It’s Barbara Vey’s 4th Anniversary at Beyond Her Book, her blog at Publisher’s Weekly. She’s having a mega party and I’m giving away a Nook.
Details here!
Shiloh
All posts by aftermidnightfantasies
All Revved Up (A Wicked Read!)
Available Now!
ALL REVVED UP
On the eve of his thirtieth birthday, Miguel Santos leaves his high-powered life behind for a visit to the small town he grew up in… and the high school sweetheart whose wild passion he’s never stopped craving.
Faith Bennett loved Miguel the moment she saw him. But she always knew his future was in New York, while hers was tied to the auto shop that was her close-knit family’s livelihood. Pushing him away nearly broke her, but when he took her heart with him, he left something precious behind.
Now he’s back, demanding her body, her desire, her very soul as retribution for the pain he still carries. He won’t settle for anything less than everything she’s got, but she still can’t leave with him and he still can’t stay, and their past has secrets too explosive to share.
ALL REVVED UP is one of the Wicked Reads!
You can read an excerpt and purchase the book at
Smashwords, Amazon.com, and BN Nook.
Smashwords, Amazon.com, and BN Nook.
A Tease from SURENDER TO ME
I’m often accused of tormenting readers just before I have a new title release. Okay, maybe I like to tease a little. Or a lot. I won’t deny that I enjoy it. With that said, I’m here today to offer up a new tease. Read on…
Surrender to Me
Wicked Lovers, Book 4
Publisher: Berkley HEAT
ISBN-13: 978-0425236550
ISBN-10: 0425236552
Release Date: March 2011
Genre: Erotic Romance
Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | Books-A-Million
Pre-Order eBook: Kindle | Nook
Excerpt
© Shelley Bradley LLC
2011
Here, now, her panting breaths mingled with Hunter’s, his unrelenting stare reached through the shadows, promising searing pleasure. Despite her misgivings about his bent for control, Kata wanted him. Badly.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, raising her hips.
He hesitated, then levered himself up to shut the bathroom door—blocking out Ben’s soft snores. He lowered himself to the mattress again, hovering over her, his stare drilling into her in the shadows. “I’m going to take you alone tonight.”
“I know.”
“Repeatedly,” he vowed.
Her breath caught. Desire branded his masculine face as his hot palm caressed her breast, the curve of her waist, before settling inside her thigh—skating heart-stoppingly close to her pussy. And then he stopped. As she strained toward him, her ache ratcheted up.
He seemed to know exactly what drove her mad.
“Keep talking to me.” His husky murmur whispered across her skin.
“Tell you what I want in bed?” Kata had no doubt he was capable of giving it to her.
“That, and more. I want you to be completely open to me.”
“Sexually?”
“In every way.” His eyes were solemn, startlingly direct.
Her heart skipped a beat. Kata pulled her lip through her teeth and peered up at the hard, shadowed angles of his face. “What is it you want, exactly?”
“All you’re willing to give me.” He smiled wryly. “And probably more.”
Those murmured words raised all of her red flags. What did he want beyond passion? Surely not more than a night of pleasure with no regrets. They’d been ridiculously in sync so far.
Maybe hinting at possessiveness was his shtick. Maybe he thought women dug it. Whatever . . .
“I can’t promise I’ll agree to everything, but if you do something I don’t like, we’ll talk it out.”
“Good.” His fingers tightened on her thighs. He pried them apart a bit wider, then wriggled down her body. His mouth loomed closer to the ache she desperately needed him to sate. “Kata, I will push you.”
“About the bedside light?” Kata frowned. Would he still want her if he actually saw all her curves?
“For starters.”
She paused. “Hunter—”
“Trust me, honey.”
The way he called her “honey” made Kata shiver. Usually, she hated that endearment, but the way he said it . . . hmm. Then the rest of his words registered in her lust-ridden brain. Trust him . . . with what? Was he trying to tell her that he was into some freaky shit? He’d done ménages before. What else did he have in his repertoire?
“Look, I don’t know how your preferences run, but I have a few boundaries.”
“Such as?” He breathed against her stomach, pressing mind-stealing kisses to her skin.
“I’m really afraid of knives.”
His husky laugh warmed her. “No knives. I’m hard-core, not weird.”
Kata relaxed. Maybe she was overthinking this. “I don’t like pain.”
Hunter shrugged and trailed his fingers through her very wet pussy. “You’ll only get the good kind from me. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”
She frowned. “Look, in case you didn’t get it earlier, I won’t be dominated.”
“You’ll be fine.”
His voice reassured her more than his words, but he hadn’t done anything to give her pause, other than put out a dominant vibe. She’d run across that before and walked away unscathed. She could handle Hunter, too.
Kata shot him a cocky grin and let her knees relax to the sides, widening her thighs. “Okay, then. Do your worst.”
“Oh, honey,” he chided, his gaze fused on hers. “Don’t doubt me. I will.”
* * *
For a chance to win an ARC and read more excerpts, stop by my blog!
Tempt Me…now available!
contemporary hot romanceTempt me…
She’s a temptation he can’t resist…
Roxanne ‘Rocki’ Monroe’s life is full of secrets and hidden heartaches. Cole Stanton would love to heal her pain and chase away the ghosts of her past, but she’s just a complication he doesn’t have room for in his life.
Or so he thinks.
It doesn’t take Cole long to realize he’s more than willing to let temptation get the best of him, more than happy to deal with complications if that’s what it takes to get her.
What he has and what he needs are two different things…and what he needs is Rocki.
Staring at Rocki standing on the stage, Cole told himself he wasn’t going to do it. He’d just broken up with his fiancée. Rocki was still grieving over her husband. It was a bad thing all around. Right?
But that didn’t keep him from taking a few steps into the restaurant, getting just a little bit closer. His blood pumped hard and fast as he got closer.
The bids were at two thousand now, but fewer people were involved. As he reached the bottom of the stage, he said loudly, “Three thousand.”
Rocki looked down, startled.
Her eyes met his, wide and dark…so dark, he felt lost in them.
Screw the bad things. He wanted this woman, damn it. Maybe just having a simple date would convince him that she wasn’t everything he had convinced himself she was. Besides, this whole thing was for charity…a good cause.
“I’ve got three thousand here,” Lacey called out, delight evident in her voice. “Do I have thirty-five hundred?”
Another voice said, “Thirty-five hundred.”
Because he was standing so close, Cole saw the minute way Rocki’s shoulder’s tightened, the flash of something in her eyes. Was it fear? What was it…? It didn’t matter.
“Five thousand,” he said, still staring at her.
She lifted a brow. “Five thousand?” she mouthed.
Silence fell through the room, and this time, nobody offered another bid.
Lacey grinned down at him. “She’s all yours, Mr. Stanton. For a night, at least.”
and you can read another excerpt here, or the first 20% of the book on Smashwords at the link below.
*Please note, Smashwords distributes to the other ebook vendors, Nook, Kobo, etc. Once I have the links for them, I’ll post them here. At this time, I’m not uploading things directly to sites other than Amazon & Smashwords-there are too many and as Smashwords will distribute the works for me, it’s much easier for me to keep track of things this way. I hope you understand. ALSO, please bear in mind, you can buy the formats you need from Smashwords–they’ve got a very simple FAQ explaining everything here.
Smashwords also sells worldwide, so anybody can buy from there!
No Longer Mine
cross posted from my personal blog
Obligatory self promo first… ahem
Born on the wrong side of the tracks and dealt a fair share of hardship, Nikki Kline never gives up a fight. Even when her reason to keep going is ripped from her, Nikki tries desperately to hang on. But when the man who broke Nikki’s heart comes back into her life she doesn’t know how much she can take. Especially since that man seems determined to win back her damaged heart.
Wade Lightfoot is a man who knows he’s made more mistakes than most. As much as he would like to repair the damage he’s done to those he loves, Wade also knows there is no going back. But when he sets out to put things right the last thing he’s prepared to find out is that he had a son. A son he’ll never get the chance to meet.
When the truth is out and all the old wounds are bared, it seems impossible that Nikki and Wade will find their way back to each other. But true love is an undeniable force that even past hurts can’t destroy.
This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.
You can order
Digital
Samhain | Nook | Kindle | Kobo | Borders
Borders | BAMM | B & N | IndieBound| Amazon
The book is out in print now… has pretty new cover. See? It’s been expanded, revised, cleaned up, etc, etc, etc…it’s a better read than it was when it originally came out. I still don’t think it’s my best work. Some people, though, say this is their fave of mine. Weird. Ah, well. Anyway.
On to excerpt…“You’re going to be old before your time if you keep this up, sis,” a voice said softly, jerking her out of her reverie.
She turned her head and squinted up at Shawn. “Hey,” was all she said, not responding to his words. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw your truck on my way to work,” he said, kneeling beside her. His left eyebrow was neatly bisected by a thin scar. That, and the scars he bore inside, were his only physical reminders of the accident.
There were scars inside. She sensed it, wished she could help him…but she couldn’t even help herself.
Jason had been like a little brother to Shawn. He’d adored the baby from the first and talked about how he’d teach him to wrestle, to go fish…all the cool boy stuff. Stuff Shawn hadn’t ever had much chance to do himself.
“You ever wonder what would have happened if we’d just stayed at the store that day?” she asked softly. It was a question she’d asked herself a hundred times. A thousand.
“Only a few dozen times a week,” he said.
As she looked over and met his gaze, he shook his head. “And you know as well as I do, those kinds of questions will drive us crazy. Some stupid drunk hit us, Nik. You weren’t speeding. You weren’t doing much of anything except driving in the rain. Bastard hit us, ran us off the road. You can’t blame yourself.”
She just shrugged.
She could blame herself. And she did.
“Y’know, you’re going to be late for work,” she told him, turning back to study the headstone.
Shawn shrugged. “I doubt they’ll mind.” And even if they did, he didn’t care. How could work be that important when he looked at her and all but saw the dark cloud she had wrapped around herself? He settled on the grass next to her, uncertain of what to say. When he had been little, he had always run to her when he had been hurt. Nikki had always made the pain go away. And even when he had been nothing more than a street punk, causing trouble and raising hell, when he was in trouble, it had been her he had gone to. She had always fixed it in some way.
It didn’t seem fair that after so many years of patching him up and kissing away his tears that he wasn’t able to take away any of her pain.
“Jason is probably the sweetest angel in heaven, sis,” he said, looking at his feet as he spoke. He could feel himself turning red to the roots of his hair and he had no idea where those words had come from.
“I bet he is,” came her soft whisper.
And looking over, he saw the beginning of a smile on her face.
The words, wherever they had come from, had been the right ones.
Before Nikki got out of her truck she donned a dark pair of sunglasses and forced her unruly hair into a stubby ponytail. She hadn’t really thought she would be recognized when she had decided to use her own name on her books. She really hadn’t thought that far ahead. She had only wanted them to sell.
They had sold though, and she hadn’t exactly been in the best frame of mind when she was dealing with the contract negotiations. If she had thought things through, if she had listened to the agent she’d signed with, she would have gone with a pen name. She would have done something to have some modicum of privacy.
Now it was a little too late.
Besides, in a town the size of Monticello, everybody knew everybody else’s business. The hat and the sunglasses wouldn’t fool many people, but if it helped a little she was all for it. If she lived in a larger town she’d have more anonymity than she had in Monticello. In the past few years it had come to where she couldn’t go much anywhere without somebody hailing her down to talk about books.
My little girl wrote this. Isn’t that something…
I got a book. Can you help me…
And lately, total strangers who were just in town to fish were recognizing her. Nikki wasn’t ever going to let another picture be taken of her, and her webmaster had taken down the one they’d conned her into putting up. Now if she could just get it off the back of the books…
For a while she hadn’t minded the attention too much, but as time passed she started to crave solitude. People and questions were coming to grate on her nerves something bad. It was just a sign of her worsening depression, she suspected, and if she were smart, she’d just make the drive to Somerset where she was less likely to be noticed, but she didn’t have the energy.
She made it all the way through the store without any problems and was finishing up in the dairy section. She just might make it out of the store, she realized. It even had her mood climbing up a few notches—instead of toxic, it was just slightly hazardous.
She added a carton of yogurt and some cream cheese. As she went to turn the cart around she promptly ran into somebody else’s.
“Damn it,” she muttered, but her voice was lost under the sound of baskets crashing together and groceries tumbling to the floor.
A sheepish smile crossed her face and she said, “Sorry about that.” She would hit somebody whose cart was beyond full. Kneeling, she picked up a carton of cookies and Donald Duck orange juice. She placed them in the basket before stepping away.
The guy had knelt in front of a dark child of four or five, his face hidden as he scooped up items from the floor.
“No problem,” he said, although his voice belied his words. He sounded a tad—okay, he sounded a lot irritated.
Nikki was about to make a quick getaway, but then he stood. And revealed his face.
A very familiar face, one that haunted her dreams on a regular basis. His hair was shorter, cut at his nape, and his face had thinned out just a bit, the dimples at the corners of his mouth now slashes in his lean cheeks. But the eyes were the same, deep bottomless pools of brown velvet.
“Wade,” she whispered. Her eyes, stricken, then landed on the child’s face. A little girl, a little mirror of her father.
And of Nikki’s son. She wore a red T-shirt decorated on the front with a sketch of a bright-eyed puppy. A baseball cap in that same candy-apple red sat on top of thick black hair that fell razor-straight to her tiny shoulders. She held a stuffed cocker spaniel, a mirror image of the way Jason had carried his precious Mouse.
A knife slowly embedded itself in Nikki’s heart, started to twist.
For a moment his face was blank, and then his eyes narrowed. She was unable to move as he slowly reached up and tugged her sunglasses off.
“Nikki,” he breathed, his eyes lighting as though from within.
He took a step closer and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.
That gentle touch shattered her like glass.
Pride and Pleasure
It’s release day!
Wealth has its dangers…
There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters flock to her, acquaintances lie and pander, and lately, someone is engineering “accidents” to propel her to the altar. But Eliza will not be bullied, and she will get to the bottom of this plot. All she needs is a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit. Someone not easily noticed; a proficient dancer, quiet, and even-tempered.
…so do certain men
Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can’t resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it’s his pleasure to prove he’s just the man she needs after all…
If you’re interested, you can check out an excerpt on my website »
Happy Tuesday!
Coming Soon… Beg Me…
Excerpt (will link to Shiloh’s site)
A longer excerpt can be read at Goodreads.
Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.
Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…oh, it had its ups and downs but she was happily married to a guy that adored her, one who had no problem indulging every kinky fantasy she ever had. But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.
Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.
Falling for your best friend’s wife—never smart. Drake’s watched Tania quietly for years, watched her…wanted her, knowing he’d never have her. First, she was taken. And then, that night two years ago—a night that still scars her, a night that’s left bruises on her that still haven’t healed. He does what he can, though, because he loves her too much not to. He’s her friend, there when she needs him.
And now she needs him. She’s asked him for a favor…one that just about blows his mind…
Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers…
Pleasures of the Night – $1.99
PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT – Available for $1.99!
In the Twilight between sleep and consciousness, a battle rages between Dream Guardians and Nightmares. Captain Aidan Cross is a legend, as skilled in fulfilling erotic dreams as he is with the glaive that kills his enemies. Women see Aidan as part of their fantasies . . . except Lyssa Bates. Exquisite, desirable, enigmatic Lyssa perplexes this immortal seducer because she sees him as he really is. And as he attempts to unravel her secrets the unthinkable occurs: Aidan Cross falls in love.
Lyssa has been having the most incredible dreams about a man whose blue eyes hold the promise of decadent pleasures and tempting intimacies. And then he appears on her doorstep! This intoxicating stranger is just as irresistible as the man of her dreams . . . but with her surrender there is also grave danger . . .
Because Aidan is on a mission, and the passion that consumes them body and soul could have dire consequences. Loving the mortal woman prophesied to destroy Aidan’s world is not only impossible . . it is forbidden.
New Doomsday Brethren releases!
I thought this week would NEVER get here. Like NEVER. I’ve never had a double-release week, so this is awesome! I can’t tell you how excited I am about ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT. I think Duke became one of my favorite heroes ever and totally surprised me…but I’m getting ahead of myself. Today, I’m going to put up a new excerpt and tease you with a few questions from an upcoming interview with Duke. 
Entice Me At Twilight
Doomsday Brethren Series, Book 4 – Duke’s story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-1439166772
Release Date: October 26, 2010
Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | Books-A-Million | Simon & Schuster | Indie Bound | Target | Overstock
Download eBook: Kindle | Nook | Kindle UK
In national bestselling author Shayla Black’s electrifying new novel, the Doomsday Brethren fight their mortal enemy for the newest weapon in a bloody magical war: the only woman a magical warrior shouldn’t claim…and the one he can’t resist.
Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight barrister brother hardly get along, but crashing Mason’s wedding and stealing his fiancée take sibling rivalry to a new level. Duke’s family knows nothing of his magical prowess or the Doomsday Brethren, so how can he explain that mankind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce for himself?
Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic—even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay’s tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination . . . if he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must heed her simmering desires to mate with Duke, but he risks binding his life—and sanity—to a lover whose loyalty may be forever torn. He faces a terrible choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival… or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control.
“A little magic, romance and gripping suspense combine to create an enchanting tale. This is truly a top-notch addition to the Doomsday Brethren series.” ~ RT Book Review
5 Blue Ribbons! “Passionate, magical, and just downright sexy…ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT is the perfect story…” ~ Romance Junkies
“…once again the reader is swept away into a world of danger and magic as the characters grow and the plot thickens. A great series and a wonderful read!” ~ Fresh Fiction
“The latest Doomsday Brethren romantic fantasy, ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT, is a stupendous thriller… Shayla Black entices readers to stay up long past Twilight to finish this terrific tale.” ~ Harriet Klausner
5 stars! “Shayla Black is a premier writer of passionate yet emotional novels. Danger, passion and emotion make ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT an attention-grabbing read during every engrossing scene.” ~ Single Titles
Top Pick! “Entice Me at Twilight is an action packed, emotionally intense novel that will enchant the heart… Another great read by Shayla Black that will be added to my keeper shelf.” ~ Night Owl Romance
“…hot and emotional, grabbing readers from the beginning, and the action will keep you on the edge of your seat. ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT is a book I highly recommend.” ~ Romance Reviews Today
Excerpt
© Shelley Bradley LLC
A sudden crash of the door against the wall, coupled with a feral growl, startled Felicia. Her blood froze and her heart flipped over. Fearing attack, she whirled. It wasn’t Mathias and the Anarki. Instead, she found danger of another kind.
Hurstgrove. His hair was uncharacteristically mussed, as if he’d raked a hand through it over and over. His pupils were dilated. A flush darkened his bronzed face. His wide chest, visible beneath his half unbuttoned shirt, rose and fell with each agitated breath. Need jumped through her belly, then pulsed lower.
“Felicia.” His normally cultured voice rattled across the room, echoing off the walls. Stark. Aggressive.
Sexual.
Oh dear God. His intent was unmistakable. He’d come to claim her.
Felicia bit her lip as her gaze traveled down, over Hurstgrove’s hard abdominals and narrow hips to see— Bloody hell. He was aroused. Very.
In response, her body throbbed, the ache deep, strong, demanding. She released a ragged breath, her yearning to touch him so deep, she clenched her fist to contain it.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the other women exchange meaningful glances.
Felicia frowned. “Hurstgrove, I—”
“Damn it! My bloody name is Simon.” He charged across the room and clasped her in a feverishly tight grip. “You are my mate. Say my name.”
She hesitated. If she did, would the added intimacy give him the green light to ravish her and draw her deeper under his spell? They should seal this union. But as desperately as she wanted him, how could sharing a bed with him not affect her heart?
No doubt he was the sort of lover who made lying back and thinking of England impossible. She shivered. It wasn’t merely the sex—at which Felicia had no doubt he’d be quite skilled—but the intimacy. His kisses. His touch. His sensual heat. His whispered words. His possession. All would deepen her feelings, put her heart in peril. The part of her that had never stopped weeping after Deirdre’s death was terrified of being that unguarded with anyone again.
Felicia tried to ease away from Hurstgrove. His grip held like iron. Both panic and excitement zipped through her.
He glared at the other women. “Get out. Now.”
Jaws dropping, Kari exited quickly, followed by Sydney and Anka. Olivia paused to pat her shoulder on her way out the door.
“Wait!” she called after them.
They went on, falling quickly out of sight. Only Sabelle lingered in the doorway.
Felicia tried to swallow her rising desire and anxiety. “What’s happening?”
Hurstgrove’s fingers dug deeper into her shoulders. “What should have happened the moment you spoke the Binding. I’m going to kiss you, then sink deep inside of you until you know exactly which brother you belong to.”
Felicia sucked in a breath, her insides pulsing at his words.
“It’s mating fever,” Sabelle murmured. “His instincts… He kissed you some days ago, sending his body into awareness. Once he spoke the Call, he became a ticking bomb.” Regret spread over her soft features. “Sorry. I should have realized…”
That Hurstgrove would become sexually demanding? Felicia stared up into his blunt, dominating stare. He wanted her; he meant to take her.
Ignoring her attraction was her best means of self-preservation. Two days ago, she could have. The past twenty-four hours had peeled back his layers, proving he was brave, committed, smart, self-sacrificing. After fleeing through the night with Hurstgrove, kissing him, Binding to him, something in her had changed. She’d cleaved to him in some way that had nothing to do with the words they’d exchanged and everything to do with her feelings for him. Knowing he’d visited a surrogate had ripped her open with a hurt she didn’t want to experience again. But if she refused him, she would.
Doing without him now would hurt her more.
Felicia rubbed at her forehead in confusion. For the first time, she was tempted to indulge in the heady rush of sensations and emotions coursing through her…even at the risk to her heart.
Still, if his fixation with her faded, Hurstgrove could crush her. If? No, when. But what would happen if she rejected him now, didn’t seal this union? Mathias would find her and kill them both.
“What’s happened to him?” she whispered to the witch.
Hurstgrove leaned closer until Felicia felt the heat of his body pouring off in waves. A drum beat of desire pounded inside her. “Buckle up, Sunshine. I plan to strip you bare and taste you, before I sink my cock inside you, so deep for so long, you won’t remember ever being without me.”
Felicia’s desire ramped up viciously.
“It’s a fever. It will pass,” Sabelle assured. “If you don’t want this, I’ll call my Aunt Millie. She can sedate him. She’ll only need to keep him under for a few weeks. A month at most.”
A month! Everything inside her rebelled against that. It was too cruel. And too dangerous.
Hurstgrove had risked everything to save her, done his best to respect her boundaries, even allowing himself to sink into this fever, rather than press her. Even now, with every muscle taut and trembling, he restrained himself, awaiting her reply.
“If we don’t sedate him?” She heard her own voice shake.
Sabelle hesitated, looking as if she was deciding how to break bad news.
Having no such qualms, Hurstgrove gripped Felicia’s chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “There isn’t anything or anyone that will stop me from taking you in every way I possibly can, every moment of every day, until you know you’re mine.”
* * *
Here’s a little snippet of my Q & A with Duke. Enjoy…
Question: I know that most of the wizards were not familiar fighting without using magic. What is it like during one of Marrok’s training sessions?
Answer: Utter hell. In fact, when Felicia asks me about my ability to perform a physical task, I assure her it’s no trouble at all because Marrok is like the most demanding personal trainer. On fast forward. In an endless loop. I don’t look forward to Marrok’s training sessions, but they’re necessary.
Question: You’re family isn’t aware of your powers. How are you able to keep your family from finding out?
Answer: Shortly after my transition, I distanced myself from my remaining family. As a grown man, my mother wasn’t terribly surprised by further cutting of the apron strings, but I apparently alienated my younger half-brother with not only my reserve, but I inadvertently seduced his French tutor, on whom he had a crush. It was the beginning of years of animosity. While painful, it served my purpose.
Question: I hear your brother is getting married. What do you think of his bride?
Answer: Lovely woman. Gorgeous, intriguing, prickly, sexy as the devil… She doesn’t belong with him. Mason and Felicia are definitely friends, but something more? I cannot see that happening. Ever. I regret that I must steal her away from their wedding in order to keep her safe, but I won’t have her in jeopardy for any reason…
I got my copies on Monday of ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT. Hope you’ll do the same!
Doomsday Brethren about to strike again!
October 26. That’s the day I’ll be releasing not one but two new Doomsday Brethren stories. Today, I’m posting some of the very first excerpt from both of these stories ever. I hope you enjoy!
ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-1439166772
Release Date: October 26, 2010
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | Books-A-Million
Simon & Schuster | Indie Bound | Overstock
In national bestselling author Shayla Black’s electrifying new novel, the Doomsday Brethren fight their mortal enemy for the newest weapon in a bloody magical war: the only woman a magical warrior shouldn’t claim…and the one he can’t resist.
Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight barrister brother hardly get along, but crashing Mason’s wedding and stealing his fiancée take sibling rivalry to a new level. Duke’s family knows nothing of his magical prowess or the Doomsday Brethren, so how can he explain that mankind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce for himself?
Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic—even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay’s tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination . . . if he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must heed her simmering desires to mate with Duke, but he risks binding his life—and sanity—to a lover whose loyalty may be forever torn. He faces a terrible choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival . . . or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control.
Excerpt
The next few minutes passed in tense silence until, finally, Duke pulled off the motorway at the only bit of civilization visible. A few scattered cottages, looking as old as the tiny village itself, squatted on a dark, narrow road. At the end, nestled in trees, a plain mid-century house appeared, only visible because his headlights reflected off the front windows.
As he steered the convertible closer, he noted a faint air of lonesomeness. He pulled up in the drive and turned to Felicia. “Wait here.”
He hopped out of the car and sprinted to the little cottage door. A few envelopes bulged out of the mail slot. A peek through the window revealed newspapers littering the floor. No one had been home for days.
Praying the inhabitants were away for the holiday, Duke returned to the car, then followed the drive around the back of the house. He cut the lights and the engine.
“Who lives here?” she asked, frowning.
No idea. “A friend. Let’s go.”
Felicia grabbed his arm as he began to climb out of the car. “You’re lying.”
How could she know that? “We’ll only be here a few hours. Come on.”
“We can’t just barge into someone’s home!”
“This is life or death. We haven’t time to be polite.”
She dug in her heels. “We’re staying in separate rooms, yes?”
It would be wiser for his self-control, but… Duke shook his head. “I’ll do my utmost to respect your privacy. But I can’t let this…man get his hands on you, Felicia. I won’t risk you. ‘Depraved’ is too kind a word to describe him.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “All right.”
Her acceptance of the situation relieved him and made him a bit proud. She was smart and practical…and driving him mad with lust.
At he walked around to help her out of the car, he murmured, “Stay close to me.”
Felicia exited, shivering as she scanned their surroundings. He slung an arm around her and drew her against his side.
Bristling, she backed away. “I’m perfectly fine. There’s no one about.”
“You’d be surprised by the things that go bump in the night.” He smiled grimly at her. “Besides, you’re freezing. Let’s go.”
The moment they stepped away from the car, the January wind whipped through them anew. She shivered in the delicate lace of her wedding dress and crossed her arms, huddling into herself to keep warm.
Stubborn woman. Duke shrugged out of his coat.
“Oh, no. You don’t—”
Felicia didn’t even finish her protest before he settled his dinner jacket over her shoulders. Almost instantly, she sank deep into the warmth of the coat.
“Warmer?”
Felicia buried her hands in the lapels and inhaled deeply. Duke was already hard, but his erection turned painful.
Cheeks red, she lifted her face from the garment and nodded. “T—thank you.”
At the door, Duke hesitated. If Felicia weren’t with him, he’d simply wave a hand and let his magic open the door. He couldn’t send her two hundred meters away now. Too dangerous. So in addition to kidnapping, less than four hours later, he’d be adding breaking and entering to his criminal repertoire. Wouldn’t Mum be proud?
He reared back to elbow out a little pane of glass above the handle when Felicia tapped his shoulder. She held the key in her hand.
“Where did you find that?”
She gestured to her feet. “Flower pot. I keep my spare there as well.”
Very smart. Duke grabbed the key and stepped forward to open the door for Felicia.
They stepped into the cozy little house with its neutral colors and masculine touches. Duke closed the door behind her and locked it. Just in case, he tried to magically secure the door…but nothing. Damn. He’d have to keep her close and take other precautions.
He passed her on the narrow stairwell, his body brushing hers at the chest, and thighs. He steadied her with his hands on her shoulders. All right, it was an excuse to touch her. The yearning to press her bare flesh against him and unleash his need for her pounded him again, growing dangerously with every moment they were together. Only thoughts of Mason and Mathias enabled him to release her and trek down the hall.
Duke opened the first door. A slightly musty scent drifted out, as if no one had slept here recently. He flipped on the nearby lamp. The room was stark, masculine, minimal, and very small. The owner had squeezed an armoire, a wooden bench, and one narrow tester bed into the room.
It was going to be a long night.
Biting back a curse, Duke ushered Felicia into the bedroom. He took another glance at the little bed. His gut tightened. “Would you like the shower first?”
“If you don’t mind…”
Duke gestured to the adjacent room, and she edged past him, flipped on the light to reveal glossy black tiles lining a stark white shower, then turned. His gaze locked with hers, squeezing the air from his lungs, until she closed the door between them.
Letting out a breath, Duke tore off his shoes, coat, tie, and shirt. He’d rather strip down and ease this aching erection, but Felicia was forbidden, and wanking off to thoughts of her would not be helpful, he knew from experience. Besides, he must stay focused on her safety.
Lifting the dark wooden blinds, he looked outside at the night around him, alert for any signs of menace. He couldn’t see a damn thing beyond the trees, but Mathias must be out there searching, waiting for him to fuck up and expose Felicia to danger.
Suddenly, Felicia opened the bathroom door and peeked out, her face hesitant. “Can you help me? I hate to ask…”
“Anything,” he vowed, crossing the room to her.
She bit her lip. “My dress…”
Then turned her back to him. A row of small satin buttons secured the lace gown from her neck to her waist—twenty of them, at least. And she wanted him to unfasten them? Unwrap her like a package?
A fresh wave of desire swamped him, nearly overwhelming. Dear God, how could he touch those buttons—her skin—and not take more?
Felicia cast a nervous glance over her shoulder again, moving the thick tumble of golden curls that had fallen from her twist out of his way.
Duke did his best to school his face and soothe her as he closed the distance between them. His heart revved, his palms turned damp. He wanted her so badly, he could hardly walk right.
She’s not yours.
With shaking hands, he reached for the first button at the creamy flesh of her neck, just below the wispy curls rioting near her hairline. Another button, then a second, a third…revealing the line of her spine and the softest skin. With each button, Duke exposed more and more of her, and his greedy gaze ate up every inch. The dress fell away, baring the delicate slopes of her shoulders, her upper back, the hint of her small waist.
His breathing turned ragged. As close as he was, Felicia couldn’t possibly fail to notice.
Two buttons left. He reached for the first, and couldn’t resist caressing one fingertip down her spine. She shuddered and looked back, wide-eyed, pupils dilated. She bit her plump bottom lip between her teeth, her breathing sounding harsh in the silence.
Dear God, she was aroused.
Grabbing the last button, he twisted it, sliding it free of its mooring. He had to get away from her before he did something they’d both regret.
The dress sagged forward, and she caught it—but not until it fell from her bare shoulders and slid toward her hips, revealing a bit of the white lacy knickers he yearned to rip from her body.
“Thank you,” she breathed.
“You’re welcome.” His voice sounded rusty, as if he hadn’t used it in years.
Walk away!
But he stood, rooted. Staring.
Felicia retreated—until her back hit the portal. With one hand, she grabbed the edge of the door. To steady herself? To shut it? With the other, she clutched her dress to her breasts. Duke still saw the shadow between them, pale, plump, tempting…
His gaze jerked up to her face. She stared back.
The lust thickening his blood nearly knocked him over, and Duke gripped the door jamb above her head for support. In forty-three years, he’d never felt anything like this.
This was totally unfamiliar and beyond his control.
Duke shuffled closer. Her body heat grabbed him across the mere ribbon of space between them. He leaned in, tilted his head, his gaze zeroed in on her lips, thoughts of tasting her storming through his head.
He was about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
“Stop me,” he murmured.
Felicia stared, breathless, silent.
Heart revving, Duke inched closer, enough to see the little line bisecting that lush lower lip and smell the peppermint of the holiday candy he’d given her in the car. “Felicia, stop me.”
But she swayed closer, her eyes fluttering shut. Her hand left the door and latched onto his bare shoulder. Her touch jolted his system, a lightning rod charging through him. Thought stopped, desire flared.
Yes, he was going to hell, but he’d go with her sweet taste on his tongue.
* * *
On that same day, I will release “Mated” in a totally new anthology with New York Times bestselling author Jeaneine Frost and fellow Texas author Sharie Kohler.
“Mated”
HAUNTED BY YOUR TOUCH
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-1439166765
Release Date: October 26, 2010
Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | Books-A-Million
Simon & Schuster | Indie Bound | Overstock
In the shadowy world of Shayla Black’s Doomsday Brethren, magical warrior Raiden vows to protect his woman and their unborn youngling from evil—and deliver her safely to another man. But once he’s saved her, can he let her go?
Excerpt
A moment later, they stood outside a neo-modern office building. Built in the 1960s and topping about five stories, the concrete structure had been carved with magical runes between each tier of white-draped windows. There wasn’t a soul in sight.
“It looks abandoned.” Eerily so, in fact.
He frowned, grabbing Tabitha’s hand tighter. “Indeed. Bram said the Council ministries no longer use this building. Apparently, it’s been the source of human speculation, particularly the meaning of the runes.”
“I recognize some of the symbols. Magic, mastery, truth, Fate. Death.”
Raiden shrugged, his wide shoulders looking almost menacing in a dark trench. “We don’t have time to decipher it now. I have an uneasy feeling. Let’s move quickly. I don’t want you out in the open where you’re vulnerable to Mathias or any eyes he might have watching.”
“He likely has no idea where I am.”
He hustled her under the building’s portico, deep in shadow, and pinned her with a glare. “Do you really think it would take Mathias very long to figure out that your father had a daughter he hadn’t managed to kill in the attack? And that the daughter carried my child? Once he pieces all the information together, he’s going to be but a breath behind us.”
Dear God, she’d never thought of that before, but her father would have recorded her own birth. There would be no mating listed in The Peers and People of Magickind because she’d never mated. The fact that she carried Raiden’s child wouldn’t be listed until the youngling’s birth, but even so, a wizard with Mathias’s cunning and resources could find that information. After all, he hadn’t managed to outwit most of the Council and stay a step ahead of the Doomsday Brethren by being a half-wit.
“Fuck.” Raiden ran a hand through his long, pale hair. “And once he starts pursuing us, I know where he’ll look first. We can’t go back to your house. Or mine.”
“You’re right.”
“I’ll tell Ronan to warn my father away until this is settled. He won’t be happy, but if we can find what we’re looking for now, then I can set all back to rights soon.”
“Meaning your father can go home, and you can wash your hands of me by dumping me on Sean Blackbourne’s doorstep?”
His face tightened, darkened. Raiden’s temper wasn’t a small thing, and she wondered if she’d crossed some line.
He cursed and turned away. “That would be for the best.”
“For whom?” she challenged, furious to the bone with his oblique answers. “It would certainly be easiest for you. Then you could rid yourself of me, guilt-free and—”
Raiden grabbed her and pulled her close. “Listen to me. I have tried every way I know to spare you more heartache. I was a bastard to you, yes. I seduced you with every intention of walking out the door. I don’t mate. I am my father’s son.”
“I refuse to believe that.” Tabitha shook her head.
“I’m trying to do the right thing now. Instead of seducing you again, I’m warning you away. Which do you think I’d rather do?” He raised a golden brow, his hot gaze wandering down her body.
* * *
Haven’t tried the Doomsday Brethren series yet? Read my free novella about Raiden’s twin Ronan here. Want a chance to win MORE Doomsday Brethren? For a chance to win a signed copy of each of the first three books in the series, leave a comment about either of the excerpts, and I’ll enter you in the drawing.