The town of Windsor, Georgia lives in fear of the Vicus Luna, the local werewolf pack. Each month the pack comes out and abducts a woman, someone to do their bidding, little more than a slave. It’s on one of these nights that Cady Whitmore finds herself cornered by the Vicus Luna. Terrified, she faces three werewolves who wish to claim her as their own. When the alpha decides to claim her, Cady is horrified. From what she’s heard, the alpha is a womanizing, chauvinistic, cruel man… When Marshall drags her off to a secluded cabin, she worries for her safety and her life.
As Cady struggles with my challenges thrown her way, she finds herself caught in a difficult spot. While marshall may not love her, he isn’t ready to let her go. Marhshall’s friend and fellow pack member, Brendan, knows that Cady is speciall and will stop at nothing to make sure she’s safe, even if it means going against his brother, Eric, to keep her.
In the end, the best werewolf will win…
EXCERPT
Brendan gave in to her kiss, but pulled back when he felt her hand rub against the hard length of his erection. “Cady, we shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” she asked, pulling him back down.
“Because … I promised I would give you time,” he answered, wondering if he was an idiot for telling her no.
“You said I could choose the time. I’m choosing,” she said as she lifted her hips, teasing him.
“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” he asked.
She shook her head and rubbed herself against him again. Taking his hand, she guided it between her legs. Even with the barrier of her panties, Brendan could feel how hot and wet she was; she was swollen and ready for him.
Feeling brave, Cady reached down and slipped her hand inside of Brendan’s boxers. Her fingers skimmed along his skin, feeling his shaft. Grasping him in her hand, she rubbed up and down, enjoying the feel of him in her hand.
Brendan groaned. “Cady, you’re killing me.”
Pulling him free of his boxers, she rubbed herself against him again.
“Take my panties off,” she whispered.
Brendan shook his head. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.”
With every stroke she made, Brendan lost more and more of his self-control. Slipping his thumb under her panties, he felt her swollen nub. Even if he didn’t take her right now, there was no reason she shouldn’t find her release.
As Brendan stroked her, Cady arched her body. The only thing that would have made her feel better would have been having him inside of her.
Reaching between their bodies, she pulled her panties aside, her fingers brushing the back of his hand as he pleasured her. Grasping his thick length in her hand, she lifted her hips. She felt the head of his cock against her opening and whimpered, wanting more.
Brendan gritted his teeth. Feeling her wet heat and knowing that with just the slightest shift of his hips he could be inside of her was driving him mad. But he had promised to win her trust and that’s what he was going to do… even if it killed him.
Brendan flicked his thumb over her sensitive nub over and over. The closer Cady got to an orgasm the wilder she became. With a quick jerk of her hips, she managed to draw him part-way into her.
Brendan sucked in a breath and held still. He watched as Cady tossed her head from side to side. Her hips shifted so that he slid in and out of her body, causing just enough friction to send her over the edge. She thrust her hips one last time and cried out her release.
Spent, she collapsed onto the bed, her breath coming out in heavy pants.
Brendan allowed himself to slide from her body. He knew he’d have to go to the bathroom and take care of himself, but it wouldn’t be the same. He was still wet from her juices and so turned on he thought he might explode.
“Why didn’t you take me?” she asked.
“Because it wasn’t the right time,” he answered.
Cady reached for him, but Brendan drew back.
“If you touch me right now, I won’t be able to control myself,” he said. He bent down and kissed her before rolling out of the bed. Tucking his cock back into his boxers, he grabbed some clean clothes and beat a hasty retreat to the bathroom.
True statement when it comes to Karma Montgomery, the Supreme Being that issues just what her name implies. Karma
A flick of the wrist, a twitch of the nose and her charges always got what they reaped. Some good, most not. A trip to hell was in the cards for her current charge and she was going to make the bastard pay. When her raging libido gets in the way of performing her job, and an evil soul escapes capture, there is no way of knowing she’ll be personally responsible for spawning Armageddon. Armed with her witty personality, and her five inch heels, she’d do practically anything to set the record straight. Especially if it meant working with the man she’d been trying for a decade to seduce. Her Reaper.
Reap was damn good at his job. Soul extraction was his specialty. There wasn’t a soul or demon in Hell that would think twice about going up against him. So when his partner, the feisty little five foot redhead, lets her raging libido get in the way of their latest extraction, he’s assigned to help her right the wrong. The sweet taste of his own personal revenge dangling as a prize for completing the task, he’d keep his eye on the ball, and not on her ass, to save the world – even if it killed him.
A rogue soul, an unruly Essence, and an unquenchable desire brewing between Reap and Karma might be more than either one of them bargained for.
EXCERPT
Karma adjusted the knife in her thigh-high black boots and grinned. She’d been called lots of things during her existence and bitch was sitting pretty high on top of the list. Tonight she was going to prove the name had been created just for her. Another bar, another asshole, even worse than the last one she’d sent to hell. She stepped into the barely lit building and paused while taking in her surroundings. Squinting through the smoke, she inhaled, taking in a mixture of cheap perfume coupled with expensive aftershave and tainted with the undeniable smell of sex. This wasn’t your typical let’s hang out with friends on a Friday night and get drunk type of bar. It wasn’t even the type of bar to drink your sorrows away. This bar specialized in prostitutes and men who thrived from being unfaithful. An underlying sense of desire coursed through the establishment walls. She was in the right place. No other seedy joints for miles.
The bar was darkened to hide the sins of the patrons in the nearby booths, but she knew what they were doing. It was her job to know. She was Karma. The one and the same that comes back around ten-fold when you’ve been naughty. Judge, jury, and executioner all in a pair of her favorite five-inch-heel studded boots.
She sauntered into the bar, ignoring the glares from the partially clad women and the arousal of the businessmen, in stiff suits, out for a quickie and good time. Her black leather skirt conformed and stretched over her generously endowed ass, pulling and shifting with each step. A quick glance at her watch and she sighed. Her target was late. Had her best friend, Destiny, been wrong with the when and where?
Pressing her fire engine red lips together, she slid onto the nearest bar stool. The move inched her skirt a little higher on her legs, giving the man beside her a glimpse at her silky thigh-highs attached only by a matching black garter. She was sex and sin, and she was in the right place for that. There was only one way to take the bastard down and to win her bet, and she was dressed for the part.
The bartender appeared immediately in front of her, eager and willing to serve and, from the looks of it, he’d much rather serve her more than a simple drink. “What can I get you, doll?”
“Vodka straight up.”
“Sure thing, honey.” His eyes, hooded with desire, and his black pants did little to hide where his thoughts had strayed.
She watched the reflections, of the people behind her, in the mirror hanging behind the bar. She didn’t have to see him to know when her counterpart appeared. His essence alone drifted through the air, caressing her skin like an old lover. She closed her eyes and inhaled. Fresh rain and sex, the scents dampened her panties every time. She opened her eyes and continued to watch him through the mirror, never turning to offer her location. He’d find her soon enough. He always did. He scanned the rough smoky bar, past the women drooling and the men puffing out their chests. It was the same wherever one of the essences went, another reason why she was tired of this damn job. His crystal blue eyes met hers in the reflection. His mouth hardened in barely contained fury and she had to press her legs together to ignore the throb. This man defined sin.
He moved with long, sure strides until he stood behind her with his bronzed, bulging arms crossed over his chest. His normal sky blue eyes swirled with gray like a darkening sky during an approaching storm. She’d barely contained herself at the last meeting and had reached for the cannons he called arms. A million times, she’d been left horny and wanting while waiting for the day he’d take her in his arms and fuck her like the wanton woman she turned into when he was around. One roll in the hay, was that too much to ask for?
“What are you doing here, Karma?”
She slowly spun around, seductively crossing her legs. His eyes never strayed, never even acknowledging the move she’d performed just for his benefit. Bastard. Maybe the rumors were true. It was the only thing that made sense.
“Have a seat, stud. The party is just getting started, and you won’t want to miss this.”
Bane started to go left, but something stopped him. Was that… yes, he heard a laugh, one he knew well. Ariana was to the right.
Changing directions, he walked as stealthily as he could. When he reached a large room, he peered around the corner. What he saw shocked him to his core. Ariana stood with two Tarnan warriors, smiling and apparently having a good time. He wasn’t sure what was going on. He’d been a day’s journey behind her, had worried about her safety, but it appeared she was being taken care of.
He’d been told she was being held against her will, possibly even hurt. Instead, he found her well and having a nice time. Had Lafre lied to him? Had she merely seen the pirates take Ari and made up a story to suit her own purposes? There was no way to extract her without making his presence known. Stepping into the room, he waited until the warriors took notice of him. It didn’t take long.
“Keshpan,” the tallest one growled.
Ariana turned and her eyes widened when she saw him. With a squeal, she flew across the room and launched herself into his arms, relieving any doubts he’d had. He held her tight, breathed her in, then put her behind him.
“I don’t want trouble,” he told the warriors. “But I’m taking her with me.”
The tallest one folded his arms over his chest. “Have you taken care of the threat to her safety? We won’t let you have her if the woman who arranged all of this will still be free to harm her again.”
So they were feeling protective of her already. At least he was comforted with the thought that they wouldn’t have harmed her. Taken her to their home planet, yes, but hurt her, no.
“We’ll go straight to the Prime Minister when we return to Keshpa,” Bane vowed. “I want Lafre out of Ariana’s life, permanently. I agree that as long as Lafre is free, Ari is in danger. It’s obvious the woman will go to any lengths to bond with me.”
The more muscular of the two eyed him up and down. “You don’t look like much to me. Personally, I don’t see the draw. I think Ariana would be better off with one of us. We could protect her better than you can.”
Bane had little doubt that they spoke the truth, but he would die trying. The Tarnans wanted her because she was female and for no other reason. Bane wanted her because he loved her, more than anything. He needed her more than he needed to breathe. She was essential to him.
“I won’t let Ari go. She’s mine, and she’ll always be mine,” Bane told them.
The warriors nodded, obviously understanding the depth of his feelings for Ariana. He was glad he wouldn’t have to fight them. While he would give it everything he had, something told him he wouldn’t win against them. They were far more experienced and much larger.
“Take me home,” Ariana said, looking up at him with love and trust.
Bane pressed a finger to his ear. “Cael, bring us on board.”
Jewel’s father, the smuggler king, decides to take his honorary title a step too far when he offers her in trade for an army and a secure port to do his illegal business. She finds herself on the run from her father, and the evil mutant prince who wants to impregnate her with his heir.
Jewel faces a brutal world alone as she attempts her escape. With a fortune in bounty on her head, she soon discovers staying free isn’t as easy as she’d hoped it would be, but her cunning and fighting skill help her evade capture time and again.
Only one bounty hunter, Rion, is man enough to capture her, but she’s also the true mate to his inner wolf. When he makes love with her, the act of taking her virginity bonds him to this woman of worth. Now, keeping his mate alive and safe make Rion and his friends wanted men.
Rion can only think of one way to insure his woman remain safe, she needs a guardian. Rion asks his mentor, Makis, and the other shifter agrees to bond with the woman. Can Jewel find love and happiness with both men?
Excerpt:
When the girl looked at him with hunger, Rion’s cock hardened. She was stunning. Most women used surgery to enhance themselves, but not this one. Her soft gray-blue eyes and simple braid of brown hair made her look younger than twenty-one, but he knew he’d found his prey.
Guilt twisted inside of him. To give this beauty to the prince was almost unspeakable, but he wasn’t hired to like the job, just to do it. She did more than make him guilty, though. She bewildered him. The scent of her subtle arousal was on the air. He sensed her genuine attraction. His wolf gave him an insight a human male wouldn’t be privy to. He was pure menace, and women normally looked at him with fear, not lust. She looked away, but he knew she wanted him. He moved into the shadows. When she looked back he saw her confusion. He was very good at blending into the darkness. Her reaction to him had been primal, and the wolf inside of him wanted to howl. She reeked of innocence…which made her someone he’d never touch. There were dire consequences for the Denari if they were foolish enough to bed virgins.
Then he noticed a pair of Bezonian hunters approaching her.
“Fuck!” he swore quietly to himself. What would’ve been exceedingly simple had just become complicated. Now he’d have to fight them for the girl. The shorter of the two hunters had a bent leg and wing, and he could almost smell the malice rolling off the little one. He felt the hunter’s pure hatred directed toward the girl, and curiosity filled him. Bezoni were aggressive beasts. He watched the angry one suddenly launch an attack behind the girl’s back. She arched with agony, and Rion felt his wolf rising, ready to defend what he’d already claimed as his.
Rion’s eyes narrowed as he caught his reflection in a polished tin sign on the wall. His eyes glowed with a green light, indicating his wolf was at the surface. The slightest provocation would induce the change in him now. He forced the animal down, keeping the man in charge of his body.
He was just about to spring forward when she whirled on the Bezoni. He watched her block the taller one’s blow. The other one lunged like he was going to attack and changed directions. The girl easily anticipated this standard tactic and kicked the male’s weak leg, sending him flying.
No one in the tavern tried to help the girl.
Rion watched his prey artfully defending herself, and he felt something for a woman he hadn’t felt in a very long time…respect. He had never seen a woman fight so well—like a warrior would. Her sleek body made his cock ache. But her beautiful violence only fueled the beast’s hunger for her, even as it captivated the man. She was different and more interesting because of it.
Her wound must have pained her, but she kept moving. As graceful as a cat, she dodged the two hunters while inflicting damage. As her lithe body whirled, he admired the ease of her skill. He fought back a growl of approval. Watching fighting or fucking always made the wolf inside of him harder to control. Passion awoke his inner beast, and it was hard to put him back to sleep.
He could see the Bezoni were holding back while using their telepathy. The larger one pulled a laser from his belt. People began running from the building, screaming. The little one kept the girl distracted. It was time to act. Rion had seen enough.
Rion pulled his knives from his belt and stepped in front of the one with the laser. The nasty larger hunter made a squealing sound Rion recognized as mirth from his previous dealings with this unpredictable species. Rion smiled menacingly, knowing the creature could see his fangs. In a split second, he’d severed the bugman’s hand from his body. The Bezonian gave a shrill cry and his friend’s head jerked around. The woman used the distraction to land a blow to the center of the Bezonian hunter’s face, knocking him unconscious. She gave Rion one brief, respectful nod before she darted out the door.
“By the gods’ balls!” he shouted. After only a few steps, he felt the claws of his opponent graze his wide shoulders. “I don’t have time to play with you right now,” he informed the hunter, sending the one-handed creature back with a powerful kick. His adversary flew through the air, hitting the wall—hard. A large oval tin advertising central-world whiskey landed on his enemy’s head, rendering him unconscious. With a single stroke, he could kill the pest, but he avoided dealing death whenever possible. The gods had enough to condemn him with, so the male would live. With both the hunters out cold, he continued his pursuit of the girl. In the distance, he could see peacekeepers running toward the tavern, so he immediately headed in the other direction.
He had no idea where the girl had gone, but if he were her, he’d go to the port. He sheathed his knives quickly and ran in that direction. The last thing he wanted was for the girl to board another ship. He’d had his fill of rock jumping. She’d seen him now and would know he was after her. Capturing her if she escaped would only be that much more of a challenge. He rushed through the crowded streets until he found her in a back alley. She screamed as he snatched her in midstride, throwing her over his shoulder. She writhed and kicked, but he held her legs.
“You!” she shrieked. “Put me down.”
Rion kept his pace at a jog and continued toward the port. All he had to do was get her on his ship.
She pounded his back and he resisted his urge to laugh. Her strength was no match for…agony shot through his shoulder. He growled, the beast demanded freedom, but he maintained his hold.
THE HOT SHIFTER who’d saved her ass back in the tavern held her prisoner. He was taking her toward the port, and she knew he wasn’t trying to help this time. Everything about him screamed hunter, and she realized he was no different than the Bezoni. She was a bounty. Her earlier feelings of lust-turned-camaraderie evaporated. Resentment filled her and she fought him. Her blows didn’t faze him, but then she noticed his injury. She could see he was already healing, but there was enough of a puncture for her to push her finger into his wound and tug.
The shifter dropped her as if she were on fire, and Jewel landed hard but quickly recovered. Terror and outrage put her back on her feet, and she ran off down a narrow opening between two buildings. She stumbled out into the crowd. Behind her, she heard screaming, then growling. Complete panic kept her moving.
She could hear him right behind her. The menacing sound of his panting and growling made the hair on the back of her neck rise. Shaking off her fear, she focused on the gate. If she could just make it, then she had a chance. She’d come too far to let the hunter win.
The sensation of heat was the first thing she felt before pain erupted through her legs. Knocked off balance, her feet came up and out from under her. “Aww,” she cried.
Isser and Sol’s pack is in trouble. Jewel’s newborn cubs are ill and the pack needs money to treat them. Leaving the more experienced wolves to protect the women and children, the two bounty hunters agree to undertake a questionable assignment from known criminal Linus Lilymann. He wants them to find his stolen ruby and he insists he can’t possibly go to the police. Normally, Sol and Isser wouldn’t even consider it, but right now, it looks like the cubs only chance.
The mission turns out to be not what the expected at all. For one thing, Ruby’s a person, not a jewel. And for another, she’s a dangerous tiger shifter who escaped her kidnappers only to spend her life in a convent worshipping a cat goddess. She’s never been out in the world, she’s utterly unprepared to deal with men like Sol and Isser, and what’s worse, her first shift and her first sexual heat will happen on her twenty-fifth birthday. Soon. And only sex will help her hold onto her humanity.
A tiger in heat will make a mate–or a meal–out of her first lover. Sol and Isser might be able to help her, but if they fail, their entire pack will suffer. It’s a difficult decision: protect the pack or protect their new treasure.
Excerpt:
Sol gripped the shuttle’s comm and turned it off. They didn’t want any ships to hail them. He set the coordinates in the computer to take them to the planet Atala. “I wish we were closer. Every second counts, and I want to earn this bounty and get back home. Linus Lilymann—huh, he’s such a crook. You know we’re probably looking for stolen, stolen property,” Sol complained.
“I know, but Lilymann has plenty of money. This is important to him if he’s willing to contract professional bounty hunters. He doesn’t get the goods until we get paid.”
“Fair enough. You were the one to get the details. What exactly are we hunting?” Sol asked. His eyebrow rose.
“His ruby was stolen,” Isser replied.
“His ruby? As in singular? One gem?”
“That’s what he said. He said it’s the ruby he’s always wanted, and he needs it back before the full moon. A woman took it. We’re not supposed to take the gem from her. He wants us to bring the woman instead. He said she has it, without a doubt, and just to bring her back to him, alive, and that’s it. He gave me this bit of fabric. It bears her scent. She smells a bit strange, but I can’t put my finger on it.”
Sol took the scrap of pale material and pressed it to his nose. He inhaled sharply.
“You’re right. This scent isn’t quite human. Even the most mutated human wouldn’t smell like this. It’s not like anything I’ve encountered before. It’s almost wolf, but different. Strange.” He sighed and shrugged as he handed the clue back to Isser. “I hate hunting women, even thieves. Makis would never have accepted this job…” Sol paused and rubbed his tired eyes. “If Jewel and her pups die, the pack will never be home again. I doubt Rion and Makis would even survive. Rion might because he has Boon to think about, but Makis wouldn’t have anything if they all three die. If we weren’t on the run, we could take out credit. They’d already have had the benefit of a doctor. Even free from the clan, we are still suffering. I pray to the gods someday we’ll have true safety to live in the old way. Jewel is the glue holding us together. Everything turns to shit when she dies.”
“Don’t…fucking…talk…like…that… Just don’t! Makis is our leader. He’d never leave us by choice.” Isser sounded younger than his years and even a little frightened. The way he said leader could’ve easily been substituted for father.
“You feel it, the way it is for the three of them. Don’t tell me you haven’t woken to a wave of passion in the middle of the night. Occasionally, I’d experience the strong impression of the possessiveness and awe those two have for her. That’s the dream, to love like nothing else matters. It’s why we risked everything to leave the clan. I doubt I’ll ever have what they have, but it’s beautiful. I wouldn’t want to live if I lost a mate and that kind of perfect, forever love.”
Sol heard the clatter of Isser’s seat belt releasing. He turned and noticed his brother’s enraged scowl as the man crouched down in the single pilot compartment next to him. “We can’t think like she’s going to die. We do the job, and we get them what they need. We make it better, got it?”
Sol nodded, but the horror echoing from Isser’s subconscious hit him in waves of agony. They’d all lost family and community once. The idea of losing what they had slammed into his heart with agonizing force.
“At least we won’t have to go through any wormholes. Sit back and relax, Bro. We’re on our way,” Isser muttered. He gave his brother a quick look before he punched the accelerator on the old ship. The stars stretched out into long lines around them as they sped through space in the direction of planet Atala. The money they needed to take care of their pack waited for them.
* * * *
Ruby ached all over. Sleeping on the cold ground wasn’t what she was accustomed to doing. Her life of learning and prayer hadn’t prepared her for being on the run. Since her escape, she’d managed to avoid the men searching for her by staying in the dark woodland. New men, more skilled trackers, had joined her kidnappers. The idea of so many males hunting her was terrifying. She suffered, so ill, her whole body burning, as if it were on fire. The primal wilderness wasn’t helping her hold on to her civilized humanity. The tiger wanted freedom. Ruby missed her warm, safe bed back at the house of worship. Her pussy throbbed, and she glanced up at the sky superstitiously. She’d been warned about the urges. She wanted meat, rare—raw, delicious meat. The desire struck her as odd since she’d grown up on a vegetarian diet.
Her mind wandered to the many ceremonies where the male devotees worshipped in the temple. Ruby remembered singing the hymns with passion as she observed the women riding the hard cocks of their silent lovers. Little arrows of excitement darted through her core as she imagined hairless, purified male bodies naked and chained. They lay in a state of helpless arousal during the full moon.
Her fingers brushed her mound through her tattered robes. She moaned. Pleasuring herself before her consecration was a terrible sin against the goddess, so she stopped and ignored the ache for release. If she didn’t get back to her planet, and the house of worship, she’d die. She’d escaped before they could deliver her, but somewhere on this world lurked the man who’d paid for her kidnapping. She’d heard the monsters talking. They knew her time was running out. Luckily, her change had given her the strength to escape, but now that power had left her. This world didn’t have the red burning moon of her home, but the lack of astronomical markers wasn’t stopping her body from the tormenting effects of her first heat.
Panting, she lay in the cool grass, trying to focus on the sensation of the cold dew instead of how much she craved the end of her virginity. If she were home, she’d be lying naked, awaiting the male worshippers who would unleash the cat inside her. Until today, she’d dreaded the experience, but now she needed sex.
A wave of dizziness hit her. Light-headed, Ruby sat up. The early-dawn light burned strangely bright. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes, and the action caused her to notice her nails. Gasping, she pulled her hand closer to her face. Her eyes widened, and her lip trembled. She squeezed her mouth tightly shut to stop the tremble. Terror gripped her. The bitter taste of bile rose up in her throat. The nasty flavor caused her to suck in a deep breath as she fought to maintain her composure. Her nails had grown into sharp claws, and each of her knuckles had a frightening patch of hair jutting out from her skin.
She wanted to kill prey and eat it. A consecrated youth learned the virtue of a sweet and serene attitude. Now she desired violence as her inner agitation escalated. Her stomach rolled. Hunger had always been a usual part of her daily routine. Showing restraint at all times, included meals, was part of her ritualistic worship practices, but she’d never experienced such a gripping demand for sustenance. Agony curled her into a ball. She took deep breaths through her nose and exhaled deeply out of her mouth. When the torment subsided, Ruby stretched. Sitting in the dirt wasn’t going to fill her belly. A strange urge to hunt made her restless.
She didn’t have the slightest idea about how to stalk prey, and yet her tiger wanted to do it. The beast had always been deep inside her, but this was the first time her inner animal was strong enough to control her. She didn’t like it. The sensation of losing control shook her with terrifying ferocity. Every moment she became more feline than human. Nothing made sense this morning. Her mind filled with images of animals running, but instead of thinking of them as creatures, she thought of them as delicious food. Her breath caught. She battled the impulse to run off into the wilderness and hunt. This foreign woodland taunted her with its majesty. Lost and alone, she wasn’t sure where to go. What remained of her rational thought reminded her she needed to find a way back to her sanctuary. The old mother would know what to do. The other tiger priestesses would help her through this transition.
A noise caused her to sit up. At least two light-footed creatures were running. Instinct changed the way her senses brought information to her brain. Everything hit her mind so much more richly and yet in a truly primal way that left her feeling off-kilter. She tried to stand, but the world spun, and she landed hard on her ass. Ruby moaned, closing her eyes. Cramps filled her stomach. This pain clawed her much worse than her monthly cycle, this fire burned through her—killing her. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
“Who are you?” The gruff male voice terrified her. Ruby’s eyes opened quickly. She lay too weak to flee. She must have fallen unconscious for a few moments. Her body wouldn’t respond, as it stayed worthless for moving or fighting. This affliction had taken a great toll. Terror grew exponentially as her blurry vision sharpened, and she realized just how large and imposing the male’s body truly appeared. She could smell him. He wasn’t human.
“I am Ruby, devotee of the cat goddess,” she managed to respond. This man wasn’t one of her attackers. They’d been human. This male was like her. Shifter. His warm amber eyes weren’t cruel. His hair was long, black. He wore it tied back in a ponytail. He was handsome. She didn’t have much experience with men, but this one was so unmistakably perfect she was able to register his masculine beauty even in her condition.
“Shit! Damn it, Lilymann is fucking with us. This is the girl,” said the male who’d questioned her. “Do you smell her? I think we’ve been played.” Weakness lingered, and she couldn’t open her eyes, but he wasn’t talking to her.
“You’re right. The scent is different now, but it’s definitely her. She’s—oh gods, no, that spiciness—she’s a tigress,” replied another man. “That’s what smelled off about her scent. She’s never shifted. That’s why we couldn’t tell. Tigers don’t shift until they go into heat. Damn it!”
She managed to open her heavy eyelids. The second man was almost as beautiful as the first man was. His hair was much lighter, and she marveled at the various shades of blond, light brown, and red that glinted in the sunlight. This stranger had hair any woman would envy, but there was nothing feminine about the sculpted masculinity of his face. He was incredible. He was also…different. She’d seen men who wanted to serve, but these men looked ready to dominate. They frightened her, but she also found them fascinating. He glanced at her, and they made eye contact. His eyes were such a deep green they reminded her of the forest. The image of a wolf leaping over a fallen log filled her brain, and she drew in a deep breath. She sighed before the exhaustion became too much, and her eyes closed again of their own accord. Ruby laid her head down in the dirt as she gave up the struggle. The weakness was intolerable, but she knew no remedy except returning home to the goddess.
“We aren’t looking for a gem. She’s the ruby. Oh gods, how were we so stupid as to believe this hunt would be as simple of a matter as stolen property?”
She had no idea what property he referred to, and she didn’t care. She hadn’t taken anything from anyone. Ruby drew in another deep breath, and her brain registered what was bothering her. These men were shifters—wolves. Why wolves would agree to hunt another shifter was a mystery to her. Her curiosity didn’t last long. Pain raced through her abdomen, tearing a cry from her lips. She hurt so badly she curled into a fetal position. She didn’t care what happened to her anymore, because she was dying. No one could hurt this bad and survive. She agonized over the emptiness of life cut too short and unfinished days. She wished for another day—an hour even—just to enjoy existence. As she lost consciousness, the darkness swept away her pain, and she sighed with relief.
She’s his everything, and he’s nothing without her.
Bane has wanted Ariana since the first moment he met her, except she belongs to his brother Arko. When a tragedy happens, Bane steps forward to claim Ariana as his own, but Keshpan law states a slave can never be a bonded mate. That isn’t going to stop Bane from loving her every day for the rest of his life, though.
When Ariana is kidnapped by space pirates, Bane is determined to rescue her, no matter the cost. But things are getting bad back home on Keshpa. A political storm is brewing that just may rip Ariana from his arms the moment he returns with her. Bane will walk away from everything he knows to have the woman he loves by his side.
An Excerpt
A knock sounded at the front door and Bane frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
Ariana hung back, not knowing what to expect. She watched in curiosity as Bane opened the door. When he stepped back to allow a tall man and a rather elegant looking young woman to enter, she debated whether or not she should make herself scarce. Bane hadn’t talked to her about what her role would be in his home, what he expected of her. She was a slave, that much she knew, but did he view her in the same light as his brother? Arko would’ve never brought her home with him or allow her to interact with his neighbors. Maybe she should stop painting them with the same brush and realize that Bane was different.
He motioned for her to join them. “Ariana, come meet our neighbors. This is Vryl and his daughter, Lafre. They live to the right of us in the big yellow house.”
Ariana moved to his side and leaned into him when he wrapped an arm around her waist. She didn’t miss the cold look in the young woman’s eyes, or the pinched lips when Lafre’s gaze dropped to Bane’s hand, which was now caressing her hip. Hmm. It seemed the young woman either had something against slaves, felt she was too far above Ariana for an introduction, or… could she, perhaps, have feelings for Bane? Ariana couldn’t really blame her if that was the case.
“Welcome, Ariana. If you ever need anything when Bane isn’t here, please don’t hesitate to come next door,” Vryl said. He gave her an engaging smile, and she returned it. His daughter might not like her, but he seemed personable enough.
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad Bane arrived home when he did. I had just looked out my front window when I saw the zirrels chasing you. They can be quite a nuisance, can’t they? They don’t like high frequencies though, so if you turn on the COMM and turn the volume all the way up, it usually sends them running.” He smiled. “Just don’t forget to turn the volume back down or you’ll be in for a shock the first time someone rings through.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
“Well, we won’t keep you,” Vryl said. “We just wanted to introduce ourselves. I work from home so I’m there most days, and when I’m not around, Lafre is. Stop by anytime.”
“I appreciate the offer. I’ll be sure to come by sometime.”
Vryl and Lafre made their goodbyes, the young woman’s eyes never leaving Bane.
He closed the door behind them and turned to face her. Leaning against the door, he sighed. “I had hoped she’d outgrown that.”
Ariana lifted a brow. “You mean her infatuation with you?”
He nodded. “I’ve spoken to her father about it before, but he doesn’t seem to get anywhere with her. She has it in her head that she’s going to be my wife. As if I’d marry that silly child.”
“Child? She looks to be about my age.”
“Yes, well. She’s spoiled and selfish, and she’s younger than you think. She just turned nineteen the other day. I’m sure she’d make someone a fine wife one day, after she’s grown up a bit. It just won’t be me.” He tugged her against his body. “I have the only woman I want.”
“You make it sound like you’ve been pining for me or something.”
“I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. The instant I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special. My damn brother just beat me to you is all. Otherwise, we’d have been together from the beginning.”
“You’ve known me for a year, owned me for about half a day now, and you have yet to try to kiss me.”
Humor lit his eyes. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we?”
Bane tunneled his fingers through Ariana’s hair and tilted her head back. With the ghost of a smile on his handsome face, he leaned down and pressed his lips to Ariana’s. His mouth moved softly against hers, and she found herself leaning into him, wanting more. Her lips parted, inviting him in, and his tongue delved inside. She felt lightheaded as his taste and scent surrounded her. Kissing Bane was like coming home. There was no other way to describe it.
He pulled back and looked down at her. “We should stop, Ari.”
“Why? You don’t want me?”
“Too much. The doctor gave you something to heal your body from your abortion, but I don’t want to pounce on you the moment you’re under my roof. I have more restraint than that.”
She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. “What if I don’t want you to have more restraint than that? What if I want you just as much as you want me?”
Bane shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Yes, I do. I know my own mind and my body, and I want you, Bane. I always have,” she finished softly. “Knowing we could never be together, I had to put you in the ‘hands off’ category, but that’s changed now. I no longer have to pretend indifference when we’re together. I belong to you. Make me yours, Bane. Please.”
His hand tightened on her hair, pulling her closer. “You are mine. You’ll always be mine. There’s nothing that would ever make me get rid of you, Ari. I’ve waited for this moment for what feels like forever. I’m just worried you’re going to be disappointed.”
“You could never disappoint me, Bane.” And she knew she spoke the truth. He actually cared about her, whereas she’d only been a possession to his brother. She’d never meant anything to any of the men in her life, not until Bane. And if his kiss was anything to go by, the passion between them would consume her.
“I can’t be slow or gentle right now. I’ve waited too long to be with you, been too long without a woman. The moment I’m inside of you, I’m going to lose control.”
“Then lose control with me. I want you, all of you. Hot, wild and needing me as much as I need you. Show me what I’ve been missing all of my life, Bane.”
With a groan, he captured her lips once more and lifted her into his arms. He carried her up the stairs to their bedroom. Bane kicked the door shut and set her on her feet. With quick, jerky movements, he rid her of her clothes before nearly tearing his own from his body.
Ariana gasped and traced the tattoo on his chest. Right above his heart was her name in a bold, black script. “When did you get this?”
“I had Tyre laser it into my skin shortly after our first outing together. He thought the request odd, but I showed him pictures of tattoos from your world and explained the significance behind it. He was happy to help.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “But, I belonged to another. You couldn’t have known then that you would own me one day. No woman would want you while another’s name was tattooed on your chest. No one’s ever done anything like that for me before.”
He flattened her hand over her name. “I wanted to carry you close to my heart, to have you with me always. I knew that I would never want another woman. You’re it for me, Ari. I don’t want to scare you by telling you that, but you need to know the truth. This is going to be more than just a joining of our bodies, at least for me.”
A noise startled her awake. A quick look around showed that the suns were setting. Another crash downstairs had her jolting upright. Was that Bane?
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood slowly, making sure they would hold her weight. Surprisingly, she felt almost a hundred percent better. Whatever the doctor had given her to wake her at the hospital, combined with the food she’d had and the nap she’d taken, had done wonders for her.
She heard a chittering sound and frowned. Bane didn’t have pets that she knew of. Deciding to be brave and investigate, she made her way downstairs only to stop in open-mouthed shock at the sight before her when she’d reached the bottom step. She had no clue what the furry critters were that were bounding around the lower level, but they were blue with swirling pink eyes, pointed ears and bushy tails. They kind of reminded her of the squirrels on her home planet, if squirrels were the size of small dogs. At the moment, the beasts were intent on wreaking havoc on the few knick-knacks Bane had scattered around his home. She cringed as something else crashed to the ground, shattering on impact.
Ariana stepped further into the room. “Stop it!”
The chittering stopped. A dozen beady eyes focused on her. Was it her imagination or did the one by the window just lick its lips? What exactly did an alien squirrel eat? She hoped to God it wasn’t people.
They began to converge on her, creeping along, their eyes intent on their prey. Should she throw a stick? Did they play fetch? Looking around for an escape, she saw that they had maneuvered behind her and blocked the stairs. The path to the front door was clear, but she didn’t have the alarm codes. As the creatures inched closer, those eerie eyes glued to her, she realized she had little choice but to make a dash for the yard and hope they scattered when they hit the outside.
Sprinting for the door, she burst through it, alarms blaring. She’d just cleared the walkway, with a dozen blue fur balls of fury on her heels, as Bane zoomed into the driveway. He looked startled at first and then amused. She didn’t see the humor in the situation. A bunch of overgrown neon rodents were about to devour her. Where was the humor?
She ran for him and launched herself into his arms.
“I take it the zirrels got into the house again,” he said, a trace of laughter in his voice.
“Zirrels? Is that was that those things are called?”
He nodded. “We actually engineered them from the squirrels on your planet about fifty years ago. One of our warriors saw them, thought they were cute and brought some back with him. Something went horribly wrong with the cloning process though, and that’s what we ended up with. They’re mischievous, but they won’t harm you.”
“I’m not convinced. They chased me from the house! Did you see the looks in their eyes? They wanted to eat me!”
Bane laughed. “They eat plants, and occasionally get into my kitchen pantry and eat my fruits and vegetables I have stored there. They have the ability to shift from one place to another, sort of like teleporting so walls aren’t a deterrent.”
“Are you trying to tell me those fur balls from hell can just come in the house whenever they want?”
She’s his everything, and he’s nothing without her.
Bane has wanted Ariana since the first moment he met her, except she belongs to his brother Arko. When a tragedy happens, Bane steps forward to claim Ariana as his own, but Keshpan law states a slave can never be a bonded mate. That isn’t going to stop Bane from loving her every day for the rest of his life, though.
When Ariana is kidnapped by space pirates, Bane is determined to rescue her, no matter the cost. But things are getting bad back home on Keshpa. A political storm is brewing that just may rip Ariana from his arms the moment he returns with her. Bane will walk away from everything he knows to have the woman he loves by his side.
Captured on Earth, Sorcha, Enid and Susan are taken to a planet in another galaxy for the sole purpose of pleasing the Vaaden warriors. The women are unsure of their future and fearful of what’s to come. Slaves, bound to owners who crave them for the pleasure they can bring, the women despair of ever finding happiness again. But then the unthinkable happens. Sorcha falls for her owner’s brother; Enid, despite her fears, falls for the man who claims her; Susan finds herself drawn to two men, but in the end, only one will claim her heart.
Three women. Three destinies. Will the Fates bring them love, despite their circumstances?
I started to get out of the bed, but remembered I didn’t have clothes on. A furious blush stole across my cheeks and I turned my head away.
Thale chuckled. “You don’t have to hide from Valen.”
Reaching for the covers, he pulled them back and brought me to my feet. As if displaying a naked woman in his house was an everyday occurrence, he proceeded to make the introductions. “Valen, this is the slave woman I picked up today.” He frowned at me. “What’s your name?”
I nearly strangled on a laugh. The man had slept with me, taken my virginity, yet he had no idea who I was. It was priceless. “Sorcha.”
He nodded. “Valen, this is Sorcha.”
Valen’s cool gaze raked over me before returning to his brother. “A slave? Was that really necessary?”
“As if my wife would be enough to take care of my needs,” he snorted.
Wait a minute. Wife? My eyes grew huge. It hadn’t crossed my mind that my owner would be married. It made me feel wretched, knowing I had slept with another woman’s spouse. I knew things were different here, but it was difficult to absorb.
Valen’s gaze returned to me, thoughtful. “You didn’t tell her you were married, did you?”
Thale shrugged. “What does it matter?”
Valen nodded toward me. “She seems surprised and not the least bit happy about it.”
Thale looked at me with a frown. He studied me a moment, then turned back to his brother. “Why should I care if she’s happy about my wife? She’s a slave.”
Valen sighed and stepped closer, his finger stroking gently down my cheek. “It seems my brother still sees women as property.” He gave me an apologetic smile.
Thale gave a bark of laughter. “She is property, you idiot. She’s a slave.”
“She’s a woman,” Valen argued.
I shivered, both from the cold and the thought of these two arguing over me. No good would come of it, of that, I was certain. But how would I stop them? Thale was correct. Whether I liked it or not, I was his property. No amount of screaming or fighting him would change that. I had no rights, and no reason to be upset about his marriage. It didn’t stop me from feeling that way, but I couldn’t very well voice my opinion.
Valen noticed my chilled skin and pulled the blanket from the bed. Draping it around me, he gave me a kind, understanding look.
Thale watched us closely before narrowing his eyes at his brother. “Don’t you have somewhere to be right about now? Aren’t you paying court to Maia?”
Valen grimaced. “Only at your urging. Honestly, I can’t stand the woman.”
“You know you need to marry soon.”
“Yes, but I will choose my own wife. I’ll go have dinner with her and her family tonight, but it will be the last time.”
“I don’t understand you, Valen. Maia is beautiful and would be a wonderful wife and mother to your children.”
“I want something more. I don’t expect you to understand, how could you? Your wife is the ice princess Staisha, both feared and loved throughout Vaaden.”
“My wife may be a bit cool to most, but at least she’s a proper wife.”
“So when is your proper wife going to make me an uncle? You won’t have legitimate children by bedding your slave.”
Thale cursed at him before grabbing his arm and dragging him to the door. “I’ll thank you to mind your own damn business.”
Valen grinned at me and gave me a half bow. “It was delightful to meet you, Sorcha. Perhaps we’ll meet again soon.”
Tell us a little about yourself. What’s it like to be you?
Pierce: My name is Pierce, I’m a white tiger shifter, former football player, soccer to you. Yanks. I’m the co-founder of the Paranormal Sports League, a sports league focused on allowing shifters and paras to use their abilities without fear of rejections or retribution.
Who is the most important person in your life and why?
Pierce: I’d have to say Madison. Her opinion matters to me greatly as does her support. She’s my mate, my other half. Her faith in me makes me feel invincible and I can accomplish anything.
If there was one thing you could change about Madison, what would it be and why?
Pierce: Nothing. To change her would mean that she’s not my Madison. She’s perfect as she is.
When did you know that Madison was the one for you?
Pierce: The moment I saw her I knew.
What is your biggest fear?
Pierce: Failing with the Paranormal League. A lot of people are depending on me and I’ll be damned if I fail them.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Pierce: Starting the Paranormal League. It was a great leap to think people would love to paranormals playing sports with their abilities and powers.
Do you prefer books or movies? Do you have a favorite?
Pierce: A little of both, it depends on my mood.
What do you like best about Madison?
Pierce: She’s intelligent, strong, sexy, confident, vulnerable, independent and very creative. *Pierce winks*
Well, thank you for joining me today, Pierce. It was lovely meeting you.
If you’d like to learn more about Pierce and the love of his life, Madison, check out Mate Not Wanted by Selena Illyria – Available Now!
Bachelor Auction 1: Mate Not Wanted
Excerpt Rating (R)
Genre: Paranormal, Interracial, Shifter
ISBN: 9781940223520
Novel
Blurb:
Letting Madison go unmated? Pierce won’t stand for it…
Lioness shifter Madison doesn’t want to be mated. So when her friends bid and win tiger shifter Pierce McKinney at the Bachelor Auction, she knows she’s screwed. Pierce is the one man who can get under her skin. Especially when she knows that sex with Pierce will burn hotter than the sun…
Pierce McKinney has been trying without luck to wear Madison down. So when her friends win him at a charity auction, he’s determined to win her for his own. He’ll give her what she needs and desires, and he’ll even bring in a friend to play to her fantasies. But Madison belongs to him, and only him. And he intends to show her that he plays for keeps. Even if she’s too stubborn to admit it. Because Pierce is too stubborn to let her walk away…
Excerpt:
“No need to feel shy, love. Come on in. You look gorgeous, as usual.”
He reached down, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward until she stopped just millimeters away from his body. Pierce bent down and brushed his lips against her cheek, sending a lick of fire down her spine. He moved his mouth over hers, which only ignited the flame in her body.
With a whimper, she pressed herself against him and rose on tiptoe to kiss him more fully. She sighed and opened her mouth, slipped her tongue out, and tracing a line along the seam between his lips. They parted to allow her tongue in for a deeper taste. A muffled groan was her reward. She felt his canines thicken and sharpen until they nearly drew blood when the brushed against her lips.
Madison wrapped her arms around Pierce’s neck and slipped a hand over his head, feeling the smoothness and heat of his skin against her palm. She could feel the hard planes of his body, even with the barrier of the silk shirt and wool pants he wore. She wanted to feel all that muscle and sinew against her body.
Her shoulder bite throbbed, and an insistent heat grew in the pit of her stomach. Her clit pulsed in time with her heartbeat, demanding attention. Her breasts ached for his touch. She groaned and lifted her leg to twine it around his. The pencil skirt she wore was too tight. She hated that she’d chosen to wear a waist cincher. It felt as if it weren’t allowing her take in enough air. Her blouse felt itchy and abraded her skin.
“Dinner is served.” Jessica brushed past the two of them. “Or are you two gonna keep letting in the flies and night air? I’m off to the movies. Enjoy!”
Rather than embarrassment, Madison felt amused. She gave Pierce another kiss and stepped back. Her stomach gave a growl and she gazed up at him.
“Time to eat.” She took his hand and led him into the house. “And then dessert.”
Book 6 in the Ashton Grove Werewolves series releases this month! I know it’s been a long time coming, and hopefully you won’t be disappointed. I struggled with this one, deleting it and starting over several times. I know some people are going to be angry with me by the end of the book, but just remember that everything happens for a reason.
The Ashton Grove pack has been on the verge of war for months, and now the time has arrived. The Skulls of Hell are on their way to the small sleepy Georgia town with destruction on their minds. But a new voice in the pack wants to know why.
Kendall Wright has lost one battle with the Skulls already and she isn’t anxious to face them again, but as Colin’s mate she knows it’s her place to fight by his side. But if she’s going to forfeit her life for the good of the pack, she wants to know why.
Colin has to admit his mate brings up a good point. Why travel such a great distance to wipe out a small pack of werewolves? There’s nothing special about the Ashton Grove pack, or is there? Can the mystery be solved before the war begins?
EXCERPT
Kendall leaned against her car and tried to get a signal on her phone. She was stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way to contact anyone. Her car had died and refused to start again. She fought the urge to smack her phone against the car. Not only did she not have any reception, her 4G was out as well. Not that the internet did her much good, but at least she could’ve emailed her friend and hoped he got the message. If it hadn’t been daylight, she would’ve just shifted and found the nearest town. Then again, she’d be naked when she shifted back so maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.
Just when she was giving up hope, she heard a loud engine. Shading her eyes from the sun, she smiled when she saw a large truck rumbling her way. With any luck, the owner would be a guy. A guy knowledgeable about cars, she amended. Maybe she’d be on her way in no time!
The truck pulled over to the side of the road just behind her car. But as the doors opened, she realized her mistake. She should’ve waited for them inside her car. Now she was in the open and exposed. She watched as five of the hardest looking men she’d ever seen got out of the vehicle. Despite the hot June weather, three of them wore black leather jackets. She had a really horrible feeling about this.
The way they moved told her they were something other than human, but she wasn’t sure exactly what they could be. They didn’t smell like shifters. There was a foul, almost rancid, smell coming from them and it made her want to gag. She edged closer to the driver side door of her car, wondering if she could make it in time, but one look at the approaching men put a nix on that idea. They were too close and she had a feeling they were faster than they looked.
They circled her, penning her in, making her feel like a trapped animal. Her other half, her animal half, yowled in protest. She could shift, but that would only make her more vulnerable. Sure, she’d get in a few good licks, but her cat was small and they would overtake her quickly. There was little doubt in her mind that the more she fought them, the more pain they would inflict. Now that they were closer, she could see the evil lurking in their coal black eyes. There was only one type of being with eyes like that – a demon. The skull and crossbones on the front of the leather jackets gave her a clue as to who she was dealing with.
Fear snaked through her, seizing her. They tightened their circle, closing in until they were near enough to touch her. Her brain was telling her to flee, but her body was locked in place. A tremor ran down her spine, shaking her from head to toe as the leader reached out to touch her, running his fingers through her spiky red hair. Another ground against her from behind and she nearly wet herself. What were they going to do to her? Would she survive?
“Tie her up,” the leader commanded.
The demon behind her grabbed her hands, jerking them behind her back. Another produced a length of rope and tied them together, nearly cutting off her circulation. Next, they tied her feet and she was slung over someone’s shoulder and carried to the truck. Dumped in the bed of the truck, one of the demons launched himself into the back, presumably to keep an eye on her. As if she could escape like this! Bound as she was, it would be impossible for her to shift. Had they tied her on purpose, perhaps knowing she was a shapeshifter?
She stayed silent, not voicing the multitude of questions she had, doubting that she would receive any answers and would most likely be punished for daring to speak. Her heart raced as the worst possible scenarios tumbled through her mind, one following the other in rapid succession. They hadn’t gagged her, which meant they didn’t care if she screamed, perhaps even wanted her to. She didn’t know a lot about demons, but what little knowledge she did have told her she didn’t have a prayer of escaping. They would torture her, and possibly kill her, but one thing was certain, she would not give up her soul. With there being five of them, chances were, they didn’t even want it. Which meant they’d captured her strictly for torture.
Bile rose in the back of her throat and she forced it down. She didn’t want to show any signs of weakness, no more than she already had. They would try to break her, and if she gave in too soon, if they thought for one moment they’d already accomplished their task, her life would be forfeit. And she wanted to live! Oh how she wanted to live. There was so much she hadn’t done yet, so many places to see, people to meet. There weren’t many who would miss her if she were to disappear. She had one close friend at home, a guy that really fell into the “friends with benefits” category, but there was no love between them. She’d never been in love and the thought saddened her.
She felt the truck bump along and looked up. The sky gave nothing away, but the position of the sun seemed off. Had they gone off-road? She broke out in a sweat at the thought of being taken further into the desert, where no one would hear her, no one would find her. They would be completely isolated, left to do to her whatever they pleased without interference. Not that a mere human could stop them even if they tried. No, maybe it was better this way. At least she would be the only one at their mercy.
After what seemed like hours, but was surely only twenty minutes or so, the truck came to a stop. The demon beside her rose and hefted her over his shoulder. Once more, she was looking at the world upside down, mostly seeing his denim-clad rear. A sight that made her ill. After stepping around a cactus and a small rock formation, she was dropped, her bones rattling as she landed on the hard ground.
Looking around, she resigned herself to her fate. They’d bolted manacles in the rocks, the perfect way to detain their prey, and an assortment of tools lay nearby. The sight of a branding iron made her flinch and she hoped and prayed that she either passed out before they used it, or that her life would cease before then. She didn’t think she could handle the pain of such torture. The other items didn’t look pleasant either, but they didn’t terrify her as much as the thought of her flesh burning, of being marked for all eternity as their plaything.
One of the demons, whom she’d come to call demon 3 in her mind, cut the ropes binding her and dragged her over to the rock. Snapping the manacles in place, he ripped her shirt, dropping the shredded garment to the ground. Cutting her jeans from her body, he gave her a salacious look that made her skin crawl. Left bare except for her skimpy bra and panties, she shivered in anticipation of the atrocities yet to come.
Demon 2 picked up a long whip, the kind she’d always associated with cattle drives and cowboys, and flicked it, making it snap. She flinched, unable to stop the involuntary motion. Demon 4 picked up a large knife that looked like it had been sharpened to within an inch of its life. The others settled in, obviously wanting to observe, and more than likely wait their turn. She didn’t doubt for one minute that this was only the beginning.
The whip sang through the air, the crack making her tense, waiting for the pain to begin. The next flick sent it across her tender stomach, leaving a long red welt in its wake. Kendall clenched her teeth, determined not to utter a single whimper or cry of pain. The whip whistled through the air again, landing across her right breast. She ground her teeth and bit her tongue, each lashing making it harder and harder to keep quiet.
The whip kissed her flesh again and again, harder each time until it drew blood. Demon 4 licked his lips and moved in closer. She knew the real pain was about to begin. The closest she’d ever come to pain was a broken ankle when she was a kid, courtesy of a trip off a trampoline, and a bad cut to her palm when she tried to stop her forward momentum by slamming her hand into a window pane. None of that compared to now. She wasn’t sure anything could have prepared her for this.
The first cut was small, down the inside of her right arm, and made her hiss, despite her intent to remain silent. The demon grinned even bigger, his eyes growing even darker, if such a thing was possible. The blade of the knife caressed her breasts, but didn’t break the skin. He moved down her abdomen and made a vertical cut that stopped just shy of her navel.
Silent screams echoed in her head, making her ears ring. The taste of blood filled her mouth from biting her tongue so hard. The knife moved down her body, sliding over her panties. She broke out in chills just thinking of the damage he could do to her there, but he moved on. Digging the tip of the knife into her upper thigh, he broke the skin and sliced downward, leaving a four-inch gash in her leg.
Unable to stop herself, she whimpered and jerked at the manacles. The demon threw back his head and laughed before tossing the knife aside. She watched as he sat and another rose in his place. The leader brought her worst fears to life. Picking up the branding iron, he plunged the hard metal into an open flame nearby. She watched in absolute terror as the metal turned orange. When the demon was satisfied it was hot enough, he removed it from the fire and approached her, an unholy light in his eyes, his lips twisted in a sneer.
“Not going to make any noise, are you?” he taunted. “We’ll just see about that.”
Placing his meaty hand on her ribs, he held her still as he placed the red-hot iron against the skin of her hip. Kendall did the only thing she could. She screamed long and loud until the pain overtook her and she blacked out.
The 4th and final book in the Demon Guardians series is here — or almost here. Aires releases December 19th with Changeling Press!
What happens when two hot-blooded, sexy as sin demons want your body, mind and soul and aren’t into sharing?
The unbearable heat of hell won’t be the only singe Della feels. Aires wants her like no other, and once he has a taste he’ll want to go back for more. There’s just one problem. She’s his charge, and as her guardian he’s meant to protect her, not lust after her. When another demon shows interest in Della, it’s all Aires can do to control his jealous rage. Sweet Della is meant to be his and no one else’s.
Excerpt
Smoothing back her chestnut hair, I savored the feel of her against me. I wanted her, fiercely, but I was just as content to hold her. Della, however, had other ideas.
Curling her fingers in my hair, she pulled my head down and placed her lips against mine. The pressure was slight, a barely there kiss, but it was enough to ignite my hunger for her, making me ravenous to feel more of her. I licked at her bottom lip, and when she opened, I plundered her mouth, deepening the kiss. She tasted salty-sweet, and I knew she’d been eating pretzels and drinking her favorite soda, something she did often. Her hand tugged on my hair as she tried to get closer to me, and I tightened my arm around her waist. Kissing Della was every bit as wonderful as I’d remembered and I didn’t want to stop, but one of us needed to act rationally. If I didn’t stop now, she’d end up naked, bent over the arm of the sofa while I pounded into her sweet heat from behind.
I hadn’t thought it possible, but my cock grew even harder, straining against the zipper of my pants. Pulling back, reluctantly, I looked down into her upturned face. Her eyes were still closed, her lips plump from my kiss. Her eyes fluttered open and the passion blazing in their depths nearly took me to my knees. It seemed that delicious Della wanted me as much as I wanted her. Part of me wanted to throw her over my shoulder, run away with her, and bring her pleasure unlike any she’d ever known before, all night long. The part of my brain that was thinking clearly said it was best to take things slow and see where things went. Because deep down, I knew that one time would never be enough, not with her.
Her hand slid down my neck, then down my chest, coming to rest at the waistband of my pants. It would be oh-so-easy for her pop that button free and slide my zipper down, reach inside and see just what she did to me. I knew her sexual experience was limited and doubted she’d be so bold, but I could hope. Just one touch and I’d go up in flames. One touch is all it would take for her to claim me for her own. That thought shook a bit of sense into me, and I took a step back. She looked hurt by my retreat, but it was better this way.
“You aren’t safe here,” I told her. “Not by yourself.”
“If you’re my guardian, then you know I don’t have any family nearby. It isn’t like I can go stay with my sister. She’s all the way across the country in Atlanta.”
She was right. She had no family in sunny Southern California and very few friends. Surely one of them would put her up, though, at least long enough for me to sort out this problem. I just needed a game plan. It seemed the only way to send the Surack packing was to claim Della as mine, but I knew that it would the biggest step I’d ever taken, something that would change my life forever. And forever for a demon was a really long time.
“What about your friends?”
“Richard is currently seeing someone, and while I doubt Troy would mind me staying with them, it would just be awkward. They’re still in the first stage of romance, where you can’t keep your hands off one another. Melanie is expecting and dealing with her deadbeat boyfriend, who won’t take responsibility for the child or make an honest woman of her. Personally, I think she’s better off without him, but she’s a basket case.”
I tipped my head back and studied the ceiling, as if seeking answers where there were none. The weight of my decision settled on my shoulders as I realized what I had to do. It would be the hardest thing ever. Well, technically, at the moment, my cock was the hardest thing ever, but that was a complication I’d have to learn to deal with in the upcoming days.
“Pack a bag,” I told her.
“I just told you I had nowhere to go.”
“You’re coming home with me.”
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