Sunday, September 30, 2012

**Winners for Fault Line, Stuck & Where the Heart Lies***

 I am going to announce three winners for three different posts....
Congrats to all the winners!!!!
Thanks to everyone that came out to visit!!!




Fault Lines 
The Winner is..... 
bn100
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

***********************


Stuck

The Winner is......
 
torymichaels(@)live(.)com
 
 
 

***********************

Where the Heart Lies

 
The Winner is..... 
 
 marybelle
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com




And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Friday, September 28, 2012

*Guest Post Interview* Fault Lines by Rebecca Maher *LitConnect*

Ladies and Gents, please put together a warm welcome for author... Rebecca Rogers Maher!



Fault Lines
by Rebecca Rogers Maher

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: Hot, realistic
Publisher: Carina Press
Publishing Date: Sept. 24, 2012
Series: Recovery Trilogy #3
Can be read as a stand alone? Yes

Sarah Murphy plans other people’s weddings. She’s gorgeous and successful, but she also carries a dark secret.

At one of her events, she meets Joe Sullivan, a sexy photographer with a difficult past of his own. When he snaps a rare unguarded photograph of her and captures the real person hiding behind the facade, she feels exposed. To restore the upper hand, she tries to do what she always does: use sex to defuse the situation.

While Joe is eager to deepen his relationship with Sarah, he’s aware of her emotional shield and the way she disconnects from her body. Seeing her at her most vulnerable doesn’t scare him off, but he needs to know what she’s hiding.

Sarah has a tough decision to make. Does she want to go on living a lonely, emotionally frozen life? Or can she finally risk revealing the truth and move forward with Joe?


**************************
Now, I will turn the Lair over to Ms. Rebecca!!! It is such a pleasure to have new authors here!

Thanks so much for having me here at All I Want and More!

I’m going to tell you a secret.

Whenever I start a new book, the first thing I do is write the sex scene. I’m a contemporary romance author, so I’m supposed to care most about the blossoming love between my hero and heroine, about their stolen glances and heavy sighs and wildly ridiculous misunderstandings.

But what I really care about most is their sex scenes. Because here’s the thing: if you want to understand a couple, you need to know what they do in the sack. You need to know what happens when all their defenses are down and they are completely vulnerable to each other.

This was especially important in Fault Lines, my latest book and the final installment of my Recovery Trilogy. The heroine, Sarah, is a rape survivor and her sexual history is, well…complicated.

Along comes Joe, a wedding photographer who sees her clearly and deeply, right away. She tries sleeping with him, hoping to defuse the situation. But Joe’s sexual and emotional intensity throw her completely off guard and she ends up revealing herself to him in a way she has never done before with any man.

This sex scene was complicated by Sarah’s history as a rape survivor. And here I’m going to say something controversial, because there are few things that make me angrier than sexual abuse survivors in books that do not behave like sexual abuse survivors.

So let me set the record straight here and now. Rape is not a tool for character development. You can’t just throw it into a heroine’s history to give her a sense of false depth. Rape survivors have real issues with sex, and if you don’t show that in the sex scenes, then what you’re doing is exploiting real-life trauma for your own cheap gain. And that ain’t right.

I wrote the sex scene in Fault Lines first because Sarah’s reactions to Joe and herself in that scene frame the rest of the book. The depth of her feelings terrifies her, and the story hinges on how she learns to deal with that terror.

Sarah is a real woman with a serious problem. She’s just like many women I know – tough, strong, and wounded, but a fighter. Her story is hard, but completely triumphant. She finds a man who is incredibly passionate and hot, but also kind, patient and loving. And that is truly what every real woman deserves.

Not only glamorous or exotic women. Not just women dating corporate tycoons and alpha heroes. Normal woman deserve it too. We’re the ones who work hard all day and take care of our families all night. We deserve great love and great sex.

I write the sex scenes first because they’re the scenes that inspire me the most. They remind me that emotionally satisfying, intensely hot romance is out there. And we all have a right to it.

Thanks again for having me here today!

Come on by and follow me on Facebook. I’m very chatty there!


Buy Here!!!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/O4bD5u
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/NjLdJu
Carina Press: http://bit.ly/QGffKq

Author Bio & Links:

Rebecca Rogers Maher lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and children.

www.RebeccaRogersMaher.com
www.twitter.com/RebeccaRMaher
www.facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaRogersMaher

Testimonials:

“Brooklyn author pens a steamy romance novel reminiscent of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’”
Profile of Rebecca Rogers Maher in New York Daily News

“(T)here’s lovely nuance in the erotic writing in the book…Lee and Dannie are well-drawn out
characters and their interactions, though compressed in time, resonate with depth. The sex
scenes are nicely done and the love Dannie and Lee make is integral to their emotional journey.”
Review of Snowbound with a Stranger, Dear Author

“This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming story…The story blends heartache with
new beginnings, making Jane an inspiration to the other characters in the book as well as readers.”
4.5 Star review of I’ll Become the Sea, RT Book Reviews

“Rebecca Rogers Maher could teach her own novella class without a doubt. Even with only 73
pages to play, she not only crafts a compelling love story between two damaged individuals but
paints vivid characters with just a few brush strokes. I appreciated that her protagonists were
older (late thirties, early forties) yet still just as sexy as the taut young bodies we enjoy reading
about in other romance novels. “
Review of Snowbound with a Stranger, Tori Macallister

                      ***Giveaway Time***
One randomly drawn commenter from each tour stop will win one digital copy of FAULT LINES.
Contest is open the duration of the tour (9/17-28) and internationally. The winner will be randomly selected and notified.

Additional tour stops can be found at:
http://events.litconnect.com/virtual-book-tour-fault-lines-by-rebecca-rogers-maher

The more stops readers comment on, the greater their chance of winning.

 

 To enter for your chance of this great book...
You must leave: A comment & your email!!
Those are musts to be entered!
The contest is running from.... September 28th, Friday...
Ending...

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

*Interview & Giveaway* Stuck by Sascha Illyvich

Stuck by Sascha Illyvich

Blurb:
Kandy is a young, free spirit unafraid to live life, she pushes her body and soul to the limit, hitting all the loud metal concerts, knocking back drinks , and coming home hung over to Ian Richards, the man who has taken her under his wing since she came to live with him after her parents died years ago.

Of course, Ian has a past too. He and his ex wife parted on friendly enough terms, but he still feels guilty for their breakup. It seems to him that his sexy little roommate, who happens to be nine years younger than him, was a part of their problem.

Only, his concern for her seemed fatherly until she comes home one night after a Slipknot concert and decides to seduce him. After all, she’s old enough. For someone her age, she’s wise beyond her years, which even Ian can give her, but still. Will Kandy show Ian that in order to grow, he has to get his priorities straight? Can he get out of his head and let go of the past long enough to see just what he has under his nose? Or will he cling to memories of the past failures and remain stuck?

Let's welcome the author to the Lair... I had a delightful chance to ask Sascha some questions! Let's welcome Sascha!

Since you are a new to me author, I am hoping to bring you to the light of others! So let’s share!
Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you, lol!

Well, I'm a male romance author, a Prince among Princesses of this industry, but really a Deity by now.  I've been a fan of romance since my late teens when I started writing a sex story that to me, needed to have a happy ending as I saw my life going to shit at that point.  What can't you google about me…I'm pretty sure I'm actually an open book.

Tell us a little about your book? – Stuck is an erotic romance I wrote for a publisher that went under and features two characters who really love each other.  Ian, slightly older, conservative and secretly in love with his barely twenty two year old roommate, wakes up one night to find Kandy coming home, drunk from a Slipknot concert. When she wakes up, the fog has cleared and she only has one thing on her mind.  Ian.  Her youthful outlook on life clashes with his but one night of passion leads to exploration of something deeper.

How much emotion does it take from you to write?  Lots.  I pour all my angst, anger, vitrol, vehemence, vengeance, sadness, despair and darkness into a book so the outcome makes you really cry at the fact that through all the above fray, there can still be a proper HEA, even if it's unexpected.

What is your favorite part of the book? Not sure, really. 

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters..what would they be? *to describe your main characters* Ian – Responsible, Charming, Controlled.  Kandy:  Angry, passionate, youthful

Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why?? The ones I don't know, because they haven't hit me yet with the song I need to know who they are.

What are you currently working on?
I've started book two in two different series.  Burning Desires series is my paranormal erotic romance Burn Notice tribute while Covenant of Wolves book 2: Rubicon I'm also starting.  Both series are represented by agents Marisa Corvisiero and Saritza Hernandez. 
Do you have anything due to release soon? – Oh, yes.  Finding Eternity is a paranormal erotic romance novella featuring a very Samurai Jack character who fights for his life while searching for his destiny.  After a strenuous fight, he's nearly killed until a woman flies from the heavens to rescue him.  Her heart has needs, as does his, but will he realize her need to be owned IS his destiny?  This will be one of four stories in an anthology featuring Bonni Sansom, Margie Church, and Marianne LaCroix.

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing? The Release

Since we're cover hussies....what was your first impression of your cover? It needs to work for the story and to draw the reader in, conveying all the emotion that goes into the book.

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks? I prefer your dollars, for your preference of my books!

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try? Might try Mystery romance….I'm Rick Castle!

Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance! We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

What is on your night stand/dresser? My lingerie, condoms, cigar, glass of port
What are you listening to you right now? Shiver by Vildhjarta
What are you reading right now? Lover Revealed by JR Ward
What is your favorite season? Holiday? I still like Halloween, but season used to be fall.  Winter holds a special place in my heart even though I freeze now.
And what has been your best b-day present ever??  I don't do birthdays.


**Sorry to hear that....**

Hard and Quick Time! Don't think... Just answer! Okay, before we go this route, I will get us a refill on our drinks... I will be right back...

You know you wanna... Quickie time... Think fast....
Are you a quickie kind girl?  I'd NEVER be a quickie kind of male.  Though I'd not turn one down.  If I were a woman, hellz yeah. 
Dark or Milk Chocolate? Dark
Whipped or Melted? Whipped
Straight up or with a twist - sex? both
What's ur fave drink - in a glass or on him?  Remember I'm male…recently I licked bourbon off one of my bottoms…
Spank or Flogger? Flogger
Junk or Health Food? What does bourbon count as?
Ties or Chains? Chains
Leather or Lace? lace
Soft or Hard... Bed, where was your mind?  Well I'm hard
Control or Be Controlled?  I control.  ALWAYS. 
Hot Wax or Whip Cream?  Wax. I'm not on bottom!
Vampire or Werewolf? Demon Wolf.
Twitter and/or Facebook?  Fetlife
Pinterest or not? Pinterwhat?

***I am blushing as I realize that I did not change my words from her/him to him/her... But Sascha took it in great stride and was an awesome person to have around!! Thanks for coming to the Lair!!***


EXCERPT :

Speeding down I-45 towards Dallas, he didn't know what he was thinking when he let her drive.  It was one thing to say "here, let's take my car," and another to say "Kandy, you drive."
He should have known better.
Taking his car was a better choice, it was brand new.  He took very good care of his new Jaguar, but Kandy just had to test the new fuel injection system on the highway this time of year.  She just had to test the sound system complete with the latest and cleanest speakers on the market.
It wouldn't be so bad if she listened to something calmer than the vocalist from Mudvayne scream.
Of course, maybe she identified.  The vocalist was quite pissed off, but he had to be in his early twenties, right?
Stopping at a truck stop in Centerville, they both got out, stretching their legs.  Kandy was dressed in blue jeans that hugged her well rounded ass and emphasized just how tiny she was, a red velvet jacket that hid her frame.  She wore a tight black top, showing Ian plenty of cleavage.  Her bright red ponytail swung over the curve of her ass.  Complete with two inch boots, she was a knockout!
Ian dressed more conservatively.  Black slacks, a beautiful purple ribbed sweater that Kandy bought him last year for Christmas, and his trusty Bostonians.  Black of course.
Finishing up, Ian met Kandy outside the store and walked with her, arm in arm towards the car.
"I'll drive," Ian looked sternly into Kandy's beautiful eyes.
Kandy pouted, "You don't like my driving?"
"No," Ian's voice was firm.
"Coward." Sticking her tongue out at him made Ian think of things he shouldn't.  This was just a little vacation, right?
"Fine," she retorted to his silence.  But I get to crank up the music still."
Ian sighed heavily.
"Yay!" Kandy jumped up, clapping like a little girl who'd just gotten permission to eat sweets.
They got in the car and immediately, Kandy turned up the stereo.  More Mudvayne.
Ian groaned.
"Oh come on, there's passion behind this band. You know what that is, don't you?"
Ian groaned loudly.  "Yes, I know what passion is."
"Was.  Until," she stopped herself.
Ian was quick to catch her mistake.  "How old are these guys?"
It was too late.  Kandy had drifted into the heavy rhythms of the bass players' slap technique.
They were just outside Dallas when Kandy reached over and put her hand on Ian's thigh.  Twitching, he ignored her, feeling deaf.  She'd switched out Mudvayne for a louder band with a vocalist who vacillated between sounding like an angel, or like he'd swallowed pins for breakfast.
Jerking when her hand inched up his thigh, Ian looked at Kandy, thrashing to the music.  Well, that was a term for it anyway.
Before Ian became fully cognizant, Kandy's hand had managed to find its' way to his crotch.  The warmth of her hand was welcome, but dangerous.
"What are you doing?" he asked when his zipper slid down.
Kandy reached a hand into his pants, threading her fingers through his boxers.
Choking back a groan, Ian managed to keep his eyes on the road.  It had grown considerably darker now.
"What the hell are you doing, Candace?"
"Mmm, don't call me Candace," she purred before freeing his cock.  She began stroking it, her fingers warming and massaging his rigid cock.
"I can't pull over for this nonse–" he couldn't finish the sentence.  Keeping his eyes focused on the road, he realized her warm breath had kissed his cock.
Then her lips fell over him.
"I can't be–oh god Kandy your mouth is so warm…"
Her lips brushed the head of his swollen member, Ian's knees jerked against the gas pedal, sending them within inches of the car in front of them.
The car in front of them honked, flipped Ian off and changed lanes.
Ian peered down, then at the driver who gave him a thumbs up once he glanced over to see Kandy's mouth working him over.
Ian groaned pleasurably.  His body was on fire, his nerves ready to explode in Kandy's mouth, but he maintained control.  If she wasn't careful, they'd wreck.
It started to snow.
"Fucking great!"  Ian choked the words out when she sank his cock completely inside her mouth.
"I know," Kandy replied.  "You taste so damn good," she licked the head of his cock like a lollipop.  Ian grunted, trying to concentrate on the road, but Kandy's tongue snaked around his shaft, sliding up one side and down another.
Clutching the steering wheel, his knuckles had turned white by now, and his thighs ached from his trying to remain in control of his car.
It purred, or at least he thought it did until he slowed the car and saw Kandy, purring against his cock.  The sensation sent shivers racing through him.  Her hot mouth covered him, sliding his cock out of her mouth with a popping sound.
"Kandy," he gritted his teeth together.  Slowing the car, he heard her giggle.
"This is so fun though," she lowered her mouth over his cock, brushing the sensitive skin with her teeth.
The friction of her wet lips against his swollen sex was enough to drive him wild.  "You should stop," he reiterated, "or I'll come in your mouth."
"That's the idea," she licked him again.
Thrusting his hips upwards in an attempt to buck her, he quickly realized that he only added to their pleasure.
She wasn't going to stop.
Ian didn't care right now.  The speed sign passed by too quickly for him to see what the legal limit was, but it didn't matter.  His gray jaguar could outrun any patrol car, but he really didn't want to have matters come to that.
"Kandy," he lowered a hand to her hair, stroking her curls, playing, tangling his fingers in her silky hair.
"Silly pet," she uttered and moved up and down his cock faster and faster, excitement building in him.  His throbbing cock jerked in her mouth once, his control over his body gone. 

BUY LINKS:
https://shop.renebooks.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ILLYVICH-07

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stuck-ebook/dp/B000WTFFAY/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307716419&sr=1-16


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Proclaimed by the Publishing industry as the Bad Boy of Romance, I started writing thirteen years ago. My erotic romances have been listed under the Night Owl Romance and Road to Romance's Recommended read list, as well nominated for a CAPA by The Romance Studio
I host the Unnamed Romance Show on Radio Dentata and continue to write for Sizzler Editions and Total E-bound. Readers can find my work, plus free reads at http://saschaillyvichauthor.com
I edit for Sizzler Editions Intoxication Erotic Romance line and I'm also part of the WriteSex Panel, a blog group defining erotica for writers in any genre! Find us at http://www.writesex.net

Author Links:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/saschaillyvich
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saschaillyvich
Blog: http://saschaillyvichauthor.com

*****GIVEAWAY TIME******

Leave your name and your email in for a chance to win an ecopy of this book!
 The contest will run until Sunday @ 12:00 pm EST!!!
I will pick the winner that night & email the winner!
I promise to try to announce the winner in the side bar after!!!
Good luck!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Monday, September 24, 2012

*Guest Post & Blog Tour Giveaway* Where the Heart Lies by Michelle Garren Flye *Goddess*


Where the Heart Lies
by Michelle Garren Flye

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

All widowed Alicia Galloway has left of her war-hero husband are the flag that draped his coffin and his final wishes: to move to his hometown, take over the family bookstore and enjoy a simple, quiet life with their two small children. When she arrives, her husband’s best friend makes that new life anything but simple. How can she be so drawn to Liam Addison?
Liam only intended to help Alicia get settled. But one unexpected kiss awakens his long-held forbidden feelings. Soon, the town busybodies swoop in to warn Alicia away from him. Because no matter the man he’s become, he’ll never live down his reputation as town troublemaker and wolfish womanizer.
No one wants the war hero’s sweet widow and the supposedly former bad boy together. But the more everyone tries to keep them apart, the closer he and Alicia get. And the more determined Liam is to prove he’s a changed man. Will it be enough to convince Alicia to let a new love in her life?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Alicia came out of the bathroom, fastening an earring. She looked amazing in a long black skirt and white silk blouse with her brassy red hair falling over her shoulders. For a moment he had trouble breathing.

He’d considered bringing flowers, but he’d known what Penny’s opinion of that would be, and more importantly he hadn’t wanted to do anything that would make Alicia uncomfortable. Confronted by her beauty, however, his fingers felt empty, as if he needed something to offer just for the opportunity to look at her. Was this how Aphrodite’s worshippers had felt as they left their worldly goods at the feet of her statue in ancient Greece?






What was the inspiration to write this book?

Inspiration comes from everywhere, but for me it’s usually rooted in the stories I see already taking place around me. I distinctly remember thinking about writing Where the Heart Lies. We were in the car on a road trip, and I was holding my daughter’s Little Mermaid doll and thinking of a friend whose husband was in Afghanistan. I live in eastern North Carolina and many of my neighbors and friends are military or married to military or retired military, so although I have never served in the military, I have a healthy respect for those who do, and an even healthier respect for those who have to see their husbands, wives or significant others go off to war without any real guarantee they’ll ever be back.

I began inventing Alicia, a military widow facing a life with two children without her husband, who died in Afghanistan. How do you come back from something like that? I looked at my husband in the driver’s seat and wondered how I would handle it. I glanced back into the back seat at my children and hoped they would never have to face such a thing. And I said a little prayer that my friend would not be confronted by what I planned to write about.

Alicia needed to be as self-sacrificing as her husband to be the truly strong heroine I imagined her to be, so I made her an orphan and sent her to take care of her husband Ty’s elderly parents, leaving behind the city she loved to fulfill her husband’s obligations. I encountered a problem then. I wanted my tall, beautiful, red-haired heroine to fall in love with someone else, but she was grieving for her husband, as she should be. What kind of hero could entice her to fall in love with him when she’s already lost the man she will love forever?

Liam grew out of these musings. A high school friend of her husband, he enters her life to repay an old debt. They’ve met before, but Liam remembers it more vividly than Alicia. Liam has a darker side, an addiction to alcohol and women that his small hometown won’t let him forget. He’s overcome his addictions to become a business owner and a respected college professor, but he hasn’t outlived his reputation at home. In spite of the gossips, Liam returns again and again to help Alicia get her new life started.

I intentionally let the love story grow slowly between Alicia and Liam. Neither one of them wants to betray Ty’s memory, in spite of their mutual attraction. Although Where the Heart Lies is a romance, it’s also a story of healing and emotional growth. It’s only as Alicia begins to heal and find she can overcome obstacles on her own that she discovers she can love again, too. And Liam has to learn to see her as herself and not Ty’s wife before he can allow himself to admit he loves her.

The inspiration for Where the Heart Lies is the question I think haunts everyone who loves. Can you start over if your world is ripped apart? If a part of your heart is buried forever, can you find the strength to be happy again?


AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Michelle Garren Flye is a mother, writer and editor based in coastal North Carolina. She obtained her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992. Not liking the hours required of a journalist, she went on to obtain a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1997. When her first child was born in 2000, she packed her diplomas away and began a new life as a stay-at-home mom, which fortunately afforded her the opportunity to pursue her writing on a semi-regular basis.

Michelle has served in various capacities for several online and print literary endeavors, including Dark Recesses, edifice WRECKED, Horror Library, Butcher Shop Quartet, and Tattered Souls.

Michelle is the author of three romance novels, Where the Heart Lies (Carina Press 2012), Winter Solstice (Lyrical Press 2011) and Secrets of the Lotus (Lyrical Press 2010). Michelle also self-published a fiction book titled Weeds and Flowers for the Kindle in December 2011.

Links:
Blog: BREATHE: http://michellegflye.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Garren-Flye/132688623422175
Twitter: @michellegflye

 ***Blog Tour Giveaway***

This is what is being given away at my place....  Michelle will be awarding promotional postcards from Carina Press with 10% off coupons to one commenter at every stop....

The rules are easy, peasy... Just comment for a chance to win! Butttttttt you have to leave your email address below! If your email is not in your comment... I am not counting it...  The giveaway will start now... And end..... September  29th, Saturday! Good luck!

And this is the BLOG TOUR giveaway..... A $10 Amazon GC + a copy of Bartlett's Poems for Occasions, which inspired part of the book to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-book-tour-where-heart-lies-by.html
 

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Friday, September 21, 2012

Review: Rock-Hard Heat by Cristal Ryder *Ellora's Cave*

Rock-Hard Heat

All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

It had been a glorious couple of days before Chet had to head down and get back to real life. She smiled and enjoyed the heat that bloomed in her belly, remembering their first lovemaking session after being apart for so many months. Desire for her cowboy never failed to heat her blood and she longed for him now. She wanted him with her in the soft mountain water, which caressed her skin so seductively.

The grime and dust of her prospecting activities at Chet’s great-great-uncle Chester’s old claim sluiced off in the creek’s current and left her skin pink and tingly. She wasn’t ready to get out yet and closed her eyes, drifting lazily.

Chet couldn’t confirm when he’d be back and Jenna had gotten used to staying here on her own when he wasn’t with her. At first, he’d been hesitant to leave her, but she insisted and he’d learned a while ago how stubborn she could be. So they compromised. He made sure she was checked on daily by a ranch hand, had taught her to shoot and left the rifle by the door. The radio was primed in case she needed immediate help and his dog Belle stayed with her. All was good with the world.

Letting her legs drop, Jenna curled her toes into the creek bed and stood. The water was deep, just covering her breasts. They bobbed at the surface, buffeted by little eddies of current. She tipped back, ducked her head in the water and swept her long red tresses out of her face. When she stood, it hung to her shoulders and fanned out on the surface of the water like a halo.

A sense of wellbeing filled her and her heart swelled with happiness. Never had such a strong sensation of belonging, being home, been so sharply etched within her. She knew she had been born on the wrong side of the continent. It was here she should have grown up and experienced life, not back east. Jenna inhaled the crisp mountain air and gazed at the bush around her. It was just as beautiful in the summer as in the winter. Her love for this land grew daily and it truly pained her to think of leaving it. And Chet.

She brushed the disturbing thought aside. It was a while before she’d be packing her bags. Jenna’s gaze took in the brand new sluice box. Chet had replaced the broken-down one with a much more modern setup here at the creek and farther up-river where the tree came down. Chester’s old one was being restored and eventually would be donated to a local history museum. She was determined to find his secret claim and Chet had humored her all the way. Jenna smiled and excitement bubbled inside her at the news she had to tell him.

The gurgle of water over the dam of rocks mixed delightfully with the birds singing in the trees. Jenna was at peace. She sighed and shivered with a slight chill from the cool mountain water. Goose bumps rose along her flesh and her nipples hardened, aching with the cold. She cupped her breasts in her palms, the hard nubs pressing against her flesh. This time the shiver that rippled through her wasn’t from being chilled.

“Chet, when are you going to get here?” she whispered to the silence of the surrounding trees.

“What’s the matter, darlin’? Miss me?”

Jenna spun around, sending a splash of water in a sparkling arc. The wonderful, sexy drawl of Chet’s voice slipped around her like hot honey and she warmed under his gaze. He stood on the little rocky beach where they had made love on the bank of chilly snow last winter. She couldn’t help the smile that broke wide on her face when their eyes met.

“Chet.” His name fell from her lips in a breathy sigh.

He had one booted foot propped on a large rock, his elbow rested on his knee. The faded, worn jeans tightened over his muscular thighs and Jenna’s breath snagged in her chest. She let her gaze roam over the typical plaid cowboy shirt which also strained across his powerful chest and shoulders. He poked his cowboy hat back with a finger and winked at her. She knew what lay beneath those clothes and she hungered for him. He was a feast for her eyes and she needed feeding.

“Now then, this sure is a sight to behold. It’s a damn good thing I decided to come myself and not send Blake to check on you.”

“I’d say I have to agree with that, cowboy.”

“Last time I checked we didn’t have mermaids in these parts. Just goes to show you can learn somethin’ new every day.” He straightened and started to unbutton his shirt. “Want some company?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I obtained the above information from Cristal's website here... But please also visit her at Ellora's Cave.

I have received this book from Ellora's Cave for my honest thoughts... Here goes...

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review..

Omg... Okay, if you have come to my lair, you will know that I love Cristal's writing. She is mad wicked with her naughty stories... She teases us, tempts us.. And simply makes us hot under the sheets. She is just that good and damnit if this woman hasn't done it to me again.... But this time she finished the story with me sniffling cuz it was just that good. She made this story hot enough for me to feel the Rock-Hard Heat... but she made it soft enough for me to see the tender part of Chet & Jenna...

Oh gosh, where do I start... Jenna and Chet - click here to see the beginning of their journey - get their ending in a way that could melt the ice from the ice ages, lol. It is so hot but so tender... You see so much love and lust when these two look at each other... It will make you want to find that special person in your life and heat things up a bit.... Or better yet it will Rock your world... be Hard on your heart... and Heat up your bedroom!!

Go get it and if you haven't gotten the first - please go get it! You won't regret it... I promise you! Cristal, thank you!! Love ya!

To learn more about Ms. Cristal, please visit her website here!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Review: Love, Hypothetical by Anne Tenino *Riptide Publishing*

Hypothetical love can be a real pain in the ass.

Paul's been called many things—graduate student, humanities tutor, jock-hater, even broke—but "forgiving" isn't one of them. When the new women's softball coach at Calapooya College specifically requests Paul to tutor his athletes, Paul's forced to put aside his strict "no athletes" policy for the sake of his paycheck.

Enter Trevor Gardiner, former Major League Baseball player and Paul’s high school boyfriend. Yeah, that one—the guy who sacrificed Paul for the safety of his closet and his future career. But Trevor’s come out and retired from baseball, and now he’s looking for forgiveness and a second chance.

There’s no earthly reason Paul should give him one, but he keeps letting the man state his case. And touch him. And take him sailing. The waters are far from smooth, though, and Paul says awful things to Trevor he isn’t sure he means. Now Paul has to decide: apologize and forgive Trevor for everything, or chalk it up as revenge and move on.

I obtained the above information from Riptide Publishing website.

You can visit my review of Frat Boy & Toppy - The first in the Theta Alpha Gamma series! :)

I received this book from Riptide for my honest thoughts... So here we go... Oh wait.. First.... Let me say this again.... My only warning is that this is a m/m loving story. So, if this is not your cup of tea... You will not offend me. You can merely just drop by to say Hi! Thanks for coming over in advance!

Ms. Anne is a very crafty author! This story is a show of her wit and humor... The characters in this story - one in particular must have given her ulcers, lol... This story is like watching a train wreck and not being able to look away because you pray that the crash really doesn't happen. This story will make you laugh, make you sigh, make you want to slap a bitch (ha, Paul) but this story will also make you tear up and hold someone till the memories are erased.

Anne makes all right with the world of Paul and Trevor but not before making one or the other grovel...

So, let me let you get to know Paul... He is a prick. No, seriously.. He is, lol. He will even tell you himself. But he has a past that would hurt anyone. And it has scarred him so much that he has put up a wall, should say a dam around his heart. Allowing no one in... And if the walls are not enough... He has an attitude to push away anyone that might think they could love him.... That is until his old love returns... And then all bets are off and love becomes hypothetically...

Trevor did something that was pretty shitty in his past but he grew up a lot and now knows what's important in his life... But the question is... Is what's important enough to tear down a dam and survive... Well, there's only one way to do that.... Find the one man that made him feel like he was his whole world and ask for a second chance... Because hypothetically speaking... Love would still be there!!!

This story is just that good... I mean Paul has a friendship base that he didn't think he has and they do things that make Paul wonder did he do right to deserve friends like them... Those are the kind of friends that make you feel proud to know you have friends who have your back even when you thought you pushed them all away...

These two have a story to tell you that I hope you let them tell you!


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Monday, September 17, 2012

*Interview & Giveaway* The Lumiary by Elle J Rossi **Dark Mind Tours*

Ladies and gents, I am very proud to have a very witty, wonderful author to the Lair... 
I promise you are in for a treat with this lady.... 
And if you are good... There might be a giveaway at the end of this post...
Now lets welcome....
Ms. Elle J Rossi

The Luminary


When Meera Brennan learns she’s a Luminary, one of the most powerful witches in existence, it rocks her already fragile world. The revelation explains the disturbing episodes that made her question her sanity, but does little to soothe the sting of discovering her life is now at risk. To save herself and keep peace within the veiled community, Meera will have to hone her powers and brave an ancient realm to destroy the slayer’s magickal source. She alone must dispel chaos and ensure the balance of good and evil for all mankind. Banished and stripped of his guardian powers because of a witch, Ghanem Adamo, former prince of the Saharren realm, receives a chance at redemption when his estranged father reveals an immortal battle destined to alter all realms. In order to protect the innocent, regain his title and reunite with his family, Ghanem must destroy the slayers’ source of power and bring down their terrorizing leader. Her life . . . Or his throne . . . When the war against the slayers force Meera and Ghanem to work together, more than magickal sparks fly. Challenged by fate, can love survive a nefarious battle that can result in only one prize?

Where to purchase the book:
Amazon

**********************
Since you are a new to me author, I am hoping to bring you to the light of others! So let’s share!
Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you, lol!


You really wanna know?

**Yes silly...Or I wouldn't have asked!**


I’m extremely honest. Usually to a fault. And I really need to work on my filter. I’m always telling myself to think before I speak. But somehow the words tumble out anyway. No one’s perfect, right?

Tell us a little about your book?


THE LUMINARY was a blast to write. I got the original idea of writing about a witch after watching the movie Chocolat. Of course, that witch was too sweet and the movie a little too light hearted for what I had in mind, but it inspired nonetheless. I love the idea of magick. Add a tortured heroine and borderline crazy hero and that’s a recipe for some dark fun. At least it is for me. All in all, THE LUMINARY is a witchy tale that takes us on a dark and dangerous adventure chalk full of bad guys, emotion, laughter, tears and a lot of sexual tension!

How much emotion does it take from you to write?


 Honestly, it depends on the day. Most days, writing is an escape, a way to remove myself from the emotional stress of the real world. In CHASING FATE, I had to kill off one of the main characters. I cried…hard. It was so hard to do. I’d really grown to love the character and felt so very attached. But I think the payoff was worth all the shed tears. THE LUMINARY made me laugh at times, while other times I swear my blood pressure shot through the roof. But these are great reactions and I’ll take each and every one of them.

What is your favorite part of the book?


I had to think hard about this question. I like many of the darker moments in the story. There’s a scene where Ghanem (the hero) and Thane (his brother) really get into it. The confrontation is so brutal, I didn’t know if they’d get past it. It’s a rough scene, but it felt really real. However, I think my favorite part(s) may be the interaction between Meera (the heroine) and Bevva (another witch). Wow. Let me just say, I can’t wait to write Bevva’s story!

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters..what would they be? *to describe your main characters*


Meera: confused, tortured, determined
Ghanem: angry, sexy, unwavering

Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why??


I think Meera was the hardest. She tended to be too dark and broody at times and I had to add some moments of sunshine in now and then. She fought me every step of the way. Steffen (one of the guardians) was by far the easiest. He has this confidence and swagger that can’t be denied. He was a ton of fun!

How many books are you shooting for in this series??


This is a planned trilogy, but there are some fantastic secondary characters, too. Maybe one day they’ll get their story!

What are you currently working on?


For the first time, I’m working on two books at once: Book 2 of the Brennan Coven Trilogy titled THE SOOTHER and an Urban Fantasy tentatively titled GATED. I love both stories so much, it was hard for me to set one aside. So, I opted to keep them both in the forefront.

Do you have anything due to release soon?


THE LUMINARY just came out on September 10th and CHASING FATE was released on August 7th of this year. I’m pretty sure that will be it for 2012. THE SOOTHER doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but I’m guessing it will be sometime in the first half of 2013. It’s such a cool story. I can’t wait to finish it up and turn it in!

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing?


I LOVE discussing characters and books with readers and writers. Whether it be my story or another, there’s nothing like interacting with people who enjoy books as much as I do.

Since we're cover hussies....what was your first impression of your cover?

The cover they originally sent to me didn’t have Meera on it at all, and he wasn’t exactly how I pictured Ghanem. But I do understand that Ghanem is a character I created and I’m the only one who really knows what he looks like. My concern was that since this story focuses on witches, the cover should portray that. My editor agreed and got the art department to add in Meera. I’m thrilled about that!

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?


Both. I have about a 50/50 split. From an instant gratification perspective, ebooks are fantastic. But there’s still something awesome about holding the real thing in my hands.

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try?


You know, I’ve never thought about it. I don’t think I’m afraid to try anything. I love paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but contemporary romance holds a special place in my heart as well. Maybe someday I’ll give it a whirl.

Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

Crap. Okay, I’m taking a deep breath. Ready? Go!

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance!
We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

Somehow I doubt that!

**Heee heee heee, you are beginning to learn me..... said with an evil laughter**
What is on your night stand/dresser?

Kindle Fire, reading light, alarm clock and about 5 books.

What are you listening to you right now?

A country mix! Love me some yee-haw!

What are you reading right now?

Bad Blood by Kristen Painter.

What is your favorite season? Summer
Holiday?
Independence Day

And what has been your best b-day present ever??

NY Giants Starter jacket when I was in high school.

Hard and Quick Time! Don't think... Just answer! Okay, before we go this route, I will get us a refill on our drinks... I will be right back...


Make mine a double!


Not a problem... Consider it done!
You know you do... Quickie time... Think fast....

Are you a quickie kind girl?
Yes, no, yes. Shoot, both? Hell, I don’t know. I’ll go with yes!
Dark or Milk Chocolate? Milk
Whipped or Melted? Melted
Straight up or with a twist - sex? Both
What's ur fave drink - in a glass or on him? “Hard” lemonade and champagne
Spank or Flogger? Spank
Junk or Health Food? Junk
Ties or Chains? Ties
Leather or Lace? Leather
Soft or Hard... Bed, where was your mind?
Soft
Control or Be Controlled? Control
Hot Wax or Whip Cream? Hot wax
Vampire or Werewolf? VAMPIRE!!!!
Twitter and/or Facebook? Facebook
Pinterest or not? Not. I just don’t get it.

Okay, this was such a fun interview! Thank you so much for having me. I really hope I can come back and hang out sometime!

***Any time you want to come hang out... Know you are more than welcome!***


A little about Elle J Rossi


Elle J Rossi grew up in rural Indiana surrounded by great people, a huge family and more animals than she could count. But the sites and sounds of the world beckoned, so she left her small town to escape into a creative world full of music. As a full time singer she was able to lose herself in a thousand different songs in a hundred different places. After meeting the love of her life and settling down, she yearned to find a new and fulfilling creative outlet. Overly fond of the happily ever after, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters lead her down dark and twisted paths. The very first word on the very first page sealed her fate. She'd found a new love. She'd found her escape. Now along with weaving haunting tales about the journey to love, she's creating cover art for authors around the world and loving every second of it. For fun, she cranks country music to take her back to her roots, and sings karaoke anytime she gets a chance. Her husband, two children, and a cat that rules the roost keep her company along the way and guarantee she doesn't get lost in the enchanted forest. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Where you can find Elle:
Website
Blog 
Twitter
Facebook

*****Giveaway Time*****
The Giveaway (International), the prize is 2 eBook copies of The Luminary for each stop.
So, be sure to follow the tour!

Let's go to the form! =) Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Friday, September 14, 2012

Review: Fireworks by Josee Renard

 Title - Fireworks
Author - Josee Renard
Genre - Erotic Romance -
Length - 38 Pages
Publisher - Cobblestone Press
Publication Date (month and year) - July 2012
Review copy format: ebook

Summary:  Two soldiers have two weeks to learn how to make a life together, but it’s not going to be easy. They may have been best friends for most of their lives, but Morgan isn’t even sure Dale wants the life he’s got planned—a life that includes the two of them, plus one. A single night in Las Vegas almost four years ago gave them a chance to try it out but these two weeks are going to be the real thing. Two best friends, add a beautiful and sexy woman, and stir. End result? Fireworks.

I obtained the above information from Cobblestone Press!
I also obtained this book for my honest thoughts... So, here goes!!!

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

This is a quickie kinda story but I never let size deter me from any of my readings, lol! This is not my first story by Ms. Josee... In fact, I have come to love her quickies! She is a wonderful author, who has a wit about her and her stories. She entertains and entices you with her morsels of delights... She will intrigue you with her words and captivate you with the action of her characters... She is great at giving you the story you want... Will you want more... Of course... As with all short stories, you will want more... But Ms. Josee will give you what you want... regardless of size!! HA!

Now for this story... We meet two men whose paths crossed a long time ago; when they were kids and in a school where they were lost at who they were and not knowing anyone - besides each other... Now they are all grown up and deliciously hot... For each other... They have had time to think about what they want for their future... just not together.. But this leave they are taking from the military will change their lives forever!

And Hanna is a woman who has made every sacrifice to have her business succeed.... She literally gave up everything for her job... She was in desperate need of "Me Time!!" And a trip to Las Vegas is just what the doctor ordered... But it seems something else was being ordered... Is she going to let two men change her life forever... Only one way to find out.... lol.... Pick up the book!!!!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Review: Dessert by Lily Harlem *Ellora Cave*

Dessert    
By: Lily Harlem

Nyotaimori was new for me, eating my dinner off a beautiful naked woman an experience I’d never been lucky enough to indulge in. So when a customer treated me to a meal at The Geisha Plate it was an effort to keep my cock under control and my focus on the food. Damn, it had been a while!

But control myself I did—until, that is, the spice levels cranked to boiling point and dessert turned out to be a mind-blowing, soul-twistingly delicious blowjob. I instantly craved more.

Plus I’m not a guy who likes debt. I had to return the favor by hook or by crook; it was an urge that threatened to consume me. Luckily my lovely Geisha girl turned out to be the sweetest woman I’d ever had the pleasure of pleasuring, and her healthy appetite for getting raw and naked with me for starters, main course and dessert turned out to be a wild ride for my every fantasy, and enough to keep me more than satisfied in every department.

An EC for Men erotica story from Ellora’s Cave

I obtained the above information from Ellora's Cave website!

I also obtained this book from Ellora's Cave for my honest thoughts...

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

This is considered a short story by my standards because I read it in one afternoon. But don't be discouraged because of it size... it is still a good book! Ms. Lily gave me a story that left me with a hunkering for dessert, lol... We meet Alan... A man who gets quite the surprise from a client of his... Alan owns his own business and was never more thankful for what he does - because he meets one woman who will change not only the course of how he eats... but the course of his life...

This story is very intriguing because it is written from Alan's point of view... Which is quite refreshing to see what a man thinks when he sees a woman he wants... a woman he desires unlike no other... Lily did a great job at making you want to know what exactly happened after dessert.... Hummmm... kinda made me want to know too... The ending was very refreshing... (:

When you pick up Dessert... I can't promise you - you won't be hungry but I can promise you - your senses will be delighted!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Monday, September 10, 2012

*Spotlight* Life Cycle by Zoe Winters *Dark Mind Book*



LIFE CYCLE
BY ZOE WINTERS

BOOK INFO:
Immortality can be a bitch…
Tamara has lived nearly two thousand years, trapped by a spell of her own creation. Hunted by her enemy and former lover, she knows there is only one man strong enough to release her from the curse. But will Cain honor her death wish, or keep her for himself, whatever the cost?

Two ancient souls. Two weary fighters, torn between love and hate, forced to decide if the other could be worth living for.
Heat Level 3 of 5.
Some sexually explicit content and innuendo.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Though Life Cycle is book 4 in the Preternaturals series, it can be read out of order with no problem.

Be sure to check out the Trailer below!!!!!!

AUTHOR INFO:
Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance (and dark fantasy). Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear. For updates on new releases and opportunities for contests/giveaways sign up for the newsletter by sending a blank email to: freekept@gmail.com (As a thank you, you’ll receive a free copy of the debut novella in the Preternaturals series: Kept.)
Life Cycle excerpt
Used with Permission.
Copyright 2012 Zoe Winters

Prologue

123 A.D. A hidden cavern near the waters of the Blue Grotto in Italy.

Tamar shivered with her twelve companions. They were about to attempt their most daring incantation. An opening at the top of the cavern allowed the light from the full moon to shine down on them, illuminating their secret gathering and adding its own power to the unfolding ritual.
Salt water splashed on her from a waterfall in the nearby pool. They’d searched for the water of immortality, a legend that had spread since before her birth. Far and wide, people had spoken of water that could make a person eternal and young.
But it wasn’t the water that conferred immortality. It was the creatures that lived inside the water. They were transparent and hard to see, with spongy tops and long tendrils on the bottom that could sting if you got too close. They didn’t die. Instead, they could age backward, reaching the end of their life, and then, without dying, start over again.
We’ll freeze to death if you don’t hurry.” Tamar glared at the man in the middle of the circle. The irony of freezing to death while seeking immortality caused her to stifle a dark laugh.
The potion must be altered with other ingredients unless you want to come back as a newborn each time. You’ll find that frustrating,” Jacob said. He was their leader and the best with potions.
Tamar made a face, but huddled closer to her sister, Naomi, for warmth. A circle of salt had been poured around them. Candles were already lit. A large stone had become a makeshift table upon which the coven leader worked. The sea creatures had been pulverized and added to an iron pot. He poured the herbal infusions into the potion.
Jacob passed a sharp knife to the person on his left. “Each of us must contribute blood to the potion or it will fail. The magic is in this creature, but they have no blood. Our blood must bond with this animal if we hope to succeed.”
Are you sure that’s necessary?” Naomi asked. Tamar nodded her agreement. Cutting themselves and mixing their blood seemed extreme. What would be the consequences of linking together eternally?
I am sure,” Jacob said, losing patience with their squeamishness. Magic like this had a price, and they all knew it. But the consequences always showed themselves when it was too late.
One by one they sliced the center of their palms with the ritual knife and added their blood. Jacob stirred the concoction with a wooden spoon; it smelled like death. When he was finished, he dipped a silver goblet into the brew.
We each drink and then we chant,” he said, passing the goblet.
Tamar couldn’t help feeling pride at the chant she’d written. When they’d all drunk, they clasped hands and turned their faces up to the moonlight. The cavern echoed their words back to them. “Da immortalitatem. Renatus sine oblitus. Numquam moriens. Da immortalitatem. Renatus sine oblitus. Numquam moriens...”
And then they all died.
Tamar jolted as oxygen flooded into her body. Something felt very strange. Had the spell worked? She glanced around at her companions, each of them coming back to life one by one.
We’re all children.”

Chapter One

Golatha Falls, Georgia. The Present.

Tam perched on the bar stool in her kitchen, still as death. Her third cup of Earl Grey tea cooled on the counter, ignored. Normally the warm brew calmed her nerves, but nothing would comfort her today.
She’d read her tarot cards, tea leaves, and scried with a bowl of water and sea salt. Everything she tried gave her the same morbid story. The death card glared back at her, mocking, and though she’d told many others—sometimes truthfully, sometimes not so much—that the death card didn’t always mean death, she knew this card said her number was up.
Jack—as Jacob was called now—was back, and he was after her. She fought to keep the tremor out of her hand as she raised the tea to her lips. He wouldn’t offer her a quick death. It would involve a cold stone slab, bleeding to death, and having vital organs removed. Ritualistic, because ritual was how you got the most effect out of stealing a fellow magic user’s power.
Tam had considered herself a cycler since the night she was reborn in that cavern nearly two thousand years ago. True to Jack’s word, each time they died, they came right back in their own younger body, looking for all the world to be about twelve years old—an inconvenience to say the least. Tam had been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage each time she began a new life cycle.
This last time she’d gotten lucky and been adopted by a well-to-do family who had taken her in and put her through a good school. The thought was nice, though pointless, given how many times she’d already suffered through school.
Cyclers kept their memories, their sense of continuity. They were effectively immortal, just like the rare breed of jellyfish they’d discovered so long ago.
Jack had only been actively hunting the other cyclers for a few centuries. He’d gone power hungry, convinced he could stop the cycle altogether and achieve true immortality by draining the power of his coven. Magic users aged differently—the more magic, the longer they could live. But it wasn’t just that. She knew him. He had an angle—something more than a personal quest for immortality.
If murder was his new hobby, his purpose for gaining all that power couldn’t be good. If he was going to get her anyway, suicide seemed the smarter option. It would free her to be reborn the normal way and keep her safe from a more brutal death at Jack’s hands.
But it wasn’t so simple. There were two ways she could die for real—and two ways only: at the hands of another cycler, or through magical means by a very old preternatural being, such as a demon or vampire at least a few thousand years old. Those were hard to come by, and their killing methods were usually too creative for Tam’s taste. She wanted to break the cycle, not be tortured.
Either way, she’d managed, through this latest cycle, to stifle the suicidal urge. Until now.
The image of the demon she’d chosen formed in her mind. Cain. The very first incubus. If he couldn’t kill her, nobody could. And he hated her. It should be simple enough to get him to agree, assuming she could find him. She’d dropped him in front of his badass pals a couple of times already with energy balls. He was probably plotting her death at this very moment.
Anna might know where to find him, since she was mated to a demon, but Tam hadn’t seen her best friend in three months. It wasn’t as if Tam had directions to the demon portals or a way to get through to their dimension even if she did. If Anna surfaced in the human dimension, Tam could do a spell to locate her, but who could say when that would happen? And would it be before Jack reached her?
Deep in her gut, she knew she was going to die—either by Cain’s hand or by Jack’s. As arrogant as the bastard was, Cain’s methods would at least be pleasurable. Bleeding out and organ removal versus orgasms. Gee, how do I decide? They both sound so glamorous and exciting.

***

Cain snarled as he passed through the portal point into Cary Town, Washington. The filmy dimensional doorway shimmered and then fizzled out of existence as he moved through the forest away from it. He couldn’t believe he’d allowed himself to be summoned by the vampire king. Half-breeds.
He’d thought his business with Anthony was finished when Cain had delivered his don’t mess with us again or there will be a war speech the last time they’d met. But now there was a bigger evil brewing, something that risked the living standards of all the factions—and possibly their lives.
Even his newly turned succubus and her werewolf mate would be at the meeting, which was going to be awkward to say the least, given that they all hated Anthony. And the feeling was mutual. How this was going to go with everybody in one room, he couldn’t say. Officially, the werewolf pack was banished from Cary Town. If someone saw them slinking through the night to Anthony’s penthouse, things would get entertaining.
The demon nodded at the guardian in the lobby of the Cary Town Luxury Apartments. This meeting was being kept on the down-low. The Preternatural Council had been shut out. Even most of the vampire king’s coven didn’t know he was fraternizing with the enemy and holding a secret meeting in his former penthouse residence. Cain stepped onto the elevator and pulled out the key he’d been given to gain access to the sixth floor.
The door at the end of the hall was answered by a vampire who looked more like a butler. “They’re on the roof by the pool, sir.”
Cain took the stairs two at a time. His presence announced itself as the metal door clanged against the brick. All eyes went to him, and he smirked.
Well, well, looks like the gang’s all here.” And what a motley crew they were.
Anthony stood at one end of the table beside an overhead projector and portable screen that had been plugged into an outlet embedded in the brick.
At the table were several familiar faces. Beside Anthony was his human mate, Charlee. Coming around the table was Cain’s brother, Luc, and his annoying mate, Anna. Then there was Jane, the new succubus who was mated to Cole, the Cary Town werewolf pack alpha. The rest, he didn’t know.
You’re late,” Anthony said, bristling. “We’ve been waiting, and Charlotte needs her rest. The baby takes a lot out of her.”
Cain’s eyes cut to the vampire’s mate. She was so pregnant she’d pop any day now. If this meeting was about her and her spawn, heads were going to roll. If he didn’t care about a half-breed, he sure as hell didn’t care about a quarter-breed.
I was detained. These things happen. Lovely little school teacher. I made some third graders very happy today. Or they’ll be happy tomorrow, anyway.”
Cole growled from his seat beside Jane. “You killed a woman, you mean.”
Cain chuckled. “My god, man, what is it with you and this obsession with killing? Which one of us is the demon? Perhaps amongst your kind third graders are happy when their teacher dies. She’s… just a little spent. She’ll have to take a sick day tomorrow.”
He dropped into a chair at the end of the table where he could most easily glare at and annoy Anthony. Since Cain wasn’t killing him right now, annoying him would be the second best thing. He didn’t like that Anthony was in charge of this meeting. The vampire king was practically a child next to Cain’s eight thousand years. It should be seniority rule.
The vampire cleared his throat. “Sitting next to you is Father Hadrian who is one of mine… And over here is our resident sorcerer, Dayne, and his lovely werecat, Greta.” Anthony leered at the brunette beside the sorcerer and Greta gripped Dayne’s hand tighter.
Therian, not werecat! You know I hate that term,” Greta hissed.
Whether you like it or not, it’s accurate.”
Really, Anthony?” Charlee said, an irritated expression on her face at her mate’s goading.
The vampire chuckled. “What? Is it my fault your friend is so easy to mess with?”
He took a clear plastic sheet with writing on it and placed it on the overhead projector. “I apologize for being so vague as to the purpose of this meeting. Half of you are officially enemies, but if I go to the Preternatural Council with this, my vampires will all know, and I’m not prepared for it to go public yet. We can go back to hating each other after we’ve eliminated the threat.”
Anthony flipped on the light of the projector, and an electric buzz filled the silence. “I had this letter reproduced onto a transparency for our purposes. In case the context doesn’t spell it out to you, we’ve been contacted by Jack the Ripper. He’s still alive, and he’s one of us.”
You couldn’t just use a computer program?” the werewolf asked. Cole was the most tech-savvy of the group.
Don’t try, it won’t get you anywhere,” Charlee said.


Dear Boss,

I’m back. You didn’t take the threat seriously last time. Shame on you. Did you not understand my joke? It wasn’t for the common people. It was for the others. Was “from Hell” not a big enough clue? It’s where we all are, after all.

When I’ve killed the other cyclers, I’ll change the world. There are 13 of us, a perfect coven. The first kill was an accident, the second an experiment. Whitechapel was only three. You were wrong. It wasn’t five. Those and others were copycats all wanting Ripper’s glory.

Since then, there have been four more, but I’ve been quiet as a mouse, giggling at my funny little games. With you in power, I thought I’d make this interesting. Only three left to kill; catch me first or Hell is mine.

Yours Truly,

The Cycler

Don’t mind the new trade name. The old one was stale, and this one will give you something new to chew on. A new mystery to solve. Do better this time. The stakes are higher now.

P.S. Have fun when the human media gets this letter. I’ll give you a head start. Tick, tock.


Cain read the letter on the projector once, twice, and then a third time. “Why did he send this to you? And addressed the same as the original letters? And what the fuck is a cycler?”
Anthony seemed annoyed by Cain’s tone, but he answered anyway. “I believe I’ve met him before. At previous points in my history, I’ve chosen to blend with the humans, exploring various ways of living to satisfy my boredom. During the Whitechapel murders, I worked for the London police department under an assumed name. But a few decades before that, I owned a small fish shop. All my other employees called me by the name I was using at that time, except one. He just called me “Boss.”
There was something off about him. I suspected he was a magic user, but it was more than that. The way he gutted a fish… it was so clean. Surgical, almost. Even being a vampire, this guy gave me the creeps. But I never realized he knew I’d joined the London police or that the letters might be for me. He must have discovered what I was. He was playing games then; now I think he’s ready to end this. Which brings me to your other question. Does anybody besides Hadrian know what a cycler is?”
There was a consensus of head shaking.
Father Hadrian, perhaps you could tell us about your experience.”
The priest poured a glass of wine from a bottle on the table and took a leisurely sip. “When I was turned in 1955, my first meal was a blonde witch—maybe in her twenties. Her name was Tamara. I left her corpse and went to hunt for more. When I returned to the church, there was a young girl, maybe eleven or twelve or so with the same blonde hair and the same eyes, wearing the same dress as the woman I killed. She told me she was a cycler. She was powerfully magical, much more so than I thought even a woman in her twenties should be. Magic users do age differently, so I can’t be sure of her age before I killed her.”
The hair on the back of Cain’s neck stood up. There were millions of women with that name, and probably plenty of blonde witches with it as well, but his experience with Tam had always been one of confusion over how she could take him down so easily with a flick of her wrist.
The demon glanced at Anna, wondering if she’d made the connection, but the idea that Father Hadrian was speaking about the Tam they both knew hadn’t penetrated for Luc’s mate.
Anna, do you understand yet why this involves you?” Anthony asked.
Her eyes widened but she maintained her denial. “No… I… Why would it involve me?”
The vampire laughed and shook his head. “I forget how recently you were introduced to our world. Your friend has been keeping a monumental secret from you. Tam is the woman Father Hadrian met in the fifties.”
That’s not possible. I mean… we grew up together. Since we were kids…”
Since you were about twelve?”
Anna shut her mouth and looked down at her hands.
That’s what I thought. She must have died and started a new life cycle right around that time. We’re still not sure exactly what that means.”
The vampire king turned to the sorcerer and werecat. “Dayne, Greta, did you do the research I requested?”
Dayne nodded. “I might have a theory. Since magic users are human, we’ve always been a wild card. Up until now, we’ve kept ourselves mostly secret from normal humans and considered ourselves part of the preternatural world, but if Jack gets enough power, he could sway magic users to his side. I think he wants to expose the preternaturals and fight. He’s absorbing power from his kills to make it easier.”
Greta interrupted. “I don’t think anyone considered there could be magical and ritual significance to the way Jack the Ripper was killing. The killings got more complex, but if he was experimenting with the most potent methods for power absorption, that would happen. He could become unstoppable if he kills the other cyclers.”
He’ll also be a true immortal,” Dayne said. “The more power a magic user has, the more slowly they age. Considering the nature of what he is already, my suspicion is that he’d become unkillable. He wouldn’t have to start over in a younger human body like what Hadrian observed with Tamara.”
Cain stared at the table. He squeezed his eyes shut as images flashed in his mind of Tam being ritualistically and gruesomely murdered. He didn’t know why it pissed him off so much.
Cain?” Anthony said.
The demon looked up, startled at being included in the discussion. He tried to maintain a bored mask, but he couldn’t stop his hands from balling into fists or the heat from the glow in his eyes. “Yes?”
We need you to protect the witch in your dimension. It’s the only place we’re guaranteed she’ll be safe. This affects everybody. If he kills all the cyclers, and magic users come out of the closet, they’ll band together, which risks your demons as well.”
Magic users were a demon’s one weakness. Demons were exempt from death and could heal any injury—true immortals, but they could still be trapped by a curse. They could still feel the weakness and suffering of starvation. They could still be hurt.
All eyes were on him, waiting for his response. He didn’t know how he felt about the little blonde witch, but if anybody was killing her, it was going to be him, not some cheesy magical serial killer with a world domination plot, and not one of Anthony’s thugs, either.
I’ll protect her,” Cain said, avoiding eye contact with the others. This was killing the shit out of his reputation. There were dramatic gasps and whispering, but he ignored it.
Of course, killing her would be more expedient... if you could find a way to make her stay dead.” The vampire king’s tone was bland.
No!” Anna said.
Anthony!” Charlee said.
I said I’d protect her,” the demon snarled, finally meeting the eyes of everyone at the table. He dared them to start something with him.
We’ll also need you to get her to tell you everything about being a cycler. We still don’t understand how or why they exist or the extent of their powers,” Anthony said.
Cain growled. “Watch yourself, half-breed. I could take you out without blinking. I’m sure you want to survive to be a daddy.”
Charlee’s hand went protectively over her pregnant belly, as if the child were in danger instead of the cocky vampire standing beside the projector screen.
Anthony glared. “Don’t forget, I have magic users in my employ. I have a coven of vampires that stretches across North America and contacts with vampire leaders all over the world. Our numbers are far greater than yours. Let’s not make this personal. We’ve got a bigger enemy to fight.”
Cain was bored now. “Are we done here? I’ve got a witch to collect.” He stood, already turning toward the door.
Cain…” It was the first word Luc had spoken since Cain had arrived. “Take Anna with you. She knows where the witch lives.”
That would make things easier.
Luc’s mate recoiled, gripping tight to his arm. “What? No! Come with me,” she said.
I should stay for the rest of the meeting. My brother can’t harm you, remember? You can’t hold a solid form without me,” Luc said.
When she’d given her soul and became a demon’s mate, she’d had to die first. It made her existence somewhat ghostly. Only her mate could give her a full, solid form. Gradually, she would gain the same powers as Luc, but it was a lengthy process—centuries. Anna looked from Cain to Luc a couple of times. She finally sighed and let go of her mate.
Cain headed for the door. He didn’t bother waiting for her, assuming she’d follow. And if she didn’t, he’d just have to find the infuriating witch on his own.

 


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

My Fictional Smutty Boyfriend.... =)

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