Yeah! I'm thrilled! Hope they like me there... Does it look okay?
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 31, 2010
My Bestseller Dragon's Egg is now available at Rainbow ebooks!
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/
Bat Wings
Bat Wings
Makes: 20 appetizers
Prep: 20 minutes Marinate: 2 to 24 hours Bake: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 20 chicken wings (3-1/2 pounds)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 recipe Swamp Dip
Directions
1. Place wings in a plastic bag set in a shallow dish. In a small bowl stir together soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, five spice powder and garlic. Pour over wings. Close bag and toss to coat. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight, turning bag occasionally. Remove wings from bag, reserving marinade.2. Place wings on a foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 450 degree F oven for 10 minutes. Brush with reserved marinade (discard remaining marinade). Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Serve with Swamp Dip. Makes 20 appetizers.
Swamp Dip: In a small bowl stir together a 8-ounce container of dairy sour cream and 3 tablespoons coarse ground mustard. Garnish with fresh whole chives. Serve with bat wings.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Halloween Recipe-- Graveyard Gravel
Graveyard Gravel
Prep: 35 minutes Chill: 2 hours Cook: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
- Dash salt
- 2 cups tiny marshmallows
- Unsweetened cocoa powder mixed with an equal amount of powdered sugar
- Powdered sugar
Directions
1. Line a 9x9x2-inch or an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil; set aside.2. In a medium saucepan, heat and stir chocolate pieces, condensed milk, butter, vanilla, and salt over medium heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallows just until combined. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Using a table knife or thin metal spatula, swirl marshmallows through fudge in pan until marshmallows are mostly melted. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until firm.
3. Using a small scoop, scoop fudge and shape into rocks (fudge will be sticky). Roll some in cocoa powder mixture and some in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Makes about 80 pieces (2 1/4 lbs.).
For the scoop, I happen to own a melon baller, but even a spoon will do.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Guest Author Isabella Jordan
Isy's favorite Halloween movies
I do a move review each month at A Cheeky Changeling (the official ezine of Changeling Press http://changelingpress.com/ezine) so I thought it was fitting that I do a movie list for Halloween. And I realize too that not everyone is in for the gore and blood spatter so I hope you'll find something here for everyone.
Isy's Top 10 Halloween Movies - Family Friendly
1) Hocus Pocus (1993) -- Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. The famed trio of witches, the Sanderson sisters, are brought back from the dead when a virgin lights their black candle. Now they hunt children on Halloween to restore their beauty and life. Mild scares and a whole lot of fun!
2) Twitches (2005) -- Twin witches, separated at birth and brought to our reality from the world of Coventry, find each other and learn about their heritage. But will they learn in time to stop a dangerous man from destroying Coventry? Mild scares. There is a sequel but it's not as good as the first.
3) Halloweentown (1998) -- Starring Debbie Reynolds. This is a charming story of a teen girl who learns she's a witch in time to prevent losing her powers forever. Her mother wants her to be a normal human but her grandmother (Reynolds) needs her powers in Halloweentown before it's too late to stop a warlock intent on taking it over. Mild magical scares but lots of fun for all ages. There were three sequels but none came close to this one.
4) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Tim Burton's claymation masterpiece is perfect for Halloween movie night with Jack Skelington, the Pumpkin King, deciding he's tired of his holiday of Halloween. He decides to take over Christmas instead. This one is great for older kids, teens and adults. For younger children, the scenes with Santa Claus taken hostage might be upsetting.
5) Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-rabbit (2005) -- This is a perfect Halloween movie for the entire family! Wallace and his trusty, practical, and intelligent dog Gromit are caught up in the fun as one of Wallace's experiments results in the monstrous Were-rabbit who terrorizes the town just in time for the annual vegetable growing contest. Love it!
6) Corpse Bride (2005) -- Featuring the vocal talents of Johnny Depp. This is the Victorian story of Victor, a young man about to marry a young woman whose family is old and respected. The marriage will give Victor's family status. The intended bride is Victoria whose family is respected but embarrassingly broke. The marriage will given them money. When a goof at the rehearsal results in Victor unwittingly bringing another young bride back from the dead, the fun really begins. With the themes of death and afterlife, this might not be a good choice for young children. But the older kids will enjoy it.
7) The Witches (1990) -- Starring Angelica Huston. This is the tale of a young man who is turned into a mouse while travelling abroad with this grandmother guardian. He's turned into a mouse by a witch. Not just any witch, the head of a huge coven who are out to turn ALL children into mice. Great fun!
8) The Haunted Mansion (2003) -- Starring Eddie Murphy. Yeah, it's based on the Disney theme park ride. But the movie is a tale of ghosts, love, betrayal, and action-packed fun! Great story, great effects. You'll like this one!
9) Casper (1995) -- Starring Christina Ricci. I liked this story because Casper's story is told and presented in a way that's sweet and stays true to the cartoon ghost boy we've all grown to love. The entire family will enjoy this one!
10) Scooby-Doo (2002) -- Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. I didn't expect to like the Scooby Gang outside of cartoons and was pleasantly surprised here. It was great fun! The gang breaks up at the start of this movie due to personal differences. When they are all invited to Spooky Island, can they pull together in time to stop an evil cult? Crude humor, mild scares. Loads of fun!
Isy's Top 10 Halloween Movies - Nothing friendly about this list
Want to be really scared? These are NOT for those under 18.
1) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) -- The original story of Freddie Kruger is a must for Halloween movie night. In life Freddie Kruger was a child murderer who was finally taken out by a group of concerned parents. Now he's back for the children his missed -- the children of those parents who burned him alive -- and he hunts them in their dreams. Scary stuff.
2) The Exorcist (1973) -- This movie will always be -- and should be -- on any scary movie list. It's terrifying and the effects were so crude then compared to what we have now. It plays on some very basic human fears and is unrelenting until the very end. Scary, offensive, and a movie you'll never forget.
3) The Fly (1986) -- This is the creepy remake made by David Cronenberg and starring Jeff Goldblum. Again, this movie has a great story, good acting, and decent effects. But it hits some nerves on a basic human level and that's what makes it disturbing. Could a human be spliced together by the DNA with a fly? What decisions would that person have to make?
4) The Human Centipede: The First Sequence (2009) -- Surprise! A new film and one I guarantee you'll never forget. The acting is mediocre, the story is decent. But the concept of a deranged doctor who specialized in conjoined twins kidnapping three people and joining them all mouth to anus (I know) to create a human centipede messed me up for days. This should only be watched by those with a strong stomach. Creepy as hell!
5) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) -- I mean Tobe Hooper's original film that gives the viewer a strong sense of dread early in the movie and has you squirming in your seat until the end in your unease. While it seems the typical movie with teenagers who are slaughtered by a backwoods family of freaks that you've seen about two hundred times, it's really so much more. The family this group of teens encounters is unlike anything you've seen before and totally gives you the creeps. Leatherface himself is unrelenting and there is no, "Whew, it's over!" moment in this film. You come away watching over your shoulder...
6) Saw (2004) -- Yes the first movie of the exhausting sequence of scary films. While not all of the sequels are terrible, all of them pale next to this film which was clever, simplistic, and very well acted. This film didn't need gory effects or big terrifying chase scenes. It did just fine with two strangers locked in a filthy bathroom and chained there with a dead body. The unknown, the connection between the two men who've never met before -- all of it -- remind me of Hitchcock in their simple mastery. Great movie!
7) The Mist (2007) -- It's based on a Stephen King work if that tells you anything. A group of strangers are trapped in a grocery store by a mysterious mist that's apparently filled with people eating monsters. It's more than just another predictable horror film. This film has something to say about all of us and how we relate to each other. The ending is a huge tragedy. I recommend this one.
8) Hellraiser (1987) -- Based on a novella by Clive Barker, this is a terrifying film about a young woman who makes us feel her dread when a mysterious uncle re-enters her family's life. He literally has the hounds of hell on his heels. This film is terrifying, bloody and thought provoking. You love the rush while the movie is running but you are SO glad when it is over.
9) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) -- Okay, again we have a group of wayward teens who encounter a bad situation. But you've never seen it THIS bad before. This isn't just any family of freaks torturing our teenagers. They are the stuff of your nightmares... This is just disturbing. You've been warned.
10) The Evil Dead (1981) -- This film offers a group of young adults in an isolated cabin for a getaway. They encounter a book that they shouldn't have read from. Yes, we get demons from hell again. But the cenobites from Hellraiser seem downright civilized next to this bunch. It's bloody, disturbing (even with the cheesy effects) and will leave you ready to watch reruns of Bugs Bunny for a while. Again, you've been warned.
Thank you!
Isy
http://isabellajordan.com
I do a move review each month at A Cheeky Changeling (the official ezine of Changeling Press http://changelingpress.com/ezine) so I thought it was fitting that I do a movie list for Halloween. And I realize too that not everyone is in for the gore and blood spatter so I hope you'll find something here for everyone.
Isy's Top 10 Halloween Movies - Family Friendly
1) Hocus Pocus (1993) -- Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. The famed trio of witches, the Sanderson sisters, are brought back from the dead when a virgin lights their black candle. Now they hunt children on Halloween to restore their beauty and life. Mild scares and a whole lot of fun!
2) Twitches (2005) -- Twin witches, separated at birth and brought to our reality from the world of Coventry, find each other and learn about their heritage. But will they learn in time to stop a dangerous man from destroying Coventry? Mild scares. There is a sequel but it's not as good as the first.
3) Halloweentown (1998) -- Starring Debbie Reynolds. This is a charming story of a teen girl who learns she's a witch in time to prevent losing her powers forever. Her mother wants her to be a normal human but her grandmother (Reynolds) needs her powers in Halloweentown before it's too late to stop a warlock intent on taking it over. Mild magical scares but lots of fun for all ages. There were three sequels but none came close to this one.
4) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Tim Burton's claymation masterpiece is perfect for Halloween movie night with Jack Skelington, the Pumpkin King, deciding he's tired of his holiday of Halloween. He decides to take over Christmas instead. This one is great for older kids, teens and adults. For younger children, the scenes with Santa Claus taken hostage might be upsetting.
5) Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-rabbit (2005) -- This is a perfect Halloween movie for the entire family! Wallace and his trusty, practical, and intelligent dog Gromit are caught up in the fun as one of Wallace's experiments results in the monstrous Were-rabbit who terrorizes the town just in time for the annual vegetable growing contest. Love it!
6) Corpse Bride (2005) -- Featuring the vocal talents of Johnny Depp. This is the Victorian story of Victor, a young man about to marry a young woman whose family is old and respected. The marriage will give Victor's family status. The intended bride is Victoria whose family is respected but embarrassingly broke. The marriage will given them money. When a goof at the rehearsal results in Victor unwittingly bringing another young bride back from the dead, the fun really begins. With the themes of death and afterlife, this might not be a good choice for young children. But the older kids will enjoy it.
7) The Witches (1990) -- Starring Angelica Huston. This is the tale of a young man who is turned into a mouse while travelling abroad with this grandmother guardian. He's turned into a mouse by a witch. Not just any witch, the head of a huge coven who are out to turn ALL children into mice. Great fun!
8) The Haunted Mansion (2003) -- Starring Eddie Murphy. Yeah, it's based on the Disney theme park ride. But the movie is a tale of ghosts, love, betrayal, and action-packed fun! Great story, great effects. You'll like this one!
9) Casper (1995) -- Starring Christina Ricci. I liked this story because Casper's story is told and presented in a way that's sweet and stays true to the cartoon ghost boy we've all grown to love. The entire family will enjoy this one!
10) Scooby-Doo (2002) -- Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. I didn't expect to like the Scooby Gang outside of cartoons and was pleasantly surprised here. It was great fun! The gang breaks up at the start of this movie due to personal differences. When they are all invited to Spooky Island, can they pull together in time to stop an evil cult? Crude humor, mild scares. Loads of fun!
Isy's Top 10 Halloween Movies - Nothing friendly about this list
Want to be really scared? These are NOT for those under 18.
1) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) -- The original story of Freddie Kruger is a must for Halloween movie night. In life Freddie Kruger was a child murderer who was finally taken out by a group of concerned parents. Now he's back for the children his missed -- the children of those parents who burned him alive -- and he hunts them in their dreams. Scary stuff.
2) The Exorcist (1973) -- This movie will always be -- and should be -- on any scary movie list. It's terrifying and the effects were so crude then compared to what we have now. It plays on some very basic human fears and is unrelenting until the very end. Scary, offensive, and a movie you'll never forget.
3) The Fly (1986) -- This is the creepy remake made by David Cronenberg and starring Jeff Goldblum. Again, this movie has a great story, good acting, and decent effects. But it hits some nerves on a basic human level and that's what makes it disturbing. Could a human be spliced together by the DNA with a fly? What decisions would that person have to make?
4) The Human Centipede: The First Sequence (2009) -- Surprise! A new film and one I guarantee you'll never forget. The acting is mediocre, the story is decent. But the concept of a deranged doctor who specialized in conjoined twins kidnapping three people and joining them all mouth to anus (I know) to create a human centipede messed me up for days. This should only be watched by those with a strong stomach. Creepy as hell!
5) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) -- I mean Tobe Hooper's original film that gives the viewer a strong sense of dread early in the movie and has you squirming in your seat until the end in your unease. While it seems the typical movie with teenagers who are slaughtered by a backwoods family of freaks that you've seen about two hundred times, it's really so much more. The family this group of teens encounters is unlike anything you've seen before and totally gives you the creeps. Leatherface himself is unrelenting and there is no, "Whew, it's over!" moment in this film. You come away watching over your shoulder...
6) Saw (2004) -- Yes the first movie of the exhausting sequence of scary films. While not all of the sequels are terrible, all of them pale next to this film which was clever, simplistic, and very well acted. This film didn't need gory effects or big terrifying chase scenes. It did just fine with two strangers locked in a filthy bathroom and chained there with a dead body. The unknown, the connection between the two men who've never met before -- all of it -- remind me of Hitchcock in their simple mastery. Great movie!
7) The Mist (2007) -- It's based on a Stephen King work if that tells you anything. A group of strangers are trapped in a grocery store by a mysterious mist that's apparently filled with people eating monsters. It's more than just another predictable horror film. This film has something to say about all of us and how we relate to each other. The ending is a huge tragedy. I recommend this one.
8) Hellraiser (1987) -- Based on a novella by Clive Barker, this is a terrifying film about a young woman who makes us feel her dread when a mysterious uncle re-enters her family's life. He literally has the hounds of hell on his heels. This film is terrifying, bloody and thought provoking. You love the rush while the movie is running but you are SO glad when it is over.
9) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) -- Okay, again we have a group of wayward teens who encounter a bad situation. But you've never seen it THIS bad before. This isn't just any family of freaks torturing our teenagers. They are the stuff of your nightmares... This is just disturbing. You've been warned.
10) The Evil Dead (1981) -- This film offers a group of young adults in an isolated cabin for a getaway. They encounter a book that they shouldn't have read from. Yes, we get demons from hell again. But the cenobites from Hellraiser seem downright civilized next to this bunch. It's bloody, disturbing (even with the cheesy effects) and will leave you ready to watch reruns of Bugs Bunny for a while. Again, you've been warned.
Thank you!
Isy
http://isabellajordan.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Halloween Guest Author- Aline de Chevigney
Blurb:
Nicolai had lost all hope of finding his mate. A hundred years alone left a vampire jaded. Until he agreed to take on a fiery little spy who saved his house, his Sire and his heart. Now he just needs to convince her that joining his side is the only way to survive the coming battle and remove the Demon from their midst once and for all.
Kelly Ravenson, had been through enough heartache and heartbreak since being turned to know that trust needed to be earned. The women of Raven house needed her. Could she really leave them unprotected just to follow her heart?
Excerpt:
“Sharra told me the truth about your relationship with Daemor.” Kelly quickly backed away from the anger blazing in his eyes. “You lied to me.”
“For your own good and mine. You would have tried to take me away from here if you’d known the truth and then the wolf cub and my child would both be lost. Admit it, I can give you information about Raven House that no one else can.”
Nicolai smiled and crossed his arms. Leaning back against the wall he tilted his head to the side. “What makes you think I won’t take you away now that I know the truth?”
Kelly glared at him. “You mean try to take me away.”
“No, I mean take you away. I never fail when I set out to do something and I don’t intend to start now. So tell me my little vixen, are you going to make this difficult or easy for me?”
Anger and a little awe suffused her at his arrogance. How dare he dictate her actions to her, he didn’t own her. “Difficult!”
A slow seductive smile crept over Nicolai’s lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Kelly backed away from him, terrified and yet eager to find out what he meant. In the past three years of dealing with Nicolai she knew that she would most likely enjoy whatever he had in mind. “What are you planning on doing with me?”
“That all depends on how difficult you make this for me. I promised Sharra that I would rescue you from this hell house, and I never break a promise.”
“What if I don’t want to leave?”
Nicolai shrugged. “I won’t force you to leave Kelly, but I will use EVERYTHING at my disposal to convince you otherwise… including seduction. Like I said, I never break a promise and I can be quite convincing when I need to be.”
Buy Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-releases/blood-hunted/prod_80.html
Halloween item:
Easy to Build Spooky Maze
Supplies needed to build outer maze
· Sticks/Posts (should be a min of 6 feet tall so no one can see over the walls)
· Rope/String
· Sheets/Shower Curtains ( I preffer shower curtains, that way if they rip or soil I don’t care. Kids have sticky fingers LOL)
· Clothes pins
· Christmas lights (white)
Supplies to decorate maze
· Cobwebs
· Spiders
· Rats
· Mice
· Skeletons
· Body parts (plastic of course)
· Etc…
Supplies Miscelaneous
· Flashlights
· Hammer
· Glue/tape
· Waivers (for liability purposes)
Directions:
1. Map out your maze on paper first. Plan where you walls will be and how many sticks and curtains you’ll need.
2. Pick a spot to mount your maze that has lots of room.
3. Pound your sticks into the ground at measured intervals. You should have 1 stick per sheet/curtain length. This will make your aisles the width of a shower curtain.
4. String up rope to create your walls. This is what you’ll be hanging your curtains on, so make sure its strong enough to hold the weight.
5. Now attach your curtains with the clothes pins. Dark colored curtains work best.
6. Now decorate, using the webs and critters. Go crazy and use your imagination. Don’t forget to leave a spooky surprise at the dead ends. (ie: skeleton, person in a costume to say boo)
Other information:
1. You’ll need 4 adults, 1 at the entrance, 1 at the exit, 1 in the maze and 1 circling the perimeter. Minimum
2. You should have an emergency signal in case someone gets too scared to continue or gets lost.
3. And last but definitely not least, you’ll want a prize at the end to signify their accomplishment. Candy works well here.
4. Most if not all supplies can be gotten at a dollar store.
Nicolai had lost all hope of finding his mate. A hundred years alone left a vampire jaded. Until he agreed to take on a fiery little spy who saved his house, his Sire and his heart. Now he just needs to convince her that joining his side is the only way to survive the coming battle and remove the Demon from their midst once and for all.
Kelly Ravenson, had been through enough heartache and heartbreak since being turned to know that trust needed to be earned. The women of Raven house needed her. Could she really leave them unprotected just to follow her heart?
Excerpt:
“Sharra told me the truth about your relationship with Daemor.” Kelly quickly backed away from the anger blazing in his eyes. “You lied to me.”
“For your own good and mine. You would have tried to take me away from here if you’d known the truth and then the wolf cub and my child would both be lost. Admit it, I can give you information about Raven House that no one else can.”
Nicolai smiled and crossed his arms. Leaning back against the wall he tilted his head to the side. “What makes you think I won’t take you away now that I know the truth?”
Kelly glared at him. “You mean try to take me away.”
“No, I mean take you away. I never fail when I set out to do something and I don’t intend to start now. So tell me my little vixen, are you going to make this difficult or easy for me?”
Anger and a little awe suffused her at his arrogance. How dare he dictate her actions to her, he didn’t own her. “Difficult!”
A slow seductive smile crept over Nicolai’s lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Kelly backed away from him, terrified and yet eager to find out what he meant. In the past three years of dealing with Nicolai she knew that she would most likely enjoy whatever he had in mind. “What are you planning on doing with me?”
“That all depends on how difficult you make this for me. I promised Sharra that I would rescue you from this hell house, and I never break a promise.”
“What if I don’t want to leave?”
Nicolai shrugged. “I won’t force you to leave Kelly, but I will use EVERYTHING at my disposal to convince you otherwise… including seduction. Like I said, I never break a promise and I can be quite convincing when I need to be.”
Buy Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-releases/blood-hunted/prod_80.html
Halloween item:
Easy to Build Spooky Maze
Supplies needed to build outer maze
· Sticks/Posts (should be a min of 6 feet tall so no one can see over the walls)
· Rope/String
· Sheets/Shower Curtains ( I preffer shower curtains, that way if they rip or soil I don’t care. Kids have sticky fingers LOL)
· Clothes pins
· Christmas lights (white)
Supplies to decorate maze
· Cobwebs
· Spiders
· Rats
· Mice
· Skeletons
· Body parts (plastic of course)
· Etc…
Supplies Miscelaneous
· Flashlights
· Hammer
· Glue/tape
· Waivers (for liability purposes)
Directions:
1. Map out your maze on paper first. Plan where you walls will be and how many sticks and curtains you’ll need.
2. Pick a spot to mount your maze that has lots of room.
3. Pound your sticks into the ground at measured intervals. You should have 1 stick per sheet/curtain length. This will make your aisles the width of a shower curtain.
4. String up rope to create your walls. This is what you’ll be hanging your curtains on, so make sure its strong enough to hold the weight.
5. Now attach your curtains with the clothes pins. Dark colored curtains work best.
6. Now decorate, using the webs and critters. Go crazy and use your imagination. Don’t forget to leave a spooky surprise at the dead ends. (ie: skeleton, person in a costume to say boo)
Other information:
1. You’ll need 4 adults, 1 at the entrance, 1 at the exit, 1 in the maze and 1 circling the perimeter. Minimum
2. You should have an emergency signal in case someone gets too scared to continue or gets lost.
3. And last but definitely not least, you’ll want a prize at the end to signify their accomplishment. Candy works well here.
4. Most if not all supplies can be gotten at a dollar store.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Guest Author Brannan Black
Viking Seduction 1: Blood Slave by Brannan Black
Paranormal Romance of the hot and sexy kind
Art by Renee George
It's the twenty-first century. Who keeps slaves anymore? Other than really, really old vampires...
Kierra's been trying to get Dekker's attention since they first met. His Nordic good looks and old world charm send shivers of
heat straight through her every time she sees him.
An invitation to a vampire-themed rave seems like just the thing to help him see her as more than a friend -- until she discovers it's not
just a theme. And now she's tangled up in a world she thought only existed in romance novels -- only these vampires are far from hunky
knights in shining armor.
Available at Changeling Press
Excerpt
I saw Nate's big 4x4 headed around front. Not wanting to have to fight my way in, I squeezed between a couple buildings and slipped down the alley behind the warehouse. Shutting the bike off, I rolled into the shadows.
Muffled curses and a woman's scream reached my sensitive ears. Son of a bitch. Kierra!
Ferine's muffled voiced goaded me. "Go ahead, fresh blood. No one who can hear you will care." I clenched my jaw, listening to his sickening whine. "You're my gift to the gathering tonight. Come on, mustn't keep them waiting."
I hurried around to the back door and twisted the handle. Locked. A harder twist did nothing to budge it. Damn them, they'd beefed up their security.
A rusting pile of old pipe lay nearby. Perfect. I swung once against the doorknob. Both pipe and knob shattered in a spray of metal. I kicked the door open with what was left of the pipe in hand, ready to strike, but no one guarded the back door, which led to a crowded storeroom. Guess I should be glad he was so damn cocky.
Earsplitting techno music covered any sounds I made. I tossed the pipe aside and tested the inner door. Locked, but nothing special. One good twist and it broke. I stalked down an empty hall toward the central room. It paid to know the layout of your rival's hangouts. Hallways split off, leading to offices, safe rooms and stairs down to where they kept their human cattle. But I figured Ferine would still be up front where he could show off.
By the time I reached the main room, I could hardly hear myself, much less anyone else over the loud music. Pausing in the shadows of the hall, I closed my eyes to sniff. There, a faint scent of fear. Had to be her.
The crowd in the main room didn't pay any attention to me. The vamps were too busy feeding and screwing, and the mortals getting off being drained. Idiot bite junkies.
Still I stuck to the edges of the crowd, looking over bobbing heads for any sign of Ferine and Kierra. Her scream came from an alcove to my right. I shoved a few bodies out of my way, not caring what or who they were.
Bursting in, I saw Ferine had her pinned to the blanket-strewn platform at the back of the room. I grabbed his collar and shoulder and spun him into the wall. I spared only a glance at Kierra to make sure he hadn't bitten her yet.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing with my claim?" I lunged, pinning Ferine to the wall with my forearm. He could almost look me in eye, being just shy of my six foot one, but he'd never carried much muscle on his slight frame. Me, well, I used to be a Viking. Nuff said.
Ferine bared his fangs at me. "Fuck off, book boy. She's not marked, means she's fair game. And since I brought her here, she's mine first. Get in line."
I shoved harder, driving breath from the other man. I wanted to remind him just how much stronger I am. "You know damn good and well I've been seeing her for over three months."
"Three months and not a mark on her. Fair game," Ferine spat back. "Get off me, prick." He struggled, trying to dislodge me. I hissed a warning through my fangs.
The crowd parted to allow Adriana through. She looked like she belonged in a corporate boardroom with her grey silk suit and carefully coifed blond hair. Her perfect lips drew together in a little moue of discontent.
"You summon me, Dekker, and then don't even have the courtesy to greet me?" Her voice slid from her lips like warm honey, sweet and hypnotic.
I stepped back, letting Ferine go, and offered her a slight nod of respect. "Forgive me, Lady Adriana, I was indeed rude. But had I waited, the matter would have gotten out of hand."
I glanced over at Kierra, who'd plastered herself in the back corner, as far from us as she could get. Her amber eyes looked like saucers, and the pallor of fear gave her normally tan face a sallow look.
"I see. So this is the mortal in question?" She looked Kierra over with a slow languid gaze. "Not my type, but comely. I am surprised, Dekker. Didn't think she'd be your type either. At least not for a blood slave."
Ferine swaggered closer. "He's no right to her. She's not marked and I brought her here."
I turned to Kierra, trying to keep my anger under wraps. She'd crawled as far back on the platform as she could get. The red and black corset barely covered her ample breasts, especially with her chest heaving in near panic. Her honey gold hair swept around to one side and spilled down her chest. A few strands had come loose in her fight with Ferine. She managed to get most of her long, shapely legs under the short black pixy skirt. Damn, she looked good. I felt my cock growing hard despite the situation.
"Where's that choker I gave you? Your message said you'd be wearing it."
Her hand flew to her neck. "I, I don't know. I had it. What the hell is going on here?"
I couldn't spare the time to respond to her right now. And the others might take it as a sign of weakness. I knew Ferine would.
"Well, without it, there's no proof he's claimed her. And I brought her. Mine." Ferine crossed his arms defiantly across his chest and arched an arrogant brow at me.
I let a wicked grin stretch my face. “Oh, there is. The smith made the choker with my essence and protection spells specifically for her, you can ask him. And here’s proof you intended to poach my claim.” I whipped out my cell phone, dialed my voice mail and put it on speaker.
Kierra’s voice echoed clearly from it. “Hi, Dek. It’s Kierra. Ah, your note said not to call ’til I got there, but I wanted to let you know I’m coming. A rave, sounds like fun! Debbie’s helping me find an outfit that will go with that choker you gave me. Wish you were coming to get me, I’m a bit nervous about getting in some strange guy’s car. Maybe I can talk Debbie into coming too. Hope that would be OK. Well, anyway, looking forward to seeing you. Call me. Bye.”
I stared hard at Ferine. “Especially interesting since I didn’t leave her a note inviting her here. Pet, why’d you get in Ferine’s car?”
“The note said your friend, Ferine, would pick me up.” Her brows drew down in some confusion, as if she didn’t understand why she’d done that.
“Let me guess, you felt nervous until he touched you? Maybe took your hand and then everything seemed just fine?” She nodded, still with that confused look on her face.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared triumphantly at Ferine. “Had to vamp her, did you?” Maybe she wasn’t as clueless as I’d feared.
All eyes turned to Ferine. He scowled and hissed angrily. “So you gave her a necklace. Doesn’t make it your claim. And who cares if I did use a little vamp persuasion on her? We do it all the time.”
Adriana’s eyes narrowed and her voice chilled the room. “Ferine, you’ve broken more than one rule here. Knowing how you and Dekker feel about each other, I’ve no doubt you intended to poach his claim. Worse, you brought an unwilling and unknowing into our world. This endangers us all. I think your little parties are over. I hear of another one, and I always do, you’ll regret it.”
“Unknowing? She works at the Slivered Moon. Unwilling? Look at how she’s dressed. I’d say she’s looking for something,” Ferine countered.
We all looked at her and she drew even farther into the corner. I had to admit, she looked a lot like a goth hooker in that dress. A really hot goth hooker. We all stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
It took her several tries to clear her throat and choke out an answer. “The note said to dress for a rave, and, well, Debbie thought this would look good…”
Adriana smiled knowingly. “I suspect you wanted to dress for someone in particular?” Her smooth voice flowed out in an almost visible mist and she locked her clear blue eyes on Kierra. I could see Kierra’s eyes soften. Adriana had amazing powers, better than any truth drug known.
“I-I wanted Dekker to see me, you know, like a woman. Not just a friend.” Her sudden blush and panicked confusion showed she still retained some of herself, even under Adriana’s power.
“And were you aware of vampires before tonight?” That honeyed voice gave her no choice but to answer.
“We get wannabes in the store all the time. But I’ve never seen any as sick and delusional as these.” Her eyes flew wide like she couldn’t believe what she’d just said.
Adriana smiled at me, then turned to Ferine. “Ruling stands.”
I gave Ferine a satisfied smirk.
“Don’t get too cocky, Dekker. Dallying with mortals is dangerous, especially for someone already so tied to their world. You’ve a choice to make. Mark your claim on her right now, or she’s community property. There is no way she’s leaving here unclaimed. Understood?”
Son of a bitch. I’d meant to protect her, not claim her. Although my aching fangs and hard as stone cock had other ideas. I had no choice but to nod my agreement.
“Good. And Dekker, she needs to understand her place before she’s allowed out, and then on a very short leash.” Adriana’s cold grey eyes stared hard into mine.
Maybe I could fake it? Say I would once I got home then make sure she got the hell out of Dodge? I nodded again.
Adriana’s slight smile and cocked brow sent my heart sinking. “Well, what are you waiting for? Claim her now or be done with it.”
Brannan Black
Soul Bound "The werewolf is looking for fun, the vampire is looking for dinner. They find an ancient immortal lost in a new world."
Blood Slave "It's the twenty-first century. Who keeps slaves anymore? Other than really, really old vampires..."
The Wild One, Eireann's Tale "Enslaved but not cowed, Eireann would rather die than submit to the Northman determined to tame her."
EpicRomances.com
Blog: BrannansFantasies
Friend me on face book, Brannan Black
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Funny Halloween Picture-- LOL Cats
I have two black cats. I can see them sitting like this, examining a jack-o-lantern.
Guest Author Belinda McBride
It takes awhile for autumn to hit Northern California. Generally we run temperatures in the high 90s through October, then one morning we wake up to torrents of rain. Not that I’m complaining…it just takes a bit of adjusting when you go to bed with your summer bedding and wake in the middle of the night shivering. LOL!
When this time of year rolls around, there’s nothing better to acclimate to the changing season than a warm bowl of soup. I’d never have thought that I’d like soup made of squash or pumpkin, but my daughter introduced me to her harvest soup and I’m now a believer! Since she never bothers to write down recipes, here’s one that’s pretty close to what she serves:
Red Clover Inn
Mendon, Vermont
Specialty Recipe
Pumpkin Bisque
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups light vegetable stock (or light chicken stock or water)
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 cups pumpkin purée
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream
Sauté onions, celery, and garlic in butter. Add stock, tomatoes, bay leaves and nutmeg. Cook until vegetables are very soft. Strain and reserve liquid. Purée vegetables with some liquid and strain through a sieve. Combine liquid, puréed vegetables, and pumpkin; heat. Add cream and season with salt and pepper.
And for Halloween, there’s nothing better than a good paranormal romance to get things heated up. This year I went overboard on werewolves…three different books with the furry critters! For today, I’d like to share a blurb from Blacque/Bleu, a m/m romance that is now available at Loose Id Publishing.
BLURB:
Lukas Blacque is a deeply closeted werewolf, and almost more than anything in life, he desires his neighbor, Oliver Bleu. Oliver is a vampire who is slowly dying from insomnia. More than anything, he needs Lukas Blacque and the rich blood that flows through his veins.
On the day that Blacque makes an important commitment to his family and pack, he also succumbs to temptation and agrees to a passionate weekend with the alluring vampire. At sunset on Friday, it’s all about urgent lust and the drive to lose his virginity. When the sun rises on Monday, lust has shifted to love and devotion. He's not sure he can walk away, even for the commitment he's made. He's even less sure Bleu will let him go.
In Blacque’s world, vampires and werewolves make uneasy bedfellows, and a gay werewolf is an impossibility. In Bleu’s world, all living creatures are little more than vessels for food and sex. But in the mysterious and magical town of Arcada, the unexpected is always waiting right around the corner. Now Blacque and Bleu just need to survive long enough for Arcada’s magic to work for them.
Publisher's Note: Blacque/Bleu is related to Chrysalis and Mad at the Moon, which are available at Changeling Press. This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Bondage, domination, male/male sexual practices, violence.
http://www.loose-id.com/BlacqueBleu.aspx
Please visit me at http://www.belindamcbride.com
Or at: http://www.belindam.blogspot.com
When this time of year rolls around, there’s nothing better to acclimate to the changing season than a warm bowl of soup. I’d never have thought that I’d like soup made of squash or pumpkin, but my daughter introduced me to her harvest soup and I’m now a believer! Since she never bothers to write down recipes, here’s one that’s pretty close to what she serves:
Red Clover Inn
Mendon, Vermont
Specialty Recipe
Pumpkin Bisque
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups light vegetable stock (or light chicken stock or water)
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 cups pumpkin purée
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream
Sauté onions, celery, and garlic in butter. Add stock, tomatoes, bay leaves and nutmeg. Cook until vegetables are very soft. Strain and reserve liquid. Purée vegetables with some liquid and strain through a sieve. Combine liquid, puréed vegetables, and pumpkin; heat. Add cream and season with salt and pepper.
And for Halloween, there’s nothing better than a good paranormal romance to get things heated up. This year I went overboard on werewolves…three different books with the furry critters! For today, I’d like to share a blurb from Blacque/Bleu, a m/m romance that is now available at Loose Id Publishing.
BLURB:
Lukas Blacque is a deeply closeted werewolf, and almost more than anything in life, he desires his neighbor, Oliver Bleu. Oliver is a vampire who is slowly dying from insomnia. More than anything, he needs Lukas Blacque and the rich blood that flows through his veins.
On the day that Blacque makes an important commitment to his family and pack, he also succumbs to temptation and agrees to a passionate weekend with the alluring vampire. At sunset on Friday, it’s all about urgent lust and the drive to lose his virginity. When the sun rises on Monday, lust has shifted to love and devotion. He's not sure he can walk away, even for the commitment he's made. He's even less sure Bleu will let him go.
In Blacque’s world, vampires and werewolves make uneasy bedfellows, and a gay werewolf is an impossibility. In Bleu’s world, all living creatures are little more than vessels for food and sex. But in the mysterious and magical town of Arcada, the unexpected is always waiting right around the corner. Now Blacque and Bleu just need to survive long enough for Arcada’s magic to work for them.
Publisher's Note: Blacque/Bleu is related to Chrysalis and Mad at the Moon, which are available at Changeling Press. This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Bondage, domination, male/male sexual practices, violence.
http://www.loose-id.com/BlacqueBleu.aspx
Please visit me at http://www.belindamcbride.com
Or at: http://www.belindam.blogspot.com
Monday, October 25, 2010
Guest Author J Hali Steele
Keep your dog safe this Halloween!
My new series at Changeling Press is about german shepherd shifters. These guys are sexy and hot; they can handle anything a human throws their way.
During this holiday I’d like to remind all wonderful dog owners that candy and other treats are not good for dogs. Especially chocolate—it can be extremely toxic to your dog. Artificially sweetened candy, gum and other goodies may also contain xylitol, a highly toxic substance. Dogs may also ingest food wrappers, causing a risk of choking, upset stomach or gastrointestinal blockage. Various party snacks can be too salty and may contain ingredients that can poison your dog. Alcoholic beverages and dogs do NOT mix—they pose a significant risk of severe illness or even death! Keep all of these “human goodies” far out of their reach. (Excerpted from Halloween Safety for Dogs by Jenna Stregowski, RVT, at About.com Guide. Read full article here: http://bit.ly/1R1M4S )
Some of us love to dress our pets for the festivities…here are some great costume ideas.
Fun Halloween photos from Google images: http://bit.ly/cHikLo
Let’s all have a FUN and SAFE Halloween. Now, on to the real goodies!!
One stroke of his tongue and you're his forever.
Experience the true meaning of doggy-style.
Blurb:
Wade Alsatian is stuck guarding the owner of the escort service he frequents. He doesn't count on the sexy as hell woman tying him in knots and driving him insane with her mouth and body
Jetta Volker still carries scars from a dog attack. Now she's left in the care of a huge shepherd, and afraid to move in her own home. But it's for other reasons she waits for her guard to return. His scent triggers a need she has ignored far too long. Jetta gave up on men -- but she wants this one.
Breaking through barriers and accepting the scars from their past may tear them apart.
A bite of GUARDED:
Wade didn’t move a muscle. His eyes drank her in like a man who’d been too long in the desert. Jetta wasn’t much shorter than Victoria, but the thin, black material clung to her like a second skin. She had far more curves. Her long, dark hair hung in wet curls down her back. The scent of lavender seeped into his nostrils and tugged at the beast buried in him. If he’d been outside, he would have howled. As it was, all he could do was stare with his mouth open. His cock pressed painfully into his zipper and wept to get out. So did his shepherd. The animal zigzagged back and forth through his gut, whimpering. Christ. Wade wasn’t sure he could keep the dog in check.
Before Vic answered, Jetta took a step into the room and faltered. In one leap, Wade caught her and sat her in a nearby chair. Her small hands pushed at his chest. “Stop, damn it. I’m fine.”
“Fine, my ass. You almost fell.”
“I don’t want your help.” Green eyes blazed at him before she turned away. Why was she so pissed off? “Vic, can you take me home?”
“You need someone with you.” Wade looked at Victoria for help. Now she needed to pour on that syrupy voice of hers more than ever. “Vic?”
“He’s right. You’ve had a nasty bump, and unless you can tell us why you were kidnapped and dumped in the alley, you need to be guarded.” Clearing her throat, Victoria continued. “One of your girls could have riled someone and they want to take it out on you. I keep telling you to get out of that damn business.”
“I live far enough out of town that no one will bother me, and furthermore, I won’t be kept from my business.”
“Honey, unless you stay here, you get a guard. You’ve heard me talk about Shepherd’s Watch and the Alsatian brothers who own the company? This is Max.” The smile Victoria Germaine leveled on his brother practically lit up the room. “You’ve met Wade, and he’ll take good care of you until we can figure out what’s going on.”
“Over my dead ass.”
Wade leaned down, and with his lips practically touching hers, he whispered, “Sweetheart, that’s a distinct possibility.”
She glared at him. The gold flecks dancing in her angry eyes excited his animal, and his throat worked to trap the growl lifting through his chest. Shit. Wade pulled away from her and faced his brother who wore an odd look.
“You two take my car, and I’ll have Ren bring you a change of clothes and… and whatever else you want once you’re settled.” Max stood and peered at him closely. “Ren can help with what you’ll need more than I can.”
It dawned on Wade what he meant. “No, brother, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“We’ll see.” Max left the room with Victoria, and Wade hoped he’d bring the car to the front door of the building. The sun was peeking over the horizon, and he didn’t want to chance anyone seeing them leave.
Jetta fidgeted in the chair, and he twisted to face her. His shepherd mewled inside like a fucking sick cat. Damn it to hell, what if Max was right. Was it possible this woman was his mate? “Christ.” Sweat beaded on his brow.
She was very astute and it was as if she knew the meaning of their cryptic conversation. Jetta smiled at him, but when she spoke it was cold. “Don’t worry, Mr. Alsatian. I keep very good books and I know the type of woman you need. I’ll arrange something.”
He snatched her to her feet and pulled her into his arms. Burying his hands in her hair, he tugged until she looked in his eyes. “That won’t be necessary, you’ll do fine.” His mouth smashed down on hers and he pried her lips open until he tasted her. Her body molded against his perfectly and her tongue lashed back at him. It was heaven.
Wade knew he should stop but he couldn’t. His dog clawed for release and he damn near let him out. If Victoria wasn’t still in the apartment, he’d have ripped the clothes from Jetta and taken what he wanted right there on the floor. He moved his hand to caress her cheek, and she whimpered. Jesus Christ. What had he done? He was no better than the jerk-off who’d dumped her in the alley.
Jetta bit into his lip and shocked him back to reality. He let her fall back into the seat. With his fingers, he touched the fresh bite. Watching her reaction, he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked them. She never batted an eyelash.
“Guess you only faint when it’s your blood.” Turning, he strode toward the door. The words he threw over his shoulder brooked no argument. “Be ready to leave in five minutes.”
Upcoming Trick-or-Treat:
I’m at www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com Blog-A-Thon on Halloween day with Shepherd’s Watch and there will be a giveaway of goodies I’ve stashed up on from Cons around the country!
* * * * * * * * *
Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out.-© J. Hali Steele
Get GUARDED by a real dog!
Fly into the heat with a HOT angel! Hope in Love available in print
It’s a creative and intriguing exploration of angels, Heaven, and Hell ...Bitten By Books
My new series at Changeling Press is about german shepherd shifters. These guys are sexy and hot; they can handle anything a human throws their way.
During this holiday I’d like to remind all wonderful dog owners that candy and other treats are not good for dogs. Especially chocolate—it can be extremely toxic to your dog. Artificially sweetened candy, gum and other goodies may also contain xylitol, a highly toxic substance. Dogs may also ingest food wrappers, causing a risk of choking, upset stomach or gastrointestinal blockage. Various party snacks can be too salty and may contain ingredients that can poison your dog. Alcoholic beverages and dogs do NOT mix—they pose a significant risk of severe illness or even death! Keep all of these “human goodies” far out of their reach. (Excerpted from Halloween Safety for Dogs by Jenna Stregowski, RVT, at About.com Guide. Read full article here: http://bit.ly/1R1M4S )
Some of us love to dress our pets for the festivities…here are some great costume ideas.
Fun Halloween photos from Google images: http://bit.ly/cHikLo
Let’s all have a FUN and SAFE Halloween. Now, on to the real goodies!!
One stroke of his tongue and you're his forever.
Experience the true meaning of doggy-style.
Blurb:
Wade Alsatian is stuck guarding the owner of the escort service he frequents. He doesn't count on the sexy as hell woman tying him in knots and driving him insane with her mouth and body
Jetta Volker still carries scars from a dog attack. Now she's left in the care of a huge shepherd, and afraid to move in her own home. But it's for other reasons she waits for her guard to return. His scent triggers a need she has ignored far too long. Jetta gave up on men -- but she wants this one.
Breaking through barriers and accepting the scars from their past may tear them apart.
A bite of GUARDED:
Wade didn’t move a muscle. His eyes drank her in like a man who’d been too long in the desert. Jetta wasn’t much shorter than Victoria, but the thin, black material clung to her like a second skin. She had far more curves. Her long, dark hair hung in wet curls down her back. The scent of lavender seeped into his nostrils and tugged at the beast buried in him. If he’d been outside, he would have howled. As it was, all he could do was stare with his mouth open. His cock pressed painfully into his zipper and wept to get out. So did his shepherd. The animal zigzagged back and forth through his gut, whimpering. Christ. Wade wasn’t sure he could keep the dog in check.
Before Vic answered, Jetta took a step into the room and faltered. In one leap, Wade caught her and sat her in a nearby chair. Her small hands pushed at his chest. “Stop, damn it. I’m fine.”
“Fine, my ass. You almost fell.”
“I don’t want your help.” Green eyes blazed at him before she turned away. Why was she so pissed off? “Vic, can you take me home?”
“You need someone with you.” Wade looked at Victoria for help. Now she needed to pour on that syrupy voice of hers more than ever. “Vic?”
“He’s right. You’ve had a nasty bump, and unless you can tell us why you were kidnapped and dumped in the alley, you need to be guarded.” Clearing her throat, Victoria continued. “One of your girls could have riled someone and they want to take it out on you. I keep telling you to get out of that damn business.”
“I live far enough out of town that no one will bother me, and furthermore, I won’t be kept from my business.”
“Honey, unless you stay here, you get a guard. You’ve heard me talk about Shepherd’s Watch and the Alsatian brothers who own the company? This is Max.” The smile Victoria Germaine leveled on his brother practically lit up the room. “You’ve met Wade, and he’ll take good care of you until we can figure out what’s going on.”
“Over my dead ass.”
Wade leaned down, and with his lips practically touching hers, he whispered, “Sweetheart, that’s a distinct possibility.”
She glared at him. The gold flecks dancing in her angry eyes excited his animal, and his throat worked to trap the growl lifting through his chest. Shit. Wade pulled away from her and faced his brother who wore an odd look.
“You two take my car, and I’ll have Ren bring you a change of clothes and… and whatever else you want once you’re settled.” Max stood and peered at him closely. “Ren can help with what you’ll need more than I can.”
It dawned on Wade what he meant. “No, brother, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“We’ll see.” Max left the room with Victoria, and Wade hoped he’d bring the car to the front door of the building. The sun was peeking over the horizon, and he didn’t want to chance anyone seeing them leave.
Jetta fidgeted in the chair, and he twisted to face her. His shepherd mewled inside like a fucking sick cat. Damn it to hell, what if Max was right. Was it possible this woman was his mate? “Christ.” Sweat beaded on his brow.
She was very astute and it was as if she knew the meaning of their cryptic conversation. Jetta smiled at him, but when she spoke it was cold. “Don’t worry, Mr. Alsatian. I keep very good books and I know the type of woman you need. I’ll arrange something.”
He snatched her to her feet and pulled her into his arms. Burying his hands in her hair, he tugged until she looked in his eyes. “That won’t be necessary, you’ll do fine.” His mouth smashed down on hers and he pried her lips open until he tasted her. Her body molded against his perfectly and her tongue lashed back at him. It was heaven.
Wade knew he should stop but he couldn’t. His dog clawed for release and he damn near let him out. If Victoria wasn’t still in the apartment, he’d have ripped the clothes from Jetta and taken what he wanted right there on the floor. He moved his hand to caress her cheek, and she whimpered. Jesus Christ. What had he done? He was no better than the jerk-off who’d dumped her in the alley.
Jetta bit into his lip and shocked him back to reality. He let her fall back into the seat. With his fingers, he touched the fresh bite. Watching her reaction, he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked them. She never batted an eyelash.
“Guess you only faint when it’s your blood.” Turning, he strode toward the door. The words he threw over his shoulder brooked no argument. “Be ready to leave in five minutes.”
Upcoming Trick-or-Treat:
I’m at www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com Blog-A-Thon on Halloween day with Shepherd’s Watch and there will be a giveaway of goodies I’ve stashed up on from Cons around the country!
* * * * * * * * *
Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out.-© J. Hali Steele
Get GUARDED by a real dog!
Fly into the heat with a HOT angel! Hope in Love available in print
It’s a creative and intriguing exploration of angels, Heaven, and Hell ...Bitten By Books
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Halloween Guest Author-- Cynthia Vespia
Halloween Jello shots are an easy but delicious way to pump up the fun at your Halloween party. Sure you can make them any time of year, but with Halloween you can add orange food color to the to make them even more perfect. With edible decorations added inside you can make them as ghoulish as you wish. Remember the colors of the night are Red green orange and black. Black can be made with a black Cherry box of Jello. The Directions are simple and the options are limitless.
This Basic Vodka Jello Shot Recipe is an excellent way to learn how to make Jello shots.
1 (6-ounce) box of Jell-O, flavor of your choice 2 cups boiling water 2 cups vodka
Directions: In a bowl, pour the boiling water over the Jello and stir until thoroughly dissolved. Cool to room temperature, then stir in the vodka. Pour the mixture into shot glasses or Jello shot cups. Refrigerate until well-set, at least 6 hours.Using the large box of Jello makes about 32 1-ounce Jello shots add your gummy worm right before popping into the refrigerator.
Life, Death, and Back
(previously Unfinished Business)
by
Cynthia VespiaISBN #978-0-9824876-3-1
Genre: Paranormal/Suspense
Coming November 15, 2010
Life goes by in a blink.
One moment can change everything.
For most, death is the eternal end.
Bryan Caleb has unfinished business. Even as he struggles with his own mortality Bryan must find the compassion within himself to help guide Lisa Zane, an emotionally and spiritually drained young girl, through her troubled life to find her purpose. For it is only with Lisa's help that Bryan can rescue his very own son from the life of crime he has fallen into before Kriticos Caleb's fate mirrors his father's...in death.
About Cynthia Vespia
Her first novel, a medieval fiction entitled The Crescent, was published in August, 2005. The novel was unanimously praised as "an engaging, descriptive read" which prompted a sell-out at Borders Bookstore in less than one hour during the first official signing.
A short story (a satirical look at the afterlife) titled Death's Grand Design was published online shortly thereafter and once again met with reviews that honored her attention to detail and the flow of her prose.
In May of 2006, Theater of Pain was released. This suspense thriller unfolds within the eccentric world of professional wrestling where competitors would do anything to reach the top...even murder.
Today Cynthia writes quality, character driven novels full of suspense as well as dark fantasy. Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find yourself in, but hope to God you never do." In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through various forms of martial arts and as an active fitness competitor.
Cynthia can be reached through her website at www.CynthiaVespia.com
CHAPTER I
The first sojourn from life to death was very much the epitome of birth. Brilliant flashes of light were aglow all around bathing snapshots of memory, minute but hardly trivial.
When the ride stopped and the suspension of disbelief released him, Bryan was curious to find his own corpse stretched out at his feet. It lay on the grassy lawn in front of his office building, twenty feet from where he had initially been walking.
The corpse, his corpse, stared up at him through one wide eye. Sightless now it still echoed the feeling of shock that he had felt the very moment the vehicle had struck him.
Though he wanted to look away from the tragic scene utter terror and confusion gripped him still. Pedestrians and motorists surrounded the accident and sirens wailed in the distance. He was oblivious to it all.
All Bryan wanted to do was crawl back inside his body, stand up and say, "Hey, look at me, I'm fine. Not a scratch." Then there were strong impulses pulling him into the belief that this was just a nightmare. At any moment he was going to respond with a shudder and a cold sweat but he would wake, frantic at first, until he found himself in bed next to his lovely wife, Holly.
He hadn't bothered to wake her that morning. She was radiantly aglow in her pregnancy as she slept. It was their very first child and they were overjoyed to be experiencing this miracle after only one year of marriage.
Bryan had kissed her on the cheek and gone on his way to the law firm. His place of business was another joyful experience to be able to share with Holly. Bryan was the youngest of his class to seek and sustain a substantial position within a reputable law firm. Of course it helped that his father had owned and maintained the firm since Bryan had been a boy. But now it was his own, inheriting it when his father had passed away just two years after Bryan had graduated from law school.
It was an unusually cloudy day in Stanford, but nevertheless Bryan was in an upbeat mood. Whistling as he crossed the street to his offices he had never even seen the drunk driver's vehicle coming. Perhaps he had not wanted to. As the saying goes he had been looking upon the world with rose-colored glasses up to that point. No harm could befall him, he was indestructible. Throughout life Bryan had truly felt blessed, now it was all gone. In an instant his entire life had been snuffed out. His promising future was no more. All that was left was another casualty in the war of drinking and driving. He was no longer Bryan Adam Caleb outstanding lawyer, loving husband, expectant father, and genuine nice guy. Now he was just another statistic.
But Bryan didn't understand what was happening. If he was dead, why was he still on this Earth? What happened to the other side? So many unanswered questions tore through his mind.
He refused to believe it.
As paramedics encompassed the accident scene Bryan turned and ran. His mind was in frenzy and he just needed to get away, get some space to determine what in the world was going on.
His pace quickened to the point where he felt as though he had wings and could lift off. Finally he came to a stop at the end of the block and to his surprise he was not at all fatigued. His leg muscles did not ache and he was not breathing heavy. In fact, he was not breathing at all.
Still in disbelief he went to check his pulse for some sign that he was still alive. His fingers passed straight through his arm. There was no solidity to his wrist at all. He tried two more times with nothing but the same result.
Bryan looked around frantically for help. With his head on a swivel, something above him caught his eye. Lights gleamed up in the sky like as though a great crystal was wedged between two clouds precariously placed for the sun to shine off it.
He stood awed looking at the magnificent colors waning in every direction. It brought him a smile and a sense of peace. After a moment he even thought he glimpsed his loving father's face high above beckoning him to come forward and join him.
Bryan began to imagine just how nice it would be to be at his father's side again and to see his mother again in perfect and simple bliss.
The lights shone brighter and began to descend down towards him. Bryan stood stock still as they came closer and closer. The bright glare was such that he had to close his eyes but the pleasant images still remained. He felt his feet lift off the ground and he began to rise up with the jubilation.
Many wondrous memories were encompassing him now. Simple joys he new as a boy, more substantial and rich emotions of love and faith and virtue that he'd experienced as a man. Those worlds of days long since past were uniting on a grand scale and lifting Bryan up higher and higher into ecstasy the likes of which he had never known before. But with this cataclysm of extraordinary peace came relevance and a fear.
This illuminated structure of memories was a portal allowing him access to the other side. It was the ever after, bounty and life everlasting would be soon to come. Bryan's time here on Earth had been full but was now over. But he wasn't ready to leave yet.
"No," he stated. His voice was low at first as he still clung to the tranquility of the descending portal and the majesty of what it was.
He tried hard to shake it off, feeling indifference of a strong nature. Something was wrong. He did not belong here, not now. There was too much left for him to do. He did not want to leave his unborn child fatherless. The Caleb Family Law Practice was on a steady rise; Bryan needed to leave his legacy before he left this Earth.
As his will to stay grew stronger and stronger he shouted "No!" more defiantly than before and this time it broke him away from the suction of the light.
To find out what happens, watch for the release of Life, Death, and Back coming 2010 from WeavingDreamsPublishing: http://weavingdreamspublishing.com/paranormal/lifedeathandback.html
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Halloween Recipe-- Hands Down
Hands Down
Guests will do a double take with this creepy-crawly finger food. Dip large pretzel sticks into white candy coating and add "nails" with sliced almonds. Display the fingers in a cuff-covered jar.Note: I use Wilton's Candy Melts. They're easy and quick, and they come in a variety of ghoulish colors besides white and brown. Green makes a very effective witch finger!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Halloween Guest Author-- Selena Illyria's Free story!
Draven Crossing: Torger’s Addiction
Copyright
© 2010 Selena Illyria, All Rights Reserved
Werewolves, Urban Fantasy, Dragons
Torger threw the book in his hand away in disgust. “How the hell can she read this crap?” he mumbled to himself. A glance at the cover showed a half naked couple in an intimate embrace. The blurb had been promising, declaring it a breakout paranormal novel with lots of praise heaped on it by other supposed bestselling authors. He wouldn’t know who any of those people were. It was only a few months ago he’d started reading books in the romance genre. And it had all be an accident out of boredom. Now he was paying for it in spades. Not only were the sex scenes hot enough to melt lead but reading them had fueled his fantasies and giving him a few new ones to contemplate and it was all Isadora’s fault.
She’d left the book out and had made him wait in her office. It wasn’t his fault that he’d picked up the book and read a scene or two. Now he couldn’t stop reading the books. First it had been a popular paranormal, erotic romance series. Next he found himself ducking into bookstores during lull times and buying anything that the author recommended. It was like a sickness he couldn’t shake. If any of his friends or even his fellow police officers found out he was reading those books, he’d not only never hear the end of it, he wasn’t sure his alpha wolf status of all the wolf packs would hold up. He couldn’t have beta wolves making fun of him, or the rest of the packs losing respect for him because of his chosen reading material.
“I can see it now. Torger, alpha wolf of all the packs loses position because he can’t stop reading Angela Knight books.” He shut his eyes and groaned. Despite those possible consequences, he couldn’t stop reading the books. Right now, he found himself hooked to the latest Karen Marie Moning book while reading the latest Diana Castilleja book at the office, and then at home, he had a few Chris Marie Green Vampire Babylon books sitting on his nightstand. He never left home without a book tucked in his messenger bag. Just in case I get bored or something. At least that’s what he told himself.
Just a few days ago, he’d almost been caught by Officer Petra Anderson, his werewolf beta in his pack. She’d come into his office just as he’d reached the part where the villain was revealed when the door had popped opened. He’d barely had time to hide the incriminating novel. Luckily she didn’t notice how oddly shaped his pile of paperwork was. And worse, his friend Jackal was staying at his place. The dream-walker was a great friend and very open-minded and understanding but Torger doubted that the man wouldn’t rake him over the coals for his latest reading obsession. Best friends kind of took that privilege and ran with it. “I have to find a place to stash the books.”
He looked around his office and muttered a curse. Everywhere he looked, he could see his various hiding places for the books. His book case was littered with them hidden behind other books. The growing mountain of paperwork on his desk had a few books stacked underneath it all. He didn’t even want to think about his filing cabinets. The messenger bag that hung on his coat rack was empty of the damning contraband but his jacket wasn’t. The inside pocket contained a mass market edition of the latest Marie Treanor vampire book. He looked down at his desk and spotted his laptop. Nausea rose up. The physical books hadn’t been enough. Then he’d discovered eBooks. Reading material that wouldn’t take up room on a shelf or could be hidden behind a password. They were like crack cocaine. He’d just kept buying them. More. More. More. A new release here, a few backlist books there and suddenly he had over a hundred eBook files tucked away in a file folder marked Family Jewels. And those books were worse than what he had in print. They were filled with hot, sexy erotic scenes. The list of author names rolled through his mind; Lexxie Couper, Jess Dee, Rhian Cahill, Cynnara Tregarth, Michelle Hasker, Dawn Montgomery, Sherri King, Madeline Oh, Aubrey Ross, Moira Rogers, Lena Austin, Belinda McBride and more, so many more.
The time he snuck in for reading the books became longer. It was stress reading for him. When things got tense, most people smoked a cigarette or went to the spa. He read. Romance books. Erotic Romance books. And things were pretty damn stressful at the moment. A serial killer was on the loose in his territory. The person was killing people on his watch and he had nothing to go on. The coroner’s report and the CSU’s reports had said the same thing, no trace, no fibers, no fingerprints, no tissue or blood, not even a scent to go by. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he prayed that they’d get a break soon, otherwise his little addiction was going to go public. The need to read was increasing. Each minute no new information came up was another minute he just wanted to forget his troubles and lose himself in a book. With great reluctance, he began to gather the books up from around his desk. Once he had all of them, he dumped them into a bottom drawer and locked it up, vowing to take them home later. The only thing that remained of his addiction was the acceptable Laurie R. King Mary Russell series. He wouldn’t get grief for that book because it was a mystery.
Torger was just about to get up and go for lunch when his door slammed open and a vision in pink strode in, anger clear on her face.
“Call these lunkheads off, Torger. I’m here with news,” Isadora declared. For a moment he stood there staring at her. Today she was dressed in a pink pencil dress with thin straps. Never mind that it was currently fifty degrees outside, unusually cold for late Spring, but that the dress did wonderful things for her figure. It hugged her full hips and generous bust perfect. All he could do was stare and appreciate what stood before him. The clearing of a throat drew him out of his perusal and he shook his head.
“It’s okay guys, you can go. The pink dragon won’t eat me,” he joked. Isadora blew out a puff of smoke. A pale pink mist floated up into the air and everyone stilled. She’s riled up. He sighed and waved a hand. “Go, guys. It’s okay, really.”
His officers looked at each other and then turned on their heels and left. As soon as the door shut behind, them, he realized he was trapped with the object of his lust and fantasies. His heart rate increased as breathing became a chore. Heat flooded his body and his wolf stood up and noticed that the female it wanted to mate with was standing before it. His tail wagged animatedly and his mouth hung open. Don’t do anything stupid, Torger warned his animal. The wolf tilted its head to the side as if to say, Who? Me? Torger almost rolled his eyes but did nothing to indicate the internal dialogue he had going on. Isadora would notice. Blowing out another breath he focused on calming his body. It was bad enough that his blood had started to head south and his cock was semi-hard. Tingles had started at his toes and worked its way up his legs. Have to regain focus.
“Isy,” he greeted.
She glared at him. “Isadora,” she corrected him.
He shrugged. “Isy, what do you want?”
Her jaw clenched and her nostrils flared. Slim lines of smokes trailed out of her nose. “Careful wolf. I eat people like you for breakfast,” she warned. Her voice had gone from soft and sweet to smoky and dangerous.
A shiver raced down his spine. He fought the urge to let it show. Wolves were fodder for dragons. He’d never seen Isadora change but didn’t doubt that the pink dragon would be huge and far too much to handle.
“Fine. We’ve established that a dragon would win the pissing contest. Doesn’t tell me what you’re doing here. You said you had news.” He leaned back in his chair and studied her. Her shoulders slid down and her posture relaxed. Dark circles marred perfect mocha skin under her eyes. Her full lips thinned. The soft lure of her perfume was mixed with sweat and the slight tinge of stress. Torger’s senses became alert. His wolf let out a soft warning growl. His mate, the woman he had his eye on to be with wasn’t taking care of herself. With a new awareness, he eyed her figure which seemed to be smaller. The dress may have hugged her curves but her waist had shrunk enough for him to notice. Her dark brown eyes didn’t have the usual sparkle. Her perfectly coifed hair, streaked with pink highlights looked dry, not as soft and lacked shine. He clenched his jaw and said nothing but he knew one thing, if he were taking care of her she would be well loved and relaxed. She’d also never leave his bed.
“I just got a report that the Council has issued a statement contradicting Draven’s, saying that you don’t have things under control and there’s another victim you’re hiding from the public. But my sources tell me that that’s a load of hogwash.” Without invitation she sank into the visitor’s chair in front of his desk. “Torger, my sources in the Council are telling me that Drew Marten is chomping at the bit to enforce quarantine for the town.”
She looked up, worry in her gaze. “People are emailing me, demanding answers. I don’t know what to tell them, Torger. The citizens are ready to fight for their town but they’re scared. If the Council does enforce a shutdown of the borders, we won’t know what to do. I need something to say to them. A word from the Alpha of all packs could go a long way. I need you to give me something, anything.”
Her voice had lost its rough tone. Now she was back to her old self, only worn down and tired. He stood up. Ignoring every instinct screaming in his mind to not do what could rebound on him, Torger made his way around his desk and went to her. Crouching down, he settled next to her. He reached out and cupped her hand, stroking his thumb over the silken skin. “You can tell people this; I’m going to do everything in my power, even if I have to give my life, to catch the sonofabitch who’s doing this. We won’t have to shut our borders.”
Isy’s eyes widened. Fear now tinged her perfume. “Torger—Don’t do something stupid.”
He reached up and brushed back her hair. It was softer than it looked. “Why, Isy? Are you worried about me?”
Grinning, he watched emotions dance across her face. She licked her lips, then shook her head and snatched her hand back. “Don’t think you can treat me nicely in private and then be rude in public.”
“Answer the question.”
Her teeth came out to scrape her bottom lip. He groaned inwardly, watching straight white teeth dig into plump, pink flesh. The air around them became thick. Everything narrowed down to him and her. There was no serial killer. No stress. No work. Her job didn’t matter and right now he wasn’t the chief of Police for Draven’s Crossing. She wasn’t a pink dragon shifter. He wasn’t an Alpha werewolf of the packs. Soft scents drifted past his nose. He wasn’t sure what the aroma was but it soothed him. His wolf lay down, head resting on its front paws. Rising up next to her, he brought his face closer to hers. Her warm breath ghosted across his lips. The skin tingled. He flicked out his tongue hoping to catch some of her taste on his mouth. She dipped her head to bring her face closer. Their lips were only millimeters apart. He wanted to close the distance so badly. His muscles strained with the effort to stay still. Her eyes widened and her scent shifted to something sharp.
“Damn it. I’m not doing this now.” She stood up so quickly the chair rocked then wobbled back in place. “I have to go.”
Before he could stop her, she rushed to the door, jerked it open and rushed out. He gritted his teeth and let his head fall forward until his chin touched his chest. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She’s not ready yet.” With a sigh, he rose up and made his way to his desk. After sitting behind his desk, he unlocked his bottom drawer and pulled it open. Shifting through the pile of books, he read the titles and chose a dark, urban fantasy, romance.
“At least I have my books,” he sighed. His phone rang and he put the book away. “Great, duty calls.”
As he shut the drawer, he prayed that this wasn’t a call informing him of another body.
Copyright
© 2010 Selena Illyria, All Rights Reserved
Werewolves, Urban Fantasy, Dragons
Torger threw the book in his hand away in disgust. “How the hell can she read this crap?” he mumbled to himself. A glance at the cover showed a half naked couple in an intimate embrace. The blurb had been promising, declaring it a breakout paranormal novel with lots of praise heaped on it by other supposed bestselling authors. He wouldn’t know who any of those people were. It was only a few months ago he’d started reading books in the romance genre. And it had all be an accident out of boredom. Now he was paying for it in spades. Not only were the sex scenes hot enough to melt lead but reading them had fueled his fantasies and giving him a few new ones to contemplate and it was all Isadora’s fault.
She’d left the book out and had made him wait in her office. It wasn’t his fault that he’d picked up the book and read a scene or two. Now he couldn’t stop reading the books. First it had been a popular paranormal, erotic romance series. Next he found himself ducking into bookstores during lull times and buying anything that the author recommended. It was like a sickness he couldn’t shake. If any of his friends or even his fellow police officers found out he was reading those books, he’d not only never hear the end of it, he wasn’t sure his alpha wolf status of all the wolf packs would hold up. He couldn’t have beta wolves making fun of him, or the rest of the packs losing respect for him because of his chosen reading material.
“I can see it now. Torger, alpha wolf of all the packs loses position because he can’t stop reading Angela Knight books.” He shut his eyes and groaned. Despite those possible consequences, he couldn’t stop reading the books. Right now, he found himself hooked to the latest Karen Marie Moning book while reading the latest Diana Castilleja book at the office, and then at home, he had a few Chris Marie Green Vampire Babylon books sitting on his nightstand. He never left home without a book tucked in his messenger bag. Just in case I get bored or something. At least that’s what he told himself.
Just a few days ago, he’d almost been caught by Officer Petra Anderson, his werewolf beta in his pack. She’d come into his office just as he’d reached the part where the villain was revealed when the door had popped opened. He’d barely had time to hide the incriminating novel. Luckily she didn’t notice how oddly shaped his pile of paperwork was. And worse, his friend Jackal was staying at his place. The dream-walker was a great friend and very open-minded and understanding but Torger doubted that the man wouldn’t rake him over the coals for his latest reading obsession. Best friends kind of took that privilege and ran with it. “I have to find a place to stash the books.”
He looked around his office and muttered a curse. Everywhere he looked, he could see his various hiding places for the books. His book case was littered with them hidden behind other books. The growing mountain of paperwork on his desk had a few books stacked underneath it all. He didn’t even want to think about his filing cabinets. The messenger bag that hung on his coat rack was empty of the damning contraband but his jacket wasn’t. The inside pocket contained a mass market edition of the latest Marie Treanor vampire book. He looked down at his desk and spotted his laptop. Nausea rose up. The physical books hadn’t been enough. Then he’d discovered eBooks. Reading material that wouldn’t take up room on a shelf or could be hidden behind a password. They were like crack cocaine. He’d just kept buying them. More. More. More. A new release here, a few backlist books there and suddenly he had over a hundred eBook files tucked away in a file folder marked Family Jewels. And those books were worse than what he had in print. They were filled with hot, sexy erotic scenes. The list of author names rolled through his mind; Lexxie Couper, Jess Dee, Rhian Cahill, Cynnara Tregarth, Michelle Hasker, Dawn Montgomery, Sherri King, Madeline Oh, Aubrey Ross, Moira Rogers, Lena Austin, Belinda McBride and more, so many more.
The time he snuck in for reading the books became longer. It was stress reading for him. When things got tense, most people smoked a cigarette or went to the spa. He read. Romance books. Erotic Romance books. And things were pretty damn stressful at the moment. A serial killer was on the loose in his territory. The person was killing people on his watch and he had nothing to go on. The coroner’s report and the CSU’s reports had said the same thing, no trace, no fibers, no fingerprints, no tissue or blood, not even a scent to go by. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he prayed that they’d get a break soon, otherwise his little addiction was going to go public. The need to read was increasing. Each minute no new information came up was another minute he just wanted to forget his troubles and lose himself in a book. With great reluctance, he began to gather the books up from around his desk. Once he had all of them, he dumped them into a bottom drawer and locked it up, vowing to take them home later. The only thing that remained of his addiction was the acceptable Laurie R. King Mary Russell series. He wouldn’t get grief for that book because it was a mystery.
Torger was just about to get up and go for lunch when his door slammed open and a vision in pink strode in, anger clear on her face.
“Call these lunkheads off, Torger. I’m here with news,” Isadora declared. For a moment he stood there staring at her. Today she was dressed in a pink pencil dress with thin straps. Never mind that it was currently fifty degrees outside, unusually cold for late Spring, but that the dress did wonderful things for her figure. It hugged her full hips and generous bust perfect. All he could do was stare and appreciate what stood before him. The clearing of a throat drew him out of his perusal and he shook his head.
“It’s okay guys, you can go. The pink dragon won’t eat me,” he joked. Isadora blew out a puff of smoke. A pale pink mist floated up into the air and everyone stilled. She’s riled up. He sighed and waved a hand. “Go, guys. It’s okay, really.”
His officers looked at each other and then turned on their heels and left. As soon as the door shut behind, them, he realized he was trapped with the object of his lust and fantasies. His heart rate increased as breathing became a chore. Heat flooded his body and his wolf stood up and noticed that the female it wanted to mate with was standing before it. His tail wagged animatedly and his mouth hung open. Don’t do anything stupid, Torger warned his animal. The wolf tilted its head to the side as if to say, Who? Me? Torger almost rolled his eyes but did nothing to indicate the internal dialogue he had going on. Isadora would notice. Blowing out another breath he focused on calming his body. It was bad enough that his blood had started to head south and his cock was semi-hard. Tingles had started at his toes and worked its way up his legs. Have to regain focus.
“Isy,” he greeted.
She glared at him. “Isadora,” she corrected him.
He shrugged. “Isy, what do you want?”
Her jaw clenched and her nostrils flared. Slim lines of smokes trailed out of her nose. “Careful wolf. I eat people like you for breakfast,” she warned. Her voice had gone from soft and sweet to smoky and dangerous.
A shiver raced down his spine. He fought the urge to let it show. Wolves were fodder for dragons. He’d never seen Isadora change but didn’t doubt that the pink dragon would be huge and far too much to handle.
“Fine. We’ve established that a dragon would win the pissing contest. Doesn’t tell me what you’re doing here. You said you had news.” He leaned back in his chair and studied her. Her shoulders slid down and her posture relaxed. Dark circles marred perfect mocha skin under her eyes. Her full lips thinned. The soft lure of her perfume was mixed with sweat and the slight tinge of stress. Torger’s senses became alert. His wolf let out a soft warning growl. His mate, the woman he had his eye on to be with wasn’t taking care of herself. With a new awareness, he eyed her figure which seemed to be smaller. The dress may have hugged her curves but her waist had shrunk enough for him to notice. Her dark brown eyes didn’t have the usual sparkle. Her perfectly coifed hair, streaked with pink highlights looked dry, not as soft and lacked shine. He clenched his jaw and said nothing but he knew one thing, if he were taking care of her she would be well loved and relaxed. She’d also never leave his bed.
“I just got a report that the Council has issued a statement contradicting Draven’s, saying that you don’t have things under control and there’s another victim you’re hiding from the public. But my sources tell me that that’s a load of hogwash.” Without invitation she sank into the visitor’s chair in front of his desk. “Torger, my sources in the Council are telling me that Drew Marten is chomping at the bit to enforce quarantine for the town.”
She looked up, worry in her gaze. “People are emailing me, demanding answers. I don’t know what to tell them, Torger. The citizens are ready to fight for their town but they’re scared. If the Council does enforce a shutdown of the borders, we won’t know what to do. I need something to say to them. A word from the Alpha of all packs could go a long way. I need you to give me something, anything.”
Her voice had lost its rough tone. Now she was back to her old self, only worn down and tired. He stood up. Ignoring every instinct screaming in his mind to not do what could rebound on him, Torger made his way around his desk and went to her. Crouching down, he settled next to her. He reached out and cupped her hand, stroking his thumb over the silken skin. “You can tell people this; I’m going to do everything in my power, even if I have to give my life, to catch the sonofabitch who’s doing this. We won’t have to shut our borders.”
Isy’s eyes widened. Fear now tinged her perfume. “Torger—Don’t do something stupid.”
He reached up and brushed back her hair. It was softer than it looked. “Why, Isy? Are you worried about me?”
Grinning, he watched emotions dance across her face. She licked her lips, then shook her head and snatched her hand back. “Don’t think you can treat me nicely in private and then be rude in public.”
“Answer the question.”
Her teeth came out to scrape her bottom lip. He groaned inwardly, watching straight white teeth dig into plump, pink flesh. The air around them became thick. Everything narrowed down to him and her. There was no serial killer. No stress. No work. Her job didn’t matter and right now he wasn’t the chief of Police for Draven’s Crossing. She wasn’t a pink dragon shifter. He wasn’t an Alpha werewolf of the packs. Soft scents drifted past his nose. He wasn’t sure what the aroma was but it soothed him. His wolf lay down, head resting on its front paws. Rising up next to her, he brought his face closer to hers. Her warm breath ghosted across his lips. The skin tingled. He flicked out his tongue hoping to catch some of her taste on his mouth. She dipped her head to bring her face closer. Their lips were only millimeters apart. He wanted to close the distance so badly. His muscles strained with the effort to stay still. Her eyes widened and her scent shifted to something sharp.
“Damn it. I’m not doing this now.” She stood up so quickly the chair rocked then wobbled back in place. “I have to go.”
Before he could stop her, she rushed to the door, jerked it open and rushed out. He gritted his teeth and let his head fall forward until his chin touched his chest. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She’s not ready yet.” With a sigh, he rose up and made his way to his desk. After sitting behind his desk, he unlocked his bottom drawer and pulled it open. Shifting through the pile of books, he read the titles and chose a dark, urban fantasy, romance.
“At least I have my books,” he sighed. His phone rang and he put the book away. “Great, duty calls.”
As he shut the drawer, he prayed that this wasn’t a call informing him of another body.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Halloween Guest Author-- Michelle Hasker
by Michelle Hasker
Cover art: Reneé George
ISBN: 978-1-60521-508-2
Genre(s): Paranormal
Theme(s): Magic and Mayhem
Length: Novella
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1471
Blurb:
The joy of her annual Samhain orgy is interrupted yet again by her bossy controller. The man is so annoying he won't even tell her his name. When he magicks her away to a secret play room to teach her a lesson, he learns what can happen if you aren't careful. Tables can easily be turned.
Excerpts:
Cupcakes
Michelle Hasker
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2010 Michelle Hasker
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
Moans filled the air as bodies writhed on the floor. Halloween music blared in the background, making the scene sound like something out of a horror flick. Except the bodies weren't writhing in agony -- no, this was an orgy. A full-blown orgy.
Carly's lips twitched, and then she gave in to the tempting urge and let a smile form. It wasn't often she smiled, but this sure was worth it. The chief of police had at least three fingers buried in the mayor's wife's pussy, while the mayor pounded into her ass from behind.
The weather forecaster was sprawled on the floor, moaning loud enough to wake the dead as the DJ from the WJZZY morning show ate out her cunt. She was a real blonde though, no doubt about that.
Over on the other side of the room, one of the librarians was on her knees, sucking off the well-built mail carrier who delivered to the east side of town. One of the judges sat on the overstuffed couch, masturbating and watching the head mechanic at Tom's garage eat out the hostess at the pub. She, in turn, ate out the meter maid.
Oh there would be hell to pay tomorrow, but today -- this -- was worth it. The postmistress let out an ear-piercing shriek when the twins who owned the gym both filled her pussy at the same time. The woman's guttural moan and plea for more kept Carly from stopping the sexual onslaught. As long as Mary was willing, she wasn't going to put an end to it.
"What have you done, Carly?" The deep, husky whisper sent shivers up her spine. She hadn't eaten any of the cupcakes though, so she wasn't going to be reduced to this sexual frenzy of need like the rest of the town.
"Nothing they didn't expect me to do." She didn't look at him. Couldn't. The censorship that would be on his face would be a downer, and right now, this was the best thing that had happened all month. All season. Hell, all year. But since it was Samhain, this was the start of a new year. With all the sexual energy her party guests were emitting, she was going to be able to create one hell of a spell. Witches didn't usually do sex spells on Samhain, but she had a reason for her yearly ritual. Right now she wasn't going to dwell on that. Not with the Grinch breathing down her neck.
"Carly." His sigh tickled her neck. He was really making her regret piling her long unruly curls on top of her head.
"They're having fun. So they needed a little push to reveal their innermost desires. Everyone here is more than willing. See for yourself."
"More than willing, Carly? More than willing?" His hand closed on her upper arm. Pain flared at his touch when he spun her around.
"Look, it's a simple aphrodisiac that will wear off in a few hours. There's also a little inhibitor releaser to make sure they have a little harmless fun."
"Harmless? What if the chief impregnates the mayor's wife?"
"Don't worry, he never actually sticks his dick in her. Besides, I had a spell for that too, in addition to a few more ingredients doctored into the cupcakes."
"Don't worry?" His eyes flamed red, his face darkened, and his nostrils flared. "Don't worry?"
"Shhh!" She crooked her neck and vanished them into the kitchen. "You're an echo. Knock it off. You aren't deaf and you aren't stupid. You heard me just fine each time. Do you want to ruin my party?"
"Ruin your party?" He visibly shook from the anger she could feel coursing through him.
The echo again. She sighed. "Yeah. They're having a blast. You're like the little black rain cloud that follows Eeyore."
He sputtered, honest to goddess sputtered. It was a wonderful sound.
Carly took advantage of his shock and yanked herself free, rubbing the burning area he'd held in his wicked grasp.
"What if your ingredients don't work right? What if your spell backfires?"
"Not that it will," she drawled slowly, agitated with his insistence on being a nuisance, "but that is why there are baskets of condoms scattered around the room." She turned away and looked back at the orgy with another smile. "Shame your parents didn't use them," she whispered under her breath.
"Too far, witch. You went too far this time."
An awful shriek echoed in her ears as her room suddenly shot away from her. She vanished and reappeared in a darkened room. Damn it. It was her. Clamping her lips tight, she turned and glared, looking for the ass.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." Giant ass. She thought it, but she didn't say it. He'd just reminded her which one of them was more powerful. It wasn't her. It figures council would give her the most straitlaced controller in the world.
"Someone will be coming, witch. But it won't be me."
Carly found herself stripped naked and shackled to the wall. Cold, hard bricks scraped against her back when she tested the restraints. Unsuccessful at manually escaping, she tried to use her magick. A sharp pain zapped her fast as lightning, leaving a tingling static electricity feeling zinging through her.
"What the -- oomph!" She choked and sputtered, spitting out the bite of cupcake she'd accidentally bitten when he'd shoved it in her mouth. Another attempt at magick sent the same burst screaming through her. "Assmunch, what the fu --"
Yet again he'd shoved the cupcake in her mouth. Uh-uh. No way. There was no way she was biting that damn thing. As it was, she lusted after this stupid dark controller who was dangerous and deadly as a snake -- and sexier than sin. The man made her weak in the knees. Made her brain short-circuit. Drove her to purchase extra batteries. No. Anger was better. Much better than lust. Clamping her lips tight, Carly shook her head. Not gonna do it. Nope.
Even as the thought to kick him in the balls formed in her brain, her legs were yanked and shackles appeared around her ankles, securing her to the wall. "Well, fuck," she mumbled around a mouthful of cupcake. When he pulled back, she spat it out of her mouth, and kept trying to get all the wet crumbs out.
"Afraid to take your own medicine?" He taunted her, but she wasn't going to rise to it. No, she wasn't. She shook her head. "Not afraid? Then open up and say ahhhhh."
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1471
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Self Frosting Fudge Cake for the Crock Pot
Self-Frosting Fudge Cake
Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated, p. 251
Mary Puterbaugh, Elwood, IN
Makes 8-10 servings
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.
2½ cups of 18½-oz. pkg. chocolate fudge pudding cake mix
2 eggs
¾ cup water
3 Tbsp. oil
1/3 cup pecan halves
¼ cup chocolate syrup
¼ cup warm water
3 Tbsp. sugar
1. Combine cake mix, eggs, ¾ cup water, and oil in electric mixer bowl. Beat 2
minutes.
2. Pour into greased and floured bread or cake pan that will fit into your slow
cooker.
3. Sprinkle nuts over mixture.
4. Blend together chocolate syrup, ¼ cup water, and sugar. Spoon over batter.
5. Cover. Bake on High 2-3 hours.
Serving suggestion:
Serve warm from slow cooker.
________________________________
A Haunted Halloween Blog Tour
Visit the Depraved Duchess for a Sexy Halloween
With Lena and her Friends
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/
Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated, p. 251
Mary Puterbaugh, Elwood, IN
Makes 8-10 servings
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.
2½ cups of 18½-oz. pkg. chocolate fudge pudding cake mix
2 eggs
¾ cup water
3 Tbsp. oil
1/3 cup pecan halves
¼ cup chocolate syrup
¼ cup warm water
3 Tbsp. sugar
1. Combine cake mix, eggs, ¾ cup water, and oil in electric mixer bowl. Beat 2
minutes.
2. Pour into greased and floured bread or cake pan that will fit into your slow
cooker.
3. Sprinkle nuts over mixture.
4. Blend together chocolate syrup, ¼ cup water, and sugar. Spoon over batter.
5. Cover. Bake on High 2-3 hours.
Serving suggestion:
Serve warm from slow cooker.
________________________________
A Haunted Halloween Blog Tour
Visit the Depraved Duchess for a Sexy Halloween
With Lena and her Friends
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/
Guest Author Tuesday Richards
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Blurb:
Being a witch with magic on the fritz does not bode well for Celeste, but Hollow Cove is all she knows and loves -- even when she has to deal with finicky magic like a voyeuristic water elemental named Hokey trapped in the wall of her shower. Being the runt of a litter of strong boys and lovely girls made family life hard for Booth. He left Hollow Cove as soon as he was old enough, and now he has a successful real estate business in the Mortal Realm. He has only one regret. He comes back to Hollow Cove every year on Halloween to spend twenty-four hours with the love of his life, Celeste. This year is different; Booth has laid down the law. If Celeste won’t return to the Mortal Realm with him, their relationship is over.
Excerpt:
Paranormal Investigations Team: Hollow Cove
Tuesday Richards
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2008 Tuesday Richards
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
“I’m late, I’m late!” Celeste’s foot hurt, and the sandals didn’t help any. If she hadn’t tried to bake a quiche, she wouldn’t have dropped the dish on her foot. Her German shepherd, Eostar, had gotten a great midnight snack.
Celeste continued out the door, purse and destination crystal in hand. She walked down the brick pathway leading to the teleport chamber, a big metal box able to hold several people, which sat in front of her house. She stopped an inch short of the chamber.
“Oh, come on!” Already late, and now she had to go to the neighbor’s. She limped across the lawn to the house next door, then pounded on oak with her fist. “Tobe! Open up!”
Tobe Humorous was a living, kind of, skeleton. A walking, talking, skinless being that somehow managed to marry a vampire named Betsy and have three rambunctious children -- two boys, Nail and Coffin, and one girl, Inda.
Tobe yanked the door open before she could start the second round of pounding on it. “What is it, Celeste?”
She stared at him, hands on her hips, like he would actually grow skin right there in front of her. “Tobe, get your vampire skeletal children out there to clean my teleport. They drew on it with pumpkin chalk again.”
Tobe poked his head out the doorframe, sighed heavily and turned around. “Betsy, the boys colored on Ms. Celeste’s teleport again!” Tobe turned back to her and smiled. “It’ll be cleaned up by morning, Ms. Celeste.”
“Sorry to have bothered you so late, but I’m expecting company.” Celeste looked everywhere but at him, and hadn’t a clue why her nerves were on edge. Or at least that she would admit to.
If Tobe could smile, Celeste was sure he would right now.
“Ah, yes. All Hallows’ Eve. Booth returns, high school sweethearts together again.” He shook his skull from side to side. “When will he realize what he has and come home? Werewolves… I tell you what, Ms. Celeste, it’s all those pups in one womb does something to the brain.” He closed the door with a chuckle.
Booth had been Celeste’s high school sweetheart. When he told his family and friends he was moving to the Mortal Realm in search of bigger and better opportunities, everybody argued the change. What could that place really offer a supernatural creature, except the inability to be who you truly are? He had always been unhappy in Hollow Cove; his family treated him differently from the rest of his litter just because he was the runt -- but only by an inch. One day he confided that he could no longer live in his brothers’ and sisters’ shadow. He had to go find his own place in the galaxy and he seemed to have found it, far away from her.
Yet every year he returned to Hollow Cove, and her. Even after five years, Celeste still felt like a giddy youngling preparing for his visit. However, each time, with no promises to stay, he left twenty-four hours later.
She limped back to the teleport, jammed the crystal in the destination slot for Hollow Cove Ritual Park, and stepped in. Teleportation was much simpler. You didn’t have to worry about driving a hover car, walking or mispronouncing a word in a spell. The destination crystal, when placed in the appropriate slot, would instantly teleport you anywhere in Hollow Cove.
Celeste descended from a long line of powerful witches, but for some reason she disappointingly lacked the powers prevalent in her family. Her sketchy spells, inability to shapeshift, and occasional complete power failure convinced her she was adopted. Her grandmother always asked if she were the milkman’s daughter. Mother always argued Celeste looked nothing like the were-bull who delivered milk every week. She was a true Deal witch -- sometimes.
She stepped out of the teleport and ran across the park to the gateway, then plopped down on a bench to catch her breath. She glanced at her watch. “Right on time.”
The gateway between realms came to life, multi-colored lights spinning webs in the night sky. The open space grew brighter in strength and intensity. Figures began to filter through. From 12:01 AM to midnight on Halloween every year, the Mortal Realm and Hollow Cove were connected.
Celeste looked forward to Halloween, yet dreaded it all at the same time. Booth had hit it lucky, found himself a high roller job with some sort of upscale hydro real estate agency or something. All she knew, seeing how he didn’t like to talk about work when here, was that he had more money than she had ever seen and she was the only reason he came back.
Celeste was waiting for the year Booth decided not to return. She loved him and wanted to be with him for eternity, but the fear of having to hide held her back. Her family, her life was Hollow Cove…
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1022
Recipe
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Halloween Guest Author-- Dominique Eastwick
Thank you Lena for having me now I have a confession to make….
So I think I might be just the biggest slacker there is of all time. I worked in the theatre for 15 years as a costume designer and would you believe I have never, not in 12 years, made a costume for my children. There you have it a slacker and a bad mom to boot. So today I thought I would share some of my Theatre know how with you for stage blood to make that costume a little more authentic. Or just to creep out the neighborhood kids.
Dominique’s Stage Blood
You will need ( there are no real measurements, because items vary start small and keep adding J )
Peanut Butter (for Peanut allergies use Red jello mix)
Chocolate Syrup (yeppers you will be smelling Reese’s peanut butter cups all night)
Lite Caro or corn Syrup
Red Food Coloring
Blue Food Coloring
****If you aren’t going to eat it but have it in a blood pack to be used on your clothes add laundry detergent to the mixture.
Mix Peanut Butter and Chocolate syrup together, slowly add the Corn Syrup mixing thoroughly.
Once the mixture is at the consistency you want start to add 2 drops of red to every drop of blue food coloring until you get it just like you want it.
Can be refrigerated for a week.
There it is my lovely mixture for stage blog. If you want to can get pill capsules at Halloween shops so you can bite down and blood will seep.. Gross and tasty all in one.
"Hunting JC is a contemporary romance filled with suspense, great sex, heartache, healing, and best of all love...The drama that unfolds will keep you reading this story until the very end." Just Erotic Romance Reviews 5 stars
"There are moments that are touching beyond belief, lines you'll read over and over because they are that darn sweet, and humor to keep it all running until JC and Hunter finally make up their darn minds! " Got Erotic Romance Reviews 4 Diamonds
In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 50% of all proceeds from the sale of Hunting JC in the month of October will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Just a taste of Dominique Eastwick's
Hunting JC
www.DominiqueEastwick.com
As Hunter cleared the doorframe, he was attacked, not by a mugger or drunken man, but he was attacked by her, J.C. Her hand twined through his hair and brought his mouth down to hers. Her lips moved under his, begging him to open to her, begging him to give her a try. She took his hand and placed them on her full breast. Her nipples immediately pearled in his hand. His mind screamed to stop this now, but his body didn’t seem to be listening. From the moment her soft, full lips touched his, he was putty in her hand. He knew his only hope of survival was that she had not yet become aware of it.
"J.C..." he moaned into her mouth as he said unconvincingly, "We can’t do this."
"Shh," she hushed, pressing her breasts further into his hands. "Just feel me, let me feel you."
"Jacinda, will you listen to me?"
"Not if your words have anything to do with, this isn’t right. Or Jacinda, this can’t happen between us."
"Exactly, that is..."
"Shh," Jacinda pressed her fingers against his lips. He felt the electrical vibrations that were humming through her fingertips. "Please let me do this for you. I want to taste you."
Five words were his undoing. I want to taste you
BUY IT NOW
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/contemporary/erotica/hunting-jc/prod_288.html
So I think I might be just the biggest slacker there is of all time. I worked in the theatre for 15 years as a costume designer and would you believe I have never, not in 12 years, made a costume for my children. There you have it a slacker and a bad mom to boot. So today I thought I would share some of my Theatre know how with you for stage blood to make that costume a little more authentic. Or just to creep out the neighborhood kids.
Dominique’s Stage Blood
You will need ( there are no real measurements, because items vary start small and keep adding J )
Peanut Butter (for Peanut allergies use Red jello mix)
Chocolate Syrup (yeppers you will be smelling Reese’s peanut butter cups all night)
Lite Caro or corn Syrup
Red Food Coloring
Blue Food Coloring
****If you aren’t going to eat it but have it in a blood pack to be used on your clothes add laundry detergent to the mixture.
Mix Peanut Butter and Chocolate syrup together, slowly add the Corn Syrup mixing thoroughly.
Once the mixture is at the consistency you want start to add 2 drops of red to every drop of blue food coloring until you get it just like you want it.
Can be refrigerated for a week.
There it is my lovely mixture for stage blog. If you want to can get pill capsules at Halloween shops so you can bite down and blood will seep.. Gross and tasty all in one.
"Hunting JC is a contemporary romance filled with suspense, great sex, heartache, healing, and best of all love...The drama that unfolds will keep you reading this story until the very end." Just Erotic Romance Reviews 5 stars
"There are moments that are touching beyond belief, lines you'll read over and over because they are that darn sweet, and humor to keep it all running until JC and Hunter finally make up their darn minds! " Got Erotic Romance Reviews 4 Diamonds
In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 50% of all proceeds from the sale of Hunting JC in the month of October will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Just a taste of Dominique Eastwick's
Hunting JC
www.DominiqueEastwick.com
As Hunter cleared the doorframe, he was attacked, not by a mugger or drunken man, but he was attacked by her, J.C. Her hand twined through his hair and brought his mouth down to hers. Her lips moved under his, begging him to open to her, begging him to give her a try. She took his hand and placed them on her full breast. Her nipples immediately pearled in his hand. His mind screamed to stop this now, but his body didn’t seem to be listening. From the moment her soft, full lips touched his, he was putty in her hand. He knew his only hope of survival was that she had not yet become aware of it.
"J.C..." he moaned into her mouth as he said unconvincingly, "We can’t do this."
"Shh," she hushed, pressing her breasts further into his hands. "Just feel me, let me feel you."
"Jacinda, will you listen to me?"
"Not if your words have anything to do with, this isn’t right. Or Jacinda, this can’t happen between us."
"Exactly, that is..."
"Shh," Jacinda pressed her fingers against his lips. He felt the electrical vibrations that were humming through her fingertips. "Please let me do this for you. I want to taste you."
Five words were his undoing. I want to taste you
BUY IT NOW
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/contemporary/erotica/hunting-jc/prod_288.html
Monday, October 18, 2010
Halloween Guest Author-- Kate Hill: Bloody or Nothing-- Bottoms Up
Halloween Scrapbook
If you have a collection of magazines and catalogues that you no longer want hanging around the house yet can’t bring yourself to throw away, why not use them to make a Halloween themed scrapbook? I did this a couple of years back and ended up with a book I enjoy bringing out and placing on the coffee table every October.
I took magazine photos of normal places, like garden scenes or houses (gardening and house decorating magazines are great for this) and cut out pictures of unusual things, like gargoyles, mermaids, grim reapers, and fairies (gothic, horror and new age type magazines have lots of these) and glued them onto the everyday scenes to make images with a paranormal feel. Also in the scrapbook I included favorite Halloween recipes, autumn craft ideas, short stories and poetry.
Since I tend to be a packrat when it comes to magazines, especially when they focus on horror, gothic and new age, this was a good way for me to keep my favorites while cutting down on the boxes collecting dust in the basement. If you’re like me, it might work well for you too.
Bloody or Nothing: Bottoms Up
By Kate Hill
(M/M/F Menage, Vampire)
From Changeling Press
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1455
Three hearts, one soul and a deal with the devil.
Blurb:
Dana travels to Las Vegas to help a sister in trouble and discovers a vampire underground she never dreamed existed. For the first time in her life she unleashes her repressed passions with two very different men.
An ancient vampire of youthful beauty, Rory lives according to his rules. As a mortal, his love for another man had nearly cost him his life. Now he's a much-loved vampire master. When he saves Dana from an assault, they recognize each other as kindred souls and enter a relationship stronger than friendship and deeper than lust. Then another man arrives who drives them both to distraction.
Handsome and rugged, Jason has spent the past two centuries overcoming the degradation of his mortal life. Used and abused, bought and sold, he had no real identity until a vampire gave him a new life. Now while fighting against an evil reign, he is tempted by a fledgling vampiress and a man he has desired for two centuries. By denying his bisexual nature, he might destroy the greatest love of his life.
Excerpt:
"Maybe a duel is a good idea after all," Rory said. Sword in hand, he returned to the roped off ring where he and Dana had been practicing.
Jason picked up his weapon and joined him while Dana stood outside the ring, her gaze fixed on the men.
She couldn't help feeling a bit concerned. Emotions ran high between these two. Her sole purpose hadn't been to observe a duel, but to offer them a way to work out their problems.
Within moments, she realized that maybe she should have chosen a safer meeting ground. After the first few tentative blows, they unleashed nearly two centuries of passion at the ends of their swords.
Though Jason was the bigger and stronger of the two, he wasn't quite as skilled as Rory. Almost, but not quite. They fought with steel blades, not the silver-plated ones they used when patrolling the streets.
She flinched when Rory's blade nicked Jason's cheek, then sliced his chest. The shallow wound bled freely, staining Jason's snug blue T-shirt.
Jason thrust his sword. Rory spun, blocked it and smacked Jason's tight ass with the flat of his blade. The blond gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing, but he kept his head and fought wisely.
The tip of his blade pricked Rory's sword arm. Scarcely missing a beat, Rory switched the sword to his other hand. He was equally skilled with both.
Dana worried that they might do each other serious damage until they locked blades, their bodies close and their faces mere inches from each other.
To the surprise of both his companions, Rory kissed Jason full on the mouth. Jason leapt back, his chest heaving.
Their blue gazes fixed on each other and Dana thought for certain Jason would storm off due to Rory's unwelcome advances. Instead, he attacked the smaller man with a series of blows so powerful that Dana marveled at Rory's ability to block them.
Then Rory disarmed Jason so quickly and with such skill that Dana missed the exact move that sent Jason's sword into the air. Rory caught it in his free hand. Jason dropped to the ground and spun, one leg lashing out in a sweep that would have knocked Rory off his feet if he hadn't jumped into the air, knees draw up toward his chest.
Rory landed, both swords poised for defense.
"Drop 'em," Jason said, his voice even huskier than usual.
Dana drew a deep breath and clenched her fists. She sensed something was about to happen, but couldn't tell if it would be good or bad.
After a moment's hesitation, Rory dropped the swords. Jason strode toward him, roughly grasped the back of Rory's neck and kissed him hard on the mouth.
Dana couldn't keep from smiling. So this was the man who'd said never again.
She climbed into the ring and approached. Rory and Jason's mouths were still fused, their eyes closed and their hands groping one another. The scent of their arousal filled the gym. Watching them turned her on so much that her clit ached and her nipples strained beneath the layers of protective fencing gear she wore.
Rory had insisted that as a new student she wear it. Later there would be enough time to fight unshielded.
Jason's hands slid down Rory's back to cup his tight ass. Moaning, Rory tightened his fingers on Jason's muscular shoulders.
Their kiss broke and they stared into each others eyes. Already their wounds had begun to heal and fade away.
"Now this is more like it," Dana said.
They turned to her and Jason shook his head.
"No."
He withdrew from Rory and took a step backward.
"Why not?" Dana asked. She placed a hand on Jason's hip and tilted her face toward his. "He's beautiful, isn't he?"
"You're one strange woman," he said, though not viciously. His fingertips lightly caressed her cheek, then her throat.
"Isn't he?" she whispered, casting a sidelong glance in Rory's direction.
"Yes," Jason replied, the word torn from his lips and his gaze locked with Rory's.
The auburn-haired man remained motionless, though his big blue eyes devoured Jason.
"I know you're the kind of guy who takes what you want," Dana continued. "What do you want?"
"At the moment it's hard to decide," he admitted, cupping the back of her head and brushing her lips with a kiss.
"I suggest the three of us go upstairs and work it out," she said. "Rory?"
In reply he picked up their swords and also took Dana's from her hand just before Jason swept her into his arms.
She grasped his neck and moistened her lips. His handsome brow furrowed and she kissed it tenderly, hoping to smooth away some of the unhappiness reflected there.
If only he'd allow her and Rory fully into his life, she knew they could replace his anger with affection. It sickened her when she thought of the kind of suffering he'd endured to still carry such rage and fear after two centuries. Gaining her own freedom made her realize how important it was to be loved for who you truly were. If they were consistent in their affection toward him, he might eventually open up to them.
They took the back stairs to Dana's room which was just one floor up. The handsome blond carried her while Rory led the way, every now and then glancing over his shoulder at them with a hungry look that pushed Dana's arousal to even higher heights.
In her room, Jason tossed her on the bed. Rory drew the curtains and lit vanilla scented candles on the vanity table. All three quickly discarded their clothes. While she pulled off hers, Dana glanced from Rory to Jason. Both were gorgeous, though in different ways. Rory's pretty face and Jason's handsome one reflected their lust. Both had lean, fit bodies, though Jason was almost a head taller than Rory.
Jason finished undressing first and stretched out beside Dana. Covering her mouth in a passionate kiss, he stroked her from breast to hip. He caressed her inner thighs and cupped her soft mound.
Her eyes closed, she wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her feet up and down his hard, hair-dusted legs. His powerful chest pressed against her breasts. The man felt so damn good.
Rory joined them on the bed, his warm, supple body close to her and Jason. When the blond broke their kiss, Rory tilted her face toward his and kissed her. His tongue met hers and his long hair tickled her face. He braced a hand against Jason's muscular shoulder and shoved him hard. Jason refused to move and Rory broke the kiss to glare at him.
The men growled at each other, but their rivalry couldn't disguise their desire for each other.
Dana kissed Jason again and he wrapped his arms around her, rolling onto his back and dragging her on top of him.
With a teasing grin, she slid from his embrace and returned to Rory. Placing a hand to her Creator's chest, she pushed gently and he let her guide him onto his back. Their gazes locked and they smiled. No matter what, Rory would always hold a piece of her heart. He had set her free. Before him, she had never really lived. She knew that deep inside Jason felt the same way about Rory. The beautiful vampire master could free him too, if he would only let it happen.
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