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Mid Week Tease: Empress of Storms #MidWeekTease #MWTease
Here’s a bit more from Empress of Storms, and Danäe and Matthias are talking about their future children. Okay, maybe they’re doing a little more than just talking.
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
When widower King Matthias IV of Ypres is called upon to fulfill a treaty with the neighboring country of Hellas and provide a royal consort for young Queen Danäe, the only Ypresian royal available for marriage is himself. Can he overcome his grief for his late wife and risk letting a blue-haired witch queen into his heart? And can Danäe, only half-trained as a water mage, root out a magical threat against Matthias before it kills the man she’s loved since childhood?
“We might have twins, you know,” Danäe warned. “They do run in my family.”
“We’ll double up on the palace guard and outfit their nursery with cages,” Matthias said, sounding complacent.
“That’ll only work for a little while. Darius knew how to out-argue our nanny and the guards by the time he was six, and if logic didn’t work he used charm to get his way. If I know my brother, he’ll be more than happy to pass his skills along to his nephews or nieces.”
“Noted. And what skills did you bring to your twin reign of terror?”
Danäe smirked. “I was an accomplished sneak thief. I could get in and out of the kitchens without anyone noticing, and I was a dab hand at picking locks.”
“Shocking,” Matthias said in mock disapproval. “And who corrupted the crown princess of Hellas in such a way?”
“Nidas, the palace chamberlain.”
It was Matthias’s turn to lift his head and stare at her. “Your chamberlain?”
“Yes. Apparently he had quite the spotted background when it came to criminal activity, but he also saved Father’s life many years ago. When Nidas got married and needed a steady job, he asked Father for work. Father hired him immediately. Within a year he’d been promoted to chamberlain. Father used to say that all chamberlains stole as a matter of course, so at least he was hiring a professional.”
“Your father was a wise man,” Matthias said. He eased a bit closer, resting a hand over Danäe’s stomach. “Back to the subject of children. Gaspar and Elusine approve of you, you know. They said you should have babies as soon as possible so that they can play with them.”
“Oh, really?” She pretended to think. “Well, if we want some of our own, we should get started on the production process.”
She stretched up ad kissed him, enjoying the gentle firmness of his mouth and the way it opened under her own. Their tongues danced together in a long, slow swirl, only ending when Matthias pulled back and nipped gently at her lower lip.
He rolled her under him in a quick movement, making her giggle, before returning to their kisses. Danäe let her hands roam over the muscled expanse of his back, loving the way he moved under her touch. His chest brushed against the tightening points of her breasts, making them ache.
As if reading her mind he eased her gown up, nuzzling his way down her neck and covering her exposed breasts with warm, teasing kisses. To her surprise he started kissed a line down her sternum to her belly, then lower.
Hope began to build inside her. She loved giving him oral pleasure, but he hadn’t shown any interest in reciprocating and she wasn’t sure how to bring it up. “Matthias?”
He paused just above her mound, lips warm against the sensitive skin there. “Please, Danäe, let me do this,” he murmured, his voice rough and hungry somehow. It was astoundingly erotic. “I swear I’ll give you nothing but pleasure.”
She reached down and stroked his hair. “You never have to ask permission to do that, love.”
“Ah. Good.” He urged her thighs apart, kissing and nuzzling the soft skin on their inner surfaces. The light scratch of his stubble added a teasing prickle to the sensation, something that was trebled when he bit down gently. The unexpected sting sent a wave of sensation flooding upward, and she gasped in pleasure.
He raised his head, grinning at her. “I take it you liked that?”
“Yes,” Danäe managed, slightly breathless. “In fact, do that again.”
“As you wish, my queen.” He repeated the process on her other thigh, laving the bite mark before kissing it. She could feel herself growing wet, wondering if he could see it shining on her flesh.
He teased closer and closer, rubbing his nose across her pubic curls and laying closed mouth kisses along the outer lips. The sensation started out as intensely ticklish, but transmuted into pleasure under his slow, deliberate nuzzling.
He paused. “I’m going to open you now and kiss you inside, all right?”
She suppressed a growled order for him to get on with it, wiggling under his hands instead. He chuckled and stroked her with his thumbs, delicately parting her and exposing her wet inner core. “Oh, yes, all slick and eager for me,” he murmured. “I’ve wanted to taste you here since our first night together. And now I’m going to feast on you, little bird.”
She felt his warm breath gust across her, and then the deliberate brush of his tongue. She gasped as desire flamed through her, heating her belly and making her moan. He licked her again, more firmly this time, sending up another rush of need.
“Gods, yes. More, please,” she begged.
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Mid Week Tease: Empress of Storms #MidWeekTease #MWTease
Still working on the challenge project (now called Empress of Storms) and the more I write about Matthias and Danäe the more I like this prickly, too smart for their own good couple who are finding out that they have far more in common than they ever thought. Here’s a hot little scene where Matthias learns that well-bred young ladies sometimes like to be on top.
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
When widower King Matthias IV of Ypres is called upon to fulfill a treaty with the neighboring country of Hellas and provide a royal consort for young Queen Danäe, the only Ypresian royal available for marriage is himself. Can he overcome his grief for his late wife and risk letting a blue-haired witch queen into his heart? And can Danäe, only half-trained as a water mage, root out a magical threat against Matthias before it kills the man she’s loved since childhood?
At night Danäe could finally put aside the public persona of Queen and revel in her new role as Matthias’s wife. The king had been as good as his promise, and made sure to come to her chambers as soon as they were both ready for bed. Sometimes they would pass the time talking about the day’s events over goblets of crisp white wine provided by Flavia, but more often a laughing Matthias would tumble her onto the wide bed and proceed to drive her mad with his lips and hands, holding off until she was begging for release before he slid deep inside her.
But for all his passion, there were curious gaps in the king’s sensual education. Danäe stumbled across one of these one night when she playfully straddled him, rubbing his erect shaft against her mound and the slick flesh beneath it. He closed his eyes and groaned softly at the sensation.
“Well, you’re certainly eager,” she teased. “I do believe I’m of a mind to ride the royal stallion tonight.”
His eyes popped open. “What? You mean…me? You on top of me?”
His shock was mild but genuine. “Well, yes,” Danäe said, wondering if she’d come up against some odd Ypresian taboo. But they breed horses — it can’t be that unknown among them. “Unless you don’t care for that position.”
“Oh. No, it’s not that. I just didn’t know…”
Danäe paused. “You didn’t know what?”
He let his hands settle on her hips, cupping them. “That well-bred young women knew about things like that.”
She couldn’t help laughing at the absurdly prim tone of his voice. “It’s a very common position, you know. And not just among tavern wenches and women of questionable virtue.”
“Danäe, really.” His mouth twitched. “It’s just…Hanne wasn’t comfortable doing such things.”
“Ah.” She sat back on her haunches, wondering if the late queen hadn’t enjoyed the act of love, or was simply too reserved to ask for variety in her husband’s lovemaking. “I myself happen to enjoy it a great deal. It gives me more leverage and allows me to rub against you in a way that feels wonderful.”
“It does?”
“May I show you?”
The hazel brown of his eyes darkened. “Please do.”
Rising up, she guided the head of his cock between her legs and eased him inside, grateful that his earlier kisses and caresses had left her nicely wet. Her inner muscles stretched from his girth, and the delicious sensation of fullness started a warmth in her belly that would soon build into a raging fire.
Humming happily, she slid down until he was completely inside her. “How does that feel, milord king?”
“Tight,” he said, somewhat breathless. “Warm, slick. Gods, you feel amazing.”
“You as well. Now,” she rose up and sank down on him again, “one of the benefits for you is that you can simply lie there and enjoy me. Feel me tight and hot around you, watch my breasts bounce as I ride you.” She cupped them, stroking and tweaking the aching nipples. Flickers of pleasure arrowed down to the wet flesh between her legs, enhancing the sensation of Matthias’s marvelous cock inside her. “I love feeling you like this, so thick and hard.”
“I can tell.” His breath had shortened, not quite panting but heading there. “Is that why you enjoy this position?”
“Partially, and also because I can also do this.” Her right hand snaked down, one finger landing on her clit and rubbing it in slow circles. Flames of pure pleasure licked up through her belly. She threw her head back, grinning at the ceiling. “Oh, Gods, that’s good.”
His hand crept around from her hip, long fingers splayed across her thigh. “Show me how to do that,” he said, hoarse.
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Mid Week Tease: Navigator’s Star #MidWeekTease #MWTease
Okay, so if you go back a post you’ll see that I wrote about this crazy MF high fantasy erotic romance that the Muse dropped on me a few days ago. Which makes no sense whatsoever as 1) I don’t write high fantasy, and 2) my single MF title to date sank like a stone.
And yet the adjoining lands of Ypres and Hellas are calling to me like you would not believe. I have no idea what I’m going to do with it when it’s finished, but I’ll worry about that when it happens. In the meantime, here’s a snippet from King Matthias and Queen Danäe’s somewhat disjointed wedding night.
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
Widower King Matthias IV of Ypres is called upon to fulfill a treaty with the neighboring country of Hellas and provide a royal consort for young Queen Danäe. But with his son’s disappearance, the only Ypresian royal available for marriage is himself. Can he overcome his grief for his late wife and risk letting a blue-haired witch queen into his heart? And can Danäe, still training as a Water Mage, root out a magical threat against Matthias before it kills the man she’s loved since childhood?
“So, here we are,” Matthias said softly.
“Here we are,” Danäe echoed.
He put the candle down on the bedside table, and sighed. “This is not something that either of us wished for,” he said quietly. “But we are now married, for better or worse. And this union will do much to help both our countries.”
And Flavia was worried about me talking politics in my wedding bed. “I know.”
He sat on the bed, reaching across to take her hand. “I know we are no lovematch, and I won’t bother you again after tonight, but…” He trailed off, uncomfortable.
She squeezed his hand. “It’s traditional,” she said. “Sympathetic magic for the union of the countries. I do understand.”
He nodded, relieved. “I will try to make this as pleasant as possible.”
Leaning over, he blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness. Out of respect for her modesty, she presumed. There was no way he could know about adept-trained darksight. Intrigued, she watched as the king shed his nightshirt.
Apart from scars earned in battle, the years had touched Matthias’s body only lightly. A slight sag in the chin and a thickening around the waist was all that separated him from one of his younger warriors. Danäe appreciated his broad chest, with its light scattering of curly hair, and the well-muscled arms, strong from years of fighting with sword and pila. A long, thin scar along his side ran down across his abdomen; she studied it, following its path downward to his groin. His cock was already stirring there, rising from its nest of curly hair, and promised an impressive girth when fully erect. You claim to be uninterested in me, milord king, but your body says otherwise.
Her own body reacted automatically, nipples hard and tingling. The brush of her silk shift across them felt like a caress. Danäe swallowed in what she hoped was silence, trying to keep her excitement under control. But gods, it was difficult. After years of fantasizing about this man, she was finally going to lie in his arms, feel his body enter hers, hold him close as she flew on the wings of pleasure.
Yes, except that he’s only doing this to fulfill the treaty. Erection or not, he doesn’t actually want to be married to you, remember?
The reminder helped to cool her ardor. The mattress sank slightly as Matthias climbed in beside her. In the dark the scent of his skin, a pleasantly woody scent underlaid with clean male, seemed more intense, and she breathed it in deeply. He moved closer to her, his erection pressing like a long, hot stone against her hip.
“I believe this would be easier if you removed your shift,” he said gently.
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Now grateful for the blush-hiding darkness, she sat up and yanked the delicate silk over her head, tossing it to the side. She lay back against the pillows, the chill air of the room bringing goosebumps to her exposed skin and inhaled sharply when Matthias laid a hand on her stomach.
He moved his hand upwards, delicately running his fingers along the underside of her breast, then cupping it, running a thumb over her nipple. The sensation caused a sharp spark of desire to crackle through her. His head dipped down, lips brushing against the hollow of her neck and nuzzling the soft skin there.
Cautiously, she touched his hair, stroking it. He lifted his face, eyes closed in a brief spasm of pleasure that quickly turned to grief. In a sudden burst of insight she realized that the dark was for his benefit, not hers. Without the light, he could pretend that the hair against his face was blond, not black, that the body he caressed was Ypresian, not Hellene.
Her heart ached in mingled sympathy and dismay. I cannot be Hanne, my husband. But for tonight, dream of her while you hold me.
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Mid Week Tease: Cross Current #MidWeekTease #MWTease
It’s Wednesday? Well, we all know what that means! Yes, it’s time to tease you with a snippet from one of my WIPs. So, how would you like to see the (unedited) opening of Cross Current (Olympic Cove Book Four)? Of course you would!
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
“If you’ll sign here, please.”
Matt Taber wrote his signature on the indicated line.
“And here.”
Another line, another signature.
“And one last time.”
The same slightly scrawled name, black ballpoint ink standing out on the paper. Matt noticed the lawyer’s office printed out their documents on the nice heavy paper made for laser printers, not the thin general purpose stuff.
Nothing but the best for the death of a marriage.
“That should do it,” his lawyer said. He exchanged a nod with the other lawyer, their steps done in this particular dance.
Across the table, Matt’s now-ex-wife Nancy sat with her hands neatly folded, a politely blank expression on her face. After ten years of living with her, he still couldn’t read it.
Then again, he didn’t have to try anymore. Giving her a brusque nod, he stood and followed his lawyer out of the conference room.
“That went pretty well, I’d say,” the lawyer said. “Although I still think we should have held out for community property. You know you’re dropping back down into a pretty sad tax bracket, right?”
“I know.” Matt shrugged. “That’s fine. I don’t want anything from her.”
That wasn’t quite true. But the only thing he’d ever wanted from Nancy was the one thing she didn’t want to give. And he couldn’t even really blame her for that.
He nodded through the rest of the lawyer’s litany, agreeing to stop by the office for the final payment. And then he was alone in the granite-clad hallway, surrounded by expensive air and time that was counted in billable hours.
“Matt.”
He started, turning. Nancy stood at the door of the conference room, flawlessly dressed as usual. Today she wore a cream tailored jacket and skirt over a champagne silk blouse that would go straight from a divorce lawyer to her office at a major bank without anyone batting an eye.
The hurt washed over him again, followed almost immediately by relief. I loved you, I really did. In a way, I still do.
She pursed her mouth as if hearing his thoughts. “I’m not going to give you some ridiculous platitude about how this is the best thing for both of us,” she said, kind and blunt at the same time. “I wasn’t happy, and I wanted out, simple as that. But I also know you’re hurting right now, and I’m truly sorry about that. You’re a nice guy. You’ll be able to find someone who’ll be a better fit for you.”
Matt let a slow breath roll out. “I thought you weren’t going to give me some ridiculous platitude.”
One black eyebrow rose in an elegant curve. “You have a point. I’ll be back from Hong Kong in a month. Will that be enough time for you?”
“Yeah, plenty.” The house on Chinook Lane had been hers before their married. He admired the building, but had never felt at home there. It was like living in something out of an Architectural Digest article. “I can swing by and check the mail every couple of days if you like.”
“No, I already put a hold on it at the post office. But thank you.”
He stared at the woman who, with a handful of signatures, had gone from his wife to a stranger. “Have a good flight,” he finally said.
“Thanks.” She leaned over and brushed cool lips across his cheek, then turned and walked away.
#
“And that was that.”
“Damn.” Chris Wilson shook his head. “That’s cold, man.”
After walking out of the lawyer’s office into the bright Florida sunshine, Matt’s first instinct had been to go back to the extended stay hotel room he’d been renting since Nancy announced she wanted a divorce and lick his wounds. A text from Chris, his coworker and chemistry teacher at McAuliffe Senior High School, summoning him to their favorite sports bar for a post-divorce beer had changed his plans.
He rolled the bottom of his bottle on the tabletop, painting a ring of condensation on the sealed wood. “That’s Nancy,” he pointed out. “It’s not like she was going to fall into my arms crying and begging me to take her back.”
“Yeah, but come on,” Chris said, gesturing with his own bottle. “You didn’t ask for a damn thing from her, and you could have. The least she could have done was give you some breakup booty.”
Matt grimaced. “The last thing I want from her is pity sex.”
Chris blew out a breath. “Yeah, suppose I can’t blame you there. Banging an ice queen must be like freeze-drying your dick.”
“She wasn’t that bad.”
Chris gave him a look that clearly said are you shitting me?
Matt’s lips twitched. “Okay, maybe she was that bad. We had some fun, though.”
“If you say so. Me, I like my women a little more human.” The chemistry teacher tapped the table with one long finger. “So, what about the rest of your stuff? I can help you move it out this weekend.”
“Nah, that’s okay. I’m putting most of it in storage anyway. I’ll figure out what I want to do with it after school starts.”
“I’d think ‘look for an apartment’ would be kinda high on the list,” Chris pointed out. “You can’t stay in that hotel room forever.”
“I’m not. I’m moving out tomorrow.”
“Whoa. You already got a place?”
“Sort of.” For the first time that day, Matt felt like smiling. “We were supposed to go to France in a couple of weeks for our anniversary. Obviously that’s not happening now. She said she didn’t care what I did with the reservations, so I cashed everything in. It was more than enough to let me rent a cottage on the beach for the rest of the summer. Until school starts I’m just going to sit on my ass, drink beer, and get a tan.”
Chris saluted him with the beer bottle. “Now that sounds like a plan to me. And you know, if you get overrun with those hot little beach bunnies I’m more than happy to come on over and help out.”
“Yeah, I bet.” Matt drained the last of his beer. “Look, it’s been a long day and I still have some packing to do. Mind if I take off?”
“No problem, I got the tab. We still on for the game this weekend?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Talk to you later.”
He was halfway to the door when he heard Chris yell, “Hey, where is this cottage anyway?”
Matt grinned. Less than a minute. He’s getting smarter. “About twenty miles south of here,” he shouted back over the bar din. “Some place called Olympic Cove.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Me, neither. Should be nice and quiet.”
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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease
It’s Wednesday? Well, we all know what that means! As Deep Water, the third book in my Olympic Cove series, is now available from Evernight and other online retailers, I thought I’d offer one last look at Olympic Cove and my first MMF trio.
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act. His consort Amphitrite has sworn never to forgive him, and he’s forced to live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to her doom.
But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets an occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.
Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…
Griffin twisted in the water. Something heavy slammed into his chest, shoving him backwards and driving the water from his lungs in one great whoosh. Dazed, he looked down and saw a thick wooden shaft sticking out of his chest.
And then agony washed everything away.
****
Amphitrite darted to Griffin’s side, catching him before he could sink to the lagoon floor. She stared in horror at the spear protruding from his sternum.
Then up at her sister Thetis. The First Nereid hovered in the water, tattered robes streaming out from her disfigured body.
“Well met, sister,” Thetis called, sneering. “Although I didn’t expect to find you slumming with landwalkers.”
Amphitrite’s lips pulled back from her teeth in a rictus snarl. “Thetis, you bitch!”
“Now, now, Ammie. You killed my pet,” Thetis called mockingly. “It’s only fair that I kill yours.”
Amphitrite tore her attention away from her gloating sister, focusing on Griffin. “Beloved,” she begged, “please, don’t leave me!”
There was a last flicker in Griffin’s aura as if in answer. Then it disappeared. Her newly found agapetos was dead, lost once again to her.
Amphitrite let them both drift to the lagoon floor, laying his body down as gently as she could. Her shaking hand closed his eyes. I will avenge you, beloved. I swear this.
Looking up at her smirking sister, she held out a hand. Her trident flew to it, the now-separate tines glowing with power. “I’m going to kill you for this,” she snarled.
“Oh, really?” Disdain and something akin to eagerness flickered over Thetis’s face. “You think you can do battle with me, sister? Then come and find me.” The Mad Nereid disappeared into a whirl of sickly grey, streaming out through gaps in the coral.
Amphitrite let out the underwater equivalent of a whistle. Sthenios and Skylla tossed their heads and pulled the chariot to her. She leapt into it, not daring to look at Griffin’s still form. The seahorses surged out of the lagoon after Thetis.
I’ll return for you, beloved, she thought, hoping his spirit could hear her on its way to the Underworld. Just as soon as I kill my sister.
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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease
It’s Wednesday? Well, we all know what that means! As yesterday was release day for Deep Water, the third book in my Olympic Cove series, I thought I’d tempt you with the brand new, never before seen prologue. Heh, heh, heh…
Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!
Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act. His consort Amphitrite has sworn never to forgive him, and he’s forced to live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to her doom.
But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets an occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.
Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…
Poseidon, God of the Sea, glared at the shimmering silver net surrounding him. “Well, this is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into,” he said to the dolphin floating at his side.
Delphinus let out an offended squeak. It translated to, “It’s not my fault you plunged in here without looking, lord. I told you that fish was behaving oddly.”
Poseidon studied the coral walls around them with annoyance. He’d been out for a day of sport fishing with Delphinus, mainly to get his mind off his recent breakup with the Nereid Thetis. The weather was perfect for chasing down the canny fish that thronged the Mediterranean. After spotting a choice bluefin the sea god had set off in hot pursuit, Delphinus in his wake.
The bluefin had lured them on a merry chase before diving down into a thick knot of seaweed. Poseidon and Delphinus had followed, swimming straight into a small coral grotto thickly carpeted with lichen, seaweed, and sponges. The plant life had cushioned their abrupt stop, but neither god nor dolphin had noticed the enchanted net lining the walls until it snapped closed behind them. “You didn’t say it was leading us into a trap.”
“Why yes, this is true,” Delphinus said, rolling his eyes. “I humbly beg your pardon for not having godly senses that are supposed to detect magic nets like this one, lord. I’ll work on that in the future.”
Ignoring the cetacean sarcasm, Poseidon poked a finger into the gleaming net. It had only contracted at the entrance to the grotto, giving them more than enough room to move. But the silvery net wouldn’t tear, no matter how hard he pulled on it. Using the sharp tines of his trident to rip at the deceptively fragile strands had the same result. Whoever had created this cage was a clever being indeed.
And as soon as I get out of it, Poseidon thought grimly, I’m going to track down that clever being and beat him bloody.
“Problems?”
Both Poseidon and Delphinus startled, turning towards the figure that was now hovering just outside the grotto’s entrance.
“Amphitrite?” Poseidon said, drifting closer. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you,” the Nereid said, tucking a lock of dark hair behind one ear. She wore a clinging wisp of fabric that did nothing to hide her feminine curves, and her eyes were bright in a preternaturally lovely face. “Took you long enough to stumble into my trap, sea lord. I’m going to have to feed that bluefin for weeks, now.”
Delphinus muttered something uncomplimentary at that, and Poseidon glared at both of them. “Is this because I broke things off with Thetis?” he asked, annoyed. “I assure you I meant no insult to your sister, but I cannot marry her—”
Amphitrite held up a slender hand. “Because of the prophecy about her son overthrowing his father. I know. This has nothing to do with Thetis.”
That gave Poseidon pause. Brows furrowed, he studied the beautiful sea nymph floating outside his prison. Her father Nereus was a primal sea god, and he and his fifty daughters were allies of the Olympian Gods. Poseidon had considered himself a welcome presence among them.
Until now, that is. “If this isn’t about Thetis, then what is it about?” he said.
Amphitrite pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Two things. I wanted to ask you a question. And I want something from you.”
Poseidon kicked closer, curling his fingers into the silvery netting. “Locking me in a bespelled net isn’t making me feel forthcoming or generous, Nereid,” he growled.
She seemed impervious to his irritation. “I’m aware of that. But the last time I tried to talk to you in private, Thetis swooped in before I got the chance. The next thing I knew, the two of you were engaged.” Amphitrite tilted her head to the side, giving him an impish look. “I didn’t want that to happen again. Thus, the net.”
Poseidon tugged again on the strands, to no effect. She had obviously gone to some lengths in order to capture him. In a strange way, he supposed he should be flattered. “All right, you have my attention,” he said, giving her an imperious look. “What is your question?”
“Why did you court Thetis instead of me?”
That was not a question he had expected. Recovering, he said, “I needed a consort. Thetis was not only beautiful and accomplished, but she was also the eldest daughter of one of my strongest allies. I thought she would suit the role well.”
Amphitrite’s eyes narrowed. “And I wouldn’t?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you never considered me for the role of consort.”
Poseidon considered his delicate cage. Eventually someone would notice he was missing and come in search of him, and it wasn’t as if he could drown or starve. Best to tell the nymph the truth, harsh as it might be. “Actually, I did,” he said. “But Thetis struck me as more … biddable.”
Amphitrite snorted, silver bubbles streaming from her nose. “You obviously don’t know my sister all that well,” she said. “I’m aware she’s known as Thetis the Kind, but the last part is something of a misnomer.”
Poseidon remembered the unpleasant scene in Nereus’s private garden when he’d returned his Nereid’s Band to Thetis, explaining why he was breaking their engagement. She had flung the heavy silver bracelet at his head, screeching imprecations at him until he’d fled. “As I’ve discovered. Whereas you are known as Amphitrite the Wise.” He plucked a strand of the net meaningfully. “A wise woman wouldn’t trap a god in something as flimsy as a net.”
Amphitrite folded her arms across what he had to admit was a rather luscious cleavage. “She would if it was the only way of learning the truth. So you have no interest in me whatsoever.”
Poseidon sighed, blinking against the rush of bubbles. “I didn’t say that either. You’re lovely, and obviously you’re extremely clever. But you’re also very strong-willed, and I’ve heard tales of your skill with weaponry. The god who marries you will not have a quiet marriage.”
He had thought she would be offended at his assessment. Instead, she dimpled. “Is that truly such a bad thing, sea lord?” she said. “A pretty bedmate who will adorn your home is all well and good, but wouldn’t it be better to have a strong consort who will fight at your side and give you able children?”
Poseidon went very still. “And who will I be fighting, Amphitrite?”
Her dimples disappeared. “I’ve served at my father’s table far too long not to know of your struggles with the Titans,” she said, her tone serious. “You and your brothers and sisters will not be able to co-exist for much longer with Kronos and his ilk. Eventually, you will be forced to fight them for dominion. When that happens, I would prefer to be by your side, as I have fought by my father’s side.” She bit her lower lip. “I admit, sea lord, I do not wish to watch you die at the hands of the Titans.”
“I … see.” Poseidon had assumed that her earlier attentiveness during his visits was due to his status as guest and God of the Sea. Apparently he had been wrong.
He quickly reassessed his opinion of the Nereid. True, Thetis had seemed sweeter and more pliable than her headstrong younger sister. But Amphitrite demonstrated a loyalty and strength of character that would serve better in a consort.
And Gaia, she was lovely. “I had no idea you felt this way about me, Amphitrite. I wish you’d said something earlier.”
One corner of her mouth curved upwards. “As I already said, I tried. But Thetis got to you first.”
“But she doesn’t have me any longer.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Amphitrite smiled. “Which leads me to my second item.”
Poseidon realized he’d never seen Nereus’s second daughter truly smile before. Her glorious sunburst of an expression made him feel as if a bolt of his brother’s lightning had pierced his heart. “Yes, you want something from me,” he said, unable not to smile back. “You don’t strike me as the type to ask for trinkets like pearls or jewelry. Do you want a trident of your own? A chariot? Or perhaps an island to rule as queen? I suspect you’d do well with that.”
The Nereid laughed softly. “Nothing as complicated as all that. I want a kiss.”
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Deep Water is now available
Hear ye, hear ye, Olympic Cove fans! Deep Water (Olympic Cove Book 3) is now available from Evernight Publishing and Amazon. It should be available at All Romance eBooks and Bookstrand by Wednesday and I’ll post links here as soon as I get them.
Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act. His consort Amphitrite has sworn never to forgive him, and he’s forced to live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to her doom.
But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets an occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.
Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…
But that’s not all! This Friday evening L.D. Blakeley and I are throwing a Sweet Sizzling Reads Release Party at Facebook from 6 to 9 PM Eastern Summer Time to celebrate our respective new releases. There will be much fun and frivolity, plus we’ll be giving way Amazon and Evernight Publishing gift cards, nifty author swag, and custom jewelry throughout the party, so make sure you stop by.
Fabulous Friday Reads: Footwear and Fantasy
Let’s kick off this lovely weekend with Footwear and Fantasy, a wonderfully sexy take on the fairy tale “The Elves and the Shoemaker” from J.J. Lore, now available from Evernight Publishing and other purveyors of fine erotic romance. Take it away, J.J.!
Hanna Bregot is struggling to make a go of her ailing father’s cobbler shop, but the residents of her town regard a woman shoemaker as an oddity. At the end of the day, she can’t even summon the energy to repair her tattered slippers, let alone earn enough to feed herself or her cat.
Elf companions Lear and Garrin like to mingle among humans, but always in disguise. When they notice a poor cobbler crying over her shoes one evening, they immediately decide to intervene and give her a gift in the hopes of lifting her spirits.
What starts out as simple kindness soon morphs into a sensual game the three want to play forever. But when the Queen of the Elves discovers their love, it becomes a matter of magic versus mundane in a life or death decision.
Story Excerpt
A gasping noise interrupted his thoughts and he and Lear turned toward the sound, alert to any threat. Rather than facing an intruding thief, instead they confronted a blinking Hanna crouched on the stairs. She was clad in a thin chemise, her bare feet and ankles peeping out from under the frayed hem as she tottered on an upper step, her thin hand grasping the rail. Her pink lips parted wordlessly as she glanced between the two of them. For a long moment, Garrin found himself wondering what she saw. Neither he nor his mate had bothered to assume a human veil, so she was now seeing elven men for what had to be the first time in her life. He knew he was ruggedly built by his race’s standards, where Lear aligned more closely to the slim, lithe ideal. They both had brown hair grown long and pulled back in a hank. His was thick and dark while Lear’s was more auburn and smooth. Of course, their pointed ears and sharper features were likely the first things she’d notice, alerting her to the presence of magical beings in her shop.
“You’re…you’re…” Hanna’s soft voice trembled and before he realized what he was about, Garrin found himself rising, ready to assist. Her blue eyes widened as she took him in and her eyelids fluttered. Like a felled sapling she slumped, crumpling on the stairs in a swoon. She would have tumbled down the last remaining few if he hadn’t gathered her up in his arms. Her warm weight was a welcome burden and he allowed himself the pleasure of looking over her body, taking in the swells of her breasts pressing against the thin fabric of her gown, the curved collarbone and hollow at the base of her throat revealed by the garment’s disarray. Her dark brown lashes fluttered against her pale skin as she roused and he couldn’t help but draw in a deep breath to capture her sweet, musky scent while he could.
Lear crouched at her side, running his fingers along the soft skin of her wrist, his gaze never leaving her face.
“Should we return her to bed, do you think?” Garrin tried to keep his voice low so as to not startle her, but she flinched and blinked her eyes instead. Her gaze flew to his, her deep blue eyes wide with confusion as she pressed her hands to his chest as if to push away. He tightened his grip instinctively, something about their physical closeness pulling him to her in an immediate and primal way. Her muscles stiffened in response and at that slight friction against his body, his prong thrummed to life, affirming that indeed he wished to have this woman.
“What are you? Why are you in my shop?” Her voice quavered and her eyes brightened with imminent tears. “Please don’t hurt me.”
Garrin took in an aghast breath. She was frightened of them? To be fair, they were trespassing, but they were attempting to do a good deed and had certainly never contemplated sneaking up to observe her as she slept. Or at least he hadn’t until the thought occurred.
“We won’t hurt you.” Lear’s voice went quiet and soothing, but the woman shook her head in denial. Her limbs quivered as if she longed to escape.
“We aimed to help you, mistress, only that.” Garrin knew that wasn’t quite the whole truth but better to reassure her than reveal he and his mate harbored lustful thoughts toward her. To ease her stress he invoked a small glamour over her, a mere shadow of reassurance and charm.
“But…but…what are you? You aren’t like any men I’ve seen before. Are you from one of the northern kingdoms?” Hanna blinked and attempted to sit up, somehow managing to position herself on Garrin’s lap. His thickened prong approved of the soft buttocks pressed to it. Her expression was sleep softened and gentle, not tense and frightened like before.
“In a manner of speaking,” Lear agreed with her but went still as she reached out one work-worn hand to almost touch the flared point of his ear.
“Was that an injury? How could that be? You both have them.” Her tone went from speculative to confused. Her whole body flinched against his, and Garrin longed for her to move like that when he had his thick prong pressed tight inside her body. However, it seemed there were quite a few impediments to overcome before that scenario would come to pass.
“You aren’t human, are you?” Now she did pull away in earnest, somehow able to overcome the little spell he’d sent her way.
Lear reached out to her cheek and whispered something under his breath and she quieted again, gently shaking her head even as she subsided against Garrin’s shoulder.
“We’re elves.” Garrin believed direct was best, especially when she was somewhat impaired by magic. She moaned low in her throat and Lear again reached for her, smoothing his fingers along her wrists.
“But you don’t exist. The old stories are mere fables and tales. The devil has pointed ears like yours. Or a demon. The cleric says minions of hell can come to steal us away underground where you use us cruelly.”
Garrin wondered what the cleric’s reaction would be if an orc shambled through his church in the middle of a service, or dwarves tunneled out of the vestry floor. As always, the legends and tales of humans cast magical folk as the enemy and blamed them for all the troubles that befell them.
“We aren’t devils or even particularly mean.” Lear smiled at her and she tentatively returned it. How much of her agreeability was due to genuine feeling or the glamour, Garrin couldn’t guess, but the main point was she was calm. “Merely different.”
Hanna raised her hands in the air and shifted her legs, clearly attempting to rise, but Garrin wanted to hold her fast. She might stumble and he would not care to see her injure herself.
“You need to let me go. You need to leave my home,” she declared as she wrenched herself free and tottered between them. Her gaze fell on the boots gleaming like night, and her eyes widened again. “What…are those for me?”
“Yes, Mistress Hanna.” Lear stood from his crouch and reached for the boots, holding them out as the silken laces trailed down.
“This defies all explanation. Mythical creatures in my shop, making me beautiful things.” Hanna’s voice trailed off as she accepted the boots and ran her fingertips along the stitched seams, her hair loosening from the plait down her back. “I should be afraid, screaming for the constable, but I’m not. Why?”
Garrin cleared his throat, sure he didn’t want to tell her the reason.
“We mean you no harm, so there’s no need to be afraid.” Lear nodded encouragingly at her. “Would you care to try them on?”
He knelt at her feet, a supplicant searching for her approval. Abandoning all pretense of aloofness, Garrin joined him, needing to touch her again. He no longer cared about the potentially grave consequences of interacting with her. He craved this sweet-smelling human as he craved wooded glens and waterfalls.
Where to Buy
Evernight Publishing
Amazon
All Romance eBooks
BookStrand
About J.J. Lore
J. Lore needs three things; strong, black coffee, time to write, and…well…you can guess the third. When she isn’t inventing fantastical tales filled with passionate people, she’s shaking sriracha on whatever she’s eating or reading about the Justinian plague. For updates on her bestselling erotic romance releases, visit her at http://mllesnarratif.com/j-j-lore/ or follow on Twitter @JJLore1.
So, about Deep Water
These are quite possibly the most beautiful words in the English language:
And with that, Draft One of Deep Water is finished. I’m going to let it sit over the weekend while I do useful things like pay bills, do the taxes, and wash our increasingly adhesive kitchen floor. I may even lure Ramón out to a movie, seeing as he’s not gaming on Saturday and I I haven’t seen Kingsmen: The Secret Service yet.
On Monday I go back to Behind the Iron Cross (because I have received death threats from my sister from another mister if don’t put it into her hot and sweaty hands soon). The goal is to have it finished and polished in time for RT 2015, as I have agent and editor interviews scheduled. Sometime late next week I’ll pull Deep Water out and start Draft Two. Beta readers (you know who you are), you can expect it in YOUR hot little hands by April 6 if not earlier, so be warned.
Oh, and I bought myself this little sterling silver, moonstone, and blue topaz bauble as a reward for finishing the book. The octopus-like beaded scrolls are VERY apropos, trust me.
Guess what I did this morning?
Everyone who liked my Breaker Zone MWT snippets is about to be very happy because — ta-da — I signed the publishing contract with Evernight this morning! Breaker Zone should be coming out either in late November or early December, and I cannot wait to see the cover art and make the trailer for this one.
Of course, that also means that I need to get cracking on Olympic Cove 3 because waiting eighteen months between books is not fun (I mean, who do I think I am, George R.R. Martin?). Right now the working title is Deep Water, and this one will be a little different in that it’s going to be a MMF story.
MM lovers, come back! There’s going to be plenty of hot man-on-man action for you, I promise. The initial pairing will be Poseidon (I TOLD you he was going to get his own book) and a gruff British oceanographer named Griffin Parkes who wants to spend a peaceful week at Olympic Cove before going into hospice care for his terminal cancer. But the God of the Ocean isn’t giving up that easily, especially when he recognizes Griffin as the long-lost agapetos of himself and his consort Amphitrite. Now, Poseidon must seduce a quite straight Griffin in order to save his life, then figure out how to bring Amphitrite back into their triad.
Can a still-grieving Amphitrite forgive Poseidon for the ancient betrayal that destroyed their marriage? Will the blunt, pragmatic Griffin be able to accept not only a male lover, but the fact that he’s a mythological figure reborn? Will Poseidon be able to bring the two loves of his life back together, or is he destined to lose Griffin and Amphitrite yet again? And what plans does Thetis have for this triad? And gads, how are Bythos and Aphros going to react to the idea of their parents, you know, doing it?
Only time will tell, mwahahahahaha. (And I can see Ceit staring at the screen and screaming, “WHAT? You, I, buh, WHAT?” Don’t worry, sweetie, I already have you down as one of the betas.)
Nicola Cameron Writes 