Capturing Bliss
by Nicole Hurley-Moore
sensual historical romance

In 12th-century England, love isn’t part of the marriage equation. But Lady Blissot de Woodville adores her younger sister too much to see her suffer such a fate. Instead, Bliss recklessly switches places with her sister—and marries a total stranger under false pretenses! Fortunately, she soon discovers she shares a rare passion and genuine love with her new husband, the ardent Lord William Reynard. Yet the happier Bliss becomes, the more her secret weighs heavily on her heart…because one desperate lie could destroy everything she’s come to cherish.

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Excerpt:

Lord William Reynard stood upon the small parapet at the top of Foxwoods Hall and scanned the countryside that now belonged to him. A sense of satisfaction and pride flowed through his body as he looked down at the soft green and fertile land.

This was the beginning, the one thing that he had been striving for his entire life. No longer would he be a landless knight with no place to call his own; forced to drift or stay in the household of his overlord. Now he had Foxwoods Hall and it was on this land that he would begin to build his life, his future. No one would ever take it from him – none but the King or God. He would fight to his last breath to keep it and all who dwelled there safe.

Walking to the back of the parapet, he leant on the nearest stone merlon. Below he could see the overgrown garden and orchard beyond. Farther still ran the cool stream that rushed by the old mill on its banks. In the distance rose the tangled forest that was known as Foxwoods. The estate was in disrepair but he vowed that he would bring it back to life. The garden needed redesigning and planting, the trees in the orchard pruning, the mill needed a new roof – in fact there was not an inch of the Hall that didn’t need some attention. It would be hard work yet he could barely contain his enthusiasm.

The cool morning air blew gently onto his face and ruffled through his dark hair.

He closed his green eyes briefly and took a deep breath; breathing in the scent of a new day, a new beginning.

By this afternoon, Ivetta, the most beautiful of Lord de Woodville’s nieces would arrive. His intended bride was the key; she was the instrument that would enable him to create not just a future but a legacy. Aye, the coin that she brought to the nuptials would allow him to restore Foxwoods to its former glory. But what Ivetta brought to the marriage was much more precious than coin; she brought the possibility of children. Together they would build a family, a line that would be stronger than the very foundations of Foxwoods Hall.

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Capturing Bliss by Nicole Hurley-Moore
historical sensual novella (approx 17k)
Cover Art by Valerie Tibbs
ISBN# 978-0-9848970-9-4

In 12th-century England, love isn’t part of the marriage equation. But Lady Blissot de Woodville adores her younger sister too much to see her suffer such a fate. Instead, Bliss recklessly switches places with her sister—and marries a total stranger under false pretenses! Fortunately, she soon discovers she shares a rare passion and genuine love with her new husband, the ardent Lord William Reynard. Yet the happier Bliss becomes, the more her secret weighs heavily on her heart…because one desperate lie could destroy everything she’s come to cherish.

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Woodville Manor, England ? 1139 AD

“Nay Bliss, it cannot work!”

Lady Blissot de Woodville turned from the casement and regarded her beautiful younger sister. “Aye, it will work.” She said with growing determination in her voice.

“It will work and I will see you safe and happy.”

“I cannot stand by and let you sacrifice yourself for my sake,” Ivetta said with a shake of her golden head. “I will do as our uncle and King wish and marry this so deemed hero from the north, and thereby proving our family’s allegiance to King

Stephen and his claim to the crown.”

“Ivetta, do you love Lord Adelard Bernier?”

“More than life.” The words slipped out of Ivetta’s mouth before she could restrain them. She took a steadying breath before she continued. “Tis true, I love him. He makes my heart beat faster when he is near. I long to be with him ? I long to be his wife. Yet I will not let these feelings outweigh my love for you and I will not sit by whilst you ruin your life.”

Bliss walked across the cool stone floor and sat down on the bed next to her sister.

She placed her arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “I am not ruining my life nor am I sacrificing myself. If I take your place and marry Lord William Reynard, I will be securing both our futures. This could be our chance at happiness.”

“You know nothing of this man. He may be a monster!”

“And he may not. He may be a good man and a gentle knight,” Bliss countered with a small smile. She sighed as ran her fingers through her own brown hair before she continued. “You will be happy and married to Adelard and I will be free of our uncle and his courtly intrigues and political ambitions. He will be no longer able to use either of us as pawns.”

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Comrade Bear
by Mary Winter
Nanook Warriors Book 4
erotic gay bear shifter romance

Trent had always been the outsider on the team. When one-by-one Bjorn, Kjell, Hans, and Mark found mates, Trent knew he’d always stand alone. The European military structure might be more tolerant towards homosexuality; he wondered if his commanding officer and team members would be. Then Vik brings Aleksander back to the team. The Russian is the one man who can prove to be Trent’s undoing. But betrayal and uncertainty run deep, and when Aleksander is asked to go undercover with a band of Russian shifters, Trent wonders if he can truly consider Aleksander is comrade, or if the man he’s always loved might become his enemy.

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Excerpt:

Driven by Louhi’s words and the need to get his thoughts on Trent and what the bear spirit had said sorted out, Aleksander shut himself in his room. He wasn’t afraid to be known as a gay man, that wasn’t the reason why he kept his relationships tucked away. Before Trent, he’d been content with superficial relationships, never scratching the surface to really get to know him. Aleksander stopped his pacing. He rested his hand on the desk and stared out the small window to the frozen tundra beyond the compound. Except Trent knew him. Trent worked for the same man, had probably done many of the same things. Straightening, Aleksander fisted his hand. He shook his head. The things he’d done, he knew Trent had never done anything like his work in the former Soviet Union.

He heaved a sigh and headed from his room to look for Trent. Vik’s briefing would be soon, and he wanted this settled before something bad could happen. For a moment, the thought of being killed on this mission—a very real possibility given his status with the Russian team at the moment—without reconciling with Trent punched him in the gut. He couldn’t allow that.

After checking in the dining area and the rec room, he finally found Trent in the workout room. He stood in the doorway, watching Trent run on the treadmill. Wearing only a small pair of blue shorts, the Canadian moved like a machine. Muscles in his legs and abs rippled with every stride. His powerful arms worked back and forth, accentuating the muscles in his neck. The time since they’d been lovers had certainly been kind to Trent, honed his features and made him even leaner.

Aleksander’s cock surged to life. He willed it to still, mentally telling himself he wasn’t here for that kind of exercise. Besides, his own pair of green shorts did little to hide his erection. Silently, he went to the treadmill besides Trent and stepped on. After setting his favorite program, a set of steep inclines, he began to run, keeping pace with Trent.

Neither man said anything. The steady thump-thump-thump of their shoes on the machine and their deep, but easy breathing, filled the room. The slightest tang of sweat filled Aleksander’s nose, and he turned to watch a stray drop trickle over one of Trent’s pecs and down over his abs. Damn, he wanted to follow that drop with his lips and tongue.

“The Spirit wasn’t asking us to do anything except put the past behind us. I’m willing to do that for the sake of the mission.” Aleksander spoke casually, as if Trent hadn’t run out on his duty and the meeting.

Trent slapped the red button in the middle of the control panel and the treadmill came to a halt. He turned and stared at Aleksander, bracing his hands on the side rails. Breathing hard, he swallowed, then grabbed a towel and mopped his face and arms. “Just for the mission? Seems if we reconcile then we have to do it. Put the past behind us, period. I can’t go there. Not yet.”

“What I said earlier was inexcusable. The fact that I was under orders and had to leave didn’t have anything to do with it. I was an asshole.” Aleksander turned off the treadmill. He looped the towel around his neck, and turned to face Trent. “If it’s an apology you want, then you’ll have one.”

Trent arched one dark brown eyebrow. “Because I want one? God, Aleks. You’re such an ass sometimes.”

“I just said that, didn’t I?” He shrugged.

Trent laughed. “Yes, you did.” He mopped off the machine with quick swipes of his towel. He jerked his head toward the benches along one wall where the free weights were. Without waiting for a reply, he went there, and Aleksander followed. Laughter, at least, was a start.

Trent sat, then picked up a weight and began doing curls. More to have something to do, Aleksander figured, for the Canadian didn’t seem to be putting much thought behind the movement, and he’d chosen a lighter weight. “What if reconcile meant more than just putting the past behind us? We don’t know what the Spirits want. They only seem to speak to Louhi. The times we’ve seen them…” He frowned. “Before then we’d apparently only seen the bad faction and they tried to kill us. I—” His voice grew rough and he fell silent.

“What if they do want us to get back together? Old flames never die, do they?”

“This one should,” Trent countered. He set down the weight. “Look, you might want to finish that conversation, but I really don’t want to. As far as this is concerned, I’m done. We’ll work together. We have to. Beyond that, there is nothing.”

He’d believe Trent if there weren’t the hint of pain in his voice. There was something all right, and he’d never been a man to back down from a challenge. “If you don’t want to finish the conversation, then let me. I meant what I said. I was wrong. Whether I was trying to say it then or now makes little difference. I was. You might think that nothing has changed, but I can see time has changed you. Is it so hard for you to believe it may have also changed me.” He stood, knowing when to beat a strategic retreat.

“Aleks.” Trent spoke so softly, he thought he didn’t hear him.

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Comrade Bear
by Mary Winter
Nanook Warriors Book 4
erotic gay bear shifter romance

Trent had always been the outsider on the team. When one-by-one Bjorn, Kjell, Hans, and Mark found mates, Trent knew he’d always stand alone. The European military structure might be more tolerant towards homosexuality; he wondered if his commanding officer and team members would be. Then Vik brings Aleksander back to the team. The Russian is the one man who can prove to be Trent’s undoing. But betrayal and uncertainty run deep, and when Aleksander is asked to go undercover with a band of Russian shifters, Trent wonders if he can truly consider Aleksander is comrade, or if the man he’s always loved might become his enemy.

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Excerpt:

Damn it, look at me. Out here, this close to the men, Aleksander knew he just couldn’t reach out and grab Trent, but that was exactly what he wanted to do. I’m going off on a mission and might never come back. If I’d told him how close I’d come to getting shot the last time… He silenced his thoughts.

Trent started walking, and he fell into step beside him. For several minutes neither one of them spoke, and Aleksander enjoyed the companionship between them.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. Reaching out, he grabbed Trent’s arm. “Wait.”

Trent stopped. He turned and the sadness in his eyes rocked Aleksander back on his heels. “You have to go back. We can’t do this right now.”

“Yes, we can. And we have to.” He puffed out a breath. It plumed in the chilly air, a little cloud that seemed to hover around them. “I don’t think you were truthful with Bjorn. I don’t think you are okay with this mission.”

Trent closed his eyes and appeared to count to three. “And if I’m not?” He unclenched his free hand then checked the GPS. “We’re soldiers, Aleks. We follow orders. It’s what we do.”

“Yeah, but—”

“No buts,” Trent barked at him. “Isn’t that what you told me? Of course, right after that you said that westerners didn’t know the depth of your feelings for the Motherland and what your people had gone through, but we’ll forget that right now. It’s ancient history. You were right about one thing. We’re soldiers. There’s no room for regrets in our lives. We do our mission to the best of our ability and try like hell to come home alive.”

“We do. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it.” Aleksander released Trent’s arm, then rested his hand on Trent’s shoulder. “I don’t know…”

“Don’t say it,” Trent ordered. “You’ll do what you have to do, and then you’ll get your hot ass back here. All right?”

“Yes, sir,” he replied with a cocky grin. Now that was the Trent he loved to play with. “If it makes any difference, I’m not okay with this mission either. But like you said, it’s orders. And it will take down the Corporation. I promise you.”

“I don’t care about the Corporation at the moment,” Trent admitted. “Go. We don’t want to do anything to make them suspicious.”

“I will.” He stepped forward. With a quick glance in either direction to check for the other men, he pressed a hard kiss against Trent’s lips. He pulled back, the slight tug of skin a sign that he’d hesitated a moment too long. He grinned. “I better go. Otherwise they might find two male polar bears fucking out here, and wouldn’t that make the scientists talk.”

“You’re worried about the scientists?” Trent glanced back at camp. “Stay safe.”

“For you.” Spinning on his heel, Aleksander took off at a jog and headed away from camp. The need to glance over his shoulder, to see if Trent was watching him, burned through him. Instead, he focused on the horizon, on the team of shifters he knew lay several kilometers away.

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Her Secret Incantations by Heather Avalon
a contemporary novel of pagan magick
primary relationships M/F with F/F secondary relationship
novel length (approx 45,000 words)
ISBN# 978-0-9848970-8-7
Cover Art by Valerie Tibbs

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Cambria has spent years hiding from her magical past.  Now she must face her fears and unite with three magicians – Laura, a British stripper who had once been her lover, Xander, a darkly handsome druid, and Jordan, a reggae musician who plays an enchanted drum.

Together, this unlikely group must defeat a dangerous enemy, before that enemy destroys them.

EXCERPT:
Xander stood by the passenger door, a glass of champagne in his hand. She had to admit, he looked every bit as good as she did. He wore a good dark suit with a casual grace that was classy, without being pretentious. He had tied his long hair back in a silver hairclip. For a moment, neither spoke, each taking in the vision of the other. Then, he approached her. He took her arm and handed her the champagne.

Inside the limo, Cam began to wonder if Xander’s champagne was as enchanted as her incense had been. She found herself feeling lighter and more carefree than she had in years. Conversation flowed along with the champagne. Almost against her will, Cambria realized she was beyond challenging Xander, and even beyond flirting with him. She was actually talking with him as a peer, maybe even as a friend.

The Tavern was just as she had remembered it. Only the staff had changed. For this Cambria was grateful. She didn’t want anyone to remember her and ask about Ray. Of course, the food, and the atmosphere, were exquisite, but Cambria barely noticed. As the evening wore on, Cambria was becoming more sure that the most delicious thing on the menu would be Xander himself. So captivated by this new Xander, she began to forget her reasons for hating him in the first place. When he said something witty, her laughter was spontaneous and genuine. When he took her hand and led her to the dance floor, she felt a spark of energy leap from his hand to hers. Gone were her schemes of captivating him and leaving him cold, it was she who was captivated.

Cambria hadn’t feel that kind of tug on her heart in years; this week she had felt it twice. She had felt it at Sloane’s with Laura, and now, tonight, with Xander. Cam couldn’t help thinking this wasn’t coincidence; perhaps Laura’s interruption of her quiet life would serve a destiny beyond the business of the Council. What that destiny might be was unclear. All Cam knew was that, for the first time in a long time, she felt truly alive.

In the limo on the way back to the festival site, they kissed sweetly for the first time. Cam felt a burning emptiness inside her, and for a moment wanted nothing more than for him to fully take her right there in the limousine. Instead, she pulled away from him and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Will you take me to your place tonight, Alexander?” She asked. His answer surprised her.

“No, Cam, I won’t.” he said softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“I wanted tonight to be a beginning, not an end. I do want you, maybe more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. But that’s why I want to wait. I think there could be something real here between us. I feel it. I know you feel it too.”

Cam looked down, afraid of the intensity of his words and of the fire in his eyes. Afraid, too, that she did feel it, and didn’t have a clue what that might mean.

Xander went on, his sonorous voice was almost hypnotizing. “Our agreement was dinner and nothing more. I want to honor that agreement. I want you to know how much I have enjoyed our time together, and how much I hope that you will consent to let me take you out again as soon as our council business will allow.”

At the mention of the Council, Cam stared hard at him, angry for a moment. Xander caught her expression and understood.

“No, Cam, I am not wooing you romantically in order to win your support for the Council. But the council business is as much of a reality as what we have between us. I would like to keep those two things separate.

Cam nodded.

Xander continued. “I want to take you out again, and again. I want us to get to know each other. Then, and only then, will I ask you to welcome me to your bed. If you consent, you will make me a happy man. If you don’t, you can rest assured that you will always have my friendship, and my respect.”

With that, he kissed her on the cheek as the limo pulled up to her camper.

Cam was too impressed to be very disappointed. Well played. She stood in the night air, hand on the camper door, reluctant to go inside and let the evening end. She watched the limo’s red tail lights light up the trees as it pulled away.

Comrade Bear by Mary Winter
Nanook Warriors Book 4
erotic gay bear shifter romance
novel length (approx 55,000 words)
ISBN# 978-0-9848970-7-0
Cover Art by Valerie Tibbs

Trent had always been the outsider on the team. When one-by-one Bjorn, Kjell, Hans, and Mark found mates, Trent knew he’d always stand alone. The European military structure might be more tolerant towards homosexuality; he wondered if his commanding officer and team members would be. Then Vik brings Aleksander back to the team. The Russian is the one man who can prove to be Trent’s undoing. But betrayal and uncertainty run deep, and when Aleksander is asked to go undercover with a band of Russian shifters, Trent wonders if he can truly consider Aleksander is comrade, or if the man he’s always loved might become his enemy.

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Excerpt:

Trent cast a sidelong glance at his teammate across the counter. Aleksander piled cold cuts and cheese on two slices of crusty bread, then doused the mixture with spicy mustard. Trent glanced at his own, nearly identical sandwich and decided to pass on the mustard.

Damn it! Yet one more thing that we share: our taste in sandwiches. We’re also the only two sane guys in this outpost, never mind that he turned traitor against his country not once, but twice.

That still bugged Trent.

He grabbed his sandwich and shoved away from the counter. Deep inside him, his bear twitched, hungry for food and for a run. They’d been holed up in here since the last raid on the Russian Corporation. Vik, the general who ran this EU Special Forces unit, had told them to stay low while he dug up some information. Apparently that’s what Louhi was doing, too. Though watching the Shami woman leave the building wearing little more than a light jacket to shake her rattle kind of wierded him out. If it couldn’t be seen or touched, then as far as Trent was concerned, it didn’t really exist. And the Bear spirits with whom she spoke could barely be seen, and definitely not touched.

He glanced out the window and wondered if she were out there now, probably with her mates, the twins Marc and Hans Svetter.

“I think Louhi is in the lab talking to Sigrid,” Aleksander said. He sat down across from Trent and bit into his sandwich.

“Okay,” Trent said, not quite comfortable with the easy way Aleksander seemed to be able to read his thoughts. Of course, he had good reason, but still—Trent reached for his plate, then grabbed his glass of water instead. Taking a big drink, he stared at his teammate. “So why are you here?”

“I was hungry?” Aleksander arched an eyebrow. “Or do you mean here, on Vik’s team.”

“You know damn well what I mean.” Trent picked up his sandwich.

“And you damn well know the reason why.” Alexander pushed away from the table. Grabbing his now-empty plate, he turned toward the sink. “I was going to talk to you about Louhi’s work, about this crazy Bear Clan shit, but if you’re going to snarl, then go back to hibernation.”

“Can’t hibernate around here. We have work to do.”

“Yes, we do.” Dishes clanked in the sink. A moment later the dishwasher racks rattled, then the door thumped closed. Aleksander stomped back to the table. Pulling out the chair, he straddled it, resting his arms on the thin back. He glared at Trent. “I don’t think you like this any more than I do. We’re in the military. Fighting is what we do, and we fight with guns, with weapons we can hold and feel. And, we fight with our bears if we have to. This spiritual stuff…” Aleksander shrugged. “I do what I’m told. That’s it.”

“You take orders from higher ranking officers,” Trent corrected. “But yeah, that about sums it up. Vik’s gathering intelligence. I’m sure he’ll have work for us to do soon.”

“And until then, the twins guard Louhi. Cameron takes care of Sigrid in the lab. And we sit around.” Aleksander curled his fingers into a fist and lifted it, then must have thought better because he slowly rested his hand on the table. “Something will happen.”

“You’re Russian,” Trent countered. “You always think something will happen, none if it good.”

A smile quirked the corners of Aleksander’s mouth. Humor twinkled in his blue eyes and for a moment, Trent saw a glimpse of something other than the dour Russian soldier. “It never is good.” Aleksander quickly sobered.

Trent bit back a remark. “Even if we don’t believe in the Bear Clan and the Night Demons, we’ve seen them both. And they’re a part of this battle whether we like it or not.” He modulated his voice, hid that little niggle of doubt that maybe it was true, maybe they were part of some special group of people once lost from the shamans like Louhi. Shaking his head he pushed back his chair. “That means we take those orders and we fight to the best of our ability.”

“You think I don’t?”

“I didn’t say that.” Trent caught and held the challenging gaze Aleksander threw at him. “Didn’t say that all. We simply do our jobs until Vik tells us otherwise. It’s what we do.” This time, Trent smiled.

“It’s what we do. Until something happens.” Aleksander chuckled.

Trent joined in, caught up in the moment of camaraderie between two team members. He’d worked for Vik long enough to know how things went. Lots of waiting with little spurts of action in between. Presumably Aleksander had had those same experiences, though Trent didn’t know exactly how long he’d worked for Vik. Aleksander had never said.

Silence grew between them. Trent glanced at the clock, too early to check in for briefing. Somewhat at loose ends, he decided to sit and see where the conversation went.

“Will you—?”

“Don’t you—?”

They both spoke at the same time.

A memory, harsh and fleeting, crossed Trent’s mind and he shoved it away before it could spark another. “Will you hear from any of the team you were working with before?”

Aleksander shook his head. “If they found me, they’d kill me. I’m a traitor to them. If Vik’s right, then only the small group knew who I was and most of them are dead. If I have to go back, hopefully my cover won’t be blown.”

“They wouldn’t send you back, would they?” Trent furrowed his brow. Vik never sent them directly into hell, only around the edges, as the old man often said. To send one of their team back knowing he could be killed at any moment seemed a bit brutal, even for this mission.

“I go where I’m needed.” Aleksander stood. “Want a beer?”

“But we’re on duty.” The words slipped from Trent’s lips before he could remind himself of the Europeans’ different attitudes toward spirits.

“When in Rome…or rather, Norway,” Aleksander suggested.

The Trinket Seller’s Daughter
by Nicole Hurley-Moore
historical romance novella
$2.54 $2.99

Lost in the forest, Emelin runs for her life after her traveling party is massacred by outlaws. Sir Allard de Gerril is in pursuit of the ruthless Archer and his band when he finds Emelin. Bound by vengeance the pair seek out Archer, but as they journey through the dark woods revenge gives way to passion. With each passing day, Emelin dares to dream that there is a place for a lowly trinket seller’s daughter by the knight’s side. Yet as Archer begins to hunt the couple, Emelin fears that she and Allard will not have a future together as they may never escape the tangled wood alive.

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Love Me Or Lose Me
by Rita Sawyer
steamy contemporary novella
$2.54 $2.99

Darcy and Thomas had a good thing going or so she’d thought, heck they’d even moved in together. But lately Thomas was so focused on
being the king on the courtroom he barely paid attention to her. No matter what she did he seemed to not notice or not care. So Darcy
decides to leave and see if he noticed that. The break will give her some time to reevaluate their relationship and figure out where she
wants to go from here. She leaves him a cryptic message telling him she’s going away for a while, but leaves out where she’s going.

Thomas follows Darcy to her sister’s house. He is ready to do whatever he has to win her back. He even enlists the help of her
three brothers. He knows he has a lot to explain and make up for, he only hopes Darcy gives him the chance.

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Encounters: Weylyn’s Gift
by Lex Valentine
erotic shifter romance short story
$1.25 $1.49

Werewolf Weylyn Randall is bi-sexual and happily carefree. He spends his nights fucking and playing bass in a band.  His days are spent
recuperating for another go-round when the sun goes down. Nothing gives Weylyn more pleasure than getting his “were” on. After years of this hedonistic lifestyle he doesn’t think there’s a mate out there for him. He’s happy having encounters with whomever strikes his fancy and hooking up with best friend and occasional lover, Drake Keating, whenever possible. Then Drake sends him a gift in a plain brown wrapper. Along with the gift comes a magical woman and between the two, they unleash the next phase in Weylyn’s wild
sex life.

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Excerpt:

Before she could catch a full breath, the weight of the wolf was quickly hoisted off her and she watched as he flew backwards and crashed into a nearby wall. Paul’s bag of old golf clubs fell over and they splayed outward onto the wooden floor of the attic.

Dante the wolf lay in a startled heap on the floor and Camden stood over him. Paisley looked at Camden and when he turned his face towards her, she saw he had a new tint to his complexion. He almost looked as if he were glowing like one of those light sticks the kids carried around on Halloween. His eyes were startlingly fierce and the pupils were dilated to gigantic, black holes. His teeth were elongated and the sharp points protruded out of his mouth and over his lower lip as he panted.

She found herself simultaneously frightened and aroused by the sight of him in battle mode. Perhaps it was the warrior-like way in which he stood over the dazed and confused wolf that had attacked her. He had protected her…come to her defense as if playing the hero in a story.

Or perhaps it was that seductive force field that seemed to follow him wherever he went. Then again, it could be the fact that from where she lay on the floor, she could see clearly the outline of his huge erection pressing against the inseam of his pants leg. For a moment, maybe longer than a moment, she simply couldn’t tear her eyes away from it.

She figured in the world of demon life that a fight with another demon might possibly be seen as a huge turn on. The violence, the rush of power, and the blood.

Paisley finally tore her eyes away from the pulsating male hardness and gazed up to see Camden watching her with a lustful look she wouldn’t have been able to resist if they were in a slightly different situation. Like say…the way he was lying on top of her just hours ago in her own bed.

Then the sight of his devilish grin drew her back to reality as he flicked his tongue out of his mouth and touched it ever so slightly to the tip of one of his fangs.

He may have been only a lowly vampire in the past but he sure looked like an amazingly powerful one now. She wasn’t sure what the rest of his demon powers entailed but she was already finding it difficult to resist the strength and virility that this demon was demonstrating for her right now.

Sure, he might be evil and extremely annoying but she wasn’t living in the real world anymore. She’d somehow managed to integrate herself into the world of darkness and she might as well figure out how to enjoy it in some way.

As her mind exploded with all the thoughts and emotions caused by the werewolf attack of just moments earlier, she nearly screamed when she saw the panther Felinsky leap through the air straight towards Camden’s head as if to pounce on him like the oversized cat that he was. She thought to voice a warning but Camden’s reflexes were amazingly fast.

He ducked down just as the cat soared through the air. As he hovered just above Camden’s head, Camden jumped up and shoved the cat towards the open portal. Then, he glanced back at Paisley one more time over his shoulder.

Before he leapt into the portal after the cat, he gave her a flirtatious wink.

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Excerpt:

Still so far Colin was no disappointment, turning out to be even more handsome than when Rhoswen had viewed him through portals that Lil had opened, windows to the human world. She knew Colin was smart, dedicated to his work, that he was loved by his students, and that he didn’t have a wife or girlfriend. He hadn’t had a girlfriend for some time in fact.

He travelled a lot and enjoyed it. He loved to discover new animals and he spoke about conserving them passionately.

His thick brown hair was tousled where he’d run his fingers through it time and again, and his eyes shone a bright blue behind his silver framed glasses.

He looked so frustrated, and Rhoswen questioned for the first time whether she’d done the right thing. She had selected him so carefully, had been so sure that he’d be the human for her.

Both Lil and Rhoswen’s own family had made her aware time and time again of the high penalty for choosing a human as a potential mate, but Rhoswen was reluctant to tell Colin about that just yet. I do not want him to like me just because he feels sorry for me.

“How do they react after an hour? A day?” Colin asked.

Rhoswen shrugged. “They adapt. We’re taught that you humans are masters of adaptation.”

“Who taught you that?”

She wished he would sit down. It seemed so formal when she sat and he stood as if on ceremony. “All Faewild children are taught about the human world. Do you have one of those boxes with wheels? I would so love to see it. Can I go inside it?”

“What-” Colin shook his head, and Rhoswen saw the internal battle sketched all over his handsome face. “You know what? No. I’m sorry. I just don’t believe you. Please, leave. If you don’t have any money I can call you a taxi and send you wherever you need to go.”

“But…” Rhoswen’s heart stuttered. I have crossed worlds to find you. You can’t send me away so quickly. She squared her shoulders. “If you do not want me, just tell me. Tell me why you’re sending me away.”

A parade of expressions marched over his gorgeous face and he closed his eyes for a long moment. “Rhoswen – if that is your name – you clearly need help, and I am not the man to give it to you.”

Her heart dropped, feeling as heavy as a stone. She felt like one of Granny Fflur’s home-made butter patties that had been pushed around on a plate and then discarded. Without even being tasted.

“You don’t want me,” she heard herself say in a small voice.

“Rhoswen.” His tone was gentle, his eyes stayed on hers. “It’s just-”

No. She wasn’t leaving. She hadn’t come all this way to not even try.

Before Colin even had a chance to finish his sentence, she pushed herself out of her chair, strode to him, and pulled him flush against her, planting a passionate kiss on his lips.

He tasted of the human drink he had consumed from the the clear bottle. For what seemed like hours his lips remained still beneath hers, but then he started to kiss her back, his arms winding around her tightly. As his tongue stroked over hers, Rhoswen shivered with desire. She lifted a hand and ran it through his soft dark hair, threading it between her fingers. As they kissed, she felt the tightening of his body against her own and knew he desired her as fervently as she did him.

Gently nipping his bottom lip and stepping back, breaking the kiss, Rhoswen studied him. His blue eyes had gone smoky and dark with passion.

“Still don’t want me?” she asked, softly.

She could sense the frustration rolling off him in thick waves. “Please, try to understand.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of the dark blue trousers he wore, a pained expression twisting his features a little. “I don’t know you.”

“But I know you.” She stepped forward again; he didn’t step back. Yet. “I chose you, out of so many humans. I want to be with you.”

Colin stepped back, shaking his head. “But Rhoswen, how can you? One kiss and you think you know me. I don’t understand that. Please, go.”

Rhoswen dropped back into her chair, wrapping her hands around her mug of tea.

She and Colin looked at each other warily.

“What if,” she said slowly, “I could prove that I am from another realm? From the Faewild? What if I can prove I am who I say I am? Just what would you do then?”

Unexpectedly, Colin offered her a distractingly handsome half-smile. “Have a heart attack?” The smile disappeared. “I very much doubt you can prove that. If you’re willing to try, then please do so-”

No sooner was the last word out of his mouth than Rhoswen shifted.

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