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

And speaking of hot… I’m embarking on some new material. Now that the edits have been wrapped on my next contemporary release, Power Play, on Monday I’ll be starting work on two new projects. A menage novella and a new shapeshifter story. Stay tuned.

A little setup: Jenn has been caught snooping through Riley’s house where she came across an indepth book about BDSM.

Excerpt: (It’s a good thing it’s Saturday because this excerpt is NSFW)

“I’ve read some of that book before,” she admitted.

Riley smiled wide. “Have you now?” He stared at her questioningly. “Well, considering you haven’t run from me screaming, I’d say you’re more than interested. So…you’re here and I’m here and we have two days before you have to leave, so let’s have some fun and see where it goes. But before you agree, understand that I will command you, I will ask you to do things that are outside of your comfort zone and I will give you more pleasure than you can imagine. If you say yes, then you agree to trust that, no matter what I ask, I will keep you safe.”

“The only thing I’m scared of is walking away without taking a chance,” she whispered.

Riley’s hand scorched through her blouse as he trailed his fingers up and down her spine with one hand and along the inside of her thigh with the other. Her pulse pounded harder with every passing second until she wanted—no needed—him to kiss her.

“I have missed you, baby girl.”

Oh hell, she’d almost forgotten about his favorite nickname for her. This time instead of annoying her, the sentiment melted something inside her.

“Please, Riley, teach me what you like. Show me what pleases you.”

He pulled back and gazed into her eyes. Lust and determination swirled through his as she waited for what would come next.

“Two days then. I’ve dreamt for years of what your pussy will taste like or how hot and snug you’d fit around me as I buried myself inside you. Now, the image of you on your knees, skin flushed with desire, begging for more is going to kill me.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and breathed deeply. “I’m going to the other room to get something. Take this time to be certain this is what you want, because when I return, I’ll expect you in nothing but your bra and panties. You’ll stand in the middle of the room with your legs shoulder-width apart and your head bowed with your hands clasped behind your back. Is that understood?”

“Yes.” Her pussy creamed more.

“There is no wrong answer here, Jenn. I’ll respect your decision either way.”

His head lowered and soft lips slid across hers, lightly at first, until a hot tongue
licked at her and coaxed her mouth open. For a second, she thought the floor had fallen away and the earth had tilted on its axis. Her head spun. The kiss stole her breath and wiped away all the fears she might have harbored, leaving her with nothing but hot, pure pleasure.

More. The single word repeated itself in her head over and over. She’d waited for him for so long she could hardly believe he wanted her too. Tongues tangling, her nails digging into his shoulders, she wished they were already naked. Her breasts grew heavy with her spiked lust, and the pulsing in her clit turned to an aching throb.

She soaked up the strength of being in his arms until he pulled away from the kiss.

“Remember your instructions. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

For more snippety goodness be sure to follow the trail

Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Selena Robins
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Mandy M Roth
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Selena Blake
Vivian Arend
Alison Kent
Beth-Ann Mason
HelenKay Dimon
Shelli Stevens
Lauren Dane
Lacey Savage
TJ Michaels
Shiloh Walker

Since the 3rd book in my Pentacles of Magick series, Force of Magick was recently re-released, I am going to take this week’s theme literally and post a snippet that showcases the a little of the magick used in this series.

Force of Magick excerpt:

“I need to get out of here.” She rubbed her arms and crouched by the door, anxious.

“What’s wrong, Raven?” Denn asked.

“This isn’t right. Holding me here like this. I need to get away before something happens.”

“Like what?”

She didn’t answer right away. What could she say? An energy buzzed under her skin and she didn’t know how to explain it, nor did she know what to do with it. With her magick bound some of her normal coping mechanisms were missing.

“Does this have to do with being held against your will or with what happened between the three of us?”

She just stared at him. Unseeing. She stayed back by the door, afraid to get to close. Something about being in his proximity made her crazy.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” He came around the desk, headed in her general direction.

“No, stay back. Don’t come any closer.” Panic rose within her, her heart raced, and her skin crawled.

“Raven, baby, what is it?”

“I don’t know, something is happening.” She couldn’t breathe. She held up her hands and focused on the energy in the room. She imagined the moisture in the air and mist rained down on them.

“What the hell? How are you doing that? Your magick is bound. I did it myself.”

She concentrated harder past the pain of pushing at the barrier. Deep breaths in and out and it burst. Pain shot through her body as magick filled the room. She briefly looked at the shock on Denn’s face as the flood of power swamped her. She ran past Denn and out the French doors into the courtyard. The mist changed to a soft rain that her skin soaked up greedily. She tilted her face skyward, using her freed power to call more water until the rain turned into a torrential downpour, flooding the courtyard and boosting her beyond measure.

Now this is more like it.

After weeks of being trapped in a powerless body her energy and magick were back and she was free.

As the rain soaked her hair and clothes it dawned on her that whatever magick had been not only binding her magick, but also holding her in Denn’s home, had been broken. She could finally leave.

Her breath halted. I can leave.

Don’t forget to follow the trail for more snippetty goodness.

McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Lacey Savage
Sasha White
Jody Wallace
Lauren Dane
Beth-Ann Mason
Shiloh Walker
Myla Jackson
Alison Kent

This is Kane’s trading card that I will be handing out at conferences this year as well as making available by mail to anyone who wants one.

Snippet:

It would be a cold day in hell before she begged for anything from him, but she thought about his other question. What did she want? Just him dead, right? She looked at him, really looked at him. It had been weeks since she’d seen him last, and unfortunately he looked even better than she remembered. His spiked, short hair had grown out since then and it was messier and in desperate need of a comb, or maybe her fingers running through it.

His eyes, glaring at her, were dark, like coal in anger. She stood too far away to make out the flecks of gold she’d seen before. The grim line of his lips against the square, firm jaw made her want to laugh out loud. He was damned irresistible right now. It wasn’t right for him to look so—so sinful. He made her think of sex. Sex on the floor, sex on the wall, sex damn near any which way she could get it.

She let out a slow, unsteady breath. She had to stop thinking about him like that; the time for fun was long gone.

“I’m tired of playing with you, cat. It’s time to end this.”

“What exactly is this?” His hands gestured around them. “You’re a criminal, Lara. One who now has a death sentence against her.”

“I’m not the one who deserves to die.” Her anger fired hot and she practically spat at him. “You and yours are the only criminals as far as I’m concerned. You’re just afraid for someone to finally expose you for what you really are.” She turned away from him. What she felt when she looked at him and what she knew were at odds, and it drove her crazy. Nerve endings sizzled as desire warred with the facts her brain wouldn’t let her forget.

“You aren’t making any sense. Make me understand what this is all about.”

She whirled back around and stalked across the room, careful not to get too close to the circle, which could weaken.

“Tell me something, Kane. Before you kill, do you even take the time to learn something about your victim?”

“What the hell kind of question is that? I don’t take lives because I enjoy it. I do it because it has to be done, it’s a duty—a job. Without order and rules our secrets can’t be maintained. And then people like you start hunting us, wanting to kill all of us because of fear of the unknown. We aren’t evil, you know. Hell, I’m standing in a spell you created with black magic, talk about evil. You of all people should understand different. So what exactly is your damage?”

“My damage?” She wanted to reach through the barrier holding him and slap the crap out of him, maybe knock some sense into that pretty boy head of his. What had she been thinking? “How can you be sure you aren’t killing the innocent? Do you ever question the validity and integrity of your precious council?”

“Why should I? Every case is presented and voted on by unbiased members of our clan. It’s their duty to ensure everyone a fair trial and our system has worked well for a very long time.”

“Like with me?” His blind faith burned in her gut worse than a wicked case of indigestion that wouldn’t go away no matter how many antacids you popped.

“I witnessed your treachery with my own eyes. The evidence is pretty cut and dry.” His voice had lowered, and if she didn’t know better she could have sworn she detected a thread of sadness. In fact, now that she thought about it, he didn’t seem all that angry about being trapped. Did he not believe she would really kill him? Would she?

“You’re nothing but a liar. An animal that wouldn’t see the truth if it bit him on the ass.” Power flared through her as the edge of her control frayed.

“That’s right, honey. I’m an animal and right now I can smell just how full of shit you are. You think you can hide your wet little pussy from me? That I can’t sense arousal?”

Don’t forget to follow the trail for more snippety goodness.

Emma Petersen
Jody Wallace
Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Selena Blake
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Lauren Dane
T.J. Michaels

Snippet:

“Where the hell have you two been and why haven’t you answered my calls?” An angry female voice sounded from their living room as they both hurried to find out why Nissa’s mother was here and pissed at them.

“What did we do? I think you should be directing some of your anger at your own kin.” Roane wanted to keep his cool but a woman in hysterics wasn’t helping much.

Her nostrils flared and she planted her hands on her hips. “You son of a bitch. I’ve been calling you for three days and you’ve refused to answer. For three days you’ve allowed a cold-hearted bastard to do who knows what to my daughter. Do you care so little for her?”

“What?” they yelled in unison at her.

“Woman, are you mad? Nissa’s been with us for the past five days and she left us only hours ago. Left us high and dry without living up to her end of a bargain I might add.”

“Oh good Goddess, this is worse than I thought.” She turned and paced, back and forth as they stood waiting for her to explain herself.

“Why don’t you sit down and tell us what’s happened to you.” Erik motioned to a leather chair.

“Do not patronize me for even a second. Nothing has happened to me. It’s Nissa who is being held prisoner.”

Roane tried to make sense of her words, but how could Nissa have gotten herself into that much trouble in so short a time. “Did she come to see you today?”

“No! You aren’t listening. Since the moment Cirdan brought her back from the other side she’s been held prisoner with no contact as far as I can tell.” Erik opened his mouth to speak and she shushed him.

“Obviously the rumors of an alliance with the dark fae are true. Who else could weave a spell around you strong enough to alter time?”

Roane’s blood ran cold. “Whoa. Wait a damn minute. Cirdan has forged an alliance with the dark fae?” This did not bode well.

“Yes, and it has to do with Nissa’s magic. As in she has it and he wants it. Shortly after you left a seed demon returned, spreading rumors of the half-blood princess with amazing powers. I tried to stop the gossip but my spells aren’t strong enough to ward against most demons so it didn’t take Cirdan long to learn the truth. As soon as he went after her I tried contacting you and have been waiting and calling for three days.”

“Where is she now?” Both he and Erik began picking out weapons and strapping them to their bodies. From short swords and knives to the full sized swords, they were ready for battle in a matter of minutes.

She grabbed at Roane’s arm and forced his attention to her. “Do you have any idea what’s involved in taking a female witch’s magic?”

He shook his head and the heavy pit growing in his stomach told him he didn’t want to know.

“Magical rape is a vicious and vile thing to do to a woman. Far more than anything you can imagine.” She brushed tears from her cheeks, her face etched in grief. “Indescribable pain… She will wish she were dead and would be better off if it were so.”

Roane needed to throw up. He should have known better. Trust goes both ways in a relationship and he’d failed to believe in her. Goddess help him…

Be sure to follow the trail for more snippet goodies.

Jody Wallace
Emma Petersen
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
Helen Kay Dimon
Leah Braemel

I’ve pulled a snippet from Midnight Playground that pretty much sets the scene for what to expect in this book. But be warned. I aim to tease you today.

Snippet:

Chase lowered his camera, and Murphy froze next to him.

“What did you say?” Surprised and intrigued by her outburst, he set down his camera on the small worktable stationed next to the floodlight. Suddenly the need to touch her overwhelmed him as he watched her stand up straight and raise her chin with a new found courage.

“Please, for once let me feel what it’s like to not have to be in control. To not have to stress over every detail. To be someone else, even if it’s just one day. Please, Chase, I need this.”

He ignored the barely there moan that sounded from Murphy to study the woman in front of him. Her eyes shone with unshed tears that clearly took everything she had to contain. Apparently their receptionist had more layers than even he’d thought. However, without full knowledge there were a variety of things that could go wrong. Her inability to share the trauma that disrupted her life should have had him escorting her out of his studio. Yet, he knew he wouldn’t.

Without turning from Eve, Chase spoke to Murphy. “Get the chair.”

“As for you.” He lowered his voice and moved close. “I hope you understand what you’re asking for. This goes beyond a few pictures.” He curved around her side and stood behind her. He was close enough to feel her body heat without touching her. The contrast of the black lace of her undergarments against her creamy flesh pleased the eye of the photographer, but the man wanted to rip the offending coverings away.

He opted for a compromise since they had plenty of time to explore. “The camera doesn’t lie, and I have no problem taking you as far as I need to in order to expose the woman underneath. But first, tell me you want this.” Chase unclasped the hooks that held her bra in place and allowed it to drop to the floor. The sexy hitch in her breathing pleased him immensely, even more so when she didn’t object. Pale, freckled skin beckoned him. Her ample breasts would more than fill his hands, but it was the taut, jutting nipples that informed him how much more she needed.

“I want this.”

Without the camera acting as a barrier between them, he couldn’t resist touching her. His hands spanned a good portion of her waist—soft, delicate skin he longed to see abraded by rope. Rich amber hair floated down her back with a scent of lavender and some spice he couldn’t name. But the color drew him like a flame. Every sexual thought he’d had since she’d arrived had something to do with the hue of her hair.
Sinful, decadent thoughts that always led to her begging for more while he captured every expression on film. Reluctantly, he withdrew when Murphy arrived with the black oak chair and rope he’d already laid out. A gentle push on her shoulder was all it took for her to bend her knees and take a cautious seat.

“Sit back and try to relax. You’re going to be in this position for a while.” Chase let Murphy get to work while he retrieved some new lenses. As much as he wanted to photograph her, he also wanted to fuck her. Or better yet, photograph her while she sucked him off. His cock twitched in his pants on that one. Yeah, he hoped the little minx had it in her, because he planned to stress some of her limits before the day was over.

“Ready,” Murphy called from behind him.

Chase turned and nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight in front of him. Murphy and his Cheshire-smug grin stared back at him.

“Pretty, isn’t she?”

“‘Pretty’ doesn’t do her justice.”

Be sure to follow the trail for more snippety goodness:

Jody Wallace
Emma Petersen
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
Helen Kay Dimon
Leah Braemel

Eve receives a photography order on behalf of her boss and the wheels immediately begin turning with thoughts of how this could be her chance to finally get the attention of both her employers.

Excerpt:

Model must be redheaded and of a plus-size nature with full breasts.

Eve nearly choked on her sip of coffee. In all the orders she’d taken, no one had ever asked for a plus-size model. Whoever the mystery customer was, she already liked him. A larger woman would be a refreshing change around here. She clicked to forward the message to Chase and went back to the rest of her e-mails. If she focused on her work, maybe she’d be able to get her mind off the scene she’d spied on at least long enough to get through the rest of the day.

When she got home, all bets were off, and her vibrator would get the workout of its life. A wicked smile tugged at her lips. She desperately wanted to know more about Chase’s and Murphy’s private lives. Sure she knew a lot about their fetishes, but how deep into the BDSM scene did they go? Her pathetic and limited experience left her a little green, but mostly because she found it difficult to define her own needs, let alone find a Dom to click with.

So much of the local scene seemed to revolve around playing roles. Master and slave. Simply thinking the words made her pussy clench. Maybe one day she’d figure it out…understand how to be what a master sought.

“Eve.”

She jumped at the sound of her name. So lost in her thoughts she’d not heard Chase approach her desk. Her breath quickened and her pulse sped up from the one simple word. She lifted her lashes and looked at him through hooded eyes she prayed didn’t look guilty. Because right now she felt like a naughty girl who’d just been busted. Thank God she’d refrained from touching herself again.

“This new order. Did you talk to them when they called?”

She nodded. Mesmerized by the shade of green reflected in his gaze. In his case, eyes weren’t windows to the soul. They were the microscope that saw into her thoughts. As if somehow he’d noticed her spying on him, or that the moment he said her name, renewed arousal dampened her panties, and he damned well knew it.

“Did they say who this was for?”

“No, but I did get the impression it was for someone pretty important. The woman was quite confident that you’d be willing to fill this order as quickly as they wanted.” She tried not to fidget, but it was impossible to sit still with him looking at her with such intensity.

“That’s too bad because as intriguing as this shoot would be, I’m going to have to turn this one down.”

Damn. Even the tight frown of his lips turned her on. She’d give anything to trace the shape of his mouth, to explore every line.

“Why?”

“No model that fits the requirements. It’s often hard enough to find a redhead for a hard-core shoot. But a plus-size model? No way.”

“What about me? I could do it.” Eve clamped her hand over her mouth, shocked she’d blurted the offer out loud. Still, she’d made the offer, and she held her breath waiting for his response.

His eyes narrowed and he stared into her gaze. Searching for something maybe. Her neck warmed with the humiliation that crept through her.

“Come here,” he demanded gruffly.

Worried, she moved from behind the reception desk and stood in front of him. Not squirming while he looked at her from head to toe proved impossible as she shifted from one foot to the other. He went back to staring into her eyes and she found it nerve-racking to hold his gaze. Too scared to keep up the pretense, she shifted her gaze to the floor and the black patent four-inch spike heels she had on. The skirts and blouses she wore every day might shout boring, but her shoes were 100-percent hooker.

She’d learned to wear clothes that didn’t draw attention to her curves, only her cleavage, and she used her hair and shoes to further distract. Still, standing in front of Chase with the aid of extra height still left her feeling small. The top of her head might reach his chin. She’d guess he stood at least six feet three, if not taller. He simply dwarfed her. And for the first time in her life, she loved being short. It seemed to give him a sense of power over her.

“No.” The blunt word shocked her. She stood speechless and rooted to her spot while he turned and walked back to his studio. No explanation, no further discussion, just no.

She fought the tears that threatened to fall as his abrupt rejection filtered through her thoughts. Eve looked at the front door and back at the studio Chase had disappeared into. She’d made the biggest fool of herself with no rock to crawl under.

She wasn’t good enough for Chase Miller. The first tear splashed on her cheek and she ran for the exit.

Be sure to follow the trail for more snippetty goodness.

Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
Jody Wallace
Sasha White