*Spotlight* Temptation Unleashed by Kari Thomas

Title: Temptation Unleashed

Author: Kari Thomas

Number of Pages: 272

Publisher: Samhain 

Publishing

 

Something wild this way comes. Once a powerful, practicing Wiccan, Kira Douglas has reluctantly moved to wild and beautiful Sedona, Arizona for only one reason-assume custody of her dead sister's daughter. She immediately runs into an obstacle. The child's uncle, the disturbingly sexy Aiden Calhoun, refuses to give her up. Aiden has good reason for not allowing Kira custody of his precious niece. The child is half witch, half shapeshifter. Allowing her to take the girl could expose the family's shapeshifting secret he has spent a lifetime protecting. Their instant attraction isn't just an inconvenient temptation. It could put his entire family in danger. But an evil force is re-emerging, bent on destroying everything they know and love. The only way to survive is to put all differences aside. And overcome the nightmare that once broke Kira's faith. This title has been revised and expanded from its previously published version. 

Warning: This book contains explicit, howling-under-the-desert-moon love scenes and some wash-your-mouth-out-with-soap language

 

Copyright 2008 © Kari Thomas
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

Uh oh.

She blinked rapidly several times at the sudden change in his demeanor, and her breath caught in her throat. One moment his gothic-handsome face had been full of concern, the next his features resembled a dark thundercloud, ready and willing to burst torrents over their heads. Something dangerous flashed in the mercury depths of his dark gray eyes. That and something more she wasn’t sure she wanted to decipher. The odd, electrically charged moment dragged and, afraid to move even the slightest inch, she took the opportunity to study him.

Dark. Gothic. Dangerous. Primal. The words flashed through her mind the same moment she realized she’d never in her life seen a more handsome man. High cheekbones, aristocratic nose, strong jaw, full, sensuous lips, and dark charcoal eyes. It was a combination that would set any woman’s heart fluttering.

Hers included.

She could feel the steely strength in the muscles of his arms as he held her close to his chest. Everywhere their bodies touched she felt hardness, and she suddenly felt very vulnerable. She quickly slid off his lap and scrambled to her feet. Words failed her and she could only stare.

He looked up at her, his thorough gaze taking its time, touching every inch of her disheveled form. “Finished scrutinizing me?” Mockery tinged his tone. “Or still trying to decide if I’m a wild animal too?”

“That’s uncalled for, Aiden,” Lena scolded, coming back into the room. “You don’t understand what the encounter with that wolf did to her—”

“I’m fine now,” Kira smoothly interrupted, walking across the floor to stand by her cousin. She didn’t feel comfortable standing so close to this man. His gaze was too intense. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s done.” She looked back at Aiden and cleared her throat before asking firmly, “I’m here to talk about my niece. Where is she?”

Aiden stood up, powerful muscles rippling beneath his shirt. He crossed the foyer with a smooth glide that instantly reminded her of a large, stalking cat. The thought made her shiver. He exuded a dark sensuality that was more than just from his physical bearing. There was something…wild…about him. Her heart rate increased with awareness and she chewed on her bottom lip in consternation.

Why in the world was she reacting this way to him?

He was silent as he stared at her with that intense, unwavering gaze. She waited, seemingly patient, and prepared herself for whatever argument he was going to give her about seeing her niece. She was determined not to let him intimidate her.

“Marissa is with my sister, Riana,” he finally replied. “I thought we should talk before you two met.”

She frowned at his arrogant tone. She had the distinct feeling he was stalling. Her temper level went up a few notches.

“I have every right to see her.” She did, but she knew he was right. It would be better to get this discussion over with first. “Sonia—” she paused and took a bracing breath, slowly exhaling before continuing, “—expressed some concern about leaving Marissa here, if something should ever happen to her.” That wasn’t the exact truth, since it hadn’t been the corporeal Sonia who hinted at her concern, but he didn’t need to know that detail. “I’m sure it centered on Marissa’s safety, being around your animals.”

“My niece is perfectly safe here.” Aiden’s countenance became fierce, his brows slanting down harshly. “She was born in this house. She has an aunt and two uncles who would protect her with their lives, as well as a household of servants who see to her every whim, or need.”

She knew he’d play the servants card. There was only one way to fight back.

“She lives in a house where you allow wild animals to roam without control, both in and outside your home. All of you—you, Gavin, and Riana—have careers that keep you too busy to care for a small child. You are away from home, sometimes for long periods of time. How can you guarantee her safety when you’re not here?”

“You’ve obviously thought this through,” Aiden murmured cynically, “but so have I. Do you think any judge is going to grant custody to a woman who has been estranged from her own sister for over five years? Someone who never bothered coming to visit the niece she’s now trying to adopt? A woman who didn’t even attend her sister’s funeral?” His smile was slight, a hard slash to his sensuous mouth that effectively belied the dangerous softness of his tone. “A woman who is a professed witch, who has no other skills, whose income comes from running a magic shop?” His eyes narrowed, his black brows slanting downward again. “Think again, Kira. This is a battle you can’t win and you know it.”

She wanted to scream at him. Everything he said was true and, at that moment, she hated him for his smug confidence. Arrogant bastard! Her thoughts flew in countless directions. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—just walk away defeated, with her tail between her legs. There had to be a way around this obstacle.

I obtained the above information from Samhain Publishing website!

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