard held her close. His body pressed to hers. “Your hair is like the sun.”
She said nothing, wondering if he’d try to join with her even though he’d said they weren’t compatible. He took hold of her shoulders and pushed her out at arm’s length. He then looked her up and down, repeating the steps. She realized he was curious. He touched one of her breasts lightly. “These supply sustenance to your young?”
Reya wanted to hate him because she hated the others of his kind on the ship, but he’d always been different towards her. She nodded. “Yes. Once a woman of my species births a child, our breasts produce sustenance for the child. Here.” She put her hand over his, keeping it on her breast.
He squeezed her nipple gently and a soft hiss of air slipped from between her clenched teeth. He watched her and he touched her other breast with his other hand. He squeezed it as well. “They are sensitive, like our palusions?”
She wasn’t sure what a palusion was so she said nothing.
AMAZON Pre-Order, releases March 19th
March 11, 2013
The “perks” of working from home
I asked my twitter friends to help me come up with some “perks” of working from home (twitter handle is marked by comment). Some are serious and some poke fun at the misconceptions. The underoos one is totally serious.
1. You can conference call in your pajamas. And the person on the other end of the phone has no idea you’re in your Wonder Woman Underoos.
2. Your office hours are set, you know, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
3. Your commute to work is a flight of stairs away.
4. Good news! You’re “always” available because you “don’t have a real job” –@MiaWatts
5. You don’t have to talk to any pesky human beings — @MariaMelee
6. You are your own boss. Negative–you are your own boss so when shit hits the fan, it all blows on you.
7. You can set your work pace. For me that means hyperspeed.
8. CON–Self-employment Tax (nuff said)
9. I’m always here when my family needs me. Con–I’m always here when my family needs me.
10. You’re doing what you love. Con–some people assume that because you do what you love, it’s a hobby, not a career.
Do you have any perks (serious or not) about working from home?
March 8, 2013
Rock Around the Computer???
That’s right. I’m dancing in my office as I do a bit of clean-up. This just means it was time to sort the piles upon piles of reference books on my desk and put them back on the shelves so I can see the desktop again. Anyways, nearly all my music listening now happens through my computer. Anyone else? I’m one of those writers who cannot write in silence. I MUST listen to music. I have playlists that are so long you’d never believe me if I told you. Do any of you find listening to music while you work helps?
March 6, 2013
Excerpt: Mating Behavior by Mandy M Roth
Paranormal Shifter Romance
Wolf shifter Alan has a problem—he wants his best friend Katie in the worst sort of way, but Katie’s human and for a shifter male to choose a human for a mate is a death sentence—for both of them.
Katie is so in love with her best bud, Alan, that she can’t see straight. Problem is, Alan doesn’t seem to see her that way. All she wants is for him to tear her clothes off and have at her but, sweet, reserved Alan would never… or would he?
EXCERPT
Alan Becker stared over the orange glow of the campfire at the angel before him. She was tired, as he expected she might be when he’d called for a break. With his supernatural strength, Alan’s endurance was off the charts in comparison to that of a human. Katie had no idea he wasn’t like her. Hiding the fact he’d not broken a sweat or gotten the least bit winded on the hike thus far had been hard enough. The angel, who now looked to be on the verge of nodding off, was pushed beyond her limits. It damn near tore his heart out to see it. Katie hadn’t complained once so far on the trip and that made it all the worse. It was his place to take care of her.
They’d stopped long enough to eat and for her to warm up. As much as he disliked the idea of starting even the smallest of fires, which they would sit by for an hour or two at best, Katie needed a break from the hike.
Her unruly, dark brown hair naturally went to blonde surrounding her face, falling from her knit cap. Katie didn’t seem to notice or care as she tucked her knees to her chest and rested her chin upon them. If Alan didn’t know first-hand how cold Katie got, he would have thought the thick mittens and sweater she wore were overkill considering just how mild the March weather was. He’d been shedding layers most of the day and even now, as the sun hid on the other side of the mountain causing the temperature to drop, he was hot. Hot because of what he truly was—more than human but not quite a complete animal—and hot because of who he was with, Katie.
He grit his teeth as his cock dug painfully at the confines of his jeans. It seemed to be in a permanent state of arousal around Katie. The girl needed only to exist to make his heart flutter and his pulse speed. The urge to leap forth, do a partial shift and claim her as his own reached levels Alan wasn’t sure he could sustain without a meltdown. He swallowed back a lump in his throat, positive his tongue was swelling at almost the same rate his cock was.
Damn her for looking so tempting.
In truth Katie was layered up to the point her sexy, petite frame was unrecognizable, but he could see those big brown eyes reflecting pools of firelight back at him. The very thought of those eyes staring up at him as Katie took his cock in her mouth had Alan biting back a moan. She was passionate about everything in her life and he had little doubt she’d be a pistol in the bedroom as well. He could almost feel her nails digging into his back as he rode her into oblivion.
He clenched his fist, trying to wash the erotic images from his head before he lost control of himself. “Hungry?”
I know I am and it’s not for food.
She nodded. “A little. How much further do we have to go?”
The weary tone of her voice sobered him instantly. “Depending on how long we rest here for,” he ran a hand over his scratchy chin, “I’d say we should be to our campsite a little before nightfall. Unless you want to go straight to the cabin?”
Katie rubbed her mitten-covered hands over her legs. “You mentioned the old wolf dens near the spot your dad used to take you camping.” The slight pull of her mouth told him just how exhausted she was. Katie had been elated at the idea of seeing dens, even ones that were no longer in use. Seeing her weak smile was all the heads-up Alan needed to know she required rest. “I’d love to camp near them.”
“Anything you want,” he said, doing his best to ignore the way she bit at her lower lip.
Anything you want? What? How can I be whipped when I haven’t even sampled the goods?
He groaned and then coughed in a quick attempt to hide it. Alan wasn’t the type of man who followed a woman around aimlessly, bending to her every whim. Well, at least he never thought he was the type to do that. Katie had a way of leaving him tongue twisted and his chest tied in knots at the idea of her being unhappy. Only Katie possessed that certain something that left him longing to touch her, or to even be in the same room with her.
Alan poked the fire with a long stick for a while, unsure how much time had passed, and pretended to be more worried about keeping the fire going than the fact Katie was now watching him closely through tired eyes. She watched him often when she assumed he wasn’t looking. He used to wonder what she was thinking, but anymore he had to fight to keep from tackling her to the ground and sinking his cock into her. She had no idea his feelings ran so deep. Hell, up until he’d caught the scent of another man on her some six months ago, he didn’t even realize what he felt for her was so intense.
Jealousy is funny like that.
Alan had thought she was a fling. Minus the actual sex part, of course. A temporary obsession because she represented everything he couldn’t have—a beautiful, intelligent, human female for his own, to take as his mate, his wife and the mother of his children.
Temporary my ass. I’ve been hot for her for years.
The pack had a strict no-mating-with-humans policy and anyone who didn’t adhere to it found themselves on the receiving end of what they could only hope was a quick death. Not to mention the human involved was sentenced to death as well. Humans were to have no knowledge of their kind.
End of story.
No exceptions to the rule.
The council members had laid the laws of the pack down long ago and each generation followed it to the letter. Any who didn’t paid the ultimate price. He’d seen a werewolf punished for crimes against the pack when he was just a boy and the memory stuck with him. Seeing a man hung naked by his feet from a tree and ripped to shreds by shifted wolves wasn’t something he was ever likely to forget.
While Alan was more than willing to forfeit his own life for a night of passion with Katie, he wasn’t ready to sacrifice her life as well. Granted, he wasn’t heavily active in any pack, not even the one he lived closest to now, but still, going against the grain was deadly. Shifters of any kind were more common than humans would want to believe. In the city he bumped into at least one shifter a week. Hell, he’d even had a house party once and one showed up. The chick had been some sort of cat shifter and looked as if she wanted to gouge his eyes out. Being part wolf left the feeling totally mutual, so Alan didn’t take it to heart. Though, he did have his carpets and furniture steam cleaned to get the smell of cat out of them once she was gone. There was really nothing worse than cat hair stuck to his suit, then his sofa, then his bedding. Sleeping with her would have at least given a good reason for it. As it stood, the bitch just seemed to shed a lot as she’d wandered around his place snarling.
If he did give in and claim Katie as his own, the risk of another shifter discovering what he’d done was too great. If they caught the scent of his mark, it would only be a matter of time before news of his deed reached the head of the local pack. Within an hour, someone would be sent to eliminate Katie.
I won’t risk her.
Katie’s eyelids drifted downwards and she rocked slightly. Afraid she might fall face first into the fire, Alan drew upon his supernatural speed and moved next to her. Had she been awake, he would have never risked moving even a tenth as fast as he could. There would be no explaining away something like that. It wasn’t like he could slap a pair of glasses on and assume a new identity, or rush through a telephone booth to shift forms.
Real life wasn’t like the movies. And secret identities required more than capes. They required never revealing one’s self.
Alan pulled Katie into his arms, inhaling her sweet scent and groaning inwardly as his cock twitched. It had been a long hike up the mountain. He could hear her tiny breaths as she’d hiked behind him, smell the light sheen of sweat upon her skin and vividly picture himself licking it off her.
She hadn’t slept well the night before, tossing and turning before waking with a scream lodged in her throat. She then went on to obsess about his safety, doing a complete head-to-toe check over him prior to leaving for their camping trip. It was cute in a “fuck I’m hard again” kind of way.
Alan had tried to talk Katie into letting him drive his SUV, but she’d insisted on roughing it. That was almost laughable. Katie was a city girl, having only experienced nature while visiting a strip of grass labeled a park. Dragging her into the Tennessee Appalachian Mountains in search of red wolves was ludicrous. These mountains, the ones his father often brought him to, were downright dangerous, regardless of the fact they were no longer frequented by weres—just regular wolves. And even those had been reintroduced to the area because of hunting and other environmental factors.
Alan hadn’t really turned his back on his father’s pack so much as he shunned the idea of being part beast, part man. Sure, by all outward appearances he was human and he wasn’t a slave to the cycles of the moon like some werewolves, but that didn’t make being what he was any easier. The memory of looking at himself in the mirror, after a night of feeding off deer while in wolf form, still disgusted him. It had been over fifteen years since he’d last set foot in the mountains, and as much as he hated to admit it, he missed it. He missed the fresh air. The freedom to shift at will and run wild. Having others around who understood what his body was going through. But mostly, he missed the bond he’d once shared with his father. The minute Alan refused to accept what he truly was—a werewolf destined to one day be on one of the ruling councils—his father took it personally, turning his back on Alan and the “human” life he wanted so desperately to lead.
Alan graduated, went off to college and never looked back. His mother called often enough, doing her best to make small talk—all the while the unspoken hints that she wanted him to find a nice she-wolf and settle down hung in the air between them. At times it was so thick he screened his calls, unable to hear the disappointment in his mother’s voice when she asked if he’d claimed Katie yet and he said no. Confessing Katie was human wasn’t something Alan wanted to do. It would crush his mother.
So far, Alan had become quite the accomplished liar in regards to Katie and his mother. He managed to sneak in affirmations of his mother’s suspicions of Katie being a shifter as much as possible, while leading Katie to believe his mother had little to no interest in his life so she would stop asking to meet her.
If news spread back to the pack that he was practically living with a human female, and had been for the last several years, they’d naturally assume he was fucking her. They’d also assume she knew his secret. Katie would be in danger and that wasn’t something Alan would ever permit.
Katie blinked up at him as he rocked her gently before the fire. “Mmm, why aren’t you tired?” She stretched. “You know, you’re in incredible shape and I have yet to see you workout. Is this how you do it? Do you sneak away and hike when I’m not looking? Your backpack weighs a ton. I tipped over trying it on, remember?”
I’m not tired because I have you in my arms and I’ll be damned if I sleep the moment away.
He shrugged and let a lazy smile dance over his face as he remembered the stunned expression on Katie’s face as she fell over, hitting the ground under the weight of his pack. Her shoulders had been pinned to the ground by the straps, reminding him of a turtle on its back. It also left her in prime position to receive him, so as funny as it was, Alan had no choice but to get her off the ground quickly or chance mounting her.
“I don’t know. I guess it’s all this fresh air. And I wouldn’t suggest trying to slip my pack on up here. If you tumble, you may never stop.” He chuckled even though for one brief second the threat of her doing just that hit him hard. Overreacting seemed to be reserved for anything to do with Katie. With anyone else in life, Alan could really give a shit. He had to take a calming breath and remind himself that Katie was safe.
Katie purred as she stretched against him. The very sound drove spikes of need through his system, leaving his skin prickling with the urge to shift into wolf form and forever claim her as his own. He tipped his head back, trying, and failing, to block the scent of honeysuckle and roses—the scent of Katie. She fit in the crook of his arm, her body molded to his, reaffirming what the man in him believed, she was made for him.
If only that were true.
Alan steeled himself against her allure and eased her to the ground, careful to pull her backpack close to act as a pillow. “Rest for a bit while I finish checking the map and repacking the gear.”
“No, I want to help,” she said, her voice slurred with sleep.
The tiniest of laughs escaped him. “As fun as watching you try to figure out what package of dried goods goes where is, I’m going to pass. Take a quick nap. There’s nothing else you can do to help, Katie, so rest.”
“Okay, I’ll just rest for a minute.”
http://ravenhappyhour.com/Mating_Beha...
Spring? Spring where are you?
I’m suffering from cabin fever. Okay, more like office fever but still. I’m ready for warm weather, beaches and margaritas (with hot guys serving them to me). Don’t judge! I feel like this winter is lasting longer than most when I know that is not even a possibility. All the same, its how I feel. Any others out there suffering from spring-itus?
March 5, 2013
FREE Online Magazine!
Have you seen Raven Magazine? Its FREE and available for online viewing as either a PDF or with the viewing app that will load when you click it. Help us spread the word about it so we can keep it going. It has articles from authors, publishers and so much more!
February 27, 2013
Raven Author: Excerpt: A Hired Affair by Lydia Brookes
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Nicole Davis is kept busy owning her own bar, and is too busy to find love. But, if she can’t find love, she’ll settle for sex—even if she has to pay for it. She knows she could never love a man like Jack, whose job requires him to sleep with women, but that doesn’t mean she can’t hire him for a few hours.
Warning: This short story contains graphic language and sexual content.
EXCERPT
Must be 18 years and older to read. If not, please leave the site.
Nicole Davis looked down the bar in what she hoped was disgust. He was back again, pretending to be some single bachelor–handsome, charming, seriously looking for Mrs. Right. Yeah, he was looking for Mrs. Right, or rather Mrs. Married to the Right Guy Who Hired Me. Some rich asshole who neglected his wife would hire this clown to seduce the unsuspecting woman while she was drunk, so that they could catch them in the act of having an affair, and could get a divorce without having to pay alimony. She’d seen many things since her bar, Onyx, opened, but this one was pretty low.
Nicole poured a shot of tequila and helped herself, tipping back her head. Her black tank top stretched up, showing her flat stomach. The bar belonged to her, so she could do whatever she wanted in it and right now she felt like drinking in the middle of the afternoon. Turning around, she set the bottle down and stared into the dark brown eyes of her reflection.
Onyx was a cozy place. Shaped like a long rectangle, it was much bigger than it looked on the outside. A row of booths lined the wall opposite the bar, with high backs for privacy and dark green leather cushions. Dark wood was polished to a high gloss along the walls with lighter wood tabletops and bar top. Stained glass fixtures hung over the seats and pool table. A jukebox was in the corner, playing only songs she liked.
She contemplated throwing Mr. Jerkoff out, telling him never to come back. She considered it every time he came in, but for some reason held back. Watching him seduce unsuspecting women became almost a sick fascination for her and she often wished he’d try to seduce her just so she could reject him.
At first, she thought he was just a charmer, until she noticed he gave a different name each night he came and changed his appearance like a chameleon. Only after overhearing him talk to a client did she realize what his game was. Hey, a man who merely liked sex and seduction, she could respect. A man who got paid to seduce women for bored husbands was just plain wrong.
Nicole shook her head. Peeking through the mirror, she studied the handsome stranger. The bar wasn’t too packed, but it was still early. In fact, it was a lot earlier than she usually saw him come in.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t call him ugly. He looked softer today with a loose t-shirt and blue jeans. His short dark hair wasn’t slicked back but hung easily to frame his light brown eyes.
Nicole bit her lip. She wondered if he was all talk, or if he actually was good at his profession. She’d never been with a man-whore before, but having spent at least two months memorizing the firm curve of his ass, she bet he was good in bed. Her body heated, making her realize she stared a little too long and hard at his reflection.
“Can I get a drink, or are you going to keep glaring at me for no apparent reason?” the man asked, his voice sending chills up her spine. He didn’t even look up from the book he held.
“Going for the reading, sensitive type tonight, eh, Bobby?” she quipped, moving to pour his regular–Jack and Coke. She slid the glass in front of him.
“I am the reading type,” he answered, not even looking up. Nicole noticed he didn’t say sensitive.
“Whatever you say, Ron,” Nicole answered, pretending she was bored as she answered the call of one of the back booths. She came out from behind the bar, walking past him with two bottles of beer. Under her breath, she added, “Last week you were the animal trainer type, Chester.”
The man actually laughed. Nicole dropped off the beers at the far booth, smiled kindly for the thought out come-on line she’d heard a million times, politely declined a ride on the baloney pony, and made her way back behind the bar. As she passed Mr. Jerkoff, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. His fingers wrapped all the way around her and overlapped. A spark of desire went through her, spiraling all the way to her toes.
“It’s Jack,” he said, not looking up and not letting go of her wrist.
“Yep,” Nicole answered. His hand was warm and suddenly all those late night fantasies that had preoccupied her about him came to mind. Forcing a light tone, she said, “You got it, Alan. Jack and Coke.”
“My name,” he said, finally turning to look at her. A small smile curled the side of his mouth, as he finished, “is Jack.”
http://ravenhappyhour.com/A_Hired_Aff...
February 26, 2013
Pre-Order Upcoming Reagan Hawk Books!
That is right! Pre-Order is available for upcoming Reagan Hawk books! Pre-Ordering is a big deal. Its something I’ve only had available to me a few times in the past nine years and those have been through multi-author NY anthos. I’m asking for you help in making this a success. Also, by pre-ordering you can lock in the low price of $2.99 and get the books instantly delivered to your Kindle the day they each release.
Do you love the Reagan Hawk books that I write? If so, you can PRE-ORDER Rescuing Reya (The Beast Masters) releasing March 19. Pre-Order today and get it delivered instantly to your kindle on March 19th. Its that simple. Plus, Pre-Ordering will help build sales and possibly help my pen name make a large list, like the NYT or USA Bestsellers–this would mean more people buying my books and me being able to continue to write more books. I need all of your help to do that. Thank you!
You can Pre-Order Rescuing Reya for $2.99 on Amazon here. Pre-Ordering is the only way to lock in this low price. PREORDER from Amazon HERE
Have you been waiting for Strength in Numbers Book II? If so, you can PRE-ORDER Space Pirates’ Bounty by Reagan Hawk (aka Mandy M Roth) on Amazon today for the locked in low price of $2.99. It releases on April 23 and if you pre-order it will be delivered to your kindle instantly on its release day. Pre-Order from Amazon HERE
Also, Space Pirates is MORE than 1 page–what Amazon shows. Currently, a Raven place holder page is loaded waiting for final doc from editors. The book will be between 10-15k, so MORE than one page. I promise.
