Guest Blogger: Sharon Hamilton (Contest!)
Well, of course, Navy’s finest: SEALs. In my book, they are retired SEALs. In writing Mortal Bite, I found my little fingers writing some new quirky characters to further the saga along. Golden Vampires, like in Book 1, Honeymoon Bite, can live in the sunlight, and they live forever. But their children are born mortal.
My legendary family, the Monteleones of Tuscany, hire dark coven vampires as their security. But dark vamps have to go to ground in the daylight, so, to add protection, they train some ex-SEALs to handle some of the daytime things. Now, can you imagine what happens when these SEALs learn about tracing and transporting? These are guys who are used to doing HALO jumps at midnight over water. Do you think they’d love to trace with a dark vamp? Heck yes. They’d be wanting to trace to go to the liquor store or the favorite burger joint.
I have a secondary character in this book who will have his own book soon: Lionel Jett. He has two brothers who live in California and help protect the Monteleone family. Lionel is about to go on a fact-finding mission. They have set up a group of ex-SEALs to join their team in the coming days. But tonight, they want to go incognito, pretending just to be a couple of randy guys.
Here’s a little excerpt of Lionel Jett and his brother, Hugh. But the ladies all call him Huge.
CONTEST NOTE: As a giveaway, one winner will get a poster-sized print of this book cover, SIGNED BY JIMMY THOMAS, or a free copy of Mortal Bite. Winner to be announced Sunday. And, if you comment on today’s blog, and then go back and comment on last Friday’s blog (CLICK ON “Friday’s blog), I will send you a set of special dog tags. So everyone has a chance to win something!
Excerpt, Mortal Bite:
Lionel was relaxed but wary as he strode down the wet streets of the little winery town. The heels of his scuffed Doc Martens pounded along the sidewalk, causing storefront glass to wobble. He made a point to go lighter, so as not to draw attention to his preternatural powers. He wanted to spend the evening without drawing undue attention, if he could.
His standard uniform was black leather jacket with the myriad of zippered pockets, his tight black Levis with more pockets, and the lace-up boots with the steel toes he wore everywhere except for a tuxedo affair. Since those only came along a couple of times a century, he still had a pair of pumps he’d bought back in the 1800’s made from pressed alligator—an illegal substance in today’s world—which were perfect and drew little attention.
PRESS was full of people tonight. The first thing that struck him was the giddy laughter coming from the bar and dark corners of the place, even though the lighting was darker than usual. It wasn’t the romantic quiet he usually found at a hook-up place. There were groups of people everywhere. Things were being said indiscreetly. Boundaries were being pushed. He was hit with glamour from all directions, indicating the dark forces were very present.
Perfect. Just what you wanted, right?
He felt his brother’s words coming from his right and he turned to find Hugh toasting him with a dark red glass of what was probably Meritage, his favorite blend of three wines, which matched his sexual tastes to a T.
That it is, brother. “You are eager tonight, Huge,” Lionel said as he took his seat in front of him and watched his brother’s features by light of the little votive candle on the shiny laminate tabletop.
“As ever.” Hugh nodded to a couple of new lovelies who had just walked into the den of sins, eyes as wide and blue-green as the ocean. Lionel knew they had no idea what was in store for them. They were expensively dressed, and obviously not aware of what a rough crowd they’d walked in on.
Hugh apologized to him, and stood, then walked over to the two mortal girls and invited them to their table. They had to crane their necks to look up into their host’s face, and then pulled a look around him to see Lionel sitting at the table. He nodded to them, and the redhead smiled and started walking right toward him. That left Hugh with the brunette, and Lionel knew that would be just fine.
The redhead’s light pink skin and fresh scent pounded a flush to Lionel’s groin area and his pants became unbearably tight. Then she touched his shoulder, balancing herself on him while she tried to sit down gracefully in spite of an impossibly short skirt and four-inch heels with laces that came to her knees. The dark shadow between her thighs made Lionel’s fangs ache, but he pressed them back up and swallowed. He’d surely bite himself if he couldn’t have her, and very soon.
But then he remembered himself and his mission. He needed to gather information about the dark hordes lounging here this evening, looking for recreation and perhaps willing to slip their guard a bit. He chuckled as the redhead removed her jacket to reveal an exquisite set of breasts that all but shouted his name, and this time his fangs dropped properly low and would not behave.
Did she see?
He send a little glam her way just as Hugh and the other girl slid past her shoulders and took a place next to each other on the bench seat across from him.
Hugh was having great fun watching him, Lionel could tell. Not that his brother hadn’t taken the time to adequately appreciate the redhead’s mammary glands.
Would be a shame to have a dark toddler suck those beautiful orbs and deform them, brother. Not that you were thinking along those lines, Hugh sent out to him.
Not possible, Huge. You know that.
No? With the powerful cum you’re going to lay inside her, who knows what could happen? I know you can see what she’d look like.
Keep your eyes on your own plate, brother, Lionel answered.
You suggested sharing…
Lionel squinted a dark glare at Hugh, who sat back, and draped his arm around the brunette. Her impossibly red lips parted and a whole new set of visions flooded Lionel’s head.
Hugh chuckled, raised his glass to his brother, and then motioned for a cocktail waitress. The redhead touched her bare thigh against Lionel’s, and through the jeans he felt the intentional caress of a mortal woman who had come to the bar to find sex. Well, he’d have to oblige, but not until his need for information was satisfied. Then he could satisfy himself with the knowledge of what she had barely covered up so with her panties. The knowledge of what it would feel like to slip in and out of her, what the taste of her blood would be as she moaned his name. He didn’t need to drink wine to get high. He’d get it from her.
The cocktail waitress went off in search of a very expensive bottle of Ravenswood Meritage, mumbling something about having to go downstairs to the cave storage to look for it. Lionel could tell Hugh had glamoured her too. Hugh had a fondness for taking his mortal conquests in wine caves and cool refrigerated private collections.
Lionel adjusted his jacket and the blue-green-eyed beauty on his right smiled as she appraised the leather and what lay underneath. “Can I help you with your jacket? You look hot.”
Her scent came to him like a blast furnace, along with the double meaning. It was good to be coveted, he thought. Nice that it happened without him having to expend an ounce of glam on her, too. Totally willing.
“Sure,” he said, adjusting his fangs before breaking a smile. She’d probably think he was trying not to smile, but he didn’t want to scare her, until it was time to do so. Just a little scare before the bite. Before the rapture of what it would feel like as he breathed into her ear, whispered incantations and took her. “But mind your hands. I have vera vera sensitive skin,” he added in a mock accent.
“Oh, I hope so,” she gushed. Her tiny pink fingers traveled quickly over his pecs, and tugged at the thick collar of the jacket, pulling it off his shoulders. He leaned forward, his face close to hers, allowing his dark hair to brush against her cheek, and felt her body shudder in response. She finished removing the heavy jacket and let it drape behind him on the chair. “Sorry, it’s very heavy, and a little too heavy for me. I’m afraid I’ve made a bit of a mess.”
You have no idea. He had practically come in his pants, but willed himself some control. He nodded, slowly perusing her chest while she watched him do it. “I don’t mind. I’m enjoying whatever your hands can do, and I can see you are skilled.”
The girl blushed. Had he glammed her? If she caught a little breath from him, it wasn’t intentional. He loved that his proximity made her tingle, blush, feel self-conscious. It’s what he loved most about mortal women. He never liked women that threw themselves at him. Her combination of subtlety and grace charmed him, and he allowed it to be so. Even fantasized she could glamour him.
Lionel broke the tension by looking over at his brother. Hugh had his tongue down the brunette’s throat and had already a hand under the table, snaking up her red knit dress. He would be no use tonight, Lionel thought. He could feel his brother sending sexual fantasies into the lady’s consciousness, and could hear her slight moan in response.
So far so good. Lionel scanned the room just before the waitress returned with the bottle of wine Hugh had selected. She frowned when Hugh didn’t acknowledge it, being otherwise occupied.
“Thank you,” Lionel said to the waitress as he pressed a one hundred dollar bill into her palm. This got her attention.
“Oh, thank you so much. Let me know if you need anything else?” Her smile was brave, but Lionel could see she fancied his brother, as most mortal women did.
Lionel removed the cork and slowly poured the wine while tipping the glass, so that the deep burgundy substance rolled back in a wave that resembled thick blood. The aroma was excellent, but he put the glass to his nose anyway the way humans did when savoring a nice bouquet. He closed his eyes as he swirled the liquid over his palate, wishing it were the feel and taste of the redhead’s lovely life force.
There will be time enough for that.
“You like?” He said to her. She had been watching his Adam’s apple, almost like a vamp female. But her scent told him she clearly wasn’t.
“Yes, I like.” She looked him straight in the eyes. He could feel her saying words, although unclear, like there was a filter between them, but part of the telepathy was working. Take me, she was saying.
“Good.” He tipped the glass to her lips. She closed her eyes and mirrored his tasting actions, swirling the liquid over her tongue. She licked her lips and coated them with the fermented elixir.
It was totally spontaneous. With her eyes still closed, he covered her mouth with his and she parted quickly and allowed him access. She sucked at his lips as he did the same. She was lovely, and just what he needed. He brought his hand to the back of her head and sifted through her long locks. She was intoxicating to him.
“More wine?” he asked as they parted and stared into each other’s eyes.
“Please.” It meant more than the wine.
“Your wish is my command.” They both smiled.
