Tuesday, July 31, 2012

When the Underdog Comes Out on Top

D.X. Luc is giving away an copy of her latest release. Make sure to follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

Who is Hephaestus? For those not familiar with Greek mythology, he is the god of blacksmiths, inventors, and volcanoes. He is the creator of Zeus's lightning bolt and almost every weapon held by the gods and goddesses of Olympus. He is also known as the “lame one” because of a grotesque limp and scarring from his fall.

The stories vary about why he was cast out from his immortal home, but the most known was that his very own mother tossed him from the skies as a baby and he fell for a full day and night until he hit the ground. He literally had to trick his way back into his home and when he did finally come back, was kept in the hot forges to work out of sight of the others.

So, loser? Uh, yeah! And where there is a hero who always seems to have bad luck, I feel there should be a chance at love for him.


When I first envisioned the Blacksmith God, I knew I would give him the physical flaw of a limp and ragged scar, but I went a lot further and let him have the mental anguish that came with being a punching bag. His self-esteem is low and he suffers from extreme social anxiety. He's never sure how to respond when confronted by others and usually takes whatever is dished out without much outwardly complaint.

I wanted to carry this into the mortal realm and we see how awkward he is when accosted (literally) by Willa, Vanessa's younger sister. A big guy yes, but a teddy bear through and through. That is endearing to many that someone of his size can also be very gentle and understanding. Especially given how he's treated by those who are supposed to love him.

Hephaestus has an unconditional loyalty and love about him that makes him the perfect hero, despite his obvious flaws. This was something I deliberately wrote because I've not read many “losers” come out on top and it seemed to make sense in his case. He has to overcome  those demons that bring him down in order to rise to the top and he learns that through the love he is given from Vanessa.


The physical appearance of Hephaestus was just as important as his personality because with such a calming presence about him, I wanted to emphasize the largeness of his physique. Taking into consideration that he is a blacksmith, his shoulders, back, and arms were to be massive. Strong and powerful hands and then a body to sustain the fact that he stood all day in the forges hammering and building projects for others. Let's face it, he's the ultimate, sexy handy man!

So there you have it! How I turned the loser of Olympus into a stud muffin. Hephaestus has been, by far, my most favorite hero to create. I hope all that come out and read Touch of the Gods: The Wager agree and give three cheers for the underdog!!


Blurb: 


When love and war makes a little wager, what could possibly go wrong?



I am Hephaestus. God of inventions, blacksmiths, and volcanoes. Sounds like I'm awesome right? Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm the loser of Olympus and a new bachelor to boot. Living the single life is great until a decade passed. Honestly if my divorce from the Goddess of Love wasn't bad enough, I am still being rejected by the other women of my home.



Because of an incessant need to make me a pawn in his game, my brother, Ares convinces Eros to make a little bet. A wager that puts my lack of love life to the test. Sent to Earth, I'm skeptical, when suddenly I lose myself in the sensual scent and beauty of the full bodied Vanessa. She is my everything, my perfection.



Sadly, from a single caress upon her silky flesh, I sent our lives into a downward spiral of hell. To save her, I must get beyond my demons of the past. And to save me, she will have to decide if I'm worth giving up everything for.



Buy link: Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 27, 2012

A Hero’s “Super Spanking”



Such perfect timing with this Hero's Blog Hop! Yesterday, was new release day for me – with my contemporary erotic short story A Super Spanking.

With some light BDSM – spanking – this tale needed a strong frontman. So, please to meet Max:

            “Sam,” mumbled Jake through his clenched teeth. The look he gave her was the one he used when she was doing something stupid. “People don’t decide to move out, go looking for an apartment, and take the first one they see …” Shaking his head, Jake walked into the kitchen, leaving her to talk with Max, the apartment manager.
            “I do,” she said, turning her attention back to the apartment super, who looked a bit like an undercover hero himself—think dark and lanky like the hunky Christian Bale’s sex-infused Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter-ego, or Brandon Routh’s Clark Kent in Superman Returns.
            Mr. Max-the-Super could be her dark knight, she thought. All of her brothers, even Jake, were big and brawny, but Max seemed more compact. As he turned to survey the apartment, she used the time to check out his ass: very fine, indeed. Maybe moving in would have some additional fringe benefits. He could work on her plumbing anytime, she thought—pun fully intended. “So, can I move in this weekend?”
            He looked her over, from her head, lingering on her chest, all the way down to her toes.  From some guys, it might have come off as creepy. Maybe it was his overall hotness, or their unmentioned mutual attraction, but Sam felt a shiver of anticipation travel the length of her body with the movement of his eyes.

-- From A Super Spanking

Today through July 31, more than 100 Authors and Bloggers are sharing their favorite things about romance heroes, a character post from them, and what we love about romance and men in general. 

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 100 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that’s not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter more 100 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack (U.S. only)!


 On my blog, I’m giving away a copy of A Super Spanking! So leave a comment, and your email address, and don’t forget to visit the other authors on the hop!

A Super Spanking

Fed up after living with her father and four brothers, Samantha moves out on her own. Max, the manager at her new high-rise apartment, quickly captures Sam’s attention, and seems to know the perfect kind of spanking incentive to get this tomboy in line. 

Fueled by her built-up passions and newfound freedom, Samantha samples the BDSM waters that Max offers, and tests his limits.   

Available from Ravenous Romance, AmazonNook and other retailers.

Louisa Bacio



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Cover Reveal: 1NS "A Date with Death"


Very excited to share the cover for my upcoming 1Night Stand story A Date with Death with Decadent Publishing. I'm a huge fan of this series, and am happy to be part of the family.



Death sucks. It’s boring, and there’s no chance of getting laid. Stuck in the waiting room of Heaven, Maise fantasizes about all the pleasures of the flesh she didn’t get to experience. When Maise discovers a business card for the dating service, 1Night Stand, she wonders if there’s still a chance.

Reece normally wouldn’t consider being set up, but after his brother buys him a certificate, he feels obligated. A romantic night on the Southern California coast, with the full-of-life Maise leaves him wanting more.

Will a 1Night Stand be enough to overcome death?

Coming soon from Decadent Publishing.

Isn't it totally dreamy?

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Get Seduced by Reid -- Debut author Gina L. Maxwell


I'm such a sucker for these types of stories. Gina L. Maxwell hooked me immediately with the title Seducing Cinderella, and I've already bought my copy. I "met" Gina via Twitter and we did a few late-night writing sprints. Please welcome this debut author, and discover some facts about the hero, Reid.

The novel is a launch release from Entangled Publishing's new Brazen line. 

Gina is giving away one electronic copy of her novel to a commenter, so please leave a message with a valid email address. 

Five Facts about Reid Andrews
(with supporting passages from the book)

1) With an ex-professional boxer as a father, Reid started training in MMA from the time he was very young, essentially giving him lifelong experience in the sport.

For as long as he could remember, he’d been fighting. Fighting in the sport he loved above all else—Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA—to get to the top, and then fighting his ass off to stay there. Fifteen years later, he was one of the richest light-heavyweight fighters in the UFC, with a record of 34-3 and a fanbase of millions. Of course none of that mattered now because if he couldn’t get healthy in time for the rematch, his career was over. 

2) Reid is so desperate to heal from a shoulder injury in order to win back his light-heavyweight title, he makes a crazy offer to his new physical therapist, who turns out to also be his best friend’s little sister.
“I’ll show you how to act, what to say...everything you need to know to make him notice you. If there’s one thing I know, its women and what they do that turns men on to the point of utter distraction.” Her head turned to the side. Not a big movement, but enough to let him know he had her attention. “You’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand in no time. I guarantee it.”

3) Reid thinks Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit is utterly do-able, if you know what I mean. *wink, wink*

“Okay, here comes your boy with our drinks. He’ll wait for you to approve the wine. I want you to channel Jessica Rabbit and give him a show.”

Her jaw dropped. “You want me to channel a cartoon character from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

Reid’s expression actually looked like he couldn’t believe her incredulity at his choice in sex goddess. “She’s sex on heels. Every dude wants to bang Jessica Rabbit.”

4) Reid isn’t only a fighter, but actually dabbled in drawing and sculpting his senior year in high school. He has a bit of an artist’s soul.
“Before a sculptor can duplicate the elegance of his subject, he has to memorize her with the power of touch, instead of depending on the laziness of sight.”

Lucie’s lips parted as her breathing came faster and her heart pounded twice as fast. Maybe more. Reid’s hands continued their exploration, spanning her waist and traveling up her sides with a firm touch that spoke of a man in control. A man who knew what he wanted, and took it without remorse.

“As his hands move over every dip, every curve, every valley...the woman’s body is formed in his mind, embedded in his muscle memory, so he can recreate her even if he were to go blind.”

5) Reid has an active imagination. Sometimes to his own detriment.
Distance. That was it. He needed to keep his distance when teaching her how to be the new her. Maybe he’d take a professorial lecturing approach next time. He could stand across the room and she could sit on the couch and take notes. Reid laughed out loud as he pictured the ridiculous scenario. Until the Lucie in said ridiculous scenario was suddenly wearing the Britney Spears version of a school uniform and asking for a hands-on lesson in Seduction 101.

Seducing Cinderella ~ Fighting for Love, Book One
By Gina L. Maxwell

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.



Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance. 



Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie’s heart before she gives it to someone else.

Available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Remember to leave a comment, and valid email address, and Gina will give away one electronic copy of Seducing Cinderella.

Gina Online



Twitter: @Gina_L_Maxwell

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Chill Out with A New Orleans Christmas … in July Hop


Oh, yes: It’s time for Blissemas in July. Please leave a comment with a valid email address. The grand prize for the blog hop is a $50 All Romance Ebooks voucher, and I’ll be giving away a .pdf copy of A New Orleans Christmas, or another book from my backlist.

Living in Southern California, I’m used to warm weather year-round. Cold-weather: blah. And, we often can have temperatures as high around Christmas as it gets in July. I know bah humbug! Until my youngest daughter was born in January, and wanted a pool party for her birthday, I never got that “Christmas in July” thing.

With a bit of research, I also found out that countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia and New Zealand, experience “winter” climates in July, so they like to celebrate the cold-weather holiday during our mid-summer. Ah, making even more sense.

Finally, when temperatures get totally out of control, and I don’t have access to conveniences such as air conditioning, there’s nothing like imagining being in an icy place. What better way to celebrate than with a heart-warming erotic romance!

Here’s a peek at my special “holiday” release. It’s a prequel to my paranormal series, The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf.


The Vampire & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Christmas

Louisa Bacio

Vampires and werewolves don’t mix … or do they?

Before there were three, there were two. When a vampire swoops in to save Trevor from a rogue gang’s blood sport, the werewolf must fight his own inhibitions. The magic of New Orleans and the holiday season bring together these two unlikely lovers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“In her first foray into the m/m genre, Ms. Bacio sets the pages ablaze in this sexy Christmas tale featuring two irresistible characters from her The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf series.  There’s nothing better on a cold winter’s night than cozying up with the vampire and the werewolf as they come together in this sizzling story.  This is my Christmas present to myself.”

Rebecca Leigh, author of Dirty Housewives

Available via Ravenous Romance, Amazon Kindle, ARe and other eRetailers.

Ever celebrate a holiday at a different time of year? Remember to leave a comment to enter into the prizes. A special thank you goes out to Victoria Blisse for putting together this hop. Check out other stops on the hop at: http://blissemas.co.uk

Friday, July 20, 2012

N0H8 Campaign Comes to Anaheim #GLBT


Getting to the Anaheim area for RWA Nationals a few days early? Take some time away from that Happiest Place on Earth, and consider getting some photos taken via the NOH8 Campaign on Sunday.

A “photographic silent protest,” the NOH8 campaign started after Proposition 8 passed in California. Here’s a look at their mission statement:

“The NOH8 Campaign is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.”


Author/graphic artist Lex Valentine attended the photo shoots in Los Angeles. She said that she had the pictures done for two reasons.

Lex Valentine, Author
“One, I believe in the campaign’s cause, in marriage equality,” she said. “Two, I admire (photographer) Adam Bouska’s work and I wondered how he’d make me look.”

From the young to the old, if you peruse the website, so many different individuals have already taken pictures. *Fingers crossed* I’m hoping to get some taken.

Here’s the information:

NOH8 Campaign Open Call

Sunday, July 22, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Reluctant Romance: Guys and Guys #M/M


Reluctant Romance: Guys and Guys
Various Authors

Sometimes true love is reluctant to blossom and needs a little bit of coaxing in order to come out. But a strong will and a heart filled with determination will triumph every time! The authors of the Bigger Briefs present to you these m/m tales of lovers who just need a gentle prod to push them into the relationship they’ve been yearning for.

*****

Excerpt

While Zane showered, Neil picked up the living area and called in for a pizza to be delivered. He’d changed his mind; he didn’t want to go out. What he wanted was privacy. Zane had just joined him in the living area when the pizza guy showed up. Neil quickly paid him as Zane got them plates.
“Where do you want to eat?”

Zane shrugged. “In the living area is fine. I just usually sit in the couch.”

They ate in silence. He noticed that Zane acted like he hadn’t eaten in a month. Once they were finished, Neil moved closer to Zane on the couch, laying his arm behind Zane’s head.

“Okay, spill it. I want to know what’s the deal with you. You never leave to go to work, you shut yourself up in here for days on end, and you refuse to commit to me. No more, Zane. I can’t take it.”
Zane stared at Neil, then he stood up. “Maybe it would be easier to just show you.”

He led Neil to one of the bedrooms he kept closed. Opening the door, he stood to the side and waved his arm. “Everything you want to know is in there.” Then he turned away and went back to the living area.

Neil walked in the room. Covering one entire wall of the room were photographs. No, not photographs, covers—book covers. Covers he recognized. A laptop sat open on a desk and on it were endless paragraphs. A multi-purpose printer sat to one side. Notebooks, paper, and books lined a bookshelf. A mini-fridge sat in a corner and a coffee maker was close to the desk. Awards were all over the walls. Shocked, Neil took in the office—an author’s office. One of the biggest named authors’ office. His heart stuttered in his chest. Zane was the gay male author Sivad… which was his last name, Davis, spelled backwards.

“Dear Lord.”

Stumbling out the door, he found Zane on the couch, head in his heads. “So, now you know who I am.”

Neil sank down on the couch next to him. “Why’d you hide this? Why do you act like this is something to be ashamed of? Zane, you have a God given talent, and nothing—do you hear me—nothing to be ashamed of!”

Zane raised his head, meeting Neil’s eyes. “I’m not ashamed of being gay, or of what I write, in either career. But I kept them separate because I knew mainstream publishers would flip if they knew. Homophobia is alive and well, don’t think it’s not. I was dumped by some of those very same publishers when word got out.”

Neil took Zane’s hands, holding them tightly. “What happened?”

Taking a deep breath, Zane held it for a second, then released it. “Long story short, I caught my boyfriend of two years in bed with another man. I kicked his ass out. Pissed that he lost his free meal—me—he outed me. He knew what could happen—fact is, he did it to hurt me. Some of the mainstream publishers told me I needed to go elsewhere, and they were not very nice about it either. They were horrified that I wrote what they called gay porn.”


Available from:







Friday, July 13, 2012

Romance by the Numbers with K D Grace

What a great topic K D brings today -- how does one define romance? Help me welcome this stimulating writer.



I’d like to thank Louisa for having me on her lovely site. It’s such a pleasure to be here!

I’d like to talk about romance. There now, that’s a real surprise, isn’t it? I had a fabulous review recently for Body Temperature and Rising. One of the reasons the reviewer liked BTR was that it was NOT a romance. I read that bit of the review with a raised eyebrow and a silly smile on my face because I’ve always considered BTR to be a paranormal erotic romance, though I can certainly see where people might think otherwise. And frankly I’m very okay with that. Some people don’t like romance. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a sucker for it, but I’m very happy to write something that pleases people both sides of the romance line.

When I wrote Body Temperature and Rising, it was in my mind to create a coven of witches who practiced a rare form of sex magic, and because it was sex magic, the coven was, in a lot of ways, a polyamourous marriage. Because of the battle the Elemental Coven is involved in, the bonds within the group are very tight and run very deep. Because the magic practiced is sex magic, the relationships between all of the coven members are sexual.

The review got me to thinking about what romance really is. To my delight, the topic of romance is a book within itself, but not one I have time to explore in one blog post so here’s a very boiled-down version of what I learned from the Free Online Dictionary.

Romance can be a love affair. It can be an ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people. It can describe something of mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful. It can be a fictitious tale of heroes and extraordinary or mysterious events, usually set in a distant time or place. In the case of BTR, the English Lake District is the setting, a setting which is very beautiful and evocative, and way more distant from me that I wish it was. And BTR is definitely a tale of heroes and extraordinary and mysterious events. Romance can also be an artistic work, such as a novel, story, or film, that deals with sexual love, especially in an idealized form.

Yup! I’d say based on the good ole FOD’s definition, Body Temperature and Rising is a romance … of sorts. The fact that it appeals to non-romancers as well as romancers is just the icing and the cherry on top.  

I’ve always enjoyed pushing the boundaries of romance because complicating a relationship by adding another person or two or more makes for more conflict in the story, and in such a situation, someone is always wrong-footed. Whether or not the three plus people can find their Happy For Now or their Happy Ever After is always a crap shoot, and that’s a part of the fun. The Elemental Coven has way more than their fair share of complications, enough to last for three novels and then some. But then you’d expect romance as a group activity to be like that, wouldn’t you?

*****
American transplant to the Lake District, MARIE WARREN, didn’t know she could unleash demons and enflesh ghosts until a voyeuristic encounter on the fells ends in sex with the charming ghost, ANDERSON, and night visits from a demon. To help her cope with her embarrassing and dangerous new abilities, Anderson brings her to the ELEMENTALS, a coven of witches who practice rare sex magic that temporarily allows needy ghosts access to the pleasures of the flesh.
DEACON, the demon Marie has unleashed, holds an ancient grudge against TARA STONE, coven high priestess, and will stop at nothing to destroy all she holds dear. Marie and her landlord, the reluctant young farmer, TIM MERIWETHER, are at the top of his list. Marie and Tim must learn to wield coven magic and the numinous power of their lust to stop Deacon’s bloody rampage before the coven is torn apart and more innocent people die.
More info, excerpt and buy links: http://kdgrace.co.uk/books/lakeland-heatwave-book-i/

*****
K D Grace was born with a writing obsession. It got worse once she actually learned HOW to write. There's no treatment for it. It's progressive and chronic and quite often interferes with normal, everyday functioning. She might actually be concerned if it wasn't so damned much fun most of the time.

K D's critically acclaimed erotic romance novels, The Initiation of Ms Holly, The Pet Shop and Lakeland Heatwave Book 1: Body Temperature and Rising are published by Xcite Books and are available from all good paperback and eBook retailers.

Her erotica has been published with Xcite Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and Scarlet Magazine.

Find out more about K D Grace on her website, http://kdgrace.co.uk. She's also on Facebook and Twitter.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

My Red Bull-Caffeine Addiction


On a retreat during my junior year of high school, I took the “Alertness Aid” NoDoz to keep myself from sleeping for the weekend. You see, those who slept had pranks pulled on them. You know, obscene items drawn with Sharpie permanent markers on the face, and the like. By the end of the weekend, I was throwing up foam.

Haven't tried it yet, but got a
back-up of Sonic Speed
 Energy Drink in my
home-office when
I really need it!
That experience turned me off caffeine for more than 10 years. I went through college and grad school without a Coke or coffee. Crazy to imagine now with my Red Bull addition. Yes … addiction. I need it. And, I know I need it.

The caffeine doesn’t simply keep me awake. It makes me feel more alert. I can focus. My brain reacts more quickly.

So what changed? Ah, children. After having my first child, I slid into having a Coke a day, and then the tolerance built up … and at some point I tried Red Bull. My friend Sam calls energy drinks + allergy pills (with recurrent sinus infections, my doctor has suggested I regularly take Claritin-D) = “Momma’s little helper.”

I start the day off with one at breakfast. Ask my writing-friends such as Tara Lain. After seeing me at OCC/RWA meetings and conferences with my friendly can, it's now a regular teasing point.

My mom, worried about my health, sat me down for an intervention. When I asked her how much coffee she drank as a secretary, she confessed to 11-12 cups a day. I explained that one can was the equivalent to a cup of coffee. Now, she stocks it for me in her fridge.

The one Red Bull-a-day-habit has turned into two, and I know how/why they can sell those extra-LARGE size cans.

Every year, especially around New Year’s resolutions and Lent, I see people give up caffeine. They suffer headaches and withdrawal symptoms and I think they’re *crazy*

And people wonder how I have two master's degrees, teach at three colleges, freelance edit, write books, and still manage to pick my kids up after school most days and make dinner ... BTW, have you seen my Upcoming Releases page?

So tell me, anyone else share in the caffeine addiction? And, what started the slide? Was it children? The “aging” process? Come on ... help me feel, normal.

Friday, July 6, 2012

A Matter of Lust with Lisa Fox


How hot is that cover? When I saw the latest from the creative mind of Lisa Fox, I knew I had to read it. Stay tuned for a review.

Trask is a lust demon on the hunt for a playmate, a human exceptional enough to sate some of his ravenous hunger. When he finds Rena, he knows that she is the one he must have. He makes it his business to seduce her.

Rena is immediately drawn to Trask. She could easily fall for the dangerously sexy bad boy who makes her scream every time he makes her come, but the problem with bad boys is that they’re actually bad. They break girls’ hearts and hers has been broken too many times already. One more crack might shatter it forever.

Trask claims Rena for his own, but she needs more than just sizzling sex. She wants to trust him, but can they ever share anything more than lust?

An Excerpt From: A MATTER OF LUST
Copyright © LISA FOX, 2012
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

The deep, melodic trance music vibrated through Trask’s body as he prowled the crowded dance floor. He was hungry, so very, very hungry, and the time had come for him to find a willing partner for the night. Any one of the mortals undulating around him would have sufficed, but so far none of them appealed to him. The need gnawed at his insides, but he waited, searching for the one. Over his long years among the humans, he’d learned that it always paid to be a little bit discriminating. It made the feast so much more gratifying.

He sidestepped around a young woman, his shoulder accidentally brushing against hers. He felt her body temperature rise as he passed, the lust that had been simmering just below the surface swelling to a fevered pitch within her. She grabbed her companion and kissed him ferociously, shamelessly rubbing herself against him. She wasn’t the only one affected by his presence either. Potent waves of raw sexual energy radiated from him, infecting the air around him, threatening to turn the club into one giant orgy. Trask smiled at the thought.

He cruised the dance floor, reveling in the exquisite thrill of his hunt. Human lust was such a decadent treat, so very different from the desperate lust of the damned in hell, and it filled this ordinarily dull world with brilliant light and added depth to the darkest shadows. He could feel it oozing from the dancers, the men and the women, sweating and panting, touching and grinding, their bodies writhing in time with the music. Tension built in his groin and he welcomed the pure, straining delight.

He stopped suddenly, the prickling at the base of his spine alerting him to the presence of another demon nearby. Not a lust demon like himself, but something similar. Pride maybe, or perhaps wrath? He couldn’t quite get a fix on it. He waited, wondering if it was going to make contact. Often other demons haunting and hunting the human realm wanted to meet, to plot and plan and scheme, to “raise some hell” or whatever, but he got the impression that it was occupied with something else entirely. Which was just fine with him. He’d never been the social sort.

The music changed and a thumping bass beat poured out of the speakers. Trask shook off the psychic residue of the other and worked his way toward the bar. He ordered a bourbon on the rocks and leaned back, happily absorbing the intoxicating atmosphere while scanning the crowd for his potential playmate.

His gaze fell upon a woman on the edge of the dance floor in a short, black dress that hugged every curve of her luscious body. Her violently dyed red hair was piled high on her head and sexy tendrils escaped to frame her heart-shaped face. There was a hint of rosy flush on her smooth, round cheeks and the way her hips swayed to the music made his cock stir.

Trask placed his drink aside and unconsciously ran his tongue over his teeth as he glided toward her. She was tall, probably close to six feet in her heels, but he still had to lean down to whisper close to her ear. “Hello,” he purred, breathing in her clean scent of shampoo and roses and woman.

She turned slowly toward him, her gaze roaming over his face, his body, and he got the distinct impression that she was mentally undressing him. He certainly hoped she was. She obviously liked what she saw because a smile blossomed on her glossy, pink lips. “Hi.”

The instant, piercing sexual tension between them made his blood surge. He reached out with a fine strand of psychic energy and lightly dipped into her primal core. Trask hissed as desire coiled in his groin. She was sweet ambrosia, a succulent feast just waiting to happen and his cock ached to sink inside her, to make her come again and again while he fed on all that glorious lust. “You are very beautiful,” he said, savoring the tiny taste of her fire.

“Uh-huh,” she said, mischief and humor making her eyes sparkle. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Trask laughed. He liked this woman. “I think I might be in love with you,” he said, beginning the game. It was a line that had worked many times before—the humans always seemed enchanted and amused by the concept, but it was a hollow sentiment, something meant to elicit a grin and nothing more. But as the words left his mouth, they felt different this time, almost as if they had…weight.

“Are you sure it’s love you feel?” she asked, a smile dancing along the corners of her mouth. Her eyes flicked down to his crotch. “Or something else entirely?”

“Now I know I’m in love,” he replied, the lust coursing through his veins. She was perfect. Fun. Bold. Smoking hot. And she was going to be his. All night long. He reached out and traced the curve of her cheek with his index finger. Her skin was flawless, warm and silky. “What’s your name?”
She paused and an odd, little smile formed on her lips. “Does it matter?”

Normally it wouldn’t matter—in fact, there was no reason why it should matter, but for some reason it did matter. It mattered a lot. “Yes.”

Her smile changed, softened, and Trask was awestruck by just how simply beautiful she was. “Rena. My name is Rena.”

“Rena.” He liked the way it rolled off his tongue.

“And what about you?” she asked, leaning closer to him. He looked straight down into her very ample cleavage and took his time enjoying that magnificent view. His fingers itched to caress that soft skin, to feel the weight of her full, round breasts in his hands. “Do you have a name? Or should I just call you the sexy Darkman of my dreams?”

“I do like the sound of that.” He wondered if his presence was affecting her, making her more daring than she’d normally be or if this was just her nature. He had the power to inspire humans to say and do outrageous things simply by standing beside them. His gaze touched on her flamboyant red hair and he thought—hoped—that it was her and not a consequence of his influence. “But Trask is so much shorter and to the point.”

“Trask,” she said, and he had to admit, he liked the way his name sounded on her lips. He couldn’t wait to hear her scream it. Her eyes trailed over him, her gaze a provocative caress that sent hot, tingling ripples down his spine. “So, now that you’ve declared your love, what happens next?”

“Oh, you know, the usual.” He caught hold of a loose strand of her hair and twined it around his fingers. The tension between them rocketed up a few notches and he inhaled the essence of her arousal, breathing it deep into his body, relishing the flavor of her. “A whirlwind romance, storybook marriage, honeymoon in Paris.”

“Followed swiftly by a quickie divorce in Mexico, right?”

Her voice was tinged with unmistakable venom and the bitterness sliced through the hazy, plush cloud of their lust. Startled by the mental slap in the face, Trask dropped his hand back to his side. Darkness deepened around him as anger settled in. He did not like this turn of events at all. “What makes you think I’d do anything quick with you?”

“I see,” she said, and he watched her features soften as her mood shifted. Humans were so extraordinarily complex. He didn’t think he’d ever understand their ability to feel so much, so quickly and thoroughly, even when those emotions were completely contradictory. Demons were defined by their desires, embodiments of the thing they hungered after. There was never a reason for a demon to feel anything more than his driving need. Everything else just got in the way of the goal.

Her bitterness ebbed away, gone almost as quickly as it had come, and she favored him with a dazzling, flirtatious smile. “You’re a slow-and-steady kind of guy then?”

“Oh yes,” he said, returning her grin. “And I always win in the end.”

She laughed, a lovely, musical sound that tugged at his insides. She leaned into him, a whisper of space between them and he could feel the heat of her body on his skin. “Hmm,” she said, and bit down on her lower lip. Her fingers flitted over his collarbone. “I do like confidence.”

He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “Then you’re definitely going to like me.”


About the Author:

World-renowned neurosurgeon, jet fighter pilot, secret member of American royalty, seducer of legions of beautiful, outrageously sexy angels and demons and vampires and werewolves and the occasional pirate, Lisa Fox has done it all…in her own mind. In reality, she can generally be found at her desk with a cup of coffee close at hand. Or maybe a martini. It really depends on the day.

Feedback, comments, opinions, words of wisdom, chocolate cake and the addresses of super hot men are always appreciated and encouraged. Please feel free to contact Lisa any time.

Website: www.lisafoxromance.com
Twitter: @LisaFoxRomance