EYE CONTACT by Rebecca Royce

EYE CONTACT - Book One of The Conditioned Series by Rebecca Royce

Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as "the condition", would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.

The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.

Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned 'locator.' There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.

In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?

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~Excerpt~

Spencer nearly swallowed his tongue when he’d stormed into the room in one of his too common rages and stumbled on the blonde with the cold blue eyes sitting in the chair to the left. Stunning didn’t begin to describe her. She had made the world stop for a moment.

That she was a Wade didn’t surprise him, not in the least.

Despite the heat of attraction, he could almost feel a chill. Then again, the whole family was said to have ice instead of blood running through their veins. Addison Wade sat frigidly in her chair, her expression haughty and removed, as if she was more concerned with not wrinkling her skirt than noticing that he was in the room. They had come asking for help to find a missing boy? She looked like she was making a quick stop before some trendy lunch date.

Spencer had some experience with finding missing children, he was used to the families falling apart, not sitting calmly looking like they had just come from a day at a hair salon.

At least they had come.

Surprising as that was, until then, Spencer would have sworn a Wade would rather swallow their tongue then come near one of the institutions. The whole thing was ironic, considering he was in the presence of two of the people responsible for the misery that plagued so many of his people and necessitated the continuing use of these places.

He should tell the Wades to go screw themselves.

Why was it his problem that they couldn’t keep track of their own child?

Even as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it. In his life, he’d always helped a child if he could. In this case, the could would be the ultimate question. Spencer had no idea if he was even capable of performing the functions they would need to locate their nephew.

Knowing that every eye in the room was focused on him, including Will’s, he turned around to regard the women who sat behind him. Leaning on the desk behind him, he gave Addison a good long stare. If she already thought he was a savage, why not live up to the role? There would be hell to pay from Will later, but just watching the woman squirm would be worth it.

“Your nephew has gone missing.” He made his statement sound like a question. He knew the kid was gone, Will had just said he was and Will was, as far as Spencer could tell, never wrong.

“Yes, he disappeared from his bedroom a month ago.”

“Spencer, I told them you aren’t available for the assignment. I’m going to assign someone else.” He dark tones clearly expressed what he thought of Spencer’s presence in the room at that moment. “Your other issue, the one that had you storming in here like a lunatic, I’ll look into the matter later.”

Ignoring Will, he continued his long stare at princess Addison. “And it took you a whole month to come here? What were you doing?”

“Why we were too busy to come here, naturally. I had a ski vacation in Aspen and my aunt needed to get her nails done every day.” Addison’s sarcasm spit from her mouth and Spencer nearly laughed aloud. So, the cat had claws. What was wrong with him that he liked it so much?

“Temper, temper, Ms. Wade.” Spencer ignored the tug in his groin that said he was more than just a little aware of how attractive she was.

“I don’t like your implication, Mr. Lewis. For your information, we have been working with the authorities and trying to handle this nightmare ourselves.” She looked down and for a moment, Spencer swore she was biting the inside of her cheek. Her foot still tapped on the floor. When she looked up, her gaze was not on him, but on Will behind him. Spencer narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like that one bit.

“I realize this is the perfect opportunity to attack and humiliate us. We are sitting here in your office, easy targets. But, we’ve come here in good faith, to ask you for help in our most desperate situation. Can you help us or should we leave?”

“We can help you. I’ll assign you someone.” Will stood up and walked around the desk to stand next to him, placing a hand on his arm. Spencer started. When was the last time the other man had touched him? A jolt of psychic awareness filled the room, although he was sure the two non-sensitives wouldn’t feel it. Why was Will pushing on his senses so hard? “But it won’t be Spencer here helping you. As I said, he’s not capable of doing what you need him to do right now.”

Addison’s eyes showed relief. “That’s fine. We’ll be most grateful.”

Oh, hell no. “I can do it.”

“What?” Will and Addison spoke at the same time. Spencer crossed his arms over his chest.

“I said I could do it. I’ll find the missing Wade child, your nephew.”

“No.” Addison stood up.

Looking left and right between Addison and Spencer, the older woman Will had called Morgan stood up too, a pained expression on her features showing her worry.

“No?”

“Mr. Rhodes says you are not capable of doing the job. Therefore, we need someone else.”

“I said I would do it, and I’m the best there is. No one else can find your nephew as quickly as I can. You do care about that, don’t you, Ms. Wade? Or do people in your position, who wait a month to get the services of freaks like us, not care about things like the mental health of the missing child?”

Addison’s mouth gaped open and he had the momentary pleasure of watching her do her best imitation of the number zero. Satisfaction crept up his spine. Let the spawn of all things evil feel lower than low for a while. Nothing he’d ever said had felt better.

Until he saw her hand shake.

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PARTY OF THREE by Desiree Holt

PARTY OF THREE by Desiree Holt

Carolina "Carrie" Derosa had the hots for her boss, Drew Magellan, from the first day she went to work for him. Little did she know that Drew wanted her just as badly, but the same thing was holding them back—taboo on sex in the workplace.

When Drew's friend, Linc Conover, drops into the office to see him after hours and they bump into Carrie on her way out, the sparks that fly from all three light up the hallway. It doesn't take long before they adjourn to Drew's condo and fall into a whirlpool of eroticism.

But no one expects jealousy to rear its ugly head. Who will come out on top in this menage - so to speak?

Note: This story is also available as part of the THREEFOLD anthology.

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Copyright © Desiree Holt, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound.

Excerpt From: Party of Three


Carrie Derosa slammed her desk drawer shut and picked up her jacket and purse. The day had been long. Much longer than usual, with two clients who wanted reassurance on every item in their portfolio, then more assurances after that. She couldn’t exactly say she blamed them. In a down economy, everyone from the couple with penny stock portfolios to corporations responsible for other people’s money wanted to know their investments were safe.

And Carrie prided herself on not only having great rapport with her clients but also keeping on top of an ever-changing situation so that her assurances were based on real information. After two years in her present position, she’d acquired a valuable list of clients, attracting them and their money and earned herself several very nice bonuses. But the last few weeks, with an unstable stock market, had been taxing and tiring and she needed some time for Carrie.

Oh, yeah. Time for Carrie. With who? She’d immersed herself so deeply in her career trying to make herself the golden girl and attract the attention of her very, very sexy boss her social life had virtually disappeared. Carrie sighed. Her date life, and subsequently her sex life, had been woefully absent lately. Too much work with too little energy left over. She could barely remember the last time she’d got laid. And wasn’t that pathetic? She needed to do something about that.

She’d been spending too many nights by herself with one of the erotic romance novels she loved to read, a selection of her favourite battery operated toys and no one to give her an orgasm but herself. And fantasies about her boss. Drew Magellan was so far out of her league, she wasn’t even on the same planet. She needed a reality check for sure. Women like her only wound up with men like Drew in fairy tales, and she’d long ago stopped believing in them.

A glance at her watch told her if she hurried home and changed she had enough time to call her friend, Lora, and talk her into a pizza. If Lora didn’t have other plans.

Taking one last look around, she flicked off her office lights and closed the door. One more day marked off at Magellan Enterprises, one day closer to her vacation. And god, could she use it. Maybe she’d meet some hot hunk who’d want to have wild monkey sex with her, and she could work off some of this unresolved sexual energy buzzing around in her system.

Maybe two hot hunks!

Now there was a thought. She had two friends who swore that a ménage situation was so over the top it was mindblowing. Plain sex would never be the same for her again.

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BURNING LOVE by Jana Richards

BURNING LOVE by Jana Richards

After causing three cooking fires in her apartment, Iris Jensen finds herself evicted. She lands on Riley Benson's doorstep, looking to rent a room in the beautiful old home he's restoring. It's only for six weeks until Iris leaves Portland, Oregon for her new job on a cruise ship. Firefighter Riley knows firsthand what a bad tenant she can be. But he needs money to finish the work on the house he loves. And something about Iris pulls at his heart...

Meanwhile, in Heaven, two angels watch over the young lovers. Angelica and Hildegard work in Heaven's Relationship Division, where angels match mortals with their soul mates. The angels believe so strongly in Iris and Riley's love that they break Heaven's rules to help them. Can the angels convince them they belong together forever before time runs out?

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Excerpt:

Riley looked into her beautiful blue eyes and her smiling face and did the only thing he was capable of doing at the moment.

He kissed her.

Maybe later, he told himself, when sanity returned, he’d think of a hundred reasons why pulling Iris into his arms, holding her tightly against his body, and plundering her soft, sweet mouth was not a good idea. But for now, right now, as she wound her arms around his neck and made tiny sounds of excitement deep in her throat, it felt exactly right.

Heaven. Having Iris in his corner made him believe everything was possible.

He stepped backwards towards the stairs, pulling Iris with him, intent on taking her to upstairs to his room. He suddenly tripped, nearly losing his balance. He glanced behind him and saw the object he’d stumbled over. A set of luggage sat next to the stairs, still bearing tags from the retailer.

“What the hell is this?”

Iris kissed his neck. “I’m sorry. I should have taken them up to my room.”

Iris had bought new luggage for her trip. Her plans hadn’t changed.

She’s leaving me.

The thought acted as effectively as a bucket of cold water tossed over his head. What was he doing? She was leaving in three weeks and didn’t plan to return. The calendar in the kitchen reminded him of that every day. Why start something that would only lead to heartache?

No, this was crazy. Why couldn’t they take pleasure in each other for the next three weeks? Why should they deny themselves what Riley knew would be the best sex of their lives? Why was he throwing it all away?

Because he’d already lost too many people in his life.

And Riley instinctively knew that if he let himself get close to Iris, let himself love her, a part of him would not survive when she left.

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IN FROM THE COLD by Carolina Valdez

IN FROM THE COLD by Carolina Valdez

East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet...

Jon and Wendell were fourteen when they first experimented with each other and discovered they were gay. Lovers and in love, they drifted apart after graduation when Jon left to follow his dream to rock 'n' roll stardom. A heartbroken Wendell recovered by earning an animal husbandry degree at a California university. He returned to the small Oregon town where they'd grown up to raise sheep with his father.

Ten years later, Wendell's contentment is shattered when Jon and his band arrive to play for their high school reunion. Love surprises both men by immediately flaring into liquid heat. Jon begs Wendell to give up his life in Oregon and live with him in New York City. Wendell refuses, however, asking Jon to move in with him instead. But Jon refuses to abandon his career and returns to Manhattan.

Will Wendell and Jon remain star-crossed lovers, or will they find a way to bridge the distance and discover the true meaning of "home"?

Note: IN FROM THE COLD is included in the five-story erotic gay WHERE THE HEART IS AmberPax 

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Excerpt:

...Wendell froze. He forgot to breathe. Warm lips touched the hollow just beneath his right ear and a tongue slowly tasted, savoring him. He closed his eyes as the tonguing changed to a wet mouth trailing kisses with agonizing slowness down his neck to where his sleep top began. Fingers slid beneath the neck and slid across his bare skin, following its line.

“I wore your gift tonight,” Jon said in a voice as rough as gravel.

Mesmerized by the touch of Jon’s mouth and hands, all Wendell could get out was, “I noticed.” When a lack of oxygen threatened to cause a blackout, he drew in a long breath through his nose. Not my soap, he thought. Not my shampoo. Only Jon’s scent. His soap, his shampoo, his arms strong and familiar around me.

His lips and tongue that I have missed so very much.

He crossed his arms over Jon’s and became aware of the rock-hard cock pressing against his buttocks and his dick growing long and big in response. That, too, was familiar. He didn’t want to move, to stop the mouth at his neck or destroy the pleasures rumbling inside him. He just wanted to stand there and feel Jon in the stillness, with the blazing fire shooting flickering shadows around them, and convince himself Jon was real and this wasn’t a dream.

Jon released his waist and turned Wendell to face him as his lips brushed over the corners of his closed eyes and his tongue lapped at the tip of his nose before zeroing in to devour Wendell’s mouth. As the kiss deepened and their tongues intertwined in an imitation of penetrating sex, Wendell wrapped his arms around Jon and ran his hands up and down the broad back. Jon thrust his pelvis against Wendell’s until they were so tight together he couldn’t tell Jon’s dick from his. It didn’t matter. Melding into him, becoming one with him was all that mattered as erotic sparks shot through him and lust caused his body to quiver.

Someone groaned, and Wendell realized it came from his throat.

Jon must’ve taken that as a signal to slip his hand beneath the band of Wendell’s sleep pants because he was there, and his hard knuckles stroked the tender flesh above Wendell’s bush.

“Lower. Go lower,” Wendell begged, hungry for and helpless against the sensual onslaught. He rocked his hips from side to side to increase the friction as the knuckles continued to rub.

Jon was trembling now. He slid Wendell’s sleep pants down and took his cock in hand.

“Not here,” Wendell warned, his voice thick and hoarse with what testosterone was doing to his vocal chords. “I’m on the verge.”

“Yes, here,” Jon insisted as he pulled down his own pants and wrapped Wendell’s hand around his tight erection. “I’ve wanted to fuck you for so long I’m not going to let you go. Besides, we have all night.”

Pleasure splintered Wendell, and he exhaled with a groan as he enjoyed those all too brief seconds when everything centered in his groin and drowned his entire body in feeling.

“Oh, God, Wendell. Wendell.” Jon moaned as he came, too.

Later, they wandered to bed, stripped, crawled under the covers and died to the world.

In the deepest part of the night, Wendell roused to the weight of someone, something on his butt, something hard and velvety gliding, sliding in and out of his crack. Something nipped at his shoulder. “Is that you, Jon?”

“Who else, lover?”

He started to turn, but hands captured his shoulders and kept him in place as Jon’s knees forced his thighs apart. Hands rubbed his back as Jon licked his skin, awakening nerve endings running the length of his body. Thinking he should only feel this in his groin, the sensations caused every nerve to spring to life. Awash in feeling, he decided to relax and enjoy it, not to miss even one little flicker of arousal...

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ELORA'S MATCH by Liia Ann White

ELORA'S MATCH - The Different Saga Book One by Liia Ann White

Elora's parents mysteriously disappeared when she was fifteen. She vowed to find answers – discover what really happened to them. But after twenty-five years of travelling the world she has come up empty handed. Feeling tired and lonely, she settles down in the city her best friend, Caleb, calls home. To lead a regular human existence for a while...like he does.

One problem...they're not human. They're Different – a rare supernatural race known for their beauty, strength and supernatural abilities.

Elora is lead to a man by a series of visions. Cue Kadin - powerful, sexy and also Different. He is her match - her soul-mate. Her life has never felt so complete.

But it's not all good news. Elora must now deal with a rogue demon Elder hell-bent on taking over Lucifer's reign over Hell. To succeed she needs to steal Elora's power. When she's facing the fight of her life, can Elora really trust Kadin?

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Excerpt

The scent of moist woods came strong through my nose as I watched the tall trees pass by in a blur. Early morning mist covered the roads, rays of sunshine shimmering through the tree leaves as the car bumped down the vaguely familiar road. My heart fluttered with anticipation as the vehicle made a sharp turn, heading closer toward our destination.

Suddenly, a soft touch came upon my knee. I turned my head and looked at Caleb. His perfect face skewed into a small frown, lips pursed, dark brown eyes filled with concern.

“You ok?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a smile.

After twenty-five years of travelling the world, staying put made me feel uneasy. I did this for Caleb. Best friends since childhood, we were inseparable, until I decided to leave home to find answers in my parents’ disappearance. Not easily forgotten was the memory of the event that changed my life.

Caleb and I entered the house after a day at school, as we usually would, except that day, the stench of sulphur was so strong it caused us to choke. We found a rogue demon in the back living room, his body sizzling on the ground. Caleb interrogated him while I stayed completely frozen with fear. My parents disappeared after their attack.

Forty years later, still nobody knew why. Least of all me.

Caleb and I were Different; a supernatural race known collectively as The Difference; a plain term coined centuries ago that stuck. Most humans would call us mutants or witches, due to our abilities, but that was just a reflection of their ignorance.

Our species appeared human enough, but we all have the common traits of astounding physical beauty, incredible strength, and heightened senses. Some of us are physic, some telepathic, and some able to manipulate the elements. But we all have the power of persuasion, a form of mind compulsion, making it very easy to control a human’s mind.

My powers have always exceeded my peers, and more than once, I received warnings they could attract unwanted attention. Not only can I manipulate all the elements, I have the gift of psycho kinesis, the ability to fly, to heal, and unpredictable precognition.

Being Different has always been a touchy subject with Caleb. While I love my abilities and use them to my full advantage, he always wants to be a regular human. To age and live like ‘normal’ people do. However, since five human years are equal one Different year, it is an impossible want.

Not that he doesn’t try. Soon after I left home, Caleb moved to the United States, where nobody knew him, so he could start leading a more human lifestyle. I had always compared it to a vampire surviving on animal or synthetic blood; I just don’t see the point of it. If you have a gift, you should use it to your advantage, not let it fade away.

Caleb manoeuvred the car down the small paved road leading to a large wrought iron gate at the end of the driveway. It opened to a long, curved driveway as we approached. The car inched through the gate to perfect manicured gardens, and the house appeared, looking just as I remembered.

Large and statuesque.

The ancient white stone contrasted with black wrought iron window frames and porch balustrades. Vines grew around the lower half of the three-story home, leaving the stone all but gone.

Caleb stopped the car by the porch stairs, cut the engine, and turned to me with a smile. “Home sweet home.”

There was nothing sweet about it. A wave of nausea came over me as I realized I had never been to this house without my parents. Facing the emptiness of this home left me feeling winded. When I reached the front door, they wouldn’t be there to greet me, and nothing about that resembled the home where I once lived.

Caleb beat me to the car’s trunk, removing my three large suitcases. Then, swiftly, he ran up the porch stairs, taking two at a time.

As I followed behind him, I ran my hand along the thick balustrade, trying to ignore my increasing heart race. A lump formed in the back of my throat along with the burning of tears in my eyes that I refused to let free. I would not break down. I would stay strong -- for Caleb.

He flashed me a reassuring smile before opening the thick wooden door. There was no sound, no creaking, and no aching old frames. The house was in perfect condition despite its standing since the 1400s.

Entering the house, I recognized the scent of rose, timber, and lemon. The house hadn’t changed one bit in the years I’d be gone. My footsteps echoed throughout the empty house. A thick layer of dust covered every piece of furniture. Nobody had been here for decades.

My gaze ran over the couch where I used to cuddle with my parents on cold nights while they read me bedtime stories.

This house was the first home my parents built together. Before I was born, they moved to Australia, wanting to raise me somewhere safer, more sheltered from the supernatural world.

Their apparent death created an empty void in my life. I miss the little things the most; the way they always called me ‘princess’, the way they ran their hands over my hair to soothe me, how we’d curl up on the couch in silence while watching a movie together, and waking every morning to find my breakfast waiting for me in the kitchen, already made.

I would never argue with them again. Never tell them another joke. Never have them ask how my day was. I’d never see their smiling faces again. These past years, I’d been so hell bent on finding the person responsible for their disappearance I hadn’t let myself mourn their loss. Anger is a much easier emotion for me to feel than sadness.

Caleb slipped his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into a sideways hug. “Memories, hey?” He smiled at me.

“Indeed.” I let out a sigh and walked toward the suitcases Caleb left by the front door. “Thanks for picking me up, Cal.”

“What kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t?”

“A normal one,” I admitted.

“You may have abandoned me, but I’d still do anything for you.”

He mean it as a joke, but I had abandoned him. When I left home, I didn’t think of anyone else, only my agenda. Never once did I think about the effect it would have on my remaining family.

Caleb wrapped his arm around me again. “You know what you need?”

“What’s that?”

“A night out with friends.”

“Friends?” I repeated.

“Layke and I.” Great, the girlfriend; I fought against the urge to roll my eyes. “It’s my mate’s birthday, and he’s having a party at a local club. It’s VIP and everything.” He grinned, reminding me of his teenage self.

“Don’t get too excited, Cal.” I laughed at his enthusiasm.

He released his arm and gave me a shove. “Go get ready. I’ll pick you up in couple hours.” He headed for the door, turning around as his hand wrapped around the knob, “Elora?”

“Yeah?”

“You’ll be ok you know.”

He sounded so positive I wanted to believe him, but I wasn’t sure I would be ok. “I know.” I smiled before he left, turning to take in my new home. “Welcome home,” I muttered to myself quietly.

As the front door closed, I headed down the long hallway leading upstairs to my bedroom. The sound of the suitcases dragging on the wooden floor echoed throughout the hall as I went past the large formal dining. A heavy oak table sat in the centre of the room, thirteen cream and gold chairs with wooden frames positioned around it. I stepped up the long wooden staircase, several photographs of my parents and I hung on the wall.

The upper floor consisted of five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Mine was at the very end of the hall; a large, triple sized bedroom with French doors leading to a balcony. The bedroom remained exactly the same as I remembered. A large canopied bed sat in the centre of the carpeted room, decorated with a deep blue comforter and pillows. I sat down on the bed, opening the suitcases and began unpacking.

First, I took out a wooden box of keepsakes. My fingertips ran over the tiny roses engraved on the surface, emeralds in the centre of each flower. After opening it, a photograph of my parents and I lay before me, a photo taken when I was fourteen, just a few weeks before their disappearance. My mother stood on my left, her long blonde hair framing her goddess-like face, deep brown eyes crinkling as she smiled. On my right was my father, a very tall, muscular man with light brown hair and blue eyes.

Then there was me, in the middle. Sometimes I doubted they were my biological parents. With raven hair and violet eyes that change colour with my moods, I looked nothing like either of them. I am 5’7” with a long, curvaceous body and very defined muscles and facial features, whereas my parents were very long and lean.

The photo taken so long ago, but I remember it so clearly it could have been yesterday. The trouble with having an eidetic memory is that you can’t forget a thing. All memories, good and bad, stay with you forever.

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CACIOUS & SAKARA by Jason Daniel Kowalczyk

CACIOUS & SAKARA: The Blood Companion Conclusion by Jason Daniel Kowalczyk

"The erotic nightmare gets a bit of humor tossed in the mix with Jason Daniel Kowalczyk's new volume of the Blood Companion Series."

You know Sakara as a key character in the story of "The Blood Companion," but you don't know the truth.

Now you will...

This is the real story of Sakara and how she fits in to the tales that Lelio began to tell you of. You will finally know the truth about Lelio Froste, as well as his beginning.

Along for the ride is the cursed Vampire, Cacious. This vampire has spent his time as a vampire slowly rotting, and he finally reveals what he knows of his curse. Our marble-shooting hero who has stayed in the background until now.

The 8th and final volume of the Blood Companion series will take you on a roller coaster ride that will come to a screeching halt. It will end in a way that you least expect. You may just want to hold your breath...

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Excerpt from “Cacious & Sakara” By Jason Daniel Kowalczyk

I finally fell into dreamland, but then I woke after a couple of hours as my hotel room was beginning to smell like a rotting corpse. I sat up in bed and saw him sitting in a chair at the little table in the corner. I must admit, I would have expected the room to smell far worse than it did, “Marbleton's Water Seal,” he blurted as if I had said it out loud, “Simon developed it to help with the smell.”

It was Cacious, the poor vampire that was cursed by rotting his way through his existence. He was wrapped like a mummy, but this mummy's wrappings were made of the silver fix-all, duct tape. He had even fashioned ears, eyelids, and a nose. He was wearing clothing over the duct tape, but it was still an odd sight. He had white hair that stood up in the air like he had received a massive electric shock. I did not feel that I was in danger; he looked at me as if he were curious. It took all of my control not to burst out in to laughter at the mere sight of him. An odd fellow, I was actually quite happy to get to speak to him.

“Cacious, I am guessing?” He nodded his reply. Unfortunately the duct tape wasn't good for facial features; he brought both hands to his face and used his fingers to move his duct-taped lips into a smile. “I have to ask, was anything, other than your condition, true in Lelio's book?”

He laughed outlandishly, “I do shoot marbles with a slingshot. I can take out a flea that is sitting on a cat’s ass a mile away. ” Cacious had an air of humor to him, he was surely not insane, he was just an oddball, and he was a vampire that was able to find the comical side in anything. “You do not need to explain anything that he put in there about you; I know it was just slap-chunk.”

“Slap-chunk?” An odd term, I actually giggled a bit as I got out of bed and sat at the other chair at the table. I had already gotten the coffee maker ready so that all I had to do was push the on-button so it would brew. I pushed the button and readied myself for what I figured would be a fun talk. “Slap-Chunk?”

“Lies,” he laughed. “Anyway, I help to keep an eye on things in this city, I was informed that you were here, and I was kind of sent to figure you out, but I already know what you are about.” I was a bit unnerved, but it was Cacious, and he obviously was not here to harm me. He could have killed me in my sleep, which would have been the only way this skinny thing would have been able to kill me. “So what did Lelio do to get you all pissed at him?”

“He is my brother,” oh, how his questioning gaze changed. Suddenly he was wondering if his impression of me was off by miles. “Calm down, I want to kill him. His father raped my mother, and I was the result...” I told him my story. I told him about my adopted father, my lineage, the story of the things Nicolae did, and how I made it here. “I may have Nicolae's blood in me, but I am trying to do something with my time on earth.”

He was speechless for a moment; he was thinking hard, I often wonder if there were marbles bouncing around in that duct-taped head of his when he thought. Oddly enough, I seemed to notice a grave look come over his face, which should have been impossible considering how his face was made up. “Things are becoming difficult in the city with Lelio. Especially after what he did last night…”

“I caught glimpses of you last night, which is how I knew where I could find you. I travel by rooftop all the time as I keep an eye on the city.” He paused as he tightened a strip of duct tape around his right index finger. “Lelio was extremely busy. After I found Roger in a helpless state, I went around the city in the hopes that I could find a reason to rip his head from his shoulders.

“I never found him, but I found two dead bodies that I am sure that he was the killer. The male will be most problematic, considering he was a shifter,” he noticed my questioning glare as I poured myself a cup of coffee, “werewolf. The shifter was a male; he was obviously attacking a woman while in his human form. The woman was murdered as well.”

“Cocky little bastard, isn't he?”

“That isn't even the worst of what he did. There is a hunter, Ariel, Lelio mentioned her in his writing.” Cacious pointed to my copy of Lelio's book on the nightstand. “He made her into a vampire,” He laughed at the sickened look on my face.

“Just to see if he could, just to torture her,” he nodded. His head tilted a bit to the right as he considered me. I closed my eyes and tried to reach over the distance between Lelio and I to see if I could find his jumbled mind somewhere in the city. I did not know if I could do it, but it is weird how the demon blood whispers hints in my mind.

I thought of the connection that I felt the first time I walked into that room where Lelio sat. I felt my brother's mind, I hoped when did find him that he would not be able to find my location. I concentrated on trying to lock up my mind while scratching around in his. I found what I was looking for; I began to speak to Cacious as I dug around.

“They did not head to the city in the vampire way, They took his Cadillac, which was much more comfortable to him than having wings sprout out of his back and take to the air. He wore a pair of jeans as well as a sport coat and a tie.” I opened my eyes to make sure he was listening, oddly enough, he was transfixed.

“He is not powerful enough to simply will myself up into the air and go wherever he pleases, like elder vampires might. Hope liked to hunt in the open and make it a game to lure her prey into the dark corners. Lelio preferred to hunt in the darkest of alleys, that way, he could do as he pleased and simply kill and move on about his business. He strolled along in the darkness, passing an addict here and a homeless man there. He scanned the minds of the few he passed in order to gauge their innocence or guilt; none of them were worth him extinguishing their life then and there. He passed evil, he passed dealers, and he hungers for innocent blood.

“Then he finally found the innocent soul that he so desperately needed to quench his undying thirst. He turned into a dead-end alley, and he found a man that was digging for food in a dumpster. Lelio strolled quietly up behind him; he started to pluck things out of his mind to know what he was doing here. He was so sure that this fool should die, that he did not even try to sneak up behind him, but he was too preoccupied to notice him.

“His name was Albert, he had been a self-published author, and now he picked his meals out of the dumpster. Lelio rushed forward and pinned him up against the metal. He struggled to free himself from his grasp but it was useless. Lelio again went into his mind; he was nothing but a psychic psychotic, Lelio was all the worst parts of his father, festering here on this earth. 'You are such an innocent soul; this should piss your God off.'

“Lelio grabbed the man's face and squeezed his jaw, purposely trying to hurt him; Lelio sank his fangs into Albert's neck, and drained against his innocent and frightened heart. The fear in him seemed to change the feeling of the blood he was taking into him. It was beautiful, and he almost wept when he could pull no more from the wound.

“Lelio bit into the tip of his tongue to use a small amount of his blood to heal away the puncture marks to ensure that there were no signs of the vampire left on this bastard.

“Lelio heaved Albert up and on top of the trash in the Dumpster and began to straighten his tie when he turned around see the exit to the alley being blocked by one beautiful individual. A very beautiful young woman was staring at him. She stood about his height, her blonde hair flowing over her shoulders. Her skin was very pale, but not as pale as one of his kin. Her blue eyes were fixed on him with such hatred that it almost knocked him to the ground. Once our eyes met, he knew her, she is known as the most feared vampire hunter that was in existence.

“Now, Ariel was standing a few hundred feet in front of him and she was in no mood for mere conversation at this moment. A mental strike was sent at him from Ariel, it hit him with such force that he slammed into the Dumpster, nearly folding it in half. He could hear the body within being squished in the act. Imagine being struck by a speeding car, that is what he felt come from Ariel, and it was all for him by her mind. This was a mortal woman with the mental strengths that most vampires could not achieve for centuries of life, or unlife if you want to be specific.

“Lelio was hurt, but he could feel his body already trying to heal him, but it was far off from being in the condition to battle this oddly powerful mortal woman. Ribs were broken, several vertebrae were shattered in his neck and back, and there was a gaping hole in the back of his head. He was on his hands and knees, crawling away from the Dumpster when he realized that she was now standing right above him with a crossbow in her grasp.

“Lelio could not get to his feet, he was way too hurt, and all he was able to do was get to his knees. He used his demon blood to muster enough strength to tackle her as she fired the crossbow. The shot missed and he sunk his demon fangs into her side. He was able to draw quickly, weaken her, and then he got the idea. He held her by her hair as he let his blood pour into her mouth. He thought it was funny, what he was doing to her. He was slightly unnerved though, he was not able to pull out her secrets, either way. Then he just left her there,” I was sickened by what I was able to pull from his mind. I was trying to figure out more, but I think he realized what I was doing, and his mind clammed up. “I think he figured out what I was doing. I cannot get any further from this way.”

“It is alright, I know what happens next, I found her,” Cacious pulled out a marble and began to bat it back and forth like a cat with a ball of yarn, “I stayed with her through the change. I told her how to find Valentino, and then I went to try and find him. He also killed that chick that he was sleeping with, Hope.”

“At least I was able to get that, I think he figured out what I was doing when I tried to figure out where he was as well.” I was sort of transfixed at the way he seemed to be getting annoyed as the marble would get away from him and roll to the floor, and then he would pull out another, and so on as we talked. “What in the world are you doing?”

“Sorry,” he chuckled as another marble rolled to the floor. “The marbles call to me, I just can't keep my hands off them. I am one with the marbles.”

I looked under the table to see about 40 marbles lying on the carpet. “Apparently not,” I couldn't help myself from laughing at him.

“I am not here for your entertainment,” Cacious seemed miffed. “Are you amused with my marbles? Am I funny to you? Do I amuse you; do you think I am here to make you laugh?” He could not even keep from laughing anymore. “Like so many others, you must be wondering how I have survived so long.”

“How long have you been around,” Cacious was surely an interesting character, I almost totally forgot about Lelio.

“To be honest, which I usually am not, I am not sure. I was around for the establishing of this city,” he shrugged his duct-tape covered shoulders. “It was a long time ago, in a land far away from here, before the invention of porn that I was born. Oops, I made a rhyme. Anyway, I guess it was not before the invention of porn, since they have even found dirty paintings in the homes of Egyptian elite.”

“Are you really sitting here, or am I actually still asleep,” it put me off now and then to see these eyes moving around under duct-taped eyelids. He reached up and pulled his white hair off of his head. It was Velcroed to his head. I could see the Velcro attached to his skull. “How do you keep that attached to your head?” I tried to stop myself from asking, but it was too late, I was afraid of the answer.

“Staples.”

I had to change the subject, “You said you watch over the city, how do you do it?”

“I saw you last night because I travel the tops of the building’s myself.” Again, he pulled a marble out of his pocket and began to bat it back and forth. “My smell tends to give my whereabouts away, so I tend to stay out of other creatures nostrils by staying above them. Jacob fitted me with a hearing accelerant made from part of a toothpick, chewing gum, and a cigarette filter. I can hear very well.”

“Jacob?” Once again, I just could not stop myself.

“One of my swarm.”

“Swarm?” Sooner or later I would have to train myself not to ask questions of this vampire without thinking first.

“Rats.”

“Okay, you were right; you don't tell the truth very often.” I was giggling when I said it.

“That isn't a lie. I don't know if they were an experiment, or born that way, they build things and invent things. Kinda like the little green guys from Fraggle Rock.”

“Toothpick, chewing gum, and a cigarette filter?”

“Hey, I don't understand it myself,” he looked directly in my eyes, “but I can take you to them if you need to see it to believe it.” I viewed his micro-expressions, his eyes stared off in the feelings quadrant then rolled over to visual conceptualization. In plane-Jane English, he was telling the truth.

“Now is not a good time, I need to take a look around the city.” I rose to my feet and began to dig out some clothes to wear. “You can see yourself out, but I do hope we can chat again soon.”

“We will, this was fun.”

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SADDLED AND SPURRED by Lorelei James

SADDLED AND SPURRED - Blacktop Cowboys Book 2 by Lorelei James

Hard riders, hard lovers-second in a sexy and romantic new rodeo series from the author of Corralled.

Cattleman Bran Turner is left shorthanded during busy calving season when a bull tramples his hired hand. Rural Wyoming isn't exactly a hotbed of qualified candidates, and the only applicant for the position is the pampered town beauty, Harper Masterson. The curvy cowgirl gets under Bran's skin at every turn, but with no other options, he reluctantly hires her.

When sexual sparks ignite, down-on-her-luck Harper enjoys convincing Bran that not only is she capable of pulling calves, feeding live-stock, and handling backbreaking ranch chores, but she doesn't mind getting down and dirty, either. Harper also discovers the hotbodied cowboy isn't all work and no horseplay...and he's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Bran will learn quickly that Harper is no country mouse - and that she might just have what it takes to stick around for the long haul.

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Excerpt:

Due to a partial snowmelt Bran suggested they check cattle with the ATVs instead of the truck. It’d been a month since he’d double-checked a couple problems areas he couldn’t get to in his pickup. After he’d loaded up wire cutters and other supplies, he wondered how Harper would fare helping with the most monotonous aspect of ranching—fixing fence. But he didn’t doubt her ability. She’d done remarkably well with every mundane task he’d set in front of her the last week.

So when Harper breezily assured him that she had experience driving an ATV, he’d sped off ahead of her, expecting she’d keep up.

She hadn’t.

Not even fucking close.

Jesus. The woman drove like a ninety-year-old retirement home escapee. At the rate she was meandering along, it’d take them all damn day to reach the freakin’ fence, let alone have time to fix the damn thing once they actually got there.

Bran waited impatiently by the gate—the gate he’d had to open because his gate opener was a quarter mile behind him.

And when she’d finally putted up alongside him, her cheeks pinkened by the wind, strands of blonde hair sticking to her face and poking out of her hood, looking so goddamn cute and yet breathtakingly beautiful, he got instantly hard. And he instantly got mad about getting hard. He snarled, “Dammit, Harper. Is it too much to ask you to keep up with me?”

She peered at him over the top of her sunglasses. Dark, movie star type sunglasses bejeweled with pink and purple rhinestones in the corners above her eyes, for Christsake. “I didn’t know we were racing.”

“We’re not. But—”

“This is a dangerous job. I’m not about to pitch myself off this thing headfirst into a snowbank because you want to prove you can outmaneuver me. You can. You win.”

“The only danger you’re in, sweetheart, is from falling asleep at the wheel because you’re goin’ too goddamn slow.”

Harper smiled slyly. “Is that what you said to Les before his hip got broken? Hurry up?”

He growled. “Just keep up.”

“You go on ahead. I’ll close the gate, boss.”

Boss. Bran growled again. He zipped through the gate and across the field. All the way across the flattest part he didn’t hear the rumble of her ATV close behind him and since there wasn’t a side mirror, he couldn’t just glance in it to see where the hell she was.

Don’t turn around and look for her.

He resisted the temptation for oh, about...forty-five seconds. He slowed and spun around.

Fury bloomed when she raised her arm, from two hundred yards away, and waved at him like a goddamn...beauty queen atop a parade float.

She is a beauty queen, dumbass.

Like he needed that reminder--it was obvious every time he looked at her, regardless if she wore filthy, ripped, oversized coveralls, she carried as herself regally as royalty. Bran waited. And fumed. When she got within ten feet of his machine, he thought about spinning a cookie and coating her with snow, just to be ornery.

But he didn’t. He clenched his teeth.

“Is there a problem?” she shouted.

Yes. You are my problem. You’ve gotten under my skin like a burr and I can’t stop thinking about you. All the damn time. Further incensed by his crush-like behavior, he snapped, “Do you have to work at the nail salon later this afternoon?”

“Yes, why?”

“You’d better get a move on because a section of fence needs to be fixed. Today.”

“You’re telling me I’m not leaving until it’s done?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” He bumped along the trail to the broken fence line and noticed she’d managed to keep up after his pointed reminder.

Probably made him an asshole, but he slowed down. Way down.

Harper zoomed up, flanking him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothin’. Just makin’ sure we’re safe.” He flashed his teeth at her.

She hit the gas, sped ahead and sprayed him with snow.

Damn woman did have a little sass. And that was more appealing than seeing her in a swimsuit.

Okay. That was a total fucking lie. He’d give his left nut to see her in a skimpy bikini again. The last time he’d laid eyes upon the glory of her nearly nude body? She’d practically been jailbait and he shouldn’t have been gawking at her, but he couldn’t help it; she’d looked damn fine. The years had been good to her. Very good to her.

He was so lost in visions of Harper in a string bikini that he almost plowed over a fence post. He skidded sideways and killed the engine, acting as if he’d intended to get close enough to get splinters in his teeth and his tires.

Bran tossed the roll of barbed wire on the ground and grabbed his pliers. “See that sixth fence post in?” He pointed. “Take this end,” he unwound a section, “and walk down there with it. Keep it straight and keep a tight hold on it.”

“How tight?”

“Tight as you can. I like it tight and hard and I’m gonna be jerkin’ on it harder than you’d expect.”

Harper’s mouth opened, then closed with a bashful smile.

When Bran realized how he’d phrased it, he actually blushed. He almost snapped at her to get her mind out of the gutter, when she inquired sweetly, “Wouldn’t it be easier to put a metal clamp on it and then try to fix it?”

He loomed over her. “Excuse me, Miss Sweet Ass, but how many miles of fence have you fixed?”

“It’s Miss Sweet Grass, Mr. Rude Behavior, and I was just offering a suggestion.”

Fuck. He couldn’t believe he’d called her Miss Sweet Ass. “I don’t need your suggestions, Harper, I need you to do what you’re told.”

She gave him her back and sauntered away. And were his eyes deceiving him? Or had Harper saluted?

Unreal.

Sexy as hell though, that little bit of sass.

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BACKING BRIAN by Cheryl Dragon

BACKING BRIAN - A Raider's Bodyguards Tale by Cheryl Dragon

Once a Texan, always a Texan and Brian Beaumont has come back home to open his high-end western wear shop. Not everyone is thrilled with the gay son of a Texas millionaire opening a clothing store. Lucky for Brian, his new brother-in-law sends protection from Raider's Bodyguard Service. If only Brian could resist the hunky muscled Texas native assigned to guard his body day and night.

Jones never wanted to go back to Texas. He left at eighteen for many reasons, but his career is more important than the demons of his past. Always a professional, he meets his match in the tempting Brian. The line between business and pleasure vanishes when their mutual love of sex, rope and power play takes over.

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Excerpt:

The Western wear shop designed like an old saloon wasn’t yet open, but the flurry of activity made Brian smile. His dream was coming true, and in a couple weeks, the shop would open. Brian’s cell rang, and he grabbed it off the hardwood counter.

“Hey, Mrs. Raider,” he answered teasingly. His sister, Penny, had pulled off the biggest wedding in Texas history and jetted off to Hawaii with her bodyguard hubby, Grayson Raider.

“Stop it,” she replied.

He could hear the smile. “How’s that sex on the beach? Make sure you use sunscreen. You burn.”

“Brian, it’s my honeymoon. I’m not doing that on the beach. You’re terrible. How’s the shop?” she asked.

“Coming together. You didn’t have to come up for air to check on me.” Brian was so happy for his sister. The couple glowed with passion, and Penny marrying a Yankee had sent tidal waves through the family. The fact that it didn’t bother Penny at all told Brian it was forever.

“We’ll be back in time for the grand opening, but we’re sending you an early present.” Her voice was soft.

Brian knew it was more than a gift. “Present?”

“Dad mentioned you might have some issues. Protestors and stuff.”

“Please. It’s leather, boots and jackets. Pure Texas with a bit more class. They’re only going to protest because I’m gay and a Beaumont. It’s nothing. Ignoring it is best.” Brian had heard it already, and nothing would stop him.

“But you are high profile because of Dad’s money. Isn’t that the excuse you used when I went to Italy?” she replied.

“Oh no, you don’t. No, Penny, I’m not a sweet girl who needs a bodyguard.” Brain knew being gay meant he might as well being wearing a dress to a lot of his family, but Penny didn’t think that way. Brian worked out and could defend himself, but the gay label came first. Still he loved everything Texas, riding, roping and leather.

“Big tough movie stars use bodyguards. Grayson went to a lot of trouble to pick the right team.”

“Team?” Brian leaned on one of the pillars in the store. The rope to wind around them was still in a box. He had so much to do. “I don’t need men underfoot to get in the way.”

“Think about your employees, Brian. All the workers and delivery people. It’s not just you that could be hurt or scared. The bodyguards will keep things under control.” Penny made it sound so sensible and easy.

“Is this what I did to you?” he asked.

“Pretty much. And you drooled over Grayson. I won’t do that to Jones. Just take the help. Family perks from your new brother-in-law.”

“Is this Jones a Raider?” Brian knew how attractive those men were. That was another type of distraction he didn’t need.

“No, Jones is an employee from the L.A. branch. He’s dealt with this stuff before—all that gay marriage back and forth. It’ll be fine.” Penny sounded confident.

“This is Texas, not California,” Brian reminded her.

“Will you relax? He’s a professional. And when Grayson and I get back in for the opening, he’ll review the situation and decide what’s best. Now, I’ve got to get changed for the luau. Promise me you’ll play nice with Jones and let him do his job.”

“When is he arriving?” Brian asked.

“Promise me,” Penny pushed back.

The front door opened, and Brian looked up. A tall man with shoulders that took over the doorway stole Brian’s focus. Black hair, dark eyes, and muscles for days. Jeans and a gray T-shirt were filled out to perfection, but the black boots were the hottest part. Those told Brian that this guy knew style. Brian’s gaydar tingled.

“Fine, I promise to play nice. Gotta go. Work to do. You need to get back to making me a niece to spoil and style.”

“Brian!” Penny replied.

“Aloha.” Brian disconnected and turned to the new guy. “Can I help you?”

“Brian Beaumont?” His deep voice made Brian pray this was Jones.

“Guilty.” Brian smiled. “You are?”

“Jones Preston from Raiders. You’re expecting me?” He held out a hand.

“Just got the news from my sister.” Brian took his hand, and the spark made his shake a little too long. He pulled back and wiped his palm before his turned into a giggling idiot. “I’m still putting the place together. Not much for you to do.”

“Protection is all the time. My team is scouting the area. Interviewing other owners and making sure what we’re dealing with. Seeing if anyone will be trouble.” Jones looked around. “Nice set up.”

“Thanks. But really, I picked a gay friendly area. I can’t imagine there will be an issue. It’s the conservatives. My Dad runs in those circles. So it could be an issue there. Texas can be weird about things like that. My Dad is big; so odds are they won’t hurt me or anyone. It’s just a big show.”

“Let me worry about that.” Jones walked closer. “For the next two weeks, you let me worry about your safety and you listen to me. I’ve got your back, and I’m not putting up with any arguments or games.”

Brian could think of dozens of naughty games to play with a man so tightly wound. Jones oozed power and control. “I appreciate my brother-in-law’s concern. I’ll let you do your thing. But I’m not a damsel in distress. I grew up in Texas. I know what I’m dealing with. Not sure L.A. guys can handle it.” Brian leaned in with his hands on the counter and tightened his muscles to show off.

A barely noticeable tug at the corner of Jones’ mouth gave Brian a thrill. The man wasn’t all gloom and business.

“I’m sure you can defend yourself. These situations can get heated and tense. Protestors can turn crazy. You need more than muscle for that. You need a neutral party to calm things down.” Jones glanced at Brian’s nice sculpted arms.

“I’m not looking for trouble. It’s not like I opened a gay bar or dating service. Penny and I always loved fashion. I like leather and the Texas look. Being gay owned doesn’t make this a gay business. It’s not like my leather jackets are done in rainbow.” Brian took a deep breath. Part of him believed he’d found his place in the world. He knew what he wanted, but still he felt so alone. Was the world against him?

“I understand. Once you’re open and people are here for the merchandise, things will probably calm down. It’s the grand opening and the prep time…this is when you’re most vulnerable. Others are forming opinions without information. Anything can happen.”

The urge to keep arguing with the sexy man kept Brian’s mouth going. “But nothing has happened. No threats or protests.”

He’d only been in the space for a couple days.

Jones nodded. “Fair enough. But you’re barely started by the looks of it. Grayson said the lease began a day or so ago. Troublemakers take time to get followers. The classy ones are putting pressure on your dad to do something to stop you. Move you to L.A. or New York. It might be quiet. Or it could escalate. You have deliveries coming. Strangers will be in and out. Very vulnerable. One could slip in and plant a bomb.”

“A bomb?” Brian shivered at the idea. “Come on. Get real.”

“I am. With my guys watching, no one will get in and cause trouble. All strangers will be watched and names taken. It lets people know we’re paying attention so if someone tries something, we know who was in the shop. Just asking for identification is a deterrent.” Jones was confident and serious.

Brian relaxed. “That’s where you come in. Protecting my employees is important to me. They shouldn’t be in danger because of my personal life.”

“So you’ll let me do my job?” Jones asked.

“Not sure I ever had a choice.”

“It’s your shop. I can’t protect you without your cooperation,” Jones admitted.

“Met my sister?” Brian asked.

Jones shrugged. “No, got my orders from Grayson by phone.”

“My sister is a force of nature. She gets her way. You report I’m resisting, and I’ll never hear the end of it. But I’ll cooperate.” Brian studied Jones, wanting to flirt and cooperate naked, but the all business signals shut down Brian’s boy cruising. Clearly, Jones was serious about his work. “So how do you think you’re going to handle all the Texas stuff? I promise, this isn’t L.A.”

Jones smiled wide. “No, it sure isn’t. But I’ll manage.” The soft Texas drawl rolled off Jones’ tongue.

Dazzled, Brian wanted more of Jones and that magic tongue.



“You’re from Texas?” Brian asked.

Jones smiled. Brian recovered quickly, but Jones had thrown him off balance. Jones seemed at ease.

“I lived here until I was eighteen. As soon as I could, I left for a safer place.” Jones didn’t talk about his sexuality much. At least not at work. “L.A. is much safer.”

“Dallas isn’t bad in the city. I escaped to New York for college, but this is home. I’ve accepted it; now, they’ll accept me.”

“Like it or not?” Jones admired Brian’s courage and conviction.

That and his piercing green eyes. Brian’s brown hair was short and would pass any manly inspection. The lean muscled form also met with Jones’ approval. Brian could protect himself, but Jones knew his interest in Brian’s body was not at all professional. He’d avoided involvement with a client thus far, but the day had arrived. Jones was attracted to a client. To deny it was pointless, but Jones had to push it away. His job was far more important than a fling.

“Texas is home. I’m not running. I like my Uncle Lubby’s little ranch. I could ride and rope as well as any kid growing up. I bet you’re good with a rope.” Brian flirted.

“I do okay.” Jones wanted to give in. Back in L.A., if they’d met in a bar, they’d be making out by now. Jones would take him home, and after a night of great sex, they’d be over. But Jones valued his job. No way would he ruin his reputation.

“So you went to L.A. and became a bodyguard?” Brian prompted.

It was normal for people to want to know something about the person they’d let into their life to protect them. This was less flirt and more sanity. “I started as a bartender and then found I preferred the bouncer role. I got hired by some minor celebrities who wanted security.”

“The boy toy in a gay bar,” Brian teased.

“It was a gay bar, but I was hired for muscle, nothing more. This celebrity liked the biker types. Anyway, it got me other work, and discretion goes a long way in this business. I ended up at Raider’s.” Jones looked Brian in the eye. “So I know something about Texas and about being gay. Trust me, I’ll keep you safe.”

Brian nodded. “Thanks.”

Jones wanted to get closer. To feel the heat from Brian. He’d been single a long time. Random sex never gave Jones what he wanted, but most relationships never got as deep as the information he’d just shared with Brian.

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CHANGING THEIR WOLFEN HERITAGE

CHANGING THEIR WOLFEN HERITAGE - A Wolfen Heritage Book 3 by Missy Martine

What happens when brother wolf shifters fall in love with the same woman? Wolves don’t share their mates, or do they?

Ethan and Latan can’t keep their hands off the Pack’s new schoolteacher. Unfortunately, Kitania is proving to be quite the mystery. She has no scent identifying her inner beast, no background they can verify, and she seems entirely too interested in their family’s arch enemy.

Kitania’s in love for the very first time. Even knowing they’ll send her packing if they find out what she truly is, she’s still dreaming of family, and happily ever after. She can’t afford to be distracted if she wants to complete her mission for the National Council.

When their enemy captures a family member, Kitania must decide where her loyalties lie. She can reveal her true nature and help with the rescue, but will it cost her the love of the brothers?

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STORY EXCERPT

Latan looked around the Pack House meeting room as the Elders, and a few other wolves from the pack, gathered. Remus had called everyone together on this beautiful Sunday morning to discuss some problem the pack faced. Personally, he would prefer being curled up in his bed dreaming of the hot, new teacher. He snickered as he watched his brother Ethan slowly shuffle through the door. They had both been up pretty late last night, trying to come up with a foolproof plan for getting on the teacher’s good side.

“Did they start without me?” Ethan mumbled as he took the seat next to Latan.

“No, Remus is still talking to Vanard.” Vanard was the head Elder of their pack, and Latan had often wondered how Remus kept from killing him. The Alpha was the top ruler of any pack and always had the final word in any situation. Vanard had a tendency to forget who was in charge. Latan stared into his brother’s bloodshot eyes. “Man, you look like shit.”

Ethan took a deep breath and then glared at his brother. “You’re no vision of beauty yourself this morning.” He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Do you know what this meeting is supposed to be about?”

“No, Remus hasn’t said anything.”

Before Ethan could respond, Remus’s voice shot out over the room. “Okay, my fellow pack mates. We have a new threat to address.” He waited until every wolf in the room was silent before continuing. “Yesterday, Koril discovered that Dr. Constantine left a bunch of records in a safety deposit box at the bank. They’re now in the hands of Dr. Vincent Kaugh.”

“What kind of records?” asked Taynor Wind River.

“At this point, there’s no way to know for certain. We’re operating under the assumption that they’re records from his so-called medical research on shape-shifting wolves.” Remus took a deep breath as a fierce look came over his face. “He’s probably now in possession of all Constantine’s records on Maddie.” His voice was a mixture of pain and fury.

“What do you think he’ll do with them, Remus?” Taynor’s voice carried a soft growl with his words. He was an extremely fierce wolf, despite being an investment counselor who handled all the pack’s finances.

Remus walked over to the window. For a moment, he stood quietly, seemingly lost in thought. Then he turned and growled before answering. “I think he’ll try and continue Constantine’s work. Hell, he may even try and kidnap Maddie so he’ll have the same test subject.” He walked over and sat back down, then glanced down the table. “Koril, why don’t you fill them in on what you’ve learned about Kaugh?”

Koril stood and bowed respectfully to Remus before he addressed the rest of the pack. He and Brenner handled all security matters for the Wind River Pack, and it would be dangerous to have him for an enemy. “Kaugh comes from Carsonville, California. He’s been involved in secret research for more than twenty years. The National Council believes the research involves shifters, possibly more than just wolves. He showed up here after he learned that Constantine had been killed.” Koril grimaced and shot an apologetic look toward Remus. “We were careless and didn’t find out about the dummy corporation that Constantine set up until it was too late to stop Kaugh from getting his hands on the safety deposit box. He just waltzed in with a key and took everything there.”

“We don’t want to just go storming in to retrieve the files until we have more facts,” Remus said. “We need to know exactly what we’re dealing with and how many others might be involved. We don’t want any more scientists showing up after we take this man out.”

“Right now, Kaugh has three associates with him,” Koril said. “Sean Cross, Marty Dyer, and Calvin Ames. None of these men are scientists or doctors, and they’re human. It’s pretty obvious that they’re his muscle.”

“Alpha, what is it you want us to do?” asked Vanard.

“Kaugh has rented a place on Main Street, just across from the building where Michael is setting up his office. I don’t think he would have gone to the trouble of renting space unless he was up to something.” Remus looked out at the members of his pack. “I want to keep him under surveillance until we figure out what he’s planning. I want to find out who else knows about his research and if there are any other test subjects that might need our help.” He got to his feet and took on the fierce aura of an Alpha. Shoulders back, canines extended, his inner power snaked through the room.

As Latan watched his older brother, a movement to the right caught his attention, and he turned to look toward the windows. Down on his knees, Taynor was looking at something under the table.

“I want help in guarding my mate twenty-four hours a day,” Remus cried out. “I won’t let anyone take her from me again.” He lowered his head in an unusual show of humility. “I need your help to protect her.” He raised his eyes, and they swept the room. “It’s vital that we keep her safe. She’s expecting our first pup.”

As the room broke out in a round of congratulations, Latan watched Taynor crawl under the table. Intrigued, he stood and walked toward the older man. Suddenly, he stopped and watched, incredulous, as Taynor rose to his feet holding a small black cat by the scruff of its neck.

“Well, lookey, lookey! I tink I see a puddy tat!” Taynor laughed, mimicking the line from a children’s television cartoon, as the cat hissed and thrashed about trying to free itself.

Latan groaned. He’d always hated cats. “Looks to me like you found a snack, Taynor,” he encouraged, with an exaggerated wink.

Vanard came rushing over. “No, for God’s sake, don’t hurt it. If I’m not mistaken, it belongs to our new teacher.”




ADULT EXCERPT





Latan’s hands gripped the bottom of her shirt and began inching it up. Wanting to feel their skin against her own, Tania lifted her arms to make it easier and soon found herself standing in only her bra and jeans. Warm skin cocooned her, filling her with an internal fire that threatened to consume her very soul. Why does it feel so right to be here, between them?

Without warning, Tania was turned around, her back firmly against Ethan’s warm chest. Latan bent and nibbled lightly at the corner of her mouth then traced her lips with the tip of his tongue. Ethan pushed her hair aside and bit the back of her neck before trailing his lips down the middle of her back. His hands squeezed the cheeks of her ass before coming around to caress her mound through the stiff denim.

Her eyes closed as Latan pulled down the lacy cup of her bra and captured the taut nipple between his fingers, rolling the tip. A whimper of pleasure escaped her when his mouth moved down and covered the aching crest of one breast. Ethan’s hands smoothed across her naked back after he released the hooks of her bra and pushed it down her shoulders. Latan’s lips kept it from falling to the floor.

Arms slid around her hips, fingers opening the fastening of her jeans and tunneling underneath her silk panties. It felt so wicked to have a pair of hands searching between her legs while another tortured her breasts. Tania decided she’d been a bystander too long. It was time for her to do some exploring of her own.

Smiling, she pushed Latan away and let her bra drop to the floor. His eyes lit with a whole new interest. Ethan pulled free of her jeans and then grabbed the waist and peeled them, along with her panties, down her body. He encouraged her to step out of them and then allowed his hands to move slowly up her thighs. Gripping her hips tightly, he traced his tongue from the back of her knee up to the curve of her ass. Nuzzling between the round globes, he licked a line straight down, stopping to tease the tiny, puckered opening. Tania tensed and clenched the muscles tight.

Ethan chuckled. “That won’t stop me, honey. Nobody ever play around back here before?”

Tania gulped and had trouble answering. Latan had discovered the silky hair covering her sex. “No, never,” she managed to groan.

“That’s okay, we’ll take it slow. I promise, if you don’t like it, we’ll stop.” He went back to caressing the virgin territory, leaving goose bumps along her skin.

Latan abandoned her breast and dropped his hand to the area between her legs. His fingers trailed leisurely through the trimmed hair and then traced around her labia, causing Tania to go up on her toes. “What’s wrong, baby?” He laughed.

She decided it was time to make these macho men squirm just a little. Latan’s chest was broad and very muscular, with just a smidgen of hair trailing down the middle. She reached out and flicked the tip of her tongue back and forth across one male nipple a couple of times, delighting in the sound of his gasping breath. Ethan came to his feet behind her. She could only guess he was envious of the touches she lavished on his brother.

Her fingers delved beneath Latan’s jeans, her fingers curling around his hardened flesh. He stepped up close to her caressing hand when she reached between their bodies to tear open his fly. Tania’s eyes widened when his cock jumped out eagerly as his zipper lowered. He hadn’t bothered to wear underwear under his jeans. He was huge, at least nine inches, and fully aroused. There’s no way I can even get my hand around that monster.

She turned her head when she felt movement and heard the rustle of clothing behind her. Ethan pushed his jeans to the floor, quickly stepping out and kicking them away. He was nude, his thick cock rising up from a nest of black curls. He wasn’t quite as thick as Latan, but she would be willing to bet he was a little longer. Tania licked her lips and reached out to cup his sac while stroking her hand firmly up and down Latan’s cock. Both men growled, their eyes closed, their heads thrown back.

Leaning over, she licked across the head of Ethan’s twitching cock. He growled loudly, reached out, and hauled Tania clear off the floor, plastering her against his chest. His lips ravished hers almost brutally.

“On the pillows, Ethan, now.” Latan groaned as he discarded his own jeans.

Tania felt herself lowered to the floor and then sank into the softness of the pillows. It had grown dark outside, and the firelight made dancing patterns across the muscular bodies of the two brothers as they dropped to lie on each side of her. Latan’s hand caressed across her chest, his palm filling with her breast as she pushed into his touch. She groaned as he massaged, plucking gently, rhythmically, at the nipple.

Ethan’s fingers played across her other breast, right before his tongue flattened over the rigid tip. He licked and sucked at the tiny nub before moving to her mouth. Fingers threaded through her hair as he captured her lips in a hot kiss, sucking steadily on her tongue, filling her with his taste. Her tongue twined with his, teasing it back into her own mouth, where he explored, finding all her sensitive spots.

Latan released her nipple, slipping his hand down her belly to rake his thick index finger along her cleft. He plucked and teased her clit before slipping his finger inside her slit, moving it slowly in and out before tracing her cleft again.

Tania looked down as they each grabbed a thigh, coaxing her legs apart. She could see Ethan’s very large cock bob up and down in his excitement. She swallowed hard and wondered if it would hurt. She’d never been with anyone that large before. Ethan began to suckle her breast, while Latan ran his fingers through the hair guarding her pussy.

“This is so sexy, the way you trim here.” Ethan leaned down and inhaled deeply. “I can smell the cream that’s collecting between your legs.” His finger ran up her slit gathering the proof of her desire. While he held her gaze, his finger plunged between his lips. “God, you taste good, baby.” Moving to lie between her spread thighs, Ethan lowered his face to her pussy and inhaled deeply once more. “I feel like I could take you inside me and hold you forever.” His shoulders pushed her legs wider. “I’m gonna bury myself in your velvet wetness, Tania, and I may never come out.”

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WINTER'S SHADOW by Virginia Cavanaugh

WINTER'S SHADOW by Virginia Cavanaugh

Living for years amidst a whirlwind of fear and danger, Julia Farris finally snapped free from the bonds that kept her in Arizona. But when she arrived in her home town of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, she realized she had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

With the death of his parents, Mark Webb went to part time at the local police department to run his parents' bed and breakfast. A job he had begun to think very lonely until his old high school flame showed up.

As Julia tries to seize control ofher life, she finds herself intrigued with the possibilities presented by Mark's presence. But getting closer to Mark might spell disaster. For what is a girl to do when one ex might be dead and the other wore a badge.

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Chapter One


Julia Farris pulled the keys from the ignition and opened the door of the rented Honda Civic. A cold blast of air blew across the lawn, sending the recent fallen snow dancing through the air. Her gaze roamed over the full parking lot. Apparently the holidays still brought in a lot of business for the bed and breakfast. She had missed this place. After so many years of being held prisoner in the dry and weary land of Arizona, she had arrived back in her home town of Edinboro, Pennsylvania. And for the first time in many years, she could say she felt safe.

Her gaze became fixed on Webb’s Bed and Breakfast where she had spent so much of her junior high and high school days. The three-story Victorian home remained in great repair. She needed something familiar, and the auto pilot portion of her brain had brought her here. She could handle this. This would be easier than facing the ghosts inside her deceased parents’ house.

She wondered how well Mr. and Mrs. Webb had faired over the years. Only one way to find out. She retrieved her suitcase from the trunk and began the slip and slide walk across the parking area before finally coming to the shoveled walkway. About halfway to the door, she stopped dead in her tracks at the familiar voice that called out a greeting from the front door.

“Julia Floyd.”

No one had called her by her maiden name in years, and the sound was oddly comforting and foreign at the same time. The man who had said it brought on a mix of emotions she had no hope of sorting through anytime soon. Mark Webb, her high school sweetheart, filled the doorway with his large frame. The boy she remembered had filled out into this rippling-muscled man.

She plastered a smile on her face as she closed the rest of the distance between them. He met her on the covered porch, and she only had a fraction of a second to put her suitcase down before his arms encircled her. When he gave a light squeeze, she flinched and moaned before she could stop herself.

He released her quickly and took a step back from her. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. I slipped at the airport and hit my side on one of the hand rails. No big deal.” She hoped he bought the quick lie. She had no desire to go into any explanations right now. “I’m fine really,” she said in response to the nicely arched brow he raised at her. “You look like you are doing well.”

‘Well’ was a mild term for the way he looked. His light brown hair was cut short and styled in that on purpose disarray that had become popular with men. His bright green eyes were still as captivating as they used to be. Faint laugh lines had started to appear around his lips. The gray thermal shirt he wore had two of its three buttons undone. The fabric stretched tight across his broad chest and over his large biceps. It hung loosely over the top of designer jeans that fit just right over his lean hips.

“I’m doing pretty good.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here. But then again I wasn’t thinking about this being Thanksgiving weekend either. Of course you would be here to see your parents.”

His smile faded slightly as he looked down at her suitcase. “My parents are both dead now.”

“Oh my. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, don’t be sorry. You haven’t been here since you left after your wedding, so you wouldn’t have known. I run the bed and breakfast now.”

Silence stretched between them. She had already opened her mouth and inserted her foot so she was scared to say anything else.

“And look at what a bad job I’m doing at being a host by keeping you out in the cold.” He leaned down and picked up her suitcase. “I’ll put this in a room for you. If you’d like to go into the kitchen, the wood-burning stove is lit and you can get warm. And I was just about to have some coffee if you’d like to join me.”

She smiled at him again. “That sounds like a plan.”

She stomped her feet on the wooden porch to dislodge any snow before entering the house behind him. He went straight for the stairs, and she couldn’t help watching his powerful legs and well-muscled backside move as he ascended. She pulled off one boot and then the other, never looking away from him. He paused at the top to look back at her. A smile formed on his lips. Busted. She blushed as she turned and headed in the direction of the kitchen.

Not much had changed in the quaint country décor of the house. Everything seemed so familiar. It’d be easy to surround herself in all this and use it as a security blanket. She made her way across the polished hardwood floor to the old wood-burning stove in the corner of the kitchen. Her lips pulled into a smile as she remembered Mrs. Webb threatening to skin her husband alive if he even thought about getting rid of this old thing. She had claimed it added character to the room.

Julia stretched her hands out toward the warmth the stove offered and sighed. She’d been robbed of too many years. Her smile faded as she thought of all the people that had been important in her life that she’d never be able to speak to again. She hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye.

“I see you found your way.”

She looked over her shoulder at Mark as he entered the kitchen. The realization that she’d actually missed him hit her unawares. Her gaze followed him as he made his way over to the light-stained wood cabinet that held the coffee mugs. He removed two cups and placed them on the white counter top. His mom had also argued for the white counter top to stay during the remodel. She had liked the fact she could use bleach on it and not only kill all the germs but take out any stains from various spills.

“It feels really good to be here.”

He turned and cast a dazzling smile in her direction. “I’m glad to have you here.”

Her heart gave a weird beat as she turned to walk over to the small rectangular wooden table by the bay window. She took a seat at one end, amazed at how, after so long, his smiles could still affect her like that. He put a handful of various individually wrapped creamers in a small bowl and headed toward the table, carrying the two steaming cups of coffee by their handles in one large hand and the bowl in the other.

“Thanks,” she said, accepting the cup of hot brew he offered her.

“Are you hungry? I have some leftover turkey in the fridge. You could whip up a sandwich or something if you like.”

“No. This is fine. I ate something in Houston while waiting for my next flight.”

“Alright, if you change your mind you know where everything is,” he replied, taking a seat at the other end of the table.

And she did remember where everything was. She had spent many hours in this house, sitting at this very table as she and Mark studied for various tests in high school while eating scones and drinking hot tea. But instead of the long looks and the playful teasing that marked those times for her, she now sat with him in silence, neither one of them sure what to say to bridge the twelve year gap that had separated them.

She decided to take the first step. “Do you mind telling me what happened to your parents?”

He sat forward with his elbows on the table, his cup between his hands. “Dad died of a heart attack about three years ago. It was unexpected. As far as any of us knew, he’d been in perfect health. But with the strain of losing dad, mom couldn’t keep this place up all by herself. So I went to part time at the police station so I could help her out. A year later, her diabetes got really bad and her kidneys started to fail. We tried dialysis, but she only made it another five months before she went into complete renal failure. They tried to find a match for a kidney transplant, but it just didn’t happen. So I’ve been running this place for the last two years. She made me promise to not sell it.”

“She really did love this place.”

“Yeah, she did. She liked having a full house and people to take care of.” He sat back in his chair. “So what brings you here? And dare I ask if your husband will be staying here as well?”

She looked down at the cup in her hands before answering. “No. Allen won’t be staying here.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. Not really. Suffice to say, I’ve left him.” She left off the part about where she had left him.

“Ok. As long as you are ok, I’ll leave it be.”

“I think I’m going to be just fine.”

*

Mark couldn’t believe Julia had showed up on his doorstep. He’d just been thinking about how lonely it had become around the holidays with his parents gone and no other family around when he saw her get out of her car. When they’d dated in junior high and high school, she’d been a very pretty girl, but the woman she had become was downright beautiful.

He loved that she still wore her dark brown hair long. He had to resist the urge to touch it, wondering if it would be as silky as he’d remembered it. He watched her now across the table. She reached up and pushed her hair behind one small ear. Her almond-shaped, golden brown eyes were surrounded by dark lashes. Her full lips were the things of men’s dreams. The red turtleneck she wore stretched tight across her large breasts.

Memories from the past that had lain dormant now rose up to the front of his thoughts. He had shared many smiles, hugs, and jokes with her. Hell, they had even lost their virginities to one another in a moment that could be described as nothing less than awkward. The next day, they’d fought and that had been the end.

“Have you gone to your parents’ house yet?” By the way she continued to look at the table, he figured that was a big no and maybe he should have continued with his silent trip down memory lane. But he’d really been curious why she never came home for their funeral. It’d been way out of character for the person he knew her to be.

“No, I’ve not gone by there. I’m not ready to face that right now.”

“I put flowers on their graves when I went and took flowers to my parents.”

Her eyes met his. “Thanks.”

“It’s no big deal. It’s not like you wouldn’t do it for me.” He stood up and picked up his empty coffee cup. “Would you like some more?”

“No, this is good.”

He walked over to the sink and rinsed the cup before placing it in the dishwasher. “So, do you have a plan from here or are you just winging it?” He leaned one hip against the countertop, crossing his arms over his chest.

“First thing I need to do is find a job.”

So she planned on staying. This was a good thing. She had always wanted to become a teacher in Edinboro. In fact, that had been one of the reasons they broke up the summer after their senior year. He had wanted to move to a larger city and become an FBI agent, and she had wanted to stay here. They became angry with each other when neither of them would give an inch in their proposed plan for their lives. The argument that had ensued lead to their breakup. Funny thing, in the end, he’d come back to Edinboro and found out that she’d gotten married and moved away.

“I guess you plan on applying to teach in the schools around here.”

Her gaze dropped to the table again. “No. I never got to finish college. I’ll have to find something else.”

Not the answer he would’ve guessed. “Well, I happen to have an opening here for a housekeeper. My housekeeper Linda’s first baby is due any day now. She’s worked here for the past three years now and would still be working if I hadn’t made her take time off. She kept trying to go into early labor from all the moving around she’d been doing.”

“Well. I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to take her job away from her. I mean is she going to need to return to work after the baby?”

He smiled. “No. We worked it out so that she could take a year off with the baby. So if you want the job, it’s yours.”

He watched as she took a long slow drink of her coffee.

She swallowed and put the cup back on the table. “Ok. I’ll take it. I can start in the morning.”

“You don’t have to start that soon if there are things you want to take care of first. I mean, if you want to go to the cemetery or go through your parents’ things...”

She pushed back from the table and snatched up her cup. “I already told you I’m not ready for that.” She walked over and rinsed her cup and placed it in the dishwasher. “I better get to bed. What room did you put my things in?”

“Hey... I didn’t mean...” He reached for her hand, but she flinched and pulled back from him. He let his hand fall back to his side. “I wasn’t trying to upset you. If you want to start tomorrow then that’ll be fine. I put your stuff in my old room on the third floor.”

Her head came up, and her gaze fixed on him. “That’s not necessary. I could stay in one of the guest rooms on the second floor.”

“Nonsense. Besides they are all full any way.”

“Ok then. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yeah...Goodnight,” he said to her retreating form.

After she disappeared through the doorway and he was sure she was out of hearing range, he released a frustrated sigh. He never imagined things could be so odd and strained between them.

Ok. So she didn’t want him to touch her. Just because they had been together once a long time ago didn’t mean he could just think it was ok to try and act as if they were still familiar with each other.

But that wasn’t what ate him alive. He’d been ready to purpose to her that summer after graduation. When he’d started into the conversation about their futures and the plans he’d made, he’d wanted to use it to build up to popping the question. To ask her to be a part of his future. Instead, it had lead to a terrible argument. It all boiled down to her not wanting to leave Edinboro and him not wanting to give up his dream.

After two years in college away from her, he returned to find that she’d gotten married and moved away with that dick Allen Farris. She’d done the very thing she refused to do for him. It might have been alright if she had created a wonderful life with the asshat, but no. Her adventure would end in a divorce. So why did this piss him off again?

“Crap.” He rubbed his hands over his face before looking back at the doorway she had left through. It didn’t matter what she’d done. She was here now and he had another chance to prove to her she belonged with him.

A smile spread across his face as he added soap to the dishwasher.

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