Today’s theme is emotion, one of many critical aspects that make up each book. However, finding the right balance is individual to each story. For this snippet I have chosen an excerpt from Power Play which is probably one of the most intensely emotional stories I’ve written. The scene below is right after Jennifer has run from the hero. Intimacy is not her strong suit and she’s really struggling with the torrent of emotions he creates in her.

Power Play has recently hit the Kindle erotica best seller list and I owe a big thanks to the readers for putting it there. Thank you!

Enjoy!

Snippet:

Jennifer stood at her car door, legs trembling and hands shaking. She needed to get in her car and drive far away from here as fast as possible. When Daegan discovered her gone, he was not going to be happy. He’d probably come looking for her, and she couldn’t face him now. Unfortunately, her body was being uncooperative. With her key at the ready, she reached for the lock, and her hand shook harder. Tears streamed down her cheeks and into her mouth and none of it mattered.

She’d run. She’d done exactly what he said she would. Her head buzzed with the words he’d spoken the night before. Disappointment slashed deep.

So what. She didn’t owe him a thing. She’d agreed to his offer in the heat of the moment before she’d had time to think about it. It wasn’t like her to make spur-of-the-moment decisions. Over the years, she’d learned to carefully consider all of her options and not rush into anything with the potential to backfire on her. Jennifer laughed through the tears. What a joke. She was like her mother always said. Fickle.

“One minute you want one thing, and the next it’s something else. Which one is it, Jennifer?”

She heard her mother’s voice in her head as if it’d been yesterday, not a decade ago. How long had it been since she’d talked to her mother? A sob sounded in her throat. She had to get out of there before someone found her like this. She tried again to put the key in the lock, and the keys slipped from her hand.

“Fuck!”

Jennifer slid to the ground and plopped on her butt. She couldn’t drive across town like this. Maybe she could hide in the studio until she got herself under control. Yeah right. The minute Daegan found her car in the parking lot, the first place he’d look was the stupid studio. Thanks to his role as contractor, he had access to the entire building. There was nowhere for her to go. With trembling hands she fished her cell phone out of her purse and turned it on.

Who are you going to call?

She had no one. Story of her fucked-up life. For now her life consisted of her career. Friends were hard to come by, but she kind of had a few. She considered Chase and Murphy her friends, even if they’d betrayed her with that asshole and allowed him to say she couldn’t work. Jennifer swiped at the tears that continued to flow. There’d be no talking to them. She’d watched them interact with Eve when they didn’t realize she was looking. Her friend submitted to them on a level she couldn’t comprehend. No matter what they asked for, she gave willingly. And with a smile on her face. Hell, the woman practically glowed.

Eve. That’s it. She jerked open the cell phone and dialed the number she knew by heart before she had a chance to change her mind.

On the fourth ring, Jennifer’s hope wilted. Not available. Then Eve answered.

“It’s-a-Jennifer,” she spat, knowing there was no way to hide her distress.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right? You sound like you’re crying.”

Regret lanced through Jennifer. This was a dumb idea. She began to pull the phone away from her ear and disconnect.

“Don’t you dare hang up on me, young lady. Where are you?” The demand in Eve’s voice startled her. She’d never heard the other woman talk like that before.

“Downstairs,” she whispered.

“Good, don’t move. Seriously, if you don’t wait for me, I’ll have Murphy track you down and whip your hide. You know he’ll do it.”

Jennifer nodded her head and felt a ghost of a smile cross her face. “Okay,” she mumbled. “I’m in the parking lot.” She folded the phone and pushed it into her pocket. She had about two minutes before Eve found her, and she didn’t know what to do. There’d be no hiding the tears or getting cleaned up. With one last glance at her car and her only chance for escape, she turned and shuffled back toward the building.

Eve burst through the door, and all the emotion inside Jennifer boiled over. “I tried to run,” she blurted.

Her friend wrapped her arms around her. “Of course you did, sweetie.”

She held up her shaking hands. “Fingers wouldn’t work. Can barely hold the keys.” She knew the words tumbling from her mouth made little sense, but they were the best she could do at the moment.

“Come back inside, and you can tell me what happened.” Eve ushered her through the front door and steered her in the direction of the studio. “In here.” She pointed to Chase’s private office, and Jennifer hesitated.

“Don’t worry. Chase and Murphy aren’t here.”

“But Daegan—”

“Won’t dare come in here without an invitation. Trust me.”

Trust her. Eve had no idea how foreign those words were to her. And what the hell was up with everyone today pushing her to trust them?

Be sure to follow the trail for more snippetty goodness!

Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane

From Vampire Awakening:

For more snippetty goodness be sure to follow the trail:

Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
Shelli Stevens

This scene comes later in the book. Jennifer’s gone missing and Daegan is anxiously searching for her. It’s a really long scene so this will be just a tease. Thought I’d warn you this time.

Excerpt:

Ten minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of Purgatory and killed the engine of his car. He didn’t have to search for her car; it stood out like a fucking beacon in a sea of dark SUVs. He was going to kill her.

Inside the club, he stood to the side of the entrance and allowed his eyes to adjust to the dark interior. Music thumped from speakers surrounding the main floor of the big room. He didn’t even bother checking the dance floor. His wayward sub would be on the second floor where the play stations were located. When he reached the stairs, the club manager, Gabe, blocked his path.

“You’re looking a little pissed tonight, Daegan. What’s going on?”

“Let me pass. I’m looking for someone.”

Gabe shook his head. “Now that definitely doesn’t sound like a good idea until you calm down, my friend.”

“I’ll be perfectly fine just as soon as I find my sub.” He started to push his way up the stairs.

“Ahh. I’d heard you and Jennifer had come to an agreement. Although I have to admit it came as a total surprise. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more reluctant sub in my life.”

Daegan stopped and eyed Gabe warily. In the short time he’d known the man, he’d learned he had an uncanny ability to read people. “I don’t think you understand her. Sure she’s complicated, but underneath all her bluster she’s soft and far more fragile than anyone realizes.”

Gabe snorted. “I can’t say fragile is a word anyone’s used to describe her before.”

The implication that he’d discussed his sub with other Doms annoyed the hell out of him. Despite the anger, all of his protective instincts rode close to the surface, and it wouldn’t take much to provoke him. “Trust me, I know.”

The other man narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure about that? You seem like a good guy, but Jennifer has been a member here a lot longer than you have. If you aren’t willing to finish what you’ve started, then I think you should walk away now before it’s too late.”

The warning burned in Daegan’s mind. “I appreciate that your job is to protect the members here, but this time you’re wrong. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Gabe studied him for a minute more before letting his guard down. He stepped to the side and swept his arm in the direction of the play area. “Then I suggest you check out the flogging station first.” With that, Gabe disappeared into the crowd and left him to stand and gape. With a last glance into the sea of people, Daegan pushed his way upstairs and into the overflowing play area. People were crammed into every available inch, making it difficult to see the flogging station. The sound of a whip cracking screamed through the air, accompanied by a few gasps and a delicious cry of agony when the leather tip hit flesh.

A few people glanced his way and immediately moved out of his path. When he got through enough of the crowd, what he found boiled his blood. Jennifer was being strapped to the St. Andrew’s cross by a dark-haired sub. The attendant at the station plucked a flogger from the wall and made his way toward his sub.

Mine.

“Touch that flogger to my sub’s skin and you’ll not be able to wield it again for a week,” Daegan growled in a low voice.

Several people behind him sucked in sharp breaths, and the area around him turned quiet and still except for the music coming from downstairs. Even with clothes covering her body, Daegan saw Jennifer’s back go ramrod stiff when she heard his voice. ‘That’s right, love. Busted.”

The man glared at him for a few seconds before he took a step back. He twisted the implement in his hand and offered Daegan the flogger. A dungeon master pushed through the crowd. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“I need some scissors,” Daegan said.

The DM ignored him and repeated his question to the attendant.

“He claims this is his sub, and I’m guessing by the look on his face she didn’t get his permission to do this.”

The man walked to Jennifer’s side “Is this true?”

A few seconds ticked by before she nodded her head. The tension among the crowd grew palpable. She’d just damned herself to a very painful or public punishment.

The DM approached him. “Do you want me to bring the punishment box?”

“Not yet. I need a pair of scissors or a knife,” he repeated. “After, you can bring the box.”

The DM’s eyes grew wide. “As you wish, Sir.”

Everyone stayed rooted in place until one of the young women from up front arrived with a pair of scissors. The DM placed them in his hand. “You do remember the rules of the club, right? No blood.”

Daegan nodded and took the offering. He stalked toward Jennifer until he was close enough to touch. He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and bent toward her ear. “Have you ever heard the saying be careful what you wish for?”

She nodded.

He opened the scissors and sliced one side of her top open. The crowd behind him gasped. Oh they had no idea. She’d triggered the sadist inside, and he had every intention of making her beg for everything tonight. He continued to cut away her clothes until she lay against the cross—naked and exposed. She’d uttered not a single word of protest, and he’d lay money on how aroused she’d become.

“Do you remember your safe word, Jennifer?”

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered on a shaky breath.

“Good. You might need it.”

For more snippetty goodness be sure to follow the trail:

Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels

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:

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

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

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

Excerpt:

“Have a seat here while we talk to our commander. I don’t need you stumbling around anymore and getting hurt before we can get you home.”

Grateful for the rest, Nissa slumped onto the wooden stool Erik had pointed out while he and Roane walked over to the group of soldiers thirty feet away.

Erik stopped and turned back. “Oh, and Nissa? Don’t even think about running. Trust me when I say there’s nowhere you can hide from us.”

She dipped her head and leaned heavily against the stone wall behind her.

Wanna make a bet?

They had her trapped, but there was still one place to go where they couldn’t follow. She glanced to the tree line and judged the distance. She’d probably make it in under thirty seconds. She wouldn’t get far before they caught her, but she only needed a few minutes to give it one last try.

A check in the other direction showed Roane and Erik deep in conversation. If she was lucky, she might get twenty seconds on them before they noticed she’d run. She had to try. Magic stirred inside her and she frantically tried to hold it in. If they were paying attention, and she’d bet they were, they’d sense the magic and be on her before she could get her butt off the stool.

Her feet bounced as she contemplated her choices. Go for it and possibly leave here forever, or stay and take her chances with becoming a sex slave. Nissa focused on the group of men once more. Decision made, she dug in her heels and ran. Her bound hands slowed her speed, but she reached the edge of the forest before anyone noticed.

“Nissa!” Someone yelling her name was the last thing she heard before she disappeared into the trees.

Blood roared in her ears as the magic she’d been suppressing uncoiled and broke free. With the loud noises behind her gaining ground, she’d never make it far enough to have even a minute to create a portal.

“She’s pulling magic. You’d better grab her quick!”

Nissa dove into the heavy brush several feet from the path, hoping beyond hope they would pass by her. Heavy footsteps pounded into the dirt as half a dozen men ran past her hiding spot without slowing down. On a heavy sigh she let out the breath she’d been holding and started the magical pattern her mother had taught her. Over and over she gathered and pulled and nothing happened. Tears threatened to fall and a cry of anguish tore from her throat. This had to work, damn it. She jerked hard on her power, ripping magic from every cell and fiber she found, desperate for something to happen.

She gasped and stumbled backward when the air around her shimmered and a pathway opened in front of her. Tears streamed down her cheeks at what she’d created. Her mother had been right. All she’d needed was to have a little faith in herself.

Her breath hitched. Her mother. She’d likely never see her again if she went through with taking the path to the other side. But if she stayed, she’d be watched every minute by the ruthless hunters. Not to mention the problem of Cirdan, who would eventually find out about her magic and would do everything in his power to get his hands on her—torture being his favored choice for getting what he wanted.

Nissa’s back stiffened and her resolve grew as she pushed herself from the ground and into the portal. Her mother would never forgive her if she didn’t fight for her freedom no matter what.

She entered the forest on the other side where a soft rain pelted against her hair and skin, soaking her to the bone. She turned back and withdrew her power, watching everything she’d ever known close behind her.

She would not give in or be weak ever again.

For more snippetty goodness be sure to follow the trail:

Lauren Dane
Rhian Cahill
Selena Blake
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
Leah Braemel
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels

Since it’s the holiday weekend I can’t resist giving you an excerpt of my new Christmas erotica short. To set up this excerpt, Megan has wandered into her past and gone to what was her favorite bar without realizing it has undergone a bit of a change.

Have yourself a wicked christmas eve.

Excerpt:

“Can I get a tequila shot straight up?” she asked the bartender.

His eyebrows raised, which she promptly ignored. It was her Christmas Eve, and she’d damn well do as she pleased, even if that meant getting sloshed alone in a bar.

“On second thought, make that two.”

The man behind the bar grabbed two small glasses and filled them.

“We have a two drink maximum if you’re planning to play tonight.”

Her head shot up, and she met his gaze. “Play?” He picked up her glasses from the bar and used them to indicate behind her before he sat them in front of her. Megan scooped up one of her drinks and slowly turned the stool to investigate.

Megan’s eyes widened.

Just beyond the back room opening she spied a naked woman standing against a tall post with her arms tied over her head. Megan’s booted foot slipped from the ledge of the stool and landed on the floor with a thud. The tall blonde woman had a strikingly thin figure, willowy like a model with porcelain perfect skin except for the red streaks covering her ass.

While Megan struggled for a consistent thought on what she was witnessing, an imposing male figure blocked her view of the mystery woman with the lovely backside. Broad shoulders, a lean torso, and an awesomely tight ass encased in black pants filled the doorway. Curious to see more, Megan shifted on the seat to angle her body for the best view. The rear view alone caused a slight tingle in all her girly parts. Now she wanted him to turn around so she could see the face of her newly imagined sex god.

Instead her gaze was drawn to his hips where his hand held a flogger in a tight grip. A flash of heat tore through her. Her sex moistened, and her nipples puckered at the thought of him raising his arm and using the flogger on the woman helpless in front of him.

Holy fuck.

Suddenly she felt like Alice in the rabbit hole. The bartender behind her cleared his throat, pulling her attention to the fact she was staring at something obviously not her business. She swiveled in her seat and brought the shot of alcohol to her lips. In one gulp, she downed the fiery liquid. She welcomed the burn in the hopes it would distract her from the wild thoughts now racing through her mind.

A sex club.

She’d never planned for a night like this but now… Well, her body grew hotter the more she thought about what might be going on in that room. What would it be like to let go of her inhibitions and spend a few hours just savoring the pleasures of sex with no strings attached?

Between her legs, her sex swelled, and moisture trickled to the tops of her thighs. Maybe removing her thong hadn’t been a great idea after all. A faint cracking sound interrupted her train of thought. Was that a whip? Her hands closed into fists. Her clothes grew too tight. Megan reached for her second glass of tequila and dragged it closer.

“Hey, Brian. Can I get a bottle of water?”

The dark, rough voice filtered through her head. Megan’s gaze followed the sound and looked up into the tanned strong face—

“Cyrus Jackson?” She blurted the name from her lips before she could stop them. Oh God.

His gaze jerked to hers, giving her a hard, assessing look before he scanned her from head to toe. Heat crawled up her skin the longer he stared. Embarrassed at her outburst, she broke eye contact and stared down at her glass.

“Do I know you?”

He didn’t recognize her.

Just like old times. Back in high school it had seemed most days he didn’t have a clue who she was. The fact she’d fallen madly in crush the first day she’d laid eyes on him hadn’t helped. It had taken an enormous amount of willpower not to follow him around like a lovesick puppy.

Not that time and difference seemed to change things much. He looked as delicious as ever, and thoughts of spending a wild night with him ran rampant through her mind.

“Sort of. I mean, not really,” she answered, despite the knot forming in her throat.

He pushed the chair out next to her and took a seat. “Well, now I’m intrigued. How do I sort of not really know you? You don’t look like someone I would have forgotten.”

Megan shifted her weight uncomfortably. Dark pants and a dark shirt clung to him like a second skin, emphasizing the muscles of his arms. Other than the sign of faint laugh lines around his gorgeous green eyes, he looked exactly as she remembered.

Except now his presence unnerved her in a brand-new way. She’d never once imagined him into the BDSM scene. Talk about surreal.

“We went to high school together,” she mumbled.

“Hmm…” His eyes narrowed, and she fought not to squirm while he searched for something to remember her by. If her ego hadn’t already taken a beating, she might have been offended. As it was, she didn’t care. A night of anonymity sounded like the perfect escape.

Cyrus leaned forward and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. Megan held her breath. The electric shock of his touch zinged straight to her core. He didn’t stop there. His finger traced a path from her ear to her lips, leaving her quaking on the insides.

“We couldn’t have known each other that well, beautiful. You don’t strike me as the easy-to-forget kind.” His voice lowered to a husky whisper, sending a whisper of heat straight to her bare sex.

Had it been so long since she’d been laid that something so simple turned her on? Obviously so. Fuck it. What did it matter? She’d had a crush on him in high school, so he wasn’t exactly a stranger. One night of something good sounded like a damn fine idea.

It wasn’t just the man that pulled at her, though. The faint report of the whip cracking in the background continued to beat at her senses. The sound drove her with a need to squirm and press her thighs together. Instead of responding to his comment, she dipped her head. Whatever kinky sex games they played, she wanted in.

He tucked his fingers under her chin and lifted her head. “Look at me,” he demanded.

Megan shivered. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to his and held her breath. She wanted him to see what she didn’t quite have the courage to voice.

An easy smile spread across his face. “You want to play, don’t you?”

For more snippety goodness be sure to follow the trail:

Lauren Dane
Rhian Cahill
Selena Blake
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
Leah Braemel
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels

Excerpt:

“Can I offer you a drink, Niki?”

Her breath caught in her throat as he continued to kiss and lick his way up her arm. Something about the way he spoke her name implied much more than a drink. An overwhelming sense of desire flowed through her veins, peaking in her nipples. When he reached the inside of her elbow she nearly shot to the ceiling. He’d discovered one of her special spots, the place that always made her hot and wet in an instant. And when his nostrils flared at her sudden rush of arousal she knew he’d caught the scent.

“Whiskey,” she answered a bit to breathlessly for comfort. Another woman might have blushed under the circumstances, but not her. Sex was as natural to her as bathing or hunting. In fact, her feline sisters and she had abnormally high sex drives and regular releases kept them on an even keel, or as their mother reminded them all the time, kept their aggressive tendencies at bay. Unfortunately for Niki, her releases lately had been strictly solo and she’d grown tired of it. She’d run the woods as the snow fell in big, wet flakes all afternoon, never reaching the level of satisfaction her body craved. Nature had forced her to accept that without the adrenalin rush of fear or sex, she’d never settle back down.

Things were looking up for her now though.

Dean lifted his head to the man behind the bar.

“You got it, boss,” he nodded.

“It’s nice to meet you, Niki.” Dean stepped closer. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in my bar before. I’m sure I would’ve remembered someone like you.  You stand out in a crowd.”

Niki barely heard his words, with his movement her senses were suddenly overflowing with the scent of musk and pine after a violent storm in the mountains. His scent. Male. Strong. Dominant. Images of him nudging her thighs apart so she could straddle his leg made her weak in the knees.

“You have no idea,” she answered without thought. “At least this time of year I can get away with a lot more camouflage than normal.”

His sudden look of puzzlement finally broke through her lust-addled brain. She’d come dangerously close to revealing her status as a rare white cougar warrior to a perfect stranger. What the hell was happening to her? Her body had gone molten hot for the man standing in front of her, but that didn’t usually make her stupid. She knew next to nothing about the man or his establishment. In fact, how had she not heard of a cougar friendly business this close to home?

Niki accepted the glass of whiskey from the bartender and took a quick sip, hoping to gather her wits before she made any more mistakes. “Thanks for taking care of your overly friendly customer for me. As much as I might have liked to break a few bones it probably wouldn’t be a great idea.”

“Maybe we could find something else for you to do with all that pent up energy.”

Her ears perked up. Now he was talking. She stepped closer to him, soaking in the heat radiating off his body and another noseful of his delicious scent. Much more of this and she might find herself addicted. “What did you have in mind?” she whispered.

He smiled. “Eager aren’t you?”

She pulled back at his mocking tone, withdrawing from his touch.  Despite the immediate feeling of loss she didn’t have to stay where she would be taunted. Besides it wasn’t as if she couldn’t find a willing partner without the sarcasm. She turned away from him, hell bent on getting out the door without causing anymore of a scene or looking back at the luscious man who’d turned her on more in a few seconds than any other man had for as long as she could remember.

“Don’t.” His voice sounded loud and clear and she could have sworn the entire bar came to a standstill including her.

It hadn’t been a plea or a request. No the tone of that command sizzled from her head to her toes and everywhere in between.  But she was a woman full of pride who refused to turn and go back. He would have to meet her halfway. So she waited.

When he placed his hands on her waist she shuddered in pleasure. In that moment the deal was set.  For tonight she would be his and he would be hers, no questions asked.

“This could get dangerous,” he warned, his voice lowered to barely a whisper only she heard.

She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder. “Danger is my middle name.”

He wrapped her jacket around her shoulders and steered her toward the back of the bar. When he reached for the door he paused. “Last chance. Any second thoughts?”

“None,” she assured him.

With that first step outside she inhaled deeply, taking in the clean scent of fresh snow and wild earth. This time of year was her favorite from the cold nights to the long hours of darkness giving her the cover she sought to run free and wild every chance she got. The bar was surrounded by the forest with only a small dirt road that led visitors to and from the parkway. The seclusion didn’t bother her at all. She valued her privacy more than the average shifter. Although they were all pretty private when it came to public places.

“It’s a nice night for a run.”

“Is that where we are going?”

For a free copy of the entire short story you can download a PDF from my site here or you can get it in any format your heart desires at Smashwords or All Romance eBooks.

For more snippetty goodness, be sure to follow the trail.

Lauren Dane
Rhian Cahill
Selena Blake
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels

If you follow my series you know I love to write about brothers and the Scott brothers were my first. However, these witches have a prophecy hanging over their head that forces them to live apart. Now I don’t have a twin, but I know enough of them to know that sometimes living away from your other half isn’t easy. It can make for grumpy men as you’ll see here:

Excerpt:

“I’m sorry, Rena, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I hadn’t intended to be so rough.”

“You didn’t hurt me like that, Graelen.” She twisted her body so she faced him. Her eyes were soft and full of concern. “You got upset and angry at the end. It came on suddenly and it scared me. What happened?”

Of course, how could he have forgotten that she felt his emotions. His little vixen empath knew too much.

“It was my brother, baby. Didn’t you hear him come in?” Her body stiffened in his arms as she frantically glanced around the room. “Don’t worry, Rena, he left. But he didn’t go far. I sense him very close by.”

“You don’t like him being here, do you?”

“His coming here was a mistake. One he knows better than to make. It’s too dangerous.”

She snuggled back into his body, letting their energy meld together, leaving behind only traces of the lighter magic he felt when he was with her.

“Why is he here? Has something happened?” Her astute perception of the situation astounded him. Or maybe she knew all about him and his brothers and had expected this would happen. Was there a plot beyond his own peril? Damn, what the hell had he been thinking, taking her to bed not once but twice? No wonder his twin was so pissed at him.

He eased himself from the entanglement of her silken limbs. It was time to have a heart to heart with his twin.

“Last night when I used magick to free myself, I had to borrow from Cash to get enough power to break the spell. It’s likely that danger is what made my reckless brother come here.” There was a critical tone to his voice he couldn’t mask.

Her brow furrowed as she contemplated what he’d just said and why. “The cards. They foretold a story of the witches with the dark power. When used together can destroy themselves as well as those around them.” She hastily donned her clothing that Graelen had left atop the bureau. “Unless…”

“No Rena, there is no unless. The only way to break the prophecy is to not use the magick. Particularly together. It’s why we all live so far apart.” He stepped into his slacks, casually dressing as he watched her fumble with the buttons of her blouse. “Every generation of twins has tried to find a solution and failed.”

“But, Graelen, I think there’s another way—”

“No.” He raised his hand to still her words. “I don’t think you appreciate the danger we pose. The four of us have had to live with this legacy all our lives, nobody understands the risks involved like we do.” Her spine stiffened at his words as she finished dressing.

“Maybe what you’ve needed are fresh eyes to look at the problem.”

“No. It is what it is.”

She sighed. “You know, Graelen, your ego is amazing. How do you live with yourself everyday? What an ass.” At that she stomped into the bathroom.

Graelen shook his head in exasperation. She was going to drive him crazy. He couldn’t figure out her game. What was the point of approaching them at this angle? What purpose did she strive for? Well, he wasn’t going to figure it out right this second because right now he had to go kick some brotherly ass.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tiny taste of magick and will now visit the others for lots more snippety goodness.

Lauren Dane
Rhian Cahill
Selena Blake
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
Leah Braemel
Louisa Edwards
TJ Michaels