Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
I’ve got the winning results for you from yesterday’s incredible blog hop. Thank you all so much for taking the time to stop by and leave me your wonderful comments. You make these hops a joy to participate in.
The first winner for choice of any title from my current backlist is:
SAVANNAH MILLER
The second winner for a copy of Vampire Awakening as soon as it’s available is:
ElaineSay
The grand prize winners for the entire blog hop were also chosen and posted on our host’s site at http://carrieryan.blogspot.com and are listed below:
For the choice of kindle or nook the winner was:
#136 from Carrie Ann Ryan’s Blog
Melissa L
Winner of the $90 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
#4186 from Wendy Smith’s Blog
Shadow
Congratulations everyone! Winners be sure to check your inboxes.
Welcome to the St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop hosted by the lovely Carrie Ann Ryan.
If you leave a comment here on this post you are not only eligible for the prizes that I am giving away but also you earn additional entries for the grand prizes of:
1) Winner’s Choice of a KINDLE FIRE or NOOK TABLET
2) Winner’s Choice of a $90 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N
Read on to find out more!
I’ve always loved St. Patrick’s Day. Not necessarily because I can very loosely claim some Irish ancestry, but because it’s simply such a fun holiday.
In the past I’ve celebrated by attending parades, drinking green beer, and wearing a bit o green so I don’t get pinched. And sometimes purposely not wearing green so I would get pinched. (naughty me)
But my favorite celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day seemed to occur when I chose to have a little extra fun by convincing my kids that they’d been visited by the always tricky Leprechauns. I once made a magical vanilla pudding that turned green when you stirred it and told my kids that the leprechaun had come in and played magical tricks on our snack. Little did I know one of my daughters would take that to heart and get scared that a real leprechaun had been in the house. lol
After that year, I decided to keep things simple and wear our big green floppy hats and shamrock beads as we visited the local St. Pady’s Day parade. My kids are now teenagers with no real interest in trickster leprechauns or pot of gold treasure hunts so this year, I’ll don my green jacket, play some Irish music and probably make some rainbow cupcakes.
While I don’t have any St. Patrick’s Day stories to boast of, I do have a book with an Irish Dom. I have a thing for an Irish accent and couldn’t resist Daegan in Power Play if I tried. Here’s a bit about Power Play.
She wants the escape. He wants control. They both need love.
Jennifer Croft is at the peak of her career. As a bondage model at Altered Ego she’s become the crème de la crème of the fetish world, ensuring herself a top spot in her profession. The world is her oyster. Her personal life, on the other hand… It’s not pretty. Only her fascination with pain play keeps the ghosts of her past at bay.
After tragedy sends Daegan McKenna to the South for a much needed change of pace, the last thing he expects to find is a closet submissive hiding in plain sight. She’s hot-tempered and in denial — a heady combination that brings out the dominant looking for a challenge. He’s already loved and lost more than one man should, but the haunted look in her eyes prompts him to make her an offer: he’ll indulge her darkest fantasies, if she’ll agree to give up control. Then he’ll let her go.
Unfortunately the past never stays in the past and old insecurities cause complications neither of them wanted. Soon temporary power play is not enough.
Power Play is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance, and Sony
For prizes, I am offering one winner their choice of eBook from my entire backlist. You can see all of them at http://elizagayle/net/books and a second winner will receive a digital download of my upcoming Vampire Awakening as soon as it’s available. Just leave a comment before March 16th at 11:59 EST US time and you’re entered for both my prizes and the grand prizes!
For more great blog hop fun visit the other participating authors as listed on our host’s website HERE.
Well, sass is one way to say it. *g* As far as I’m concerned sass makes the world go round. Maybe it’s a southern thing but I doubt it. Sassy is a universal trait. And oh so much fun.
I’m very often a smart ass in real life and that certainly comes through in many of my heroines. So today there is no shortage of books to choose from, it’s just a matter of which sassy character do I feature.
For today I’ve chosen an excerpt from Malcolm. There is sarcasm, resentment, physical violence and a whole lot of lust. The perfect combination.
Excerpt:
“Looking for me?”
He whirled at the sultry voice behind him in time for her to deliver a kick to his stomach, catching him off balance and sending him flying backward to sprawl on the floor. Air whooshed from his lungs and his head cracked against the hard floors. Pain exploded in his head, little shards of sharp, burning sensations that took hold for several long seconds before clearing.
Stunned that she’d snuck up on him, he groped for his bearings. The little minx took full advantage of his delay and pounced on top of him, straddling his legs with her own. He didn’t even see the knife until she had it pressed to his throat and dangerously close to his jugular.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
Malcolm slowly dragged the air back into his lungs and wondered what kind of crazy bitch she’d turned into. The power emanating from her came soaked in strength without even a whiff of fear. For a second or two, he felt frozen in time. This woman looked nothing like the Chey he remembered. This woman had obviously trained and his instincts screamed she would not be an easy fight. Interesting.
Her white blonde hair was tied up in a braid but a few strands had come loose and curled around her face. His fingers itched to brush them from her cheeks. With the anger in her eyes and the stern shape of her mouth, she reminded him more of the women from his clan than ever. In an act of aggression, she bore resemblance to the cougar more than ever.
“My tongue’s just fine, Chey. Want to find out?”
The look in her blazing eyes flared hot, shining in the moonlight as she speared him with her gaze. Electrifying pools of blue that a man could easily get lost in. All but a few shifters had green eyes and he’d only heard of one kind that had blue. He curled his lip at the memory.
The elusive white cougars.
Half-breeds that no clan wanted except for their dirty work. While he and his brothers carried out death sentences in accordance with the laws and traditions of their councils, her kind had trained for a different kind of mission. They’d become mercenaries available to the highest bidder. They used methods of stealth that he and his brothers rarely bothered with. They didn’t need to.
“In your dreams, Malcolm.”
Over the years he’d allowed his perception of her to soften. Maybe she was different. Obviously not, considering the position he now found himself in. There was nothing soft about the blade cutting into his skin, or the strength in which she pinned him with her free hand. Obviously the only emotion she’d developed outside her family was anger. It probably made her missions easier.
He growled warningly. “Then get the hell off me.”
“Or what?” Her hand tightened its vise tight grip on his arm and pinned him to the ground, a position he wanted her in right now. If he thought her scent had been enticing, that was nothing compared to the body heat infusing him as she sat atop him thinking she had
him under control. From the moment she’d set foot in his house, she’d set their course in motion. It was only a matter of time.
With her hair pinned back, he stared at the pale expanse of her bare skin like a moth to flame. His teeth ached with the need to sink into the sweet curve of her neck and taste.
Goddess, get a grip.
Clearly it had been too long. Mate or not, there was no excuse for the extreme reaction his body had toward her. If she slid back an inch or two she would know too. His raging hard on had not eased in the slightest since he’d first scented her. Not even the subtle smell of the wolf on her deterred him. Oh no, instead he hurt like fucking hell, throbbed actually from wanting her. He needed to get his little half-breed off him and now. Before he did something crazy like start shredding her clothes.
“I don’t want to hurt you… but I will.” Although he imagined his idea of hurting her and her ideas would likely differ drastically. The kind of pain he had in mind could bring the most mind numbing pleasure if given half the chance.
“I wouldn’t lay odds on that if I were you. I’m not the same woman I was all those years ago.”
“So I gather. Doesn’t change the danger. Or the warning.” The last time he’d seen her, he’d been so angry that fate had fucked them hard. He’d had a duty to his family to uphold the laws and traditions of their kind, and mating with a woman who had wolf blood in her veins would have landed them both at the receiving end of a death sentence.
“Yes, Malcolm. I haven’t forgotten a single, disgusting, hate-laden word that came out of your mouth that night. Why do you think I have a knife at your throat?”
His body tightened further at the sound of his name coming from her mouth. And what a mouth it was. Full and pink standing out against the porcelain color of her skin, lush was the word that came to mind. So pale it practically glowed. The anger running underneath meant little to the man or animal anymore.
“So you do know what you’ve started here then?”
She shrugged and scrambled off him. “I’m not here to start anything so don’t go getting crazy ideas in your head. I simply needed to make sure I had your
attention before you did anything stupid. I’m not here because I missed you. There is an actual purpose to this little surprise reunion.”
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Zoë Archer
It’s that time again. Saturday means theme snippets from a great bunch of authors I’m excited to be grouped with. It wasn’t an easy choice on which story to go with so I chose one of my favorites, Whipped.
Whipped is the third book in my Purgatory series and is the only book I’ve written solely from the male point of view. Walker is sexy as hell and he finds more than he expected in Cass.
While you enjoy this snippet, I’ll be running from Zombies today as part of the Runforyourlives.com Zombie infested 5k obstacle course. lol It’s been storming so it’s going to be a good old fashioned muddy, bloody mess. You can check me out on facebook or twitter if you’d like to see pics as the day progresses.
Enjoy this scene from Whipped.
Excerpt:
The club was in full Saturday night swing as he moved slowly through the crowds around each play station. He couldn’t even get close enough to the extreme booth to see what they were currently offering up, so he turned and set off in the direction of the flogging stations.
By now his friend would be looking to take a break, but Walker wasn’t sure he was up to wielding anymore tonight. Already his groin ached enough to give him second thoughts to any offers he might receive. He could use a good dick sucking right about now.
Kat and Cindi were busy marking the hell out of a couple of subbie boys when he walked up. Their arms arched back and sprang forward with as much force as they could find. The whoosh of the air splitting for the dozens of knotted tails caught and held his attention as they connected with bare, red streaked skin.
Dex stood next to him, watching and enjoying the show those ladies loved to put on. Every male subbie in the room ate it up and no doubt wished it was them like it was nobody’s business.
“They’ve got some real pain sluts in the booth tonight,” Dex mumbled.
“That’s for sure. A little different from what you’ve got going on, huh?”
“Wait until you meet my next appointment, Cass. She’s—”
“She’s what?” A sultry sexy voice sounded behind them and both men jerked around to see.
“Why, she’s the most beautiful woman in the room, that’s what.”
“Nice save, Dex,” she murmured.
Walker stood speechless at the sight before him. Long, raven dark hair framed a narrow face, and dark eyes surrounded by thick inky lashes that watched him curiously. Her nose was ordinary but the red lips underneath drew him like a moth to flame. He lingered there watching them part slightly while her tongue darted to the edge. He felt his cock stir in his pants as his own curiosity piqued.
“Cass, here for another session, I see? Do you need to feel my flogger on your skin?” Dex teased her until she broke the look between them to turn to his friend.
“Need is overrated these days, Dex, you know that. But I can’t deny I do enjoy coming to see you on occasion. Even a girl like me enjoys a little fun now and then.”
Dex snorted and shook his head.
Walker closed his eyes and let her smoky voice float over him. There was more to what she said, he could sense it. The slight hitch in between sentences, the nervous way she moved her hands, all combined to make him curious to know who this Cass was and the story behind her.
“Well come on, sugar, you’re in luck. You’re next on my list.” He led her to his station and waited for her to get in place.
A sexy ass swayed in a tight, low-slung denim skirt when she moved. Her outfit was a far cry from the leather and PVC wear of many in the crowd, but
somehow the simplicity of denim riding low on her hips and a crisp, white cotton half-shirt leaving her midriff bare did more for him than all the big tits with their nipples covered by tiny strips of electrical tape. No, he was an ass man through and through, and the more she twitched it the more he thought about fucking it.
She had the art of teasing down to a fine science, and obviously she and Dex played this game regularly. He, however, was not a man to toy with unless you were fully prepared to follow through. He was more worked up than he had a right to be, but that didn’t change the fact his body had come to life the moment he’d heard her voice.
Walker watched her. Slender fingers lifted to the buttons of her blouse and made quick time easing them each free. His heart raced with no other explanation than excitement at something or someone new. With her hands gripping the edges of the shirt, her head tilted up and her gaze connected with his.
He easily recognized the uncertainty in her eyes as well as the caution she directed at him, but underneath those surface reactions he saw the hunger. Gut deep, aching need crying out for relief. That very look would be what he thought of later tonight when he was jacking off again.
“Did you all of a sudden develop a case of shyness, Cass?” Dex winked at her and smiled.
“Don’t be silly, I’m just enjoying the moment.” Her eyes cleared in a split second.
“Uh huh.”
She turned and faced the large St. Andrew’s Cross filling Dex’s space and jerked her shirt from her shoulders. More creamy skin and a flash of a white lace bra cupping high breasts filled his view for a few seconds before she settled her front against the smooth wood of the cross.
Besides the slim straps of her bra and the small skirt, Cass stood naked with her arms stretched above her along the lines of the wood. Walker stared,
This week our focus is on romance and I’ve chosen an excerpt from Burned. I tend to find romance in the smallest gestures. The automatic things that a man or woman does without even thinking about it. My all-time favorite example of that is from the In Death series where Roarke picked up a button from Eve’s jacket early in the series and has carried it in his pocket ever since. I know people probably get tired of me using that example but it’s a powerful gesture for me and has stuck with me since I began reading that series.
Enjoy this snippet from Burned:
Zane opened the door with a scowl on his face. “You’re la—.”
“I’m sorry. I lost track of time in the investigation, and when I noticed that the sun was going down I lost my balance and I fell and now I’m a crazy mess and I wanted to go home and clean up, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging any longer. Really, I’m so sorry. I thought about dinner all day long and have been looking forward to talking to you.” She heaved a sigh.
A wide smile spread across his face. “Are you done?”
Before she could answer, he put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“No. I’m fil—”
“Stop talking, Ruby.”
In an instant, his command caused some of the stress she’d been suffering to drift away. She sagged against him.
“I have the perfect solution. Come with me.”
For once in her life she didn’t argue. She let Zane lead her into his bedroom where her attention was drawn to the bed they’d occupied together less than twelve hours before. She choked back a whimper as they walked past it and into the master bathroom.
“I think you’re going to like this.”
He sat her on the edge of the giant tub dominating the room, turned on the water and then went to a panel in the wall. He pressed a button and fire erupted in the middle of the wall separating the bathroom from the bedroom.
“Whoa. I didn’t even realize that was a fireplace.”
“Uh huh. Somehow I knew you would appreciate that,” Zane said as he quickly removed her disgusting clothes.
“C’mon, climb on in.” Zane stripped and stepped in behind her. He maneuvered her around until her back rested to his front.
“Why are you being so nice to me? I showed up late and probably tracked dirt all through your condo. Is this all part of the submission game you want me to play?”
An arm tightened around her waist. “No, Ruby it’s not a game. Is it so surprising that it pleases me to care for you?” He pressed his lips to her nape. “This is just life.”
“What does that mean? I thought we were just having dinner but this feels like more than that. But how can so much change in just twenty-four hours? That’s crazy, right?”
“I’ve been waiting a while for you so it’s been agonizingly slow for me. You were right when you said I wanted a submissive.”
“I knew this was too good to be true. I’m going to go now.” She tugged, but his embrace didn’t give. Tears sprang to her eyes. Sitting naked in the tub with the man she craved left her too bare—vulnerable.
“You didn’t let me finish. I want a submissive who will submit to me sexually like you did last night.”
Last night had been incredible for her. “Not all the time?”
“I’ll probably be a tad overprotective at times. It’s the nature of the beast.”
Ruby smirked. “In case you haven’t noticed. I can hold my own when I need to.”
“Bring it on, babe. I relish the challenge.”
No I don’t want this. She could see herself falling in love with him and then where would she be? Way too risky.
“You’re incorrigible. And just looking for a reason to do something crazy like spank me.”
For a moment his lips brushed over her ear. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
End of excerpt tease. 
For more snippetty goodness be sure to follow the trail:
Rhian Cahill
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Zoë Archer
Lacey Savage
Leah Braemel
I have a bit of a confession to make. I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. I much prefer to show the ones I love how much they mean to me on any other day than the one I’m told to. Basically Hallmark can bite me.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not hate Valentine’s Day. I love all things love. Just let me show it in my own way…
My DH and I went out on a date last night and it was nice. We had an entire movie theater to ourselves and that was a lot of fun. We talked loud, munched on popcorn, played with our cell phones. It was all quite decadent. LOL Tonight we’ll be at the gym. (working off the chinese food we plan to eat in this evening)
Anyways… Back to Dean Day.
A couple of years ago a few bloggers got together and decided they wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) from Supernatural. As this is one of my all time favorite televesion shows I grasped that idea and clung to it like a freaking life raft and have no intention of letting go. Now I spend Valentine’s Day watching a Supernatural marathon with the family.
Unfortunately my busy schedule this year prohibited me from catching up with the other participants to see if they wanted to do Dean Day again so I think I’m on my own this year.
In years past I’ve detailed all the many things I love about Dean and I don’t know what else to add. You can see last year’s Dean Day here. I never ever tire of his character and it’s always the same things that reel me in. His charm, his humor, his love for family and his unfailing belief in doing the right thing.
So for those of you who are Supernatural fans, I’ll just wish you a Happy Dean Day and leave you with some videos that say it all.
And a silly gag reel. Wouldn’t I love to watch them film the show.
This week’s theme is cold places and it just so happens I had a new release yesterday that takes place in the midst of a winter storm in the mountains of North Carolina.
Frost Bitten is my latest shapeshifter book and features two hot cougar shifter heroes and one spunky jaguar shifter heroine. Here’s a taste:
Excerpt:
Daisy shuddered in front of the roaring fire with her hands held in front of her, desperately trying to get warm. Her idea to escape to the mountains for a little peace and quiet had turned into a case of insanity in the making. Never in her life had she seen this much snow and the radio forecasted for another heavy snowfall overnight thanks to the front moving right over this mountain.
Not that a little cold weather would necessarily kill her but it made her teeth chatter and did nothing to assuage the agony of her sexual cycle. She pressed a hand to her abdomen and willed the cramping to go away.
Why had no one warned her how bad this would get if she refused help? Because you live and work with men, stupid.
There was that. A poacher in the midst of the Everglades had killed her mother when Daisy was still a cub. Fortunately the game warden had discovered her after only a few days and he’d scooped her out of the water and brought her to a new family. People like her. They’d taught her how to live as a shifter and loved her like their own.
The next twenty years had gone by in a blur and she’d taken over a different game warden position about five years ago. Not that it had been an easy transition. She’d literally fought for it—tooth and claw. She loved her brothers, but their ideas about her future were antiquated beyond belief. Overcoming their objections had not been easy. Fortunately, for her, the men of her kind always underestimated her because she was so small. Daisy smiled. They never saw the ambush coming—ever.
Another chill swept over her. She rubbed her hands together frantically to generate friction. No, she was not used to this kind of bone deep cold. The backwoods of coastal South Carolina, where she now resided, were nothing like this.
After several minutes of trying everything save for dousing her head in the flames, her head popped up and her nose flared. The scent outside changed.
Intruders.
She dropped the blanket and ran for her gear. She could certainly smell them now. Whoever they were they were not trying to hide. She shoved her feet in her boots and donned the rest of her newly purchased winter wear. She wasn’t about to sit here and wait to be hunted. She was jaguar for Christ’s sake. If anyone would be hunting around here it would be her.
Fortunately, she’d already scoped out the entire property around the small cabin. She’d been assured by the rental agency that she would be completely isolated with many miles between her and the nearest humans. Exactly how she wanted it.
Daisy’s gaze swept around the room one last time, accounting for any potential outcome. While it had gone dark outside she’d not needed to bother with the lights. The glow from the fireplace provided more than enough illumination for her exceptional eyesight.
Daisy eased the back door open and slipped outside and into the cover of the brush surrounding the back deck and far edge of the property. Now the scents of the intruders hit her full on. Male both of them and if she had her scent right, and she usually did, they were cougar shifters.
She’d been informed of the territorial nature of the shifter clans in the area so she’d made sure to steer clear of what could be considered their land. Now they were at her back door and certain to have scented her by now as well.
Shit. Fuck. Damn.
This was about to get complicated. For a few seconds she considered shifting and going on the attack. They outnumbered her but she had confidence that in a fair fight she could likely take them both. Except…
She pressed her hand to her stomach and prayed for some divine intervention. The minute they scented her heat the frenzy would begin. She hung her head and dug deep for a shred of control. She wasn’t the animal, she could control this. She repeated it over and over. Willing it to be true.
A gust of wind blew snow in her face, freezing on impact with her skin.
Yeah this cold weather snow crap can bite me.
The two men grew close enough for her to hear voices but not yet make out the words. Whatever their plans, they obviously were not trying to sneak up on her. Idiots. If she were the stalker and they the prey, they’d practically rolled out the welcome mat. Their skulls would be crushed in minutes.
She crouched low and leaned against a tree. The sturdy trunk would give her the leverage to jump when and if she needed to. An owl hooted in the distance. She had no idea what time it was, considering the position of the moon was shrouded by the storm. Any minute now, the cougars would emerge from the tree line and she’d have to do something drastic to stop them from getting too close.
Daisy inhaled deeply and counted to five before she slowly exhaled. Being in heat heightened her senses and emotions, especially fear. The last thing she needed to do was overact and land herself in hot water with the locals.
“You coming Seth?”
The deep voice of the first to step into the clearing carried easily to her ears. She tensed, waiting for him to hit her line of sight.
“Don’t be an ass, Trent. I had to stop and examine those claw marks. Did you notice the perimeter is freshly marked?”
Yeah they knew what they were walking into. Who would blame her for protecting herself?
When she spotted the first one her breath caught in her throat. Damn, he’s big…
Easily over six feet, his shoulders reminded her of a linebacker they were so wide. Like her he was covered head to toe in winter gear.
“We were right about the smoke. Plenty of smoke coming out of that chimney.”
The rumble of his voice slid over her like butter on a warm pancake. Mmm. She really loved pancakes. Her stomach rumbled at the thought. She hadn’t eaten much on the trip and since she’d hit the mountain she’d been obsessed with the cold that wouldn’t ease up.
The second man emerged from the trees carrying just as much gear. He matched the first in height although his shoulders were a fraction leaner. She swallowed thickly. Taking them both down would be a hell of a challenge. For a brief second she considered other options but she wasn’t much of a sweet talker and running wasn’t going to happen.
One hundred yards and they’d be on top of where she hid in the brush. Just a few more seconds.
The first man halted and sniffed the air. “Is that what I think it is?”
The second man stopped next to the other and they both sniffed at the air like a couple of fucking bloodhounds.
“Oh man.”
End of Excerpt
Be sure to follow the trail for lots more snippety goodness:
Rhian Cahill
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Shelli Stevens
Zoë Archer
Welcome to my stop on the Vampire For Valentines Day Hop. I’m really excited to be participating in this fun hop and look forward to visiting all the great blogs.
February is the month of love and what do we love more than hot, sexy, dangerous and seductive vampires? Vampires For Valentines Giveaway Hop is all about spreading our love for these supernatural creatures.
Vampires For Valentines Giveaway Hop runs from 12:01am February 10th through to 11:59pm February 16th 2012, and is hosted by Felicity Heaton (Paranormal Romance Author) and Bitten by Paranormal Romance.
The timing of this event is perfect for me as I wrap up the edits on my upcoming release Vampire Awakening coming out later this month.
In fact, I’ve only recently revealed the cover. Isn’t he sexy?
As a reader I have read and enjoyed so many incredible vampire books. Although right now the one vampire that sticks out most is from the series I am reading now. That would be Bones, from the Night Huntress series by Jeanine Frost.
How about you? Do you have a favorite vampire hero or villain for that matter?
CONTEST
I am giving away 3 digital copies of Vampire Awakening. To win all you have to do is leave a comment here on the blog with your email address. The contest is open internationally and ends on February 16th at 11:59 PM EST US. I will email the winner directly on the 17th.
If you’d like to hang out and chat on Facebook, or keep up with new releases and exclusive fan extras, simply like my FB page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizaGayle
Be sure to visit all the other participants in the linky list HERE.
Interesting enough, this week’s theme is a warm place and I’ve just returned home from sunny and warm Florida. Of course when I look at my stories I am shocked to discover that not a single story is set in Florida. I find that unusual because that’s where I was born and raised for almost 22 years. Too funny.
I have a lot of books set in Charlotte, near where I currently live, and it does get pretty darn hot although I don’t focus much on that in my stories. Then there are the shifter stories all set in the North Carolina/Tennessee mountains. While they get their fair share of heat I never really think of them as a warm place because the mountains are where we southerners like to go to escape the heat.
Then there are the magick books and two of those are set in New Orleans. Aha! Very warm place. And even better I have a swamp scene or two. I actually thought of Florida a lot when I wrote those scenes because my tomboy self spent many a summer in the swamps, on a boat, avoiding gators as much as possible and drinking all the sweet tea I could to cool down. So now that I’ve rambled on I give you an excerpt from the final book in the Pentacles of Magick series, Magick Provoked.
Excerpt:
“Where are we?”
“The middle of nowhere. Which is exactly where we need to be.”
Her stomach sank. “We’re staying here?” He must have read the sheer horror of that in her face because he laughed. Not a quick snort or momentary chuckle. He outright started to laugh his ass off as he opened his door and got out. She opened her own door and joined him in front of the truck.
“What’s wrong, Jessie, you aren’t impressed with my place?”
“You live here?”
“Sometimes. Stay here for a second, I’ve got to get the truck stashed.”
As Noah jumped back in his truck and headed around the bend in the road, she stood and took in the rundown fishing shack and the dirty swamp on which it sat. The damn thing was actually on stilts in the water and looked like it would crumble any second. One good wind and the place was toast. Dear Lord, there has to be a better place to hide than here.
Ignoring his request to stay put, Jessie walked toward the small dock that wrapped around the side of the building and set her bag down on the dirt in front of it. No point in getting her things wet if the dock didn’t hold up under her weight. She placed her shoe on the wood and gave it a little shove to see what happened. Nothing did. Maybe it would turn out sturdier than it looked after all.
With a deep breath and a what-the-hell shrug, she walked toward the water. The wood creaked underneath her feet, but held strong and steady with no swaying, always a good sign. A smile curved at the edges of her mouth, releasing some of the tension she’d held. She could do this, she was certain. Hell, whatever it took not to end up back in that dungeon cell or in the sacrificial ceremony she’d been heading to was fine by her.
Halfway down the length of the dock, she could see a boat sitting at the end just behind the miserable outhouse. At least, that’s what she would call it because even shack was too good a name for this crumbling building. She wondered if Noah had a tent she could use, ‘cause right now that sounded more secure than his oddball shack.
She turned her attention away from the building and back to the boat. Not just any boat, though. She was looking at an airboat, the airplane engine on the back side was a dead giveaway. Not that it surprised her to find one here. They were fast and the vehicle of choice for swamplands in the bayous known for their harsh terrain of either shallow water, dry land, or tall reeds. Her daddy had always told her there weren’t too many places an airboat couldn’t go.
Fingers touched lightly on her shoulders, sliding underneath her hair to her neck. Her stomach jolted in surprise, a reaction she barely kept contained. With the initial contact of Noah’s heated skin against her flesh, her body buzzed with the familiar connection. Desire curled in her belly, spreading to her pussy and breasts, readying her body for hot, sweaty sex with the one man she wanted more than anything else. Talk about bad timing.
“Ready to go for a ride?” His breath tickled the shell of her ear and she let her head fall back against the hard wall of his chest. She imagined him lying naked and hard in the hot sunshine as she straddled his body, lowering herself until his entire length was sheathed deep inside her. Liquid trickled between her thighs at the image of their sweat slickened bodies taking what they needed from each other. Sex with Noah always changed everything.
Denying the tension between them was hard enough, but she was already tired of fighting her attraction to him. Her body needed and he had the cure. Unfortunately her tender heart and will to survive always got in the way.
He lifted her hair, baring her neck where he rained kisses and small bites all along the skin. For every sharp bite he followed with a swipe of his tongue until she moaned from the painful pleasure of it. His free hand slid under the hem of her shirt and traveled upwards toward her bare breasts. The magick emanating from his hand permeated through her skin, heating her from the inside out. She sucked in a shocked breath. Too hot. Can’t resist. Her nipples tingled, clit pulsed, and her heart raced. The darkness that was the very essence of Noah turned her on and made her hot. More. More.
The magick flooded her body, filling the emptiness Scott’s damage had left behind. When the scar on her shoulder began to heat and burn, fear rose up thick and dark, forcing her to…
“No!” She pushed away from Noah, afraid of what she’d do to the both of them if her beast still lurked inside. A lot of rage and hatred now lingered there, waiting to be unleashed, and she had no idea what would happen when or if it broke free.
She couldn’t turn and look at him. She was afraid of the recrimination she would see. She gulped in the sticky, humid air, desperate to get her body back under her own control. Giving in to Noah was no longer an option. She started to walk off until he stopped her by grabbing her arm.
“You can’t run from me this time. I’ll give you some more time considering your ordeal, but Jessie…”
She looked into his determined gaze.
“No more running. Now get in the boat.”
“The—the boat?” she stuttered.
“Yeah, you didn’t think we were going to stay here, did you?”
For more great Snippetty goodness be sure to follow the trail:
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TJ Michaels
This week’s theme is Odd or Quirky. Hmmm. I don’t know about quirky but I often think many of my stories fall under the odd category. lol
For this week I chose to focus on Burned because it’s officially re-releasing on Tuesday. Woohoo! (yes, I can hear all of you going “finally”)
Each Purgatory story focuses on a different fetish and Burned is all about Fire Play. I’ve heard many people call that odd. Me not so much but I’m weird like that. I’ve been to a few fire shows and observed some BDSM fire play on more than one occasion and I find it hypnotically fascinating.
I’ll let you be the judge.
Excerpt:
She peered into the crowd amidst the haze of fake smoke and the neon lights coming from the performance stage seeing nothing but a sea of faces she didn’t recognize scattered among some of the regulars. The crowd had surpassed Gabe’s expectations, and she’d been running ragged all night long. Every hour a new group had come on stage and she’d held her breath, hoping not to see Zane.
Now the crowd at the bar had thinned to almost nothing, which meant only one thing. The main act was about to start, and she had an unobstructed view of the stage. Just great.
She busied herself with gathering the empties and either throwing the bottles in the recycling bin or stacking the glasses on the trays she’d arranged in the corner. With any luck she wouldn’t even notice the show. Yet the moment the first streaks of fire lit up the darkened club Ruby turned, unable to stop, and stared. She was doomed.
The girls were first, and she reveled in the familiar glow and imagined the heat streaking across her arms every time one of them stroked her skin with a firestaff. Chills raced up and down Ruby’s spine and her hands shook with rising need.
Who was she kidding? She couldn’t not watch. She made a beeline to the other bartender to tell him she was taking a break.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. You want to watch the show.” He grinned. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand your fascination with fire.”
Ruby shrugged. He wasn’t the first person to say that. “I’ve always loved it. The heat…the beauty. It’s mesmerizing.”
“Uh huh. And painful.”
“Half the time I don’t even feel it that way. I focus on my breathing and the warmth. All it takes is the right person wielding it to make you soar.”
“I think I’ll take your word for it.” He waved her away with his hand and she moved towards the stairs. She didn’t have to worry about the crowd—they’d all moved front and center of the stage as she made her way through the staff area to the side. She’d be able to watch unseen from here and would have plenty of time to get away before anyone spotted her.
Another woman had joined in, this one a spinner using two implements lit on the ends. Neither of the women wore more than pasties over her nipples and the skimpiest of panties that hid very little. Not only did it draw the crowd, but it cut down on accidents happening if your clothes caught fire. Annoyed with herself, Ruby shook the thoughts of fire safety from her head and focused on the actual flames.
The heat only ran along arms and legs for a split second, but she moaned every time. It wasn’t hard to conjure the memory of the delicious warmth on her own skin as the fire caressed her body. How long had it been since she’d last played? Forget Doc, she’d definitely have to look up Gabe tonight and see if he was up to a nice long session after hours. She’d save the payback for setting her up for another night.
Zane walked onto the stage and yanked Ruby from her thoughts. His presence invaded her from head to toe. Her nipples tightened painfully and her sex squeezed sharply. She hadn’t exactly forgotten how breathtaking he was, but time had allowed her some distance. No longer.
Firelight gleamed across his shaven head and lit up the multitude of tattoos that emphasized his bare torso. Muscles bunched and flexed in rhythm with the music so she almost missed the glint across his pecs. Oh, wow, that was new. He’d added nipple rings since the last time she’d seen him. As if he needed anything else to make him hotter. She forcibly closed her gaping mouth. If she wasn’t careful she’d be drooling long before his show ended.
Not that she’d come to see the man.
He carried his personal firestaff and moved closer to the women, maneuvering the flames over and around their writhing bodies in an erotic dance. The fire from all the implements swirled and swayed until they blended and the eye could no longer tell where each one started or where they ended.
Before long her body thrummed and pulsed in sync with their movements, as she stood mesmerized. When the girls switched out their tools for the short fire breathing sticks, Ruby turned her focus to Zane and his performance. His movements seemed effortless, but she knew better. He kept his gaze on the fire at all times so he could study its patterns. He controlled it, dominated it every second.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she’d never seen a fire performer with his natural abilities. He probably understood fire even better than she did. Yet he’d taken the time to learn to wield it as if he’d been born to it. Gabe had a proficiency for fire play like nobody’s business, but his skill paled in comparison to the possessive style Zane exhibited. What would it be like to let him control both the fire and her pleasure? If only he didn’t want to force her submission…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this snippet and will follow the trail below for lots more from some incredible authors.
Megan Hart — Read in bed!
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