Shelli Stevens's Blog, page 14

Snippet Saturday ~ Family

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is Family! Check out my excerpt from Going Down, and then check out the other blogs listed below. Have a great weekend!

One man wants her heart. The other wants her dead…



Holding Out for a Hero, Book 1

Eleanor Owen needs to get out of Chicago and quick. It's not that she doesn't want to obey the subpoena to testify against her drug-trafficking ex-boyfriend. It's making it to the witness stand alive, should a dirty cop make good on his threats.

Tiny, remote Wyattsville, Oregon looks like the perfect place to disappear, but it's hard to blend into the woodwork when one of the town's infamous namesakes sends her heart racing. Worse, Mr. Tall, Hot and Packing is the town sheriff, which means she should stay as far away from him as possible.

Tyson Wyatt is positive the sexy new girl in town is hiding something. Question is, what? He vows to feel out her secrets—including what she feels like beneath him. Preferably naked. Until then, he's not buying the story she's selling.

Their chemistry is sheet-melting hot, and Ellie realizes much too late that the man with the badge is as dangerous to her heart as her ex is to her life…

Now Available at Samhain Publishing Kindle  Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT

Tyson watched as she tilted the beer bottle back, wrapping her lips around the rim and taking a sip. Jesus, she looked sexy sucking on a Budweiser.

"No, unfortunately my nephews and nieces couldn't be here today," his mom said, moving next to her husband, who promptly draped an arm around her shoulder. "But they send their love to everyone."

"Now that's too bad. I have a serious hankering for some of Ryan's jambalaya." Tyson rubbed his belly and winked down at Ellie. "My cousin went to college down in Louisiana. He makes a mean jambalaya."

Her eyes light up with amusement. "I swear, you have a hollow leg. You always seem to be thinking about food."

His dad chuckled, brushing a kiss across his wife's forehead. "All the boys are like that. You wouldn't have believed the grocery bill when they were teens."

"I can only imagine," Ellie said. "You have my sympathy."

"Speaking of food, how's that salmon coming, Pops?" Todd asked, crossing the grass toward the barbeque. "I'm starving. Didn't quite wake up in time for breakfast this morning."

Trevor snorted and glanced at Ellie. "That's code for he was sleeping off a wild night at some girl's house."

"Why you jealous bastard," Todd yelled, taking a playful swing at the back of his brother's head.

Trevor ducked and countered with a light jab to Todd's shoulder.

"Are you guys always like this?" Ellie asked in an amused whisper, leaning into him.

"What do you mean?" Tyson caught her hand and stroked the inside of her palm, then couldn't resist teasing, "We're on our best behavior today."

She laughed as her fingers curled around his. "I highly doubt you guys are ever on your best behavior."

Tyson smiled at that. She was pretty much dead on.

When he glanced at his parents, he found his mom watching them with a considering expression, her mouth curved into a tiny smile.

Don't get your hopes up, Mom, he warned silently. Ellie wasn't in town for long, and he wasn't thinking beyond a summer fling. Even as the thought flickered through his head, the denials came rushing up behind it.

Well, shit.

"So, Trevor, I hear Megan's back in town," their dad announced suddenly.

All talking and laughter ceased, leaving a silence that was only disturbed by the occasional cries of seagulls.

Tyson's breath held as he took another sip of beer and tried to glance over at his brother inconspicuously.

Trevor's expression was unreadable, his gaze shuttered. But Tyson didn't miss the way his fingers tightened around the bottle in his hand.

"Is that so?" Trevor finally replied in a voice without inflection. "I hadn't heard."

Their mom cleared her throat. "Maybe you should invite her over to join us? She's not far from here—"

"No." The harsh word whipped through the group, snuffing out any hope his parents might have for further discussion.

Even Todd's cheery mood diminished some and he turned to check on the salmon, his smile gone.

Ellie moved closer to Tyson's side and tightened her grip on his hand, obviously sensing the tension.

But then she surprised him, clearing the air with a bright, "That salmon smells wonderful. Do you guys ever go out there and go fishing?" She gestured to the ocean that lay just beyond the fenced line of Wyatt property.

"Hell, yeah, we do," Todd said, his grin returning. "I'm the one who caught the salmon we're grilling right now."

"Bah! I believe I caught this one," their dad corrected. "Yours was barely six pounds."

"Bullshit it was, Pops!"

Any remaining tension from the family dissipated as the two began arguing good- naturedly.

Trevor had turned away from the group, silently staring out at the water.

"Good save," Tyson finally murmured against Ellie's ear. "Thank you for that."

She squeezed his hand and glanced up at him. "No problem. What was that all about anyway?"

He hesitated, but then decided Trevor was too far away to hear.

"Megan was Trevor's fiancée until they broke up last year. He won't admit it, but I think Trevor still has some pretty strong feelings for her."

"Why did they break up then?"

Again, he hesitated. "Trevor's unit in the Army deployed to Afghanistan for a year. When he came back…I don't know. Something changed. Their engagement ended shortly after that."

Sympathy flashed across her face, before Ellie turned to watch Trevor. "I'm really sorry to hear that."

"I need to go throw together the fruit salad," his mom said, passing them on the way to the house. "Ellie, why don't you come help? You can tell me more about yourself."

Ellie's eyes widened and her fingers clenched around his, but she said a bright, "Sure."

Tyson bit back a laugh as he watched her follow his mother inside. He should've seen that coming a mile away. It wasn't every day he brought a girl to the Saturday barbeque…hell, it wasn't ever.

Which made him wonder again how he was going to convince himself this was a summer fling.

With a sigh, Tyson took another swig of his beer and went to check out the salmon that he was pretty sure he'd caught.

Lauren Dane

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TJ Michaels

Snippet Saturday ~ Secondary Characters

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is secondary characters. Check out my excerpt and then hop along to the other blogs listed below :D

Revenge can be sweet…and oh so sexy.

Lena Richards's whirlwind vacation to Europe with a friend is a welcome chance to shake her pre-wedding jitters—until she learns her high-school sweetheart is cheating on her, Hawaiian-style. Figuring all's fair, she indulges in a fling of her own with a sexy New Yorker she meets in Amsterdam whose kiss blows her mind—and the lid off her hormones.

Tyler Bentz is wary that the petite bombshell, who only a short time ago insisted their one kiss must never happen again, has done a complete 180. His questions only make it clear she's interested in probing of the sexual kind. Who is he to turn her down?

As they burn their way across Europe, something shifts, and it's not just the earth moving with their exploding passion. Lena begins to realize what it really means to fall in love. And Tyler finds himself tumbling hard and fast.

Reality catches up with them in Paris, leaving Tyler to wonder if Lena's really the one, or if he's nothing more to her than a pawn in her game of revenge.

Pre-order on Amazon

EXCERPT

Lena removed her sunglasses and grabbed the paper menu off the table, relieved to see it also offered the English translation of the food. "I'm starving. Do you think they're serving lunch yet?"

"Hello, hot guy at the bar," Stephanie whispered, ignoring her question. "And he was showing strong signs of interest when we walked in."

"Now that's a surprise," Lena murmured. "You could draw looks from the blind."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows and smiled at the man, making Lena glad that she had her back to him.

"Okay, he's coming over."

"What?" Lena dropped the menu, her pulse quickening. "Are you nuts? He could be a complete wacko."

"Well, hello,my fellow Americans." The voice, a deep and sensuous baritone, lifted the minuscule hairs on the back of Lena's neck.

I will not turn and look.

"Oh, now that's too bad." Stephanie pouted. "I was hoping you'd be foreign and not another boring American. Accents are so delicious."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." He didn't sound apologetic in the least. "Was that an invitation to sit down a second ago?"

"You're a quick one." Stephanie slid over in the booth and made room for him.

Lena saw his backside first as he walked past her. Okay, so he looked good from behind. His hair was brown and cut short, but it had some curl to it. A hunter green crew neck sweater covered thick, broad shoulders and muscular back. Hmm. A possible swimmer? Her gaze traveled down to the solid looking butt tucked into faded jeans.

The front of him would be a big mess. No man could look that good on both sides. He probably had yellow teeth, acne scars, and crossed eyes.

He turned around.

Sweet Jesus. This icon of a man could make the statue of David appear to be an overweight nobody. It shouldn't be legal for a man to look this good. Lena's defenses went on red alert, a common reaction when she was confronted with an impossibly good-looking man.

His brown eyes met hers across the table, and he gave her a broad smile, displaying perfect, white teeth. She gave an inaudible harrumph. What, did he promote toothpaste, too?

"So where are you from, Mr.…?" Stephanie asked as she trailed a manicured nail up his sleeve. She didn't seem near as bothered as Lena by their new friend.

"Bentz," the man replied. "But formality is wasted in a place like Amsterdam. Call me Tyler. I'm from New York."

"New York?" Stephanie replied. "I love New York. Great shopping. The name's Stephanie, and this is my best friend Lena."

Tyler shook Stephanie's outstretched hand and then turned to Lena, who'd tucked hers back into her lap.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Bentz." Lena gave an inward groan, wishing she didn't sound so damn stiff.

Tyler cocked an eyebrow and pulled his hand back, keeping his gaze locked on her.

Lena didn't answer and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, turning her gaze away from the amusement in his brown eyes. The hot body she could ignore, but the steady intensity in him struck a chord in her.

Stephanie grabbed another cigarette and lit up.

"So, where did you say you girls were from?"

"Portland, Oregon. Well, she is. I'm from Seattle." Stephanie blew a stream of smoke into the air and declared, "I think I want a beer. Do you think they sell joints in here?"

Lena's stomach flipped, and she jerked her gaze to her friend. "You're not really going to smoke marijuana, are you?"

"Don't be a prude, Lena." Stephanie rolled her eyes. "I know you took a hit on a joint in high school. And besides, we're in Amsterdam. It's practically expected of you."

"You just had to bring that up," Lena muttered, her cheeks warming. She glanced at Tyler. "I never inhaled."

"Mmm hmm." Stephanie laughed. "You wouldn't believe how defensive she gets about that."

Tyler smiled, glancing down at his menu. "Well, I'm just going to have a Hoegaarden."

"A what?" Lena asked, curious despite herself.

"It's a white beer," he explained. "It's great over here. Make sure you ask for a lemon though."

"Oh. Like a hefeweizen? That's my favorite." Easy girl, it's just a beer. She forced a casual shrug. "It's too early for beer, though. I'll just have water."

Stephanie gave her a pensive look. "No beer? What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I just don't want to drink some hole garden, or whatever you call it. I'm just here to grab something to eat."

As if on cue, the waitress appeared and took their orders. After she left, Tyler turned back to the women. "So, what brings you two to Amsterdam? Business or pleasure?"

"Hopefully pleasure." Stephanie's voice turned husky. "I've been searching for a way to unwind for the last couple months. And I think I may have found it."

"Oh, Jesus," Lena mumbled under her breath. Stephanie sure didn't waste any time. She'd baited the hook and was trolling the waters.

"And you?" Tyler turned to her. "Pleasure as well?"

"What?" Lena gave him a sharp glance. "I'll have you know I'm en—"

"Lena." Stephanie interrupted her, stopping her before Lena could declare her engagement.

Lena scowled, remembering their deal that they were just two single women on this trip.

"I'm enjoying myself on this vacation. Nothing but hotels, tourist traps and lots of pictures. In fact, Steph, remind me to pick up one of those snow globes, will you?"

The other two stared at her, their expressions twisted to show their puzzlement. Could I sound like more of an idiot?

Before turning back to Tyler, Stephanie nodded as though she were beginning to understand what was going on in Lena's head.

"And why are you here? You look too well dressed to be backpacking."

"I did the backpacking scene in college. I'm just here for a few days on business."

"Well, that's too bad." Stephanie pouted. "Although, what a place to mix business with pleasure."

Overkill, Steph. Overkill. Lena's jaw clenched as she slid out of the booth. "I'll be back in a few."

 

Tyler watched Lena scurry away, noting her perfect backside. Well, well. Maybe Amsterdam did have its perks.

He'd begun to regret his decision to take the assignment here. He was bored out of his mind, and it had only been two days. Most of the work had been completed in the first day, and he hated doing the tourist thing by himself. He still had until Tuesday before he was due to fly back to New York.

Maybe, if he could convince her, Lena could help pass some of the time by. She intrigued him. He wanted to spend more time with her. Get her to come out of her shell a bit. Lord knew what he'd find underneath that protective demeanor, but he knew it would be worthwhile to find out.

Lauren Dane

Rhian Cahill

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Jody Wallace

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Mari Carr

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Myla Jackson

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Alison Kent

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

Shelli Stevens

Shiloh Walker

Leah Braemel

Snippet Saturday ~ Action

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is Action. Please check out the excerpt from my book Negligee Behavior, and then skip around to the blogs listed below.

When lingerie heiress Brandy Summer gets cold feet and runs out on her Vegas wedding, she has nowhere to turn—so she hijacks a hunky biker waiting for a red light and begs him for help. What she doesn't know is that her instincts are right: the groom has a hidden agenda. He needs her money to pay off his gambling debts and she's his ticket to the good life.

Marco Vargas isn't sure what he's getting himself into when he rescues Brandy, but figures he'll do the chivalrous thing. He offers her a job in his bar and the chance to sort out her feelings. But it seems that keeping Brandy hidden is easier than keeping his hands off her—and what will happen when Brandy discovers that Marco has secrets of his own?

Order from Carina Press |Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Also available in Audiobook

EXCERPT

Marco gritted his teeth and shook his head. How did he let it get to this point? How the hell did he end up hiding in a hotel room closet with a choir teacher?

She took a hurried step backward when someone passed by their hiding spot. His hands automatically reached out to steady her and landed on a pair of soft curvy hips.

Well, look at that. Maybe the choir teacher was hiding something under the drab clothing.

His blood pounded a little faster and he took a deep breath in. The smell of apples assailed him again, and this time it didn't seem quite as weird.

Without thinking, he moved his hands down her hips and was rewarded with a stinging slap across his knuckles.

She tensed, as if worried the swat had been too loud. But after a moment the sounds of two people speaking quietly in the room were clearly heard.

Hmm. Gordon obviously wasn't alone. Had Brandy figured it out yet?

"I'm just going to shower," a man's voice said.

He heard Brandy's nearly silent gasp as she shifted forward, trying to peek through the edge of the closet door. Ah shit, this couldn't be good.

The bathroom door closed, followed by the sound of the shower running.

"Don't forget, darlin'—I charge by the hour."

Marco leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Do you have your purse?"

He felt her nod. The curls on her head tickled his chin.

"Do you want to stay and talk with Gordon?"

"What do you think?" Her tone turned waspish.

"Okay, we're going to have to make a run for it. Listen carefully." He kept his voice encouraging. "I want you to open the closet and head straight out of the room. Got it? Don't look back and don't stop to talk to whoever else is out there."

Again she nodded.

"Okay." He took a deep breath, adrenaline pulsing through his veins. "Now!"

She pulled open the door and leaped out. There was a surprised gasp from the person sitting in the room. Brandy stood stock-still in front of the closet, staring in disbelief at the woman on the bed, obviously ignoring his advice to just run and not look. He stole a quick look at the naked woman on the bed—fried blond hair and perky boobs—eyeing Brandy with open curiosity.

Damn it. He needed to get Brandy out before the shit really hit the fan.

"Nobody said anything about doing a group thing." The woman on the bed transferred her attention to Marco, her slow smile showing off some seriously screwed up teeth. "But I'm not complaining."

"A group thing?" Brandy sputtered glaring at the naked woman on the bed. "You—you—you—"

Marco swore and grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door. She followed, but her eyes never left the other woman.

The bathroom door swung open just as Marco closed the hotel room door after them. He was nearly dragging her by the time he pushed the button for the elevator. The doors opened and he pushed her in, just as footsteps sounded running down the hall.

"Love muffin!" A man yelled. "It's not what it looks like."

Marco hurried into the elevator before he could get a peek at the now infamous Gordon. The doors slid shut and a second later they could hear him pounding on the elevator and screaming her name. Well, not her name, but his choice endearment, love muffin.

Brandy leaned back against the wall in the elevator, her eyes closed.

"Are you all right?" Marco watched her, his body buzzing like he'd had too much caffeine. But it wasn't caffeine that had him on edge. It was the anticipation of her reaction. She was a time bomb that could go off at any moment.

God, please don't let her have a breakdown. He was really, really bad at comforting weepy women.

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Lacey Savage

Snippet Saturday ~ Sexy

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is sexy. Check out my excerpt and then hop around to the other blogs :P

One man wants her heart. The other wants her dead…

Holding Out for a Hero, Book 1

Eleanor Owen needs to get out of Chicago and quick. It's not that she doesn't want to obey the subpoena to testify against her drug-trafficking ex-boyfriend. It's making it to the witness stand alive, should a dirty cop make good on his threats.

Tiny, remote Wyattsville, Oregon looks like the perfect place to disappear, but it's hard to blend into the woodwork when one of the town's infamous namesakes sends her heart racing. Worse, Mr. Tall, Hot and Packing is the town sheriff, which means she should stay as far away from him as possible.

Tyson Wyatt is positive the sexy new girl in town is hiding something. Question is, what? He vows to feel out her secrets—including what she feels like beneath him. Preferably naked. Until then, he's not buying the story she's selling.

Their chemistry is sheet-melting hot, and Ellie realizes much too late that the man with the badge is as dangerous to her heart as her ex is to her life…

Buy at Samhain Publishing | Kindle |Books on Board |Barnes and Noble

WARNING:

A city girl on the run, and a small-town sheriff set to seduce. Explicit sex. Dirty talk. A hint of danger. Oral sex with a cupcake.

Medium rare. Perfect. One for dinner, and she'd keep the other for lunch tomorrow, saving her from having to cook again. Although, cooking had somewhat become her source of entertainment.

She grabbed a potholder and pulled the steaks from the oven. As she began to set them down a sharp rap came at the door.

Jumping with a curse, she dropped the pan fully onto the stove and placed a hand over her pounding heart.

Really? Again?

She moved toward the window, experiencing a sense of déjà vu, which only doubled when she spotted the sheriff's car outside.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me." She shoved a strand of hair from her eyes, ignoring the way her pulse quickened.

And she knew it wasn't just from the possibility that he'd discovered she wasn't who she claimed to be.

She considered putting on a sweater, since she was still in the thin tank top and pants she'd worn to do yoga in. But then another knock came and she muttered under her breath, moving to answer it.

"Sheriff Wyatt." She forced a pleasant expression as she swung the door open. "Something I can help you with?"

Tyson leaned against the doorjamb, a disarming smile on his face and a bottle of wine in his hand.

"Thought I'd drop by and see if you wanted to have dinner."

Ellie blinked, opening her mouth to reply, but then closed it again. Was the sheriff hitting on her?

"Oh, well, I just cooked some steaks…" she protested lamely.

"Great. Steaks. Plural. As in enough for two?" His smile widened as he straightened and stepped through the doorway. "Now there's an offer I can't refuse."

It hadn't been an offer, dammit! She bit back the words and gave an uneasy laugh.

"Umm—"

"I promise to return the favor, Ellie," he murmured with a wink, shutting the door and taking a step toward her. "Tomorrow you can come to my place and I'll cook. I make a mean lasagna."

Oh, yeah, he was definitely hitting on her.

Ellie unconsciously backed away from him, completely thrown off balance by his directness. Her butt bumped against the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf and she came to an abrupt halt.

Tyson took another step forward, until his hips brushed hers, pressing her back against the wooden shelf. The smell of soap and woodsy cologne immediately tickled her senses. He'd changed out of his uniform and through his jeans she could feel the thickness of his cock and the heat of his hard body.

Her mind screamed at how absolutely bizarre this was. She didn't trust him—didn't trust any law enforcement officer right now. And yet, having the sheriff's muscled body pressed up against hers sent awareness sizzling through her. Tightening her nipples and creating a throbbing ache between her thighs.

What was it about him that made her want to do all kinds of raunchy, naughty things that would probably have gotten her kicked out of Catholic school eight years ago?

"You know, Ellie, we're neighbors."

"Are we?" And why did her voice squeak?

"Yeah. I'm just a couple minutes up the road." His gaze met hers, the pupils in his clear blue eyes dilated. "So if you need to borrow a cup of sugar, or…something, all you need to do is ask."

Ellie swallowed hard and gave a quick nod. "I-I'll remember that."

"You do that." He set down the bottle of wine on the shelf, his face drawing even nearer to hers. "You know what else?"

Mutely, she shook her head, not even about to guess what he was going to say next. Her mouth watered and it had nothing to do with the steaks in the kitchen.

It had been months since she'd had sex, and right now she was on the verge of grabbing the back of his head and kissing the hell out of the slightly loony—or maybe just drunk—sheriff.

He lowered his head, until his mouth was just a breath's away from hers. "I had your name run."

And just like that, her arousal vanished. Drying up as fear closed off her throat.

She couldn't reply, even if she'd wanted to. Just lifted one brow and made a small gurgle of sound as she exhaled.

"You were right. Twenty-four-year old from Brooklyn," he murmured, tracing her jaw with the backs of two fingers. "But you weren't entirely truthful, were you, sweetheart?"

Her knees buckled, threatening to give out. Oh no. He'd figured it out.

Caught by his hypnotic blue gaze, she found her head moving back and forth.

"I didn't think so," he said, as his thumb made a slow glide over her bottom lip. "But I can see why didn't want to tell me."

"You don't understand." The words erupted from her in a husky plea.

"Oh, no, I do, Ellie." He gave a soft laugh. "An indecent exposure charge is probably something you don't want to brag about."

Ellie blinked, her heart thundering in her chest.

"Indecent exposure," she repeated, relief slamming through her. He hadn't figured it out. "Right."

"I mean, I suppose I can understand. It was Mardi Gras and you probably didn't realize that bus was full of senior citizens when you flashed them."

Holy crap, what had her cousin been smoking?

"Yeah…something like that," she muttered.

"You're a fascinating gal, Ellie." He pulled away and grinned, grabbing the bottle of wine again and heading toward the kitchen. "Do you need some help with dinner?"

Ellie wanted nothing more than to slide down to the floor and bury her head in her hands. Instead she settled on silent scream and face scrunching, since his back was facing her.

"No, it's pretty much ready," she finally answered, her voice surprisingly steady as she moved after him.

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Snippet Saturday ~ Villian POV

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is villain POV. Check out my excerpt from an oldie of mine, This Spells Trouble, and then blog hop to the blogs listed below. Happy Saturday!

Arianna's a holistic witch who tries to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds her when the Hell's Ball she's attending lives up to its name. She meets a cocky vampire who's creating havoc on her hormones. But he's also her only hope at getting through the night alive.

Jake's a casino investigator, working undercover as a bartender on Halloween night. When a sexy, green-eyed witch becomes the targeted victim for a sacrifice ritual, he'll go to any lengths to save her. Especially when he realizes she may be more to him than just another casual lover.

EXCERPT

Lifting the cigar to his mouth, Armon took a long pull on it. When he exhaled, he blew perfect rings of the fragrant smoke into the air.

His men were scattered around the private room, watching him in

silence, waiting for further instructions.

"Should we find another woman?" Sergio finally asked. "We have

less than two hours until midnight. Perhaps we should—"

"No." Armon waved a hand to cut him off and raised the cigar to

his mouth again.

"Sir, please help me understand why we let her go. She was ours. The moment I bit her, she was ours."

"Yes. She is ours." Armon's mouth curved into a humorless smile. "But knowing that our little witch has connections with Jacob Sealey

changes the situation a bit."

Sergio frowned. "You know the man who took her?"

"Yes. I do." He blew another ring. "He sent the hunter two

centuries ago to kill Lucius."

There was a moment of silence and then growls of fury from his

men.

"We should kill him tonight along with the witch, Sir."

"I agree, which is why I allowed Jacob to take our witch for the

time being." He crushed the cigar out on the table. "Despite that little

show he put on in the alley, our vampire cares very much for the witch."

"Do you really think so, Sir?"

"I do." He nodded slowly. "And I want him to watch while you all

take your turns fucking her. Then I want to see him beg for her life to be

spared—right before you cut her throat and fill the chalice with her life‐

blood."

"My kind of plan." Sergio smiled and looked around the room.

"And then we'll kill Jacob Sealey?"

"Yes. And then we'll kill Jacob." Excitement pulsed through his

blood. "Finally, he will take responsibility for the death of our loving

Master."

"So what should we do now?" another man asked.

"Find the girl. I sense she is once again alone." He stood up and

smoothed a wrinkle on his shirt. "Get her, and Jacob will come."

His men rushed from the small room, and he sat alone with his

thoughts.

One chalice of blood was already filled from the first sacrifice. After

Arianna's blood filled the second, they would drink under the full moon

at midnight and perform the required chant. Then, if all went as planned,

Lucius would be returned.

Yes, it would be a lovely night indeed. The death of the man he

loathed and the resurrection of the one he loved.

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TJ Michaels

Shiloh Walker

Snippet Saturday ~ Workplace

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is workplace. Check out the opening scene from my upcoming book Foreign Affair. This is the very first book I wrote, and is being released as a previously published book by Samhain in February. and then blog hop to the other blogs listed!

 

EXCERPT (unedited)

Lena Richards kept a bright smile pasted on her face as she listened to her obnoxious client ramble on about Aspen. Be cheerful. Don't let her know you'd like to take a butter knife to those plastic breasts.

"I want the most exclusive lodge. Not some Travel Channel knockoff deal of the week." Her client tossed her head, but the platinum curls didn't budge. "This is my honeymoon, for Christ's sake."

"Of course." Lena gave an understanding nod. The woman wore enough dead animals to open a postmortem zoo. Beyond her clothing and accessories, nothing about the woman looked real, and she hadn't shut up since she'd entered the travel agency. She was like one of those yakking dolls with a pull string. Only this doll had a rack like a porn star and the personality of a pit bull.

"I don't care what the cost. I'll make my fiancé put it on his credit card."

"A honeymoon is special. You deserve nothing but the best. Let me find some brochures and information on Aspen for you." Lena's mouth curved into a smile as she opened the file cabinet to her right. "I'm actually getting married mysel—"

"I don't give a damn if it's my honeymoon or my weekend off. There's nothing more appalling than middle-class lodgings." The woman crossed her legs, and her gaze moved over Lena. Her lips thinned in obvious distaste.

What a bitch. Lena's mouth tightened as she searched for the Aspen folder.

No doubt, she was being written off as some Wal-Mart shopping Pollyanna from Hicksville.

All right, maybe she didn't own a Louis Vuitton purse, and she didn't own some jacket made up of dead, skinned animal—not that she'd want to. She worked at an upscale travel boutique. It brought in enough to pay the bills and keep her dressed well, but in no way did it give her an allowance to support a Hollywood wardrobe.

Lena forced her warmest smile. "Give me just a moment, Miss Monroe."

Carolyn Monroe. Fifty bucks said the woman had her name changed legally so she could thrive on a dead woman's fame.

"Ah, here we are." Lena placed the folder on the oak desk that separated them.

As she sifted through for a particular brochure, she noticed Miss Monroe eyeing a box of imported French truffles sitting on Lena's desk.

"Another client brought those in. Please, have one." Lena slid the box toward her.

The woman looked horrified. "I couldn't. Do you realize how much fat is in just one?"

Yes, have five. Lena smiled and murmured, "I try not to look at the nutrition label on those things."

"Well, you should."

Lena drew in a deep, calming breath and kept the smile on her face. This woman just begged to be slapped. She found the brochure she needed and set it aside, then took out a couple more.

"These are the more exclusive lodges. I might also add that the one on top is famous for celebrity sightings."

As she'd predicted, Miss Monroe's eyes lit up with pleasure, and she snatched the paper from her hand. "I'll look these over and get back to you."

"When is the wedding, if I might ask?"

The woman's lips thinned. Interesting. Had it been because of the question? Or perhaps a little turbulence in the engagement?

"Early summer, I imagine. My fiancé is an architect in New York. We're still working out the relocating bit." Miss Monroe stood, slipping a purse that cost more than Lena made in a week over her shoulder. "Thank you for your help, Leah."

"It's Lena," Lena corrected, but the woman had one foot out the door already.

Anne Rainey

Jody Wallace

Eliza Gayle

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Mandy M Roth

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Vivian Arend

Alison Kent

HelenKay Dimon

Shelli Stevens

Lauren Dane

Lacey Savage

TJ Michaels

Shiloh Walker

Snippet Saturday ~ Author's Choice

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday, today's theme is Author's Choice. I posted a snippet from Command and Control. I love the story of Trevor and Megan. There's so much pain there, so much emotional healing needed between these two. Check out my excerpt below and then blog hop to the various blogs listed!

 

He's afraid of losing his grip. She's about to untie his last knot…

Holding Out for a Hero, Book 2

Megan Asher has a thriving career, looks, self-confidence to spare. It all means little without the love of her life. Trevor has returned from deployment in Afghanistan a haunted man, emotionally distant and unwilling to connect—except in bed. Then even that fragile thread snaps. Brokenhearted, she is forced to call off their wedding and, after a few months' separation, try to move on.

With every aspect of his life spinning out of his once-legendary control, Trevor Wyatt convinces himself that Megan is better off—and safer—as far away from his demons as possible. Until he comes back to town for his brother's wedding, and discovers Megan is dating.

Suddenly realizing what he's thrown away, he vows to breach the fortress she's built around her heart. They come together in a cataclysm of rekindled passion that unleashes the very demons he never wanted her to witness.

Back to square one, Megan realizes she must take the ultimate risk to slip past Trevor's defenses. Give him control in the one place she can. The bedroom. The seductive move is one she prays will be the first step in helping heal him and their love.

Samhain Publishing| Amazon|Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT

Trevor's mouth curved into a slight smile, but there was no humor in his eyes.

"Henry, let me call you back in a few minutes." She replaced the receiver before he could answer.

Leaning back in her chair, Megan crossed one leg over another and watched Trevor calmly. Even if her heart was racing a mile a minute, she prided herself on her control. Her ability not to react. Having the upper hand was not just a benefit for her, it was a requirement.

"Trevor," she finally greeted cordially. "How can I help you?"

"Now there's a loaded question, angel," he said softly as his gaze slid over her, lingering on the silk camisole beneath her open blazer that hugged her breasts.

"I've got a few ideas on just exactly how you could help me."

Megan's breath hitched at his not-so-subtle implication. Her breasts swelled beneath his gaze and a liquid heat seared through her body and gathered heavy between her legs.

Keep the control, Megan. You can't let him see how much he affects you still.

"Perhaps you could be more specific?" She arched a brow. "And if this is legal advice, you realize I have a fee."

He laughed, the deep, sexy sound sending a wave of shivers down her back.

"I'm not here for legal advice, Megan."

"No? Then what are you here for? Because, in case you haven't noticed, Trevor, I'm working. And I can't spend my time—"

"Planning dates with a guy named Henry?"

So he'd heard that? A flush worked its way up her neck, but she kept her expression impassive.

"Why are you here, Trevor?" she asked again.

"You'll have to tell him no."

Megan stilled. "Excuse me?"

"Henry boy. You'll have to tell him that you can't have dinner with him tonight."

This time she let out a slow, throaty laugh that had his eyes darkening further.

"And why is that?" she asked.

"Because you're having dinner with me."

The hell she was. Megan let the smile on her face become a bit sympathetic.

"I find it best not to go to dinner with my exes," she murmured and pushed back her chair to stand. "Now if you'll excuse me—"

"Because there's so many of them? Exes?" Trevor asked, standing as well and blocking her escape from where she'd been about to slip past him. "We were together for two years and before that, I remember you saying there was no one serious."

Annoyance sparked in her belly and it pricked her to realize she probably wasn't hiding it from her eyes now. "This is all a bit irrelevant, Trevor. I'm not having dinner with you."

He slowly made his way around her desk, and she took a few steps backward, her pulse quickening and her mouth going dry.

"Come on, angel, just admit it," he said softly, advancing upon her. "The idea of dinner with Henry does nothing for you."

"Henry happens to be a very nice man," she said quickly, her back literally against the wall now.

Oh God, if he came any closer—and there, damn it he did! Their knees were nearly bumping now. She drew in a sharp breath, but it only filled her head with the scent of him. His shampoo and soap that was painfully familiar. The faint hint of his cologne. Megan had the urge to nuzzle his neck, to flick her tongue and see if he still tasted the same.

You're crazy, Megan, get it together.

"Tell me about this Henry guy," he commanded softly, his gaze sliding over her face, searching her eyes.

"Does he wear starched suits and bowties?"

"Actually, he doesn't." They were just regular ties.

Her heart thumped wildly against her rib cage and the proximity of his body to hers had every tiny hair on the back of her neck lifting up in awareness. Why oh why didn't she share an office with anyone? Most of her days were spent on the phone with clients, answering e-mails or doing paperwork, but very rarely did anyone come in.

She was alone with Trevor unless she forced him to leave. And right now—though her brain was screaming at her to throw him out on his cocky ass—her body was begging him to stay. To stop just looking at her and to touch her. Because she missed him so much. She missed being held in his arms and kissing him. Touching him. Talking…though the talking had ended long before the kissing had.

Every muscle in her body was coiled with tension. With need.

"I've always loved you like this, Megan." He reached out and traced the lapel of her blazer. "But you know that, don't you? All prim and proper in your trim little suits."

"Trevor—"

"Nobody could possibly know by looking at you just what a little animal you are in bed," he muttered thickly, his fingers gliding back up her lapel and then inward, to trace the neckline of her silk camisole.

"How when you come hard you can scar up a man's back with those claws of yours."

His words had her biting back a throaty moan. Even as her nipples tightened and dampness gathered in her panties. She could see it in her head. Could almost feel his cock pounding into her again as the weight of his body pinned hers to the bed.

No, sex won't fix anything.

"Remember that time when we first started dating, when I fucked you in this office?" he asked. "When I bent you over that desk right over there, lifted your skirt, pushed those tiny panties you love to wear aside and just took you?"

Her sex clenched with an ache to be filled, because she did remember. But she shook her head, trying to make him stop verbalizing such a sensual memory.

"Remember how you begged me, angel?" He smiled. "'Cause I sure do."

"Please…"

"Does Henry make you feel like this? Does he know that kissing the small of your back makes you whimper like a bitch in heat?" His voice dropped an octave as his finger dipped under the neckline of her top to caress the swell of her breasts.

Push him away. Tell him to stop. But she couldn't. Didn't want to.

"Or when he's sucking on your tits, are you biting your tongue not to call out my name?"

"Trevor," she pleaded huskily, arching into his touch.

"Yeah. Just like that." And then his head descended, his mouth slanting across hers.

Megan couldn't have resisted even if she'd wanted to. She cried out as his lips plundered her, as his tongue thrust fiercely against hers as if to remind her just who was kissing her. As if she could ever, ever forget.

Anne Rainey

Jody Wallace

Selena Robins

Eliza Gayle

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Mandy M Roth

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Selena Blake

Vivian Arend

Alison Kent

Beth-Ann Mason

HelenKay Dimon

Shelli Stevens

Lauren Dane

Lacey Savage

TJ Michaels

Shiloh Walker

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday, today's theme is Aut...

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday, today's theme is Author's Choice. Check out my excerpt below and then blog hop to the various blogs listed!

Snippet Saturday ~ Milestone

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday, today's theme is Milestone. Check out my excerpt below and then blog hop to the various blogs listed!

With her life on the line, can she protect her heart?

A Chances Are story.

Phoebe's work at Second Chances, a women's shelter, has gone a long way toward her own healing after surviving an abusive relationship in college. She's moved on in every sense—except when it comes to dating.

Everything changes when Craig visits the shelter. The hot, young cop sets her pulse racing in a way that makes her consider making a move—and moving him into her bed for a casual fling. The first step: ask him out. Subtly, of course.

Craig has been attracted to Phoebe for months, so he's more than happy for the chance to get to know her better, in bed and out. His interest goes way beyond casual, but convincing her to think long term is going to take some time.

When it becomes clear her violent ex has come out of the woodwork, though, time is the one thing they don't have…

Buy it

EXCERPT

He lifted his head with a groan and pressed her head back against his shoulder.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Don't you dare apologize."

He laughed and the hot rush of air from his mouth against her ear almost made her legs weak.

"Okay. Then I won't."

His tongue slid along the curve of her ear and she stumbled with a gasp.

He gave a husky laugh and she flushed. He knew exactly what he'd done to her with that little tongue trick.

"Easy, baby," he murmured and then lifted his head a bit.

Disappointment stabbed that he'd put another inch between them. Just when things were getting good.

She was at the point where she didn't care. She'd gone far too long without a man, and here was Craig, ready to make her feel like a woman again. Make her feel alive.

Maybe it was because he was a cop, and it made her more inclined to trust him. That he wouldn't hurt her and he'd never be the type to abuse a woman—even as her logical side knew that theory was crap. Statistics had long proven that police officers had a high rate of abusive behavior. But somehow, on a gut level, she knew she had nothing to worry about with Craig.

She trusted him. Even if she had no reason to, she did. And it scared the hell out of her. But at the same time, she wanted him. Wanted to do spontaneous, crazy things she'd never done in her life. Had been afraid to do after Rick.

Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that Craig was younger. He was sexy, confident, and endearing. Plain and simple, he made all the bells and whistles in her body come to life. So why the hell shouldn't she take this step? It didn't have to be serious. It didn't even have to be a relationship. It could just be one night of sex if she wanted. And right now? She wanted.

She lifted her head from the curve of his neck and leaned back a bit, meeting his heated gaze.

"Come home with me tonight."

Surprise flickered in his eyes before they burned even hotter and his nostrils flared.

"You sure you know what you're asking, Phoebe?"

"I know damn well what I'm asking," she fired back and gave him a slow smile. "Do you know what your answer will be?"

His gaze lowered to her mouth. "My answer would be…whose place is closer?"

 

Anne Rainey

TJ Michaels

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Lauren Dane



Vivian Arend

Shelli Stevens

TJ Michaels

Jody Wallace

Eliza Gayle

Denise A. Agnew

Beth-Ann Mason

ECWC Raffle baskets!

I'm the Emerald City Writers' Conference Raffle chair (along with GSRWA chapter president!). Here's a peak at the raffle baskets that you can win during the upcoming conference! (You can click on the pics to make them bigger).

Retro Glam basket

Think Pink basket

You're Super (Naturally) basket

Dream Big basket

Properly Spoiled basket