Category Archives: Evernight Publishing
Nicola’s Sunday Shoutout: Jessie Pinkham
Today’s Sunday Shoutout goes to Jessie Pinkham and her hot new Romance on the Go™ M/M fantasy story The Dragon Keeper, now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of fine romance. Take it away, Jessie!
Sometimes it takes a crisis to appreciate a good man.
When Aldric first meets Lito, he considers the man a nuisance. As a dragon keeper for the kingdom of Corancia, he has more important tasks than answering an artist’s numerous questions about dragons.
Lito travelled to Corancia so he could observe dragons firsthand for his paintings and he’s full of questions about the magnificent creatures. His questions aren’t merely for his art, however; they arise from his deep love of dragons. When he overhears a plot by his own kingdom to eliminate the animals, he has to choose between his loyalty and his beloved dragons.
Working to prevent the extermination of dragons throws Aldric and Lito together and lust is in the air. If they’re lucky, they might end up with more than healthy dragons. It’s just possible that happily ever exists after all.
Story Excerpt
Once the artist set down his pen, Aldric ventured to ask, “Does it take many years of training to be an artist?”
“To be a good one, yes. Particularly when it comes to the details of preparing materials and paints. However, at the risk of being outrageously bold, after the way you were looking at me I’ll be more than a touch disappointed if you are thinking only of my craft.”
It was very bold indeed, but Aldric found he liked that. “Not only, no.” He glanced down at Lito’s hands. “Your hands are nimble, and you have such control.”
Lito smiled. “Perhaps you’re wondering what else I can do with them?”
Aldric felt himself blush. “You are outrageously bold.”
“And you need not hold yourself back so much. Certainly not after I established that you aren’t the only one interested. Is everyone in the north so restrained?”
“No. I spend more time with dragons than with people.”
“We ought to do something about that,” said Lito. He reached out, placing one hand on the side of Aldric’s face. “I see no reason you can’t enjoy human company when your workday is completed.”
Aldric did not enjoy the company of just any human. Lito’s was among those he did enjoy. “I don’t know the custom for seducing a houseguest,” he confessed. “Am I supposed to offer you supper first, or take you to bed straightaway?”
Lito laughed. “I believe I’m the one seducing you. In either case, bed, please.”
Aldric took Lito to his bedroom, glad that his bedding was recently returned from the laundress. It would not do to appear slovenly.
Not that Lito paid heed to the room, as his attention was reserved for Aldric. Specifically, removing Aldric’s clothing. He made short work of it all, followed quickly by his own. Naked, they admired each other.
Aldric was not one to admire for very long when he could be touching. He ran his hand down Lito’s neck and traced the muscles on the artist’s chest, enjoying not just the feel of muscle but the way Lito reacted with quickened breath and shivering skin.
He sat on his bed and pulled Lito down so the other man was straddling his lap. This was an excellent position, which allowed for roaming hands and the thrill of their cocks bumping together. Lito also took this as time for kissing. Aldric was not always fond of the activity, but he found with Lito he quite liked it. All the more so when Lito arranged himself so their chests were together and his hands traced a roving pattern on Aldric’s back at the same time his tongue explored Aldric’s mouth.
It had been some time since Aldric last enjoyed the company of another man, and he forcibly quelled his impatience. He found it was always better to take one’s time in matters of sexual pleasure, so he focused on individual sensations: the feel of Lito’s weight on his lap, the sound of their kisses and Lito’s barely audible whimpers, the heady scent of aroused men, and the shocks of pleasure when their cocks touched.
Lito dragged his fingernails along Aldric’s spine and pulled his mouth away. “You see, it pays handsomely to be outrageously bold.”
Such was not Aldric’s style, but he appreciated it in Lito. “Indeed, it does.” Then he put his mouth to work pressing kisses along his lover’s neck, which earned him a series of delightful moans. He enjoyed a vocal lover. Each noise served as a reward for his efforts and told him what his partner especially liked.
He leaned to lie flat on his back, taking Lito down with him. The weight of another man’s body atop his own excited him, as did Lito’s next enthusiastic round of kissing and rubbing.
When the artist next stopped kissing he said, “I do believe I spoke of what else I can do with my hands. I ought to demonstrate.”
“By all means.”
His fingers were as nimble as earlier, only now the quick motions danced around Aldric’s sac. “You are very talented,” said Aldric.
“I always endeavor for the best possible results.”
How fortunate for Aldric. He gasped as Lito took his cock in one hand while the other continued its tantalizing massage of his balls.
“It’s a benefit to bedding an artist.” Lito smiled, clearly pleased with Aldric’s reaction to his ministrations. “Well-trained hands combined with ceaseless striving for perfection.”
If one considered an orgasm perfection, Aldric was fast approaching it until Lito suddenly stopped and said, “I want to undo you, Aldric.”
He was about to remark that letting go of his cock was not a good way to achieve that goal, when Lito did something remarkable. He lowered himself down Aldric’s body and took Aldric’s cock in his mouth.
The sensation was so overwhelmingly wonderful that it took Aldric a moment to ask, “What are you doing?”
Lito paused, which was a great loss and made Aldric regret his question. “You don’t mean to tell me you’ve never done this?”
“I’ve never heard of taking a cock in my mouth.”
The artist’s eyes widened in surprise. “How dreadful. I must show you what you’ve been missing.”
Aldric decided he’d been missing a great deal.
Where To Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Smashwords
About the Author
Jessie Pinkham writes m/m romance.
Fabulous Friday Reads: Blond
TGIF! Let’s kick off the weekend with E.D. Parr’s hot new M/M paranormal romance Blond, now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of fine online fiction. Take it away, E.D.!
What would you think if the guy you were dating raced off every night before midnight and would never say why? Would you succumb to the urge to follow him one night?
Liam Hale can’t believe his luck when he meets the man of his dreams, Karl Oberon.
Hunky Karl is the sexiest man Liam has ever met, but his mysterious disappearances start to tease.
Gorgeous Liam is the only man Karl has ever loved.
Together they spark and sizzle with passion, but Karl doesn’t know how to tell Liam why he races away. Maybe keeping Liam’s mind off the question with mind-blowing erotic encounters will work.
Story Excerpt
Karl rested his face on Liam’s. He whispered on Liam’s mouth. “You’re hot as hell. I’m fuckin’ desperate to feel your hard cock in my hand.” Then he kissed Liam.
The passion that traveled over Liam as Karl’s lips merged with his in a slow, soft, lingering kiss, weakened his thighs. The skin between his legs under his balls throbbed. His cock jerked in his pants. He returned the kiss grabbing Karl’s head and thrusting his cock in upward strokes on the hard column in Karl’s pants. He kissed Karl until every fiber of his being screamed to come. He murmured between kisses. “The restroom here is a good place for desperados.”
Karl smiled against his mouth. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He crushed Liam close in a final hug as the song ended and then he broke away.
Liam followed Karl across the dance floor and through the door that led to a short corridor and the restrooms. These weren’t like the toilets in some gay bars that Liam disliked for their barren and sometimes grubby surrounds. The restrooms in this bar were sparkling clean and spacious. Two of the stalls at the end of the row had benches and wash basins. Liam had laughed at them when he’d first seen them, but now he walked past Karl and showed him into one.
Karl flicked the catch along on the door lock. He pushed Liam against the wall with one hand, and as his tongue forced Liam’s lips open, with the other hand he dragged Liam’s jeans zipper down.
Liam moaned, overwhelmed with the need to feel Karl’s hands on his cock. He grabbed his jeans to help, and jerked them down his ass to his thighs as he sucked Karl’s tongue into his mouth. His cock sprang free, but not for long.
Karl grasped the shaft. He drew way from Liam’s lips and gazed into his eyes. “You’re leaking. You look ready to be fucked. Do you want that? To be fucked? To have my hard dick ram into your ass until your cum spurts up your chest?”
Liam’s entire body went into meltdown. His cock throbbed and his balls lifted so tight he instinctively reached his hand down to stroke them. His fingers met Karl’s wrapped around his dick. Liam’s stomach tightened inwards and he groaned. “I need to come so bad I’m about to fall down.”
Karl knelt and pushed his fingers between Liam’s legs. He stroked Liam’s balls with his thumb and clamped his other hand around Liam’s cock tight. The helmet head poked out of his fist and Karl lapped at the slit then circled his tongue around and around until Liam was gasping and thrusting.
Karl pumped Liam’s dick fast and hard. He teased at Liam’s ass with his fingertips and his palm cradled Liam’s aching balls.
Liam orgasmed with such intensity he grabbed Karl’s shoulders bending his head, and groaned open mouthed against the white linen shirt Karl wore. He thrust up into Karl’s fist and only stopped as the waves of delicious pleasure waned and left him drowning in satisfaction and gratitude.
Karl pushed Liam’s shirt up with strong hands and licked up his stomach.
The trail of exquisite sensation he left made Liam wince and sigh. He grasped Karl’s head, his fingers slipping through Karl’s soft, abundant hair, trying to bring Karl’s face to his for a kiss. “Kiss me, please…”
Where to Buy
Amazon | Bookstrand | Evernight Publishing
About the Author
Evernight Publishing | Twitter | Amazon | Blog | Google+ | Facebook
Marvelous Monday Reads: Alpha’s Alpha
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, angels! Today I’m featuring Elyzabeth M. VaLey and her new M/M shifter romance Alpha’s Alpha. Take it away, Elyzabeth!
Thank you for having me at your blog today!
I’m excited to share my latest release with you, Alpha’s Alpha (Moon Point 2). This story is a standalone of a brand new series which revolves around the shifter bar, Moon Point. If you’ve read Evernight Publishing’s Owned by the Alpha anthology, you’ll find the first story in the series there.
Funnily enough, Lee’s character came to me long before I had even thought up the idea for the series. As a matter a fact, if I remember correctly, it was right after writing Reine’s Salvation (Alpha Protectors I). I was out for a walk with my dog and was thinking about the future characters in that series when a name came to me out of the blue. Lee. Leeland.
I tried to fit the pieces together, but Lee’s name didn’t seem to match the Alpha Protector’s series, so I figured I’d let it stew for a bit and see what my muse had to offer. Little by little, my generous muse offered me more information. He had blond hair. Green eyes. An easy smile. He had a strong personality but he knew how to pick his battles. He was a shifter. A puma.
Then, I started writing Alpha’s Sunshine (Moon Point I) for the anthology call, and BAM! There was Lee. He was best friends with wolf shifter Sisu and he was the manager of Moon Point.
Even while I was writing Sisu’s story, Lee was at the back of my mind, waiting patiently. (Alkaline was a bit more pushy. I guess it’s the lion genes. LOL). I really wanted to write their story for the manlove edition of the anthology but sadly, I ran out of time.
However, Lee and Alkaline were understanding and soon after I set to work in their story. As I did, not only did Lee reveal himself more to me, Alkaline did too. I was thrilled and utterly in love with these two men.
Perhaps because their story was revealed little by little to me, Lee and Alkaline both hold a special place in my heart, so when Evernight Publishing agreed to publish Alpha’s Alpha, I was ecstatic and even now, knowing that they’ve made it out into the world brings a smile onto my face.
I hope you enjoy it too!
Lee never thought he’d find his mate at a club, but even less so, did he expect him to be, Alkaline, the leader of the mafia organization known as the Claws. If the lion shifter were not an alpha, things might be easier, but as it is, his mate is bent on keeping them apart. Not that it matters to Lee, he’ll hunt him down and make him his.
Alkaline doesn’t do sweet. Nor vulnerable. Nor submissive. So when his lion decides that his soulmate is an alpha puma, he refuses to accept it. After all, whoever heard of two alphas mating? However, resisting Lee is harder than he ever imagined.
With two men battling for dominance, who will end up on top? And will their romance survive the match?
Story Excerpt
The beat of the music made the floor vibrate. The strobe lights flashed, creating a maddening effect. Lee lifted his arms toward the ceiling, and swayed his hips. He mouthed the words to the popular song, allowing the rhythm to wash over him and obliterate any thoughts and worries he still carried from the long day at work.
The animal within him stirred. Tossing and turning, it gathered energy from the pulsing tones and climbed to the surface as if awakening from a long sleep. Lee’s blood pumped faster. His vision refocused, throwing everything into sharp contrast, from the shimmering contents of beverages in clear glasses, to the glittery eye makeup of a random stranger. The club smelled like sweat and alcohol. Bodies pressed together, swaying, moving. Glass shattered somewhere followed by a chorus of “Oh!” and loud laughter. All around, people enjoyed a night out, oblivious to anything more than what lay a few feet from them. Unaware of the hunter in their midst.
Lee licked his lips. His cock twitched. It’d been too long since he’d prowled the night for a bed companion. Focused on his work as manager of the shifter bar Moon Point, sometimes he forgot to have fun, to give into his baser instincts. Normally, he’d go home, relieve himself, and fall asleep until the next day. But he was a puma, a night prowler. And tonight, after he’d closed Moon Point, he knew driving to the countryside and going for a run wouldn’t be enough. He was restless, yearning for something more which he could only describe as the need for company, for the feel of skin against skin, for the gentle caress of caring hands, if only for a few hours.
It was time to hunt.
Lee glanced around and caught the eye of a handsome stud with dark, puppy eyes. He grinned. The stranger looked away, then back at him, a small smile playing on his lips.
Game on.
Swerving his hips, Lee started to make his way toward the man and stopped. The hint of a welcoming scent caressed his senses. A desert breeze mingled with rare wildflowers. A spark lit up his core, sending a shiver of excitement through him. The top of his ears tingled. Lee spun. His heart froze, then resurged, pounding frantically.
Alkaline.
He’d never been formally introduced to the lion shifter, but he knew him on sight. He had to. One didn’t manage a bar in one of the seediest neighborhoods of the city without knowing the local gangs. Besides, Alkaline wasn’t exactly easy to miss. At six-foot-five, with shoulder-length red-blond hair, a matching beard, and slightly tanned skin, he stood out wherever he went.
Lee watched him move. His cock twitched. There was nothing submissive about the male specimen coming in his direction, parting the crowd like some kind of god. Alkaline exuded power, force, and unbridled passion.
Their gazes locked and desire rushed through him. Hell, yes. This was just what he needed. A real challenge. Lee extended his hand and Alkaline took it. The lion pulled him close with a firm tug. Hand on his waist, Alkaline guided him to the music.
Lee sucked in his cheeks to keep from laughing. Hell would freeze over before he was the one following. He pushed back, forcing Alkaline to release him. Then, rolling forward, he placed his hands on Alkaline’s hips and took the lead.
The lion snarled. His amber eyes flashed a warning. Lee didn’t retreat. His cock thickened inside his jeans, rubbing against the material. Abruptly, Alkaline dipped him slightly backwards, threaded his fingers in his hair and held, forcing Lee to stare at him.
His puma growled. Bursting through his defenses, it forced his vision to change. It turned sharper, more attuned to the man in front of him, from the tiny wrinkles in the corner of his eyes, to the small mole above his brow, to the thin coat of sweat which made his face glisten.
Alkaline glared at him. Lee’s blood pressure spiked along with his raging libido. He wouldn’t be the first to drop his gaze. He pursed his mouth. The music changed and someone slammed into them, breaking the connection.
They both moved at the same time. Lips clashed. Hungry. Hard. Lee’s fingers threaded into Alkaline’s long reddish mane and Alkaline rested his hand on the nape of Lee’s neck, bringing him closer. Their tongues entwined, desperately seeking for more, until the air ran out of their lungs and they broke apart panting. For a second, they gauged each other, and Lee wondered if he looked as bewildered and as consumed by lust as the other man.
Just when he was about to speak, Alkaline grabbed his hand and placed it over his erection. Lee groaned.
“I need to have you, now,” Alkaline said.
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon.com | Amazon.uk | Bookstrand
About the Author
Elyzabeth M. VaLey is a writer of sizzling, sexy romance who firmly believes in happy ever after. From paranormal to contemporary, fantasy, or historical, she enjoys exploring her characters’ darker side and writing stories about tortured heroes, strong heroines, and all that comes between them and their love.
When she’s not writing, she can be found walking in the Spanish countryside with her black Lab, exploring castles, or enjoying some tapas with her friends.
Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon
Mid Week Tease: Cross Current #MidWeekTease #MWTease
It’s Wednesday? Awesome! Because I have a little teaser for you from the WIP currently up on Scrivener, Cross Current (Olympic Cove #4). Here, my main character Matt has not only learned that Greek Gods, mermen, and selkies are real, but he has his own role to play in the battle against the Mad Goddess Thetis. He just wanted a few weeks of sun and fun before school started, poor sweetie.
Thanks go out to the lovely Angelica Dawson for doing this every week, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
Matt’s tentative knock at the green cottage’s door was met by an unsmiling Griffin. “Hi. Welcome to Greek God Central.”
The repetition of Atropos’s phrase from his dream sent a chill down Matt’s spine. “Hi. Um, Pythia said that I should talk to Amphitrite?”
Griffin moved to the side, letting him in. “Right. She and Poseidon are busy with Donald at the moment. It might be awhile.” He gave Matt a sympathetic look. “How are you holding up?”
“I kinda feel like I got sucked into an episode of Stranger Things. Apart from that, I seem to be okay.”
“Yeah, sounds about right.” The Englishman took him into the kitchen, where he pulled two brown bottles out of the fridge and handed one over. “This’ll help.”
Matt read the microbrewery label. “I thought Brits didn’t chill their beers.”
“We do when we’re in Florida. I take it Nick gave you the scoop on what’s been happening here?”
“Crazy goddess trying to destroy Earth, a bunch of gods and other mythological creatures fighting her, yeah, I know.” He twisted off the bottle cap and took a welcome swig. “I’m not involved.”
“I’m not arguing. I’m new to the whole thing myself.” Although the knowing look in the Englishman’s eyes gave lie to his words. “How are your guests doing?”
“Nick’s treating them. The blond guy’s really a merman?”
“Yep, just like Aidan and Liam. You can probably talk them into going for a swim and showing you their tails.”
“Yeah, no, that’s okay.” He leaned against the counter, rubbing his thumb over the cool, sweating surface of the bottle. “I’m thinking maybe I should go back to Jupiter. If I can’t get my deposit back, I can crash with a buddy until school starts.”
Griffin folded his arms, leaning against the opposite counter. “If that’s truly what you think you should do, then do it. Nobody wants to keep you here against your will.”
Amphitrite picked that moment to appear, looking concerned. “Oh, good, Matt. You’re here. Donald wants to speak with you.”
He straightened up. “Donald?”
“The Oracle of the Waters. Tall man, white hair and beard, came out of the water with our other guests?”
He tried to get his tongue to work properly. “I—why does he want to talk to me?”
“I don’t know,” the goddess said, just a bit exasperated. “That’s something you’ll have to discuss with him.”
She gestured towards the hallway she’d just exited. Feeling like he was walking towards a firing squad, Matt slowly headed deeper into the cottage. Soft voices were coming through an open doorway and he peeked into what was clearly a guest bedroom
Inside, the old man from the beach had been dried off and tucked into bed, wet clothes piled on a chair next to the bed. Poseidon stood over him, handsome face lined as he listened to the man’s words. He glanced up at Matt’s arrival. “Oh, good, they found you. Donald needs to talk to you.”
“Um.” Matt edged into the room, studying the man in the bed. He looked to be about seventy, with Santa Claus-white hair brushed back from a high forehead and a slightly overgrown beard hiding a craggy face. His eyes, however, were his most notable feature. Pale as sea glass, they seemed to burn in that pale face.
“Ah. Matthew,” the man said, a faint lilt coloring his voice. “You’re quite the difficult man to track down.”
Dunn—no, Poseidon—turned and considered Matt. “You’re going to want to listen to him, I’m afraid.” The affable host from last night was gone. Replacing him was a being who radiated power and authority like nothing Matt had ever experienced before. Every rational cell in his body screamed at him to turn around, leave, jump in his car and head north until he was out of reach of the divinity standing in front of him.
“Hi.” He raised a hand and realized he was still holding the beer bottle. With a sigh, Poseidon plucked it out of his hand. “Um, yeah. Ammie said you wanted to talk to me?”
The sea god left, beer bottle in hand, and the man in the bed chuckled wearily. “Poor Poseidon. I don’t think he ever expected me to impose on his hospitality. But if Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.”
More of the Fates’ words from his dream came back. “Are you talking about my trip to France?” That didn’t make any sense.
But the man nodded. “Yes. You were supposed to visit Marseilles, yes? While you were there, you would have found your way to my cavern and I would have begun your instruction.”
“Whoa, wait. Instruction?”
The old man gave him a wide, white smile. “Yes. Every good teacher knows that learning never truly ends. I’m Donald, by the way.”
“Matt.”
“I know. Matthew Taber, teacher of history to indifferent teenagers, warrior, scholar. You’re my personal choice, you know.”
This was getting far too weird. “Okay, wait,” Matt said, grabbing the wet clothes off the chair and putting them on a nearby dresser. After wiping the seat dry, he sat down in it. “Personal choice for what?”
“To replace me as the Oracle of the Waters.” Another ferocious smile. “I’m not actually immortal, you see. Just very long lived. But even my life is winding to a close, and someone must take over my position and my responsibilities. And out of all the mortals on this planet, I’ve chosen you to do that.”
****
Nick closed the guest room door in time to see a red-faced Matt storm back into the cottage. He went straight into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of Scotch from the counter, opening a cabinet and grabbing a glass before pouring himself a triple. Nick winced as the other man tossed back the drink in two huge gulps. “I take it that didn’t go well.”
Matt panted and blinked, sniffing hard. “That’s a fucking understatement, my friend.”
“Okay.” Nick reached down a glass for himself and pulled the Scotch out of Matt’s hand, pouring himself a reasonable finger. “You’ve been given your marching orders?”
“Marching orders? Marching orders?” Matt’s voice rose to a bellow on the last phrase. “Do you know what that old hippie in the cottage over there just told me? Apparently I’m the new Oracle of the Waters. I’m supposed to give up everything in my life and go live in a fucking cave on the coast of fucking France so that fucking sea creatures can come and get me to consult with the fucking Fates on their problems.”
“Huh. Yeah, that’s got to come as a surprise.” Nick took a tiny sip of his liquor. “Kinda know all about that sort of thing myself.”
Matt had started to pace the length of the kitchen floor. “Really? Because I don’t see you going off to live like a fucking monk in a goddamn cave.”
Nick had to give him that. “Is it the cave part that bugs you?”
The pacing man stopped, glaring at him. “What’s bugging me is that I came out here for two weeks of sun and relaxation to get over my damn divorce before I have to go back into the trenches. And suddenly not only do I get dragged into some sort of weird-ass battle against a crazy goddess, but I’m supposed to become the supernatural world’s version of Dear Prudence. In a cave.”
“So it is the cave part.”
“Gimme that.” Matt snatched the Scotch bottle back and poured himself another healthy knock. “You say you know about this sort of thing. How the hell do I get out of it?”
“I don’t think you can. It’s one of those fated things.”
The teacher twitched at that. “God. I dreamed about them last night, you know? The Fates. We were having beer and hot wings at a sports bar. They told me—” He stopped. “They told me I was about to get a new job. And a new romance. Who the fuck is going to want to date a guy living in a cave?”
“I think you’re a little fixated on the cave thing.”
They both turned. The blond merman leaned into the entrance to the kitchen, hands on either side of the entryway and still naked as when he first came out of the water. Nick gave him an admiring once-over. The wide shoulders, thick chest, and well-muscled arms common to merfolk tapered down to a narrow waist and a nice Adonis belt of V-shaped muscle. And under that was a great cock, not too large and not too small, nestled on top of a set of heavy balls and surrounded by a short cloud of dark gold hair.
From the corner of his eye he spotted Matt going very still, then looking away quickly. Interesting. “Uh, hi,” the man muttered.
“Sorry. You were shouting. Kind of hard to ignore it.” The merman padded over to them, holding out a huge hand. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. I’m Finn.”
Nick shook his hand. “Well, that’s appropriate.”
Finn chuckled once. “I know, right?” He offered his hand to Matt. “Thank you for taking us in. You’ve got my eternal gratitude for that.”
“No problem.” Matt’s voice was slightly strangled as he shook the mer’s hand. “Do you want me to get you some pants? I think I have a pair of sweats that’ll fit you.”
Finn glanced down at himself. “Sure, why not?”
“Okay.” Stumbling just a little, Matt headed out of the kitchen, Scotch glass still in hand. Cheerful, Finn watched him go. “He’s cute.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Thanks to his agapetos Nick already knew that most mers were bisexual. “How’s your friend?”
Finn sobered. “Still sleeping. He’s not used to swimming that far. I told him to stay behind, but…” He grimaced. “Damn Fae. Stubborn as all hell.”
“How did you wind up with the Oracle, anyway?”
Now the big mer looked uncomfortable. “We’d gone to him to get some advice. When we got there, he told us the price for it would be us escorting him here. I wanted Duncan to stay at the cave, but he insisted on coming along.”
From his accent, Nick placed him as somewhere along the upper East coast. Swimming back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean was something a mer could do, albeit with effort. But to have a seal, even a magical one, in tow turned it into something impressive. “How are you feeling?”
Finn spread his hands. “I’m fine. Hungry. Worried about Duncan. Is the Oracle all right?”
“I haven’t had a chance to go check on him yet. I was going to go do that now. Will you be okay if I leave you here?”
“Oh, sure.” Finn glanced in the direction Matt had taken. “He’s not going to shoot me or have me stuffed and mounted, right?”
“I think his mind is on other things at the moment.”
“Then I’m good. And thank you again for taking care of Duncan.”
The sudden tenderness in his voice said a lot about his relationship with the selkie. Nick was used to unusual hookups happening on the cove, but a mer and a Fae getting together was something he wanted to hear about later on. “If anything goes wrong, I’m in the yellow cottage own the beach. Come get me, okay?”
“I will.”
Nick headed out, wondering how well Matt was going to adjust to his new reality.
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Marvelous Monday Reads: Abel’s Obsession
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Lynn Burke and her hot new romance novel Abel’s Obsession. And now, here’s Lynn to answer some questions!
Abel Beiler’s story came about while visiting my parents in Amish country this past April. While leaving for home early Sunday morning, I pulled up to a stop sign at a four-way intersection as horses labored to pull their Amish owners and families in their buggies to Sunday worship.
One young man in an open buggy sat to my right at the stop sign, unsmiling, leaning forward, elbows on knees and reins slack in his hands. I had this overwhelming urge to smile at him, trying to bring a little sunshine to his miserable countenance.
My plan didn’t work, and even though I was in an SUV with 3 children, the idea of Abel and Dani slammed into my brain, occupying my thoughts the whole way home. I voice-to-text in my phone’s notepad off and on the entire seven hour ride back to Massachusetts as Abel whispered his struggle to find himself in my brain.
Abel’s Obsession is by far the raunchiest story I’ve written to date, and I’m hoping the most eye-opening as well. An oppressed life isn’t a joyful one, and finding the strength to free yourself isn’t always easy. Neither is the choice to take wing and fly.
A young man of religious fervor and self-control, Abel Beiler has every intention of honoring his parents and being baptized into the Amish church. The woman with red curls and flashing green eyes in the back of a convertible, however, makes Abel wonder what life with the English might be like.
He strives to withstand temptation, but the memory of the woman he yearns to dominate, coupled with the explicit images in his cousin’s filthy magazine, threatens his restraint.
Red, his sinful obsession, haunts his shameful dreams and becomes a secret part of his life. When faced with truth beyond faith, Abel must decide where he belongs—with the Amish community, or the woman who owns his heart.
Story Excerpt
Much later and hoarse from singing for two hours, my curiosity overrode my better sense, and I followed Eli into the hayloft of their barn. While I held the kerosene lamp, he climbed high into the rafters and returned with a magazine clutched in his hand.
“Got this from my new English friend, Toby.” He sat on a bale, opened the magazine, and turned it toward me.
Lust kicked me in the gut, and I couldn’t speak.
A naked woman lay spread eagle and bound by ropes to a bed, a blindfold and some sort of ball gag in her mouth. A man loomed over her, whip in hand. Tear streaks lined the woman’s face. Red slashes marked her thighs. Wetness coated the pink folds of her sex, glistening, and set my mouth to watering.
The image burned into my brain—submission in an entirely different way than the Old Order’s definition of the word. Spirituality is submission, is what had been reiterated in my ears since childhood. Self-surrender. The willingness to give up oneself to the community and Gott’s chosen leaders.
I soaked in the sinful picture, and for the first time in my life wanted power. Wanted control. I wanted a woman’s submission like the man in leather beside her owned. Unable to tear my gaze off the image, I struggled to swallow.
“Didn’t know people actually did this shit.”
Eli’s curse, the first I had heard from him, barely registered past the blood rushing in my ears. My body tensed as longing to be the man standing over that woman, whip in hand raced through me faster than any thoroughbred—or car.
The image of Red flashed in my mind, and suddenly it was her bound to the bed in the picture, breathing heavily, trembling, and begging for me…
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK
About the Author
Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Instagram | Goodreads
Fabulous Friday Reads: On a Dark Tide
TGIF! Let’s kick off the weekend with Naomi Clark’s hot new Romance on the Go story, On a Dark Tide, now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of fine online fiction. Take it away, Naomi!
Thanks for having me here today! I’m excited to share my latest Romance on the Go, ON A DARK TIDE, a story I constantly (and probably annoyingly) referred to as the Creepy Ocean Story whilst writing it. I’m a mermaid at heart. I love the ocean, whatever the season, whatever the weather. Nothing makes me feel as at peace or inspired as sitting by the shore. ON A DARK TIDE is one of several stories and books I’ve written with the ocean at its heart, and it won’t be the last.
ON A DARK TIDE also let me touch on something else I love – true crime and unsolved mysteries. I have a fairly long commute to work each day, and I usually pass the time by listening to podcasts. Delving into truly strange and puzzling stories of disappearances helped me shape the background of Piper and Cam’s story, and hopefully you’ll enjoy delving into the mystery of Dina Mackay with them!
True crime podcasters Piper and Cam have travelled to the sleepy seaside town of Findlay to investigate the disappearance of a woman nearly a decade ago. The theories are wild—everything from murder to mermaids, and Piper is determined to get to the truth.
Battling her fear of the ocean, Piper soon realizes Findlay has deeper, darker secrets than she could ever have believed. As she struggles to master her fear and deal with her unrequited love for Cam, Piper is lured into perilous waters. The truth waits beneath the waves—and Piper’s fate waits with it.
Story Excerpt
“Cam,” Piper said again, almost wailing it as Cam took off back up the shore toward the town. Piper started after her, got her feet tangled in those grabby strands of seaweed, and toppled over. She landed face-first in the sand, grit and water-worn stones digging into her palms. “Shit!”
She lay there for a few seconds, berating herself for being so stupidly tongue-tied. Then she picked herself up and hugged herself against the bitter cold wind rushing off the waves. She could fix this.
All she had to do was run after Cam and say … something. She didn’t know what, though. She still wasn’t sure what the hell had just happened. What Cam had expected to happen.
But she wouldn’t find out hanging around on the beach, would she?
She started walking, the distant lights of the town guiding her. She and Cam had come further than she realized, and night had swept in while they walked. She couldn’t even see Cam’s silhouette up ahead. But she couldn’t have gotten far, surely. Piper had only been down a minute. Piper cupped her hands to her mouth. “Cam? Cameron!”
There was no answer. The wind shrieked down the bay, suddenly wild, and Piper flashed back vividly to her dream last night. She wondered if that’s all it had been, a howling gale invading her dreams. She glanced out across the ink-dark waters of the bay, watching the white caps rise and fall as the tide drove in. It was too easy to imagine being tossed around in those wild waves, mouth full of salt, lungs burning, body sinking and rising at the will of the water. It was too easy to imagine Dina Mackay walking into the sea…
Piper shivered, unsure where the idea came from. The wind rose and fell in strange harmony, filling her head with shipwrecks and yellowed bones polished by centuries of sand and water. She stopped looking for Cam, entranced and disturbed by the song of the bay. It did sound like voices, eerily so. Sweet, inhuman singing as the wind ripped through hidden caves and over knee-high banks of marram grass.
Dina could have heard that beautiful, awful music the night she went missing. She could have walked out of the Lobster Pot, just like Piper had tonight, pleasantly buzzed, and thought she heard voices down on the shore, out in the water.
Piper didn’t remember moving, but the water lapped at her feet now, so either she’d moved or the tide had. She wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter. The singing swirled around her, warming her where the wind had chilled her. The water washed over her canvas shoes, soaking in and anchoring her to the shore. The singing pulled at her, dragged at her, as inexorable as the ocean.
Where to Buy
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Evernight Publishing
About the Author
Naomi likes writing, perfume, fancy tea, and unfathomable monsters from the dark spaces between the stars, not necessarily in that order. She has been writing stories ever since she learned how to write, but is still trying to master the art of biography writing. When she’s not dealing with werewolves, demons, or sea monsters, she’s hanging out with her cat and probably watching a documentary about Bigfoot. If the cat isn’t available, she’s with her fiancé watching cookery shows and silently plotting her next book.
Sale!
Just got word from Evernight that they’re buying my sexy hitman romance “Gentleman Jackson” for their Lawless anthology. Which may throw some readers because this story is going in the MF antho, not the MM antho. What can I say — I like mixing things up. Also, it means that if you read the snippet I posted on Wednesday and liked it, you can read the full story in a month or so. More on that as details emerge.
In other news, Lady of Thorns should be finished by next Wednesday, and I’m looking at a 10/17 release date (it’s two weeks later than I’d originally planned, but Real Life™ wound up turning into a timesink and I want to make sure Lady gets a thorough editing before she’s released into the wild). I’m concurrently working on Shifter Woods: Snarl, which should be released before Lady, and once those are out I put the finishing touches on Cross Current and get that off to Evernight. November and NaNoWriMo is going to be dedicated to Uncertainty Principle, I believe. Lord, if I get everything finished on time I’ll have written four full length books, four novellas that will be combined into a box set, and a novelette this year. Not too shabby if I say so myself.
Wicked Wednesday Reads: Seduced By Him
Welcome to another edition of Wicked Wednesday Reads, petals! Today I’m here with Jacey Holbrand and her new MM romance Seduced By Him, available from Evernight Publishing and other online purveyors of fine romance. Take it away, Jacey!
This story is the second book in my series called Helldorado Mongrels MC. The series follows different immortal shifter families, a couple of humans, and the quest for stolen gold. It takes place in southern Nevada. I’d been toying with the idea for this series for the past few years after catching an episode of Haunted Highway on Syfy regarding the Hellhounds of Eldorado Canyon.
In book two, Seduced by Him, two human brothers are at the end of their camping trip in the canyon where, as teenagers, they had a frightening experience in a gold mine when confronted with wolves. Jarrod Russell, one of the heroes of this story, is jealous his brother found love, and he wonders when he’ll find his other half. Which doesn’t take long since he runs into him in a store and then in a casino.
Jarrod and Tex, the sexy stranger (who is based off of Brock O’Hurn in case you were wondering 😉 ) he keeps running into, have a one night stand that’s turning into something more when Jarrod is kidnapped by Tex’s fellow Helldorado Mongrels MC members.
Want to know what happens when Jarrod finds out the guy he’s super attracted to is an immortal wolf shifter and if he escapes the Mongrels? Well, you’ll just have to read the book now, won’t you? *wink*
Wolf shifter and member of the Helldorado Mongrels MC, Dante “Tex” Valentin is restless and dissatisfied. He goes on a ride in search of excitement, never expecting to encounter his mate—a human male, who disrupts his world.
Jarrod Russell is envious his brother, Cameron, found love. Wondering if fortune will ever smile on him the same way, he runs into a man who rocks his world. A man he believes could be the love of his life.
When Jarrod and Tex’s paths cross again, a passion-filled night connects them. Because of who they are, though, they’re in danger from the Mongrels. Will their relationship be over before they even have a chance to love?
Story Excerpt
The blond haired man without a name stood naked in his room.
Bare as the day he was born, too, Tex sat on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his elbows, and took in the view.
Tall, athletic physique. Classically handsome features with a full mouth. Cock that sported a slight curve. It didn’t appear to be overly big but still seemed to be larger than average. Just like he liked a man’s dick.
“What do you want me to do? Please. Tell me.”
He loved it when his partners had the touch of pleading in their voices, had amorous longing in their gazes, begging him to take them and use them as he saw fit. But this blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty wasn’t like the others. The lean, well-toned man didn’t fit the type of guy he’d normally go after—big, brawny, and rough around the edges—much like himself and the other Mongrels. No, the stranger from the store was the complete opposite, almost angelic, and the thought of claiming him sent lusty rivers of heat down into his rigid shaft.
“I want you to drop to your knees before me, take my cock in that luscious mouth of yours and suck me dry.”
A visible shudder racked the man’s body, and for a second he looked as if he might refuse, but then he closed the distance between them and knelt.
The angel positioned himself between Tex’s thighs and gently grasped his length. The bend of his fingers stroked him, feeling like the finest linen glancing against his skin. Tex’s body sizzled as his man’s appraisal of his body seemed to devour him. Then the stranger licked and kissed his cock and balls, sucked him into his mouth, and Tex felt as if he’d arrived home.
The guy laved its length and circled his fingers around its base, then traced the underside with the tip of his tongue and feathered his ball sack with the ends of his fingers.
Tex let his head fall back, enjoying the way the guy took command of his cock and savoring the delicate feel of the man’s moist and warm mouth on his shaft and his hands as they smoothed up his body.
So soft. Such a gentle caress. I love the way he’s touching me. Not enough though. Need to…
Where to Buy
Amazon | Evernight Publishing | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Bookstrand | Smashwords
About the Author
Jacey Holbrand believes life and love comes in all forms and should be celebrated. She’s committed to her muse and writing so she can share her stories with readers. Hot days. Sexy nights. Come play in her world.
Jacey loves to hear from readers! Click the link to email her.
A most extraordinary experience
As you know (Bob), I spent Thursday and Friday writing a 13,500 word novella for an antho call. Luckily I was pretty solid on the story idea so I was able to nail my butt to the chair and crank it out in record time. Polished it and sent it in to Evernight, and all is well.
The antho call was for stories about the ultimate bad boys — criminals, killers, what have you — who completely disregard the law but are utterly loyal to their women (or men, depending on their orientation). So I wrote a story about a Southern hitman named Colton Jackson who is hired to kill a Dallas lawyer. Problem is, the lawyer’s secretary Ria Guzman walks in at the wrong moment and catches Colton red-handed. Ria and Colton had an immediate, powerful attraction to each other when he first came into the office posing as a client and he doesn’t really want to kill her, so he essentially kidnaps her, takes her to her apartment, and everything boils over. There’s passionate sex, trains going into tunnels, fireworks, etc. Colton then learns that he was set up to kill Ria (which would have seriously pissed off her powerful gang leader brother and put a price on his own head) and has to dispatch the threat, although there are loose ends that could lead to more stories about these two, I dunno. At the end of the story she has to disappear, so he takes her back to Louisiana with him.
This, however, is where it gets weird. I don’t know if it’s because I was completely immersed in the story for two days, to the point where I could very clearly see the law office, her apartment, and both Colton and Ria in my mind, but right now I have the oddest feeling that Colton and Ria are actually in Colton’s apartment in Shreveport right now making dinner and talking about what they need to get her new identity set up, and whether she really wants to go back to work as a secretary (he wants her to stay home but she’s independent and wants a job). It’s like I put so much mental energy and effort into them, I somehow made them real.
And yes, I know they’re not really real. At least, I hope not. But man, the brain is a weird, weird organ.
Marvelous Monday Reads: Possessed By Him
Welcome to another edition of Marvelous Monday Reads, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Jacey Holbrand and her hot new romance novel Possessed By Him. And now, here’s Jacey to answer some questions!
This story is the first book in my series called Helldorado Mongrels MC. The series follows different immortal shifter families, a couple of humans, and the quest for stolen gold. It takes place in southern Nevada. I’ve been toying with the idea for this series for the past few years after catching an episode of Haunted Highway on Syfy regarding the Hellhounds of Eldorado Canyon.
In book one, Possessed by Him, two human brothers are returning to the canyon where, as teenagers, they had a frightening experience in a gold mine when confronted with wolves. Cameron, one of the heroes of this story, also can’t stop thinking of a man who’s been invading his dreams for years since the incident and is surprised when he comes face to face with him in the flesh.
Cameron and dream man, Gabe, are hitting it off and the trip is going pretty well until Cameron is kidnapped by a member of the Helldorado Mongrels MC.
Want to know what happens when Cameron finds out the guy he’s super attracted to is an immortal wolf shifter and if he escapes the Mongrels? Well, you’ll just have to read the book now, won’t you? *wink*
Forced to return to a place of childhood trauma, Cameron Russell fears he’ll have to confront the specter of the past once again. Instead, he comes face to face with the man of his dreams. Literally.
Unbeknownst to Cameron, Gabriel Dyson would do anything to help his human mate realize his destiny, including playing savior and invading Cameron’s dreams. When they finally meet face to face, all seems to go well. Then a member of the Helldorado Mongrels MC kidnaps Cameron, putting Cameron in mortal danger again.
While restrained, Cameron is told a fantastical story of werewolves, which has to be myth…right? Yet memories flare to life—visions of bites and kisses—making him question everything about Gabe.
Can Cameron and Gabe’s cosmic connection, their choices, and their love surpass the secrets Gabe has and the Mongrels’ evil plans?
Story Excerpt
He ran his hands up Cameron’s smooth chest, tracing the dips and curves of his muscles. When Gabe latched onto one of Cameron’s hard nubs, Cameron sucked in a stream of air. Putting his lips on Cameron’s body was like heaven and hell. Heaven because it’d been ages since he tasted and touched his other half in the flesh. Hell because all he wanted to do was bite him and make him his for as long as their lives would last.
More heat raced through Gabe’s veins and down into his cock, making it rock hard. He gazed straight into Cameron’s blue-gray eyes. “God, I want you, Cameron. I want you to take me in that beautiful mouth of yours.”
“With pleasure.”
Cameron dropped to his knees in front of him, reached out and yanked his jeans down and off his body.
“Spread your legs, Gabe.”
He did as Cameron requested. His cock protruded from his body, bobbing to and fro as he settled into a shoulder-width stance. Staring down upon him as Cameron positioned himself between his thighs and stroked, licked, and kissed his cock and balls, Gabe tilted his head back, loving the way Cameron took command of his body, his senses. The deep blue sky fell from sight as did the rest of the mountain’s view. Gabe closed his eyes to savor the exquisite feel of Cameron’s moist, warm mouth on his shaft.
“You’re incredible.” He stroked Cameron’s head.
Cameron licked his way off his cock, grasped it in a semi-closed fist and pumped his hand as he stared at him. “So are you. This cock?” He lapped the bead of pre-cum that’d beaded on the tip. “Amazing.” He dipped down once more to Gabe’s crotch, taking his whole cock into his mouth.
Lusty pleasure flooded Gabe, making him ravenous for the man who moved to suck his balls. “Cameron, I want to taste you.” He tugged at him to have him stand, but Cameron wouldn’t budge.
“I’m not done with you yet.” Cameron drew his tongue along Gabe’s cock.
Gabe sucked in a thin stream of air. He couldn’t believe how wonderful the blow job felt, the wet mouth against his silky shaft. It’d been ages since he last had his mate in the flesh and experienced such intimacy with him. Though fucking Cameron’s mouth wasn’t like being balls deep in his ass. He wanted to howl at the sky with happiness.
Yet, the truth about his shifting capability and immortality hung heavy over his head. He pondered if what they were doing constituted their relationship solidifying. Probably not. Which meant it still wasn’t time to tell Cameron everything. But then, if he waited too long, Cameron might not like that either. Cameron could accuse him of being secretive. He released a big sigh.
Cameron slurped off his length. “You okay, Gabe?”
“Yeah.” He paused and glanced down at the man kneeling before him. Perhaps it would be best to just lay everything out at the start and see what happens. “Actually, there is something important I need to explain to you before our relationship develops further.”
Cameron stood and brushed the dirt off his knees. “All right. Should I be concerned?”
“No. I don’t believe so. Just some family history and—”
Rocks tumbling along the ground and off the cliff several feet away snatched Gabe’s focus. He sniffed the air. No scents that he could determine. That didn’t mean anything though since anti-scent repellants were in use by the Helldorado Mongrels.
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iTunes | Bookstrand
About the Author
Jacey Holbrand believes life and love comes in all forms and should be celebrated. She’s committed to her muse and writing so she can share her stories with readers. Hot days. Sexy nights. Come play in her world.
Jacey loves to hear from readers! Click the link to eMail her: JaceyHolbrand@gmail.com
Nicola Cameron Writes 