In this Snippet, Dr. Carinian Derrickson is convinced she’s lost the one man that ever truly moved her. She’s dead wrong, but it doesn’t keep her from feeling the loss considering she doesn’t know he’s hasn’t dumped her.
Other than a glimpse of him from a distance around the facilities, Carin hadn’t seen Bix in three days. Why she’d expected him to pop up everywhere, she had no idea. Even at the gym she’d looked over her shoulder every now and again, hoping. Finally, she’d reprimanded herself for refusing to accept she’d been the recipient of a one-night stand. Okay time to forget him.
She was almost home when a sharp jolt of pain shot through her lower back as the muscles spasmed. Thoughts of Bix’s strong hands kneading the tension away popped into her head. So much for the two grueling hours spent throwing herself through every lower body exercise she could think of, all in an attempt to get her mind off the man. Obviously it hadn’t worked.
Rolling her eyes at her own ridiculousness, she screeched to a stop in her driveway and dragged herself into the house. She’d been alone for years, but she missed this man so much the only word she could think of to describe it was hollow. All this drama for a man she knew nothing about, other than he was a great lay? Yeah, a great one-time lay.
“Now see, that’s exactly what you get,” Carin grumbled to herself as she kicked off her tennis shoes inside the front door. “Getting all worked up ‘cause you thought that damned man was serious about you. Now look at you, feeling all stupid and disappointed.”
After a quick wash up she settled back in the thick, overstuffed cushions of the couch. A plate of untouched food congealed on the coffee table while her thoughts flew all over the place. One second she was thinking about the next steps for her serum, then her head filled with the images of a tall, dark-haired, gorgeous manly-man who’d put it down on her in the bedroom at the back of her labs earlier this week. She didn’t like it at all.
Carin sat up on the couch, snatched out of a comfortable doze by the ring of the doorbell. Startled, heart in her throat, she glanced towards the unlit fireplace at the clock over the mantle. Eight fifteen. Who the hell would come by her house after dark without calling first? Moving with silent caution she rose, grabbed the sturdy baseball bat next to the door and peeked through the viewing hole.
I think this week’s theme kinda speaks for itself…
EXCERPT from HATSEPT HEAT Vampire Council of Ethics Book Three
by TJ Michaels, Copyright 2009
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Shinju knew she was being followed. At first she didn’t really care, actually eager to engage someone, anyone, just to work off some steam. But when her mind recalled exactly who, or rather what, was embroiled in her current life’s situation, she could have strangled herself. Max had been playing both sides of the fence with the vampires—friends with Clan Li on one hand, and doing deals with a human, rogue-associated, vamp drug dealer on the other. And the odds that the person tailing her was a little old Japanese lady in need of directions to the nearest fish market were slim to none.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Why in the world hadn’t she stayed at the hospital where it was at least assured that the vamps walking the halls were good guys? But nooooo, she just had to go walk it off, had to get away from everyone so she could think about things. When would she learn that getting away from everyone was exactly what she needed to stop doing? She had Kenoe now, along with all of his family and friends who’d already accepted her into the fold.
Oh well. Nothing to be done for it.
What she really needed right now was a weapon. Again, her mind shot back to the medical facility. Why? Because she happened to have a six-foot, muscle-packed, white-haired, katana-toting, deadly weapon that loved everything about her. A weapon who would give and do anything for her—Kenoe Hatsept. And where was he? Waiting for her to return to her brother’s hospital suite ready to give the doctors a decision about the blood transfusion. Not to mention the fact that she was supposed to be getting herself sated on hot coffee and perhaps a baker’s dozen of brownies.
Shinju held back the urge to slap herself in the head, then without looking back she took off at a dead run and ducked around the next corner into an alley. Chest heaving more from the burst of adrenaline than the short sprint, Shinju was faced with the possibility of her own mortality. If these were rogue vampires stalking her, without a full bond with Kenoe and the advantage of sharing his blood, she would be no match for them. Stronger and faster, they’d gut her in no time.
God, she didn’t want to die. All she’d needed was some time to get used to the whole vampire boyfriend thing. After spending a bit of that with Kenoe and company, Shinju wanted nothing more than to bond with him and get on with their no-doubt exciting lives. But here she was all alone in an alley about to face God-knows-what. Was she too far for him to hear her if she called? Only one way to find out.
Her right foot lashed out at the first pursuer to speed around the corner as she yelled for Kenoe with all her psychically non-talented might.
* * * * *
The exact second Shinju landed in trouble, her call rang inside him like a large bell. Seconds later, Slade called.
“This is bad, man. She’s being tailed by two rogues. One of them fits the description of the idiot who jacked Kimora in Shinju’s backyard. They’re closing in fast. Whoa! Carin and Tameth are right behind them.”
It took everything in him not to bellow into the receiver. After a couple of deep breaths that didn’t calm him at all, he snapped, “Get there now, Slade. I’m on my way.”
Kenoe shot out of his chair and voice dialed Bix and Alaan while bolting for the nearest exit. Relief warred with terror and flat-out rage. Slade, Tameth and Carin, all skilled fighters, would be on the scene to help Shinju. Didn’t change the fact that the woman had no business roaming around Roppongi district alone. Especially with her new knowledge that the ballpark in which the human race played was teeming with fanged people who wouldn’t hesitate to do her harm.
He followed Slade’s GPS transmission toward Shinju’s exact position. Kenoe prayed his natural speed would get him there before it was too late.
I love movies. My favorites are epics and action flicks with lots of fight scenes and explosions. Well, do I have a treat for you! The fabulous Lauren Dane shared some info on Twitter today – the new Resident Evil movie is coming! It’s called Resident Evil: Afterlife and it looks bomb!
Check out the trailer:
If you can’t press ‘Play’ on the video screen above, you can follow this link to see the official trailer:
Hi all! After a ridiculous week of travel for work I have done the unthinkable – I forgot to put up my snippet! I’m going to post my favorite fight scene from Serati’s Flame…but I need to go with the kidlet to run errands first.
I’ll post it as soon as my tired feet make it back into the house. In the meantime, here are the links to all our other awesome Snippet Saturday authors. Enjoy! And don’t forget to come back for my snippet in a few hours.
I’ve always wanted a big family. Since I wasn’t blessed to have one, I enjoy creating them in my books. In this case, we’ve got a hero whose family happens to be the people he works with on a daily basis. Some are vampires, some are humans. And they all love him no matter what. Oh, and speaking of love, I’m sharing the love by reminding you to visit all the other Snippet Saturday authors by clicking through to their website from the links I’ve provided below. Have fun!
Meet Kenoe Hatsept and his family from the Vampire Council of Ethics…
Hatsept Heat Vampire Council of Ethics Book Three
by TJ Michaels
Copyright 2009, All rights reserved
Note for Readers: You must be over eighteen to read this excerpt.
Kenoe silently flipped open his vid phone, slipped the ear bud in so he could have his hands free, and whispered into the tiny microphone.
“Dial home.” His words formed as mist in the cool early summer air. The line rang two, three, four times. Relief left his chest in a
huff when someone answered.
“Serati here. This better be fucking good.”
“Alaan, it’s Kenoe. Something is wrong in Japan, and I mean more than just the number of rogues in Nagano. I’m in Tokyo—”
“Tokyo? What the hell are you doing there?”
“Changed my itinerary. As I was saying—” Kenoe rushed on before Alaan could question him further, “—I’m in Shibuya district and I’ve
just seen the weirdest damned thing. I’m not sure I can describe it.”
“Spill it already, Hatsept. I’m in bed, so get to the point.”
Alaan was his usual charming self. Kenoe couldn’t blame him. It was barely morning back home while the night was young and the parties were just getting started in the clubs not far from where he stood.
In the background came a female voice.
“Who is it, Alaan?”
Alaan answered his mate on a yawn. “It’s Kenoe.”
“Really? Give me the phone.” Tameth, as bossy as ever. Kenoe smiled thinking of his best friend.
“No. Roll over and go back to sleep.”
“We weren’t sleeping anyway, asshole. Now give me the damned phone.”
“Careful, woman,” Alaan snapped. “Behave or I’ll cut down your weekly quota of cock.”
Alaan Serati—the only man Kenoe knew who could make a bass-filled growl sound playful. And Tameth was one of very few females who
could handle the big blond brute. They were perfect for each other.
“Oh, please. You’d never survive.” She laughed. Then Tam’s voice filled the line. “Kenoe, you okay? What going on?”
Funny. Her voice had always gotten under his skin. But now, it slid over his consciousness like a soothing balm rather than a stimulating bliqueur. But the blood-firing effect did happen with Shinju, hell almost ten times worse than Tameth had ever affected him and… Oh shit. Could Shinju be the one? His bondmate? Nah, no way. Impossible.
“Kenoe?”
“Huh?” Come on, Hatsept, get your shit together. “I mean, yes, I’m fine. I just happened to be leaving dinner when I saw
something…someone.”
“So?”
“It was a man, a human with no scent of vampire origin. But he moved like one of us, there one moment and gone the next. And if I’m not mistaken, I’ve caught a glimpse of him before.”
“But that doesn’t make any sense, Key. You’re the best damned tracker of all the elite Seekers. How could you not be sure whether
you’ve scented him before or not?”
“Like I said, he carries no vampire scent. In fact, he has no scent at all. You know I never forget a smell, but this guy doesn’t seem to have one. I swear, he moved so fast I almost missed him.”
“That is strange,” Tameth said in confusion. “But even still, if he’s a human why do you care?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Hold on, let me conference Carin in. This sounds like some stuff you two should discuss. It worries me that a human moves like a vamp, but doesn’t smell like vamp, rogue, or…anything.”
“Exactly. In fact, I’ll just call her directly.”
“No way,” Alaan said with a raised voice in the background. The man always had exceptional hearing. “I want to hear what the hell is going on too.”
A few moments later a sleepy and none-too-happy Bix picked up the line.
“Head Seeker here, goddammit.”
Tameth put her phone on speaker and relayed what Kenoe had told them. Bix roused Carin, who was instantly awake after hearing their
concerns.
“That worries me,” Carin rasped, voice scratchy and thick with congestion.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Kenoe wondered quietly. His brow pulled down into a frown as he watched the shadow of the man creeping around Shinju’s house. Seeker instinct went full tilt and he was ready to drop the phone, jump out of that tree and take off at a dead run to aid his woman.
Whoa. Hold the door. His woman? Aw, hell.
“Cold. First one in three years.” Carin croaked while trying to clear her throat.
“How? We don’t get sick.”
“Out playing in the rain with Alaina. Took my new vampire DNA for granted and got kicked in the ass by the human genes behind it. I’ll be fine by morning.”
“Damn, I hope so. Anyway, why does this guy I’m watching concern you? What are you thinking?” Kenoe asked on a whisper.
“I’m thinking about facts,” Carin said, followed by a huge sneeze and Bix’s quiet “ewww” in the background.
“Oh shut up,” Carin mumbled to her mate. “Make yourself useful and grab that box of tissue on the nightstand, will ya?” After a pause and a few totally unladylike snorts and sniffles, Carin continued. “Anyway, the facts are that the only way a human can be enhanced with vampire traits is by ingesting large quantities of blood or exchanging bodily fluids via lots of sex with a vampire—a full-fledged, natural-born vampire—over a long period of time. But that kind of contact leaves an imprint on human and vampire alike.”
Kenoe cut in. “Basically, scent.”
“Right. But you said this guy doesn’t have any vampire scent. Even I, an altered human, can smell the subtle differences between vampire and human. So for this guy to have no scent at all is just not normal in either of our worlds.”
“So what do you think is going on?”
“Kenoe, I just don’t know, sweet pea. I’ll have to think about it.”
Bix added, “In the meantime, looks like pseudo-duty, Seeker. Just watch this guy, get a visual and send us the digital. But you’re not assigned to him, nor on real duty, so no other investigation. You’re still on vacation, understand? We’ll see what we can find on him. If he’s dirty, we’ll put somebody else on him while you get your downtime in. We do have some good agents planted inside the human government over there. We’ll find something. Check in with Alaan in a day or two.”
“Yes, sir. Oh, wait, Dr. Carin, can you and Tam stay on the line for a minute?”
“Sure. Whatcha need?” they asked almost in unison. He loved his friends so much. Always there for him no matter what. And the two biggest damned mother hens he’d ever known.
“I figured I’d ask you two since you’re female, but now that I have you on the line I’m thinking I should have gotten a guy’s point of view.”
“Well, it’s not like we aren’t listening.”
Bix. And the bastard was laughing at him. Kenoe laughed back and then let it all hang out.
“I’ve met someone. A human. But I’m way out of my element here. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced anything like it. I smell her everywhere and the sight and scent of this female sends me on a fucking trip.”
Four voices echoed across the phone line as they all started talking at once. “What? Really? Do you think she’s the one? What does she look like? Have you approached her yet?”
With his eyes still plastered on the shadow near Shinju’s home, the doubts Kenoe had about the woman’s place in his life began to fade. The urge to strangle the possible threat had him snarling into the phone.
“Kenoe? What the hell are you growling at?” Tameth snapped.
“Sorry. I’m watching her house and…shit, this is driving me crazy.”
“If you feel so strongly, she could very well be your mate. Or maybe even a bondmate.” Carin sniffled. “I’m human, yet Bix and I went nuts after we met. Not to mention that psychic-link-bond-zing thing we had going. It was insane.”
Hmm. It would certainly explain his tumultuous emotions. God, he was horny and protective, afraid and bold, certain and unsure. All at the same damned time.
“I think…hell, I don’t know what to think,” he pushed out forcefully, even though he knew Carin was right. And from the thoughts and feelings seeping through what must be a true newly forming bond, Shinju was all over the map right along with him. He couldn’t quite hear her thoughts yet from this distance, but her emotions were pounding at him like a sledgehammer against a concrete wall.
“Then what’s the problem?” Carin asked impatiently. Her tone was the same as she used when trying to reason with her three-year-old daughter. “You know how weirded out you prime males get when you try to resist the mating call. God, I remember when Bix and I first met. He hardly played fair once he decided I was the one. Pulled the most underhanded tactics out of the hat…”
“Underhanded tactics? Like what?” Kenoe had never heard this part of the story.
“One day we were in my lab—in fact, it was only the second time I’d ever seen him. He decided to pull some junk…and he was successful. The underhanded part is this—Bix knew I was an empath. I’d never really looked into how to use my gift, but I could sense something zinging between us.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.”
“It’s there with…what’s her name?”
“Shinju. Shinju Maruyama. And yes, it’s there. She just waltzes right into my head and I don’t even think she realizes it. It’s like she isn’t aware she has any psychic skill but is using it just the same.”
“Hmm. That’s different. Anyway, I was supposed to be mad at Bix and he was determined that he’d rather have me horny. So as he left my lab he sent the nastiest, most lust-inducing images into my head, and at the same time he made me actually feel his hands on me. It was the wildest, weirdest sensation I’d ever experienced. Something only he could do because we were meant to be together as bondmates.”
Kenoe’s eyebrows practically flew off of his face. So he could send images into Shinju’s head? But only if she was “the one”?
“Now I can talk to Bix and send images to him too. And he’s the only one I can’t block because we’re bonded.”
“Key?” Tameth chimed in. “If she’s it, go for it. Besides, you’ve already seen the outcome of two of the most bullheaded men you know try to outrun their females. And vice versa.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” Kenoe chuckled. “But I just don’t know.”
“Well, I do know,” Tameth snapped into the phone with a tone that bordered on pissed off. “You think you don’t deserve it.”
“What the hell are you talking—”
“Hush, you. You think that because of what you went through at the hands of that asshole brother of yours that you’re tainted or something.” It wasn’t a question, but a heated, mad-as-hell accusation. And it hit the mark pretty damned close. “Well, listen, Kenoe Hatsept, you’re one of the best men I’ve ever known. A perfect mix of sensitive and badass. Whoever this woman is, she’ll be lucky to have found a man like you.”
Kenoe did something he hadn’t done since learning how to pleasure a woman at a young age in the harem from hell—he blushed. Not sure what to say, he let the first thing he could think of slip past his lips.
“What is this, some kind of psychobabble?”
“Cut the shit, Kenoe. This is serious.”
Great. Now it was Carin’s turn to chime in. May as well prepare for the shredding he knew was coming. Thank God they had his best interests at heart.
“We’re talking about your life here, stud,” Carin gubbed through her stuffy nose.
“But what if I can’t…I mean, what if I can’t love her like she deserves?”
“What about what you deserve, damn it? If this woman is the one for you, it’s because she’s meant to be. She’ll complete you in a way you’ll never understand unless you go for it. Everything you’ve worked for since the day you fled your brother’s harem has brought you to where you are today. But that’s over, Kenoe. It’s done. Lowan is history. Now it’s time for you to live for yourself. And that’s all I got to say about it. Now don’t make me and Tam have to fly all the way to Japan to kick some vampire sense into your ass.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kenoe couldn’t keep the grin out of his voice, nor the unfamiliar flutter out of his stomach. Blushing? Butterflies? Geesh, he was turning into a girl! “I’ll catch you guys later.”
Tameth chimed in. “All right. Hey, remind me to tell you about the new jet we just got. Fill you in later?”
“Yep.”
“Love you, Key.” And in the background he heard Alaan’s deep bass echo, “Yeah. I love you too, Hatsept pipsqueak.”
This is actually more of a lost and found love ;D And though it’s almost Springtime here, I just can’t resist a hot winter romance where the hero is determined to create his own second chance, to do whatever it takes to make up for being an idiot in the past, and convince the woman of his heart that he will take good care of her…this time around.
Blurb: Melaniece is looking forward to spending a nice quiet holiday at her vacation home up in the mountains. Expecting to enjoy ripping open gifts with her family, she’s surprised when they spring the ultimate present on her: Michael Bannon. What the hell is he doing here? Could it have anything to do with the strange vampire dreams she’s been having lately? Nah, because there’s no such thing as vampires, right?
Michael is determined not to blow a second chance with the woman he should have loved years ago, even if it means revealing his true nature. Is a good guy willing to be very bad to get what he wants? Hell, yes…including drive Melaniece out of her mind. Over and over again.
EXCERPT from GIFT WRAP:OPTIONAL
By TJ Michaels
Copyright 2006 Ellora’s Cave All Right Reserved
Melaniece Matthews muttered to herself, carefully navigating the icy winding road leading up to the high country.
“Man, what a weird dream. Michael, a vampire?” The same strange dream plagued her at least twice a week for the past six months. They’d started immediately after she’d returned from a short trip home to California. It had been so good to see her friends and family after being away for eight years. And beyond lovely to see Michael Bannon again—the man she’d always loved. And, sigh, the man who’d seen her as just a great friend. Instead of marrying her, he’d hooked up with someone else, a woman named Janna. The end result? Six years of hell on earth for him. And now he haunted her in her sleep.
While Melaniece could admit she’d thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with him after so many years, she sure as hell wasn’t going to admit he’d been on her mind ever since. Her dream crept around the edges of her mind. “What if he is a vampire?” she smirked to herself, a sarcastically evil grin plastered across her lips. “That would explain why he ripped my heart out by marrying Janna. There’d certainly been plenty of blood to go around.”
Peering through the cold, clear windshield, Melaniece grimaced as her thoughts turned to her favorite holiday. Instead of the usual elation about Christmas, she was assailed with a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite nail down. There was the thrill of spending time with her children after a whole year of separation, chased by a longing for intimate companionship so acute she found herself on the verge of tears. Then, right there at the back of her mind was an elusive sense of naughty anticipation. But for what? A good lay? Not likely. She had no prospects and no interest in hunting for any. Michael’s handsome face popped into her head complete with fangs and a roguish grin, just like in her dream. Damn, she could practically feel the gorgeous, redheaded hunk making love with her as his incisors rasped over her skin. Yep, right there on the big sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace. Perfect spot.
“Hah, right!” she laughed with an unmistakable snort and waved the image away. But her breathing quickened in spite of a refusal to acknowledge the fine-assed man with fangs dancing around in her head. Give it a minute and her pulse would return to normal, right? Woo, she needed to turn off the heat. In spite of the freezing cold, the car was hot as hell. After a quick glance down at the console, she rolled her eyes up to the roof of the car. The damned heat wasn’t even turned on!
“Good grief, I’m hopeless,” she quietly grumbled. And it was all her dream man’s fault. Key word—dream. First off, she’d long given up hope in that quarter. Second, there was no such thing as vampires. So Michael was single again. Big deal. They’d had a great time reuniting in California six months ago. Who cared? None of it meant he wanted her now any more than he had eight years before.
With the car packed full of wrapped packages and luggage, Melaniece focused on the upcoming holiday. A glimpse at the pile of boxes in the backseat brought a small smile as she reminded herself this was a season to give generously to those you loved…and those who loved you back. And boy was she prepared to do just that.
Her children had spent the past year in an exchange program teaching English in Japan. It was amazingly expensive to live on the exotic little island. With most of their meager salaries going toward rent, groceries and train fare, the two had gone without some conveniences. When they returned to Minato-ku, a suburb of Tokyo, they’d sure as hell take lots of top-of-the-line goodies with them. Nothing but the best for her kids.
Christmas Day was fast approaching. She looked into the rearview mirror and spoke sharply to the woman reflected in the narrow glass.
“Okay you,” she said to herself. “No more goofy dreams, no more wasting time mooning over someone you can’t have and no more vampire nonsense. It’s Christmas and you’re gonna accept whatever Santa decides to give you. Got it?”
Got it. She popped a classic holiday CD into the player and hummed along with “Santa Baby”. With genuine laughter, Melaniece let Nat King Cole chase away her blues as she headed up the highway to her vacation home to meet her family. Up there among the snow-capped peaks, the long-toothed boogeyman was not allowed, no matter how yummy he looked in her sleep, damn it.
Enjoy all the other Snippet Saturday excerpts by clicking through to the links below. Happy Saturday!
This week’s theme is near and dear to my heart in regard to something I don’t get to do nearly enough of – SHOP!
While they aren’t actually at a store or mall, here are two of my favorite characters talking about one of their favorite passtimes…and how much trouble they get into while doing it – shopping, that is ;D
Enjoy! And don’t forget to click through to the other Snippet Saturday authors listed at the bottom of this post.
Tameth’s head swiveled around and followed Carin’s line of sight. Exceptional vision revealed the slightest movement of a shadow along the tree-lined path near the fence across the way. That path led to a grotto that couldn’t quite be seen from here, and on the other side of the thick stand of trees was a locked gate that was supposed to be guarded twenty-four seven.
“What the hell is she doing? Kenoe’s gonna kill her.”
“Yeah? Well who does she remind you of, Tam?”
Tameth rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but answer honestly…sort of.
“She does not remind me of either of us.” Tameth replied blandly.
“Riiiight,” Carin drawled. “What about that little excursion to Sausalito after we got back from the London mission?”
“You can’t count that,” Tameth huffed. “We are both Serati females and can do as we please. I was not even on duty and had no need to report in. Besides, I was well prepared to look after both of us.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t have permission to take Stealth One. Which you, uh, sort of failed to mention at the time.”
“Oh shut up. You got a nice pair of designer pumps out of that shopping spree, didn’t you?”
“Sure did. And Bix on my ass. Hell, I was almost looking forward to him getting sent off on a mission somewhere just so I could go take a pee by myself!”
“Drama queen.”
“Me! And who complained after Alaan actually gave her a spanking then revoked her pilot’s license for three months?”
“Nobody I know,” Tameth lied boldly. Carin laughed out loud, then clamped her lips shut. She didn’t want to bring any unnecessary attention to them right now. Considering they’d gotten into plenty of trouble together by wiggling out from under Seeker radar, the last thing they needed was anyone running off to find their husbands.
The shadow eased closer to the grotto entrance then darted out of sight into the trees.
“Come on, we’d better save her ass before Kenoe turns it another color, like blazing red.” Carin wrapped her fingers around Tameth’s upper arm and tugged, almost surprised when Tameth didn’t put up a fuss.
Tameth shrugged. “What can I say? I like her. She’s good for Kenoe.”
“Yeah, but I have a feeling she won’t be good for his nerves.”
*****
Shinju knew she was being followed. At first she didn’t really care, actually eager to engage someone, anyone, just to work off some steam. But when her mind recalled exactly who, or rather what, was embroiled in her current life’s situation, she could have strangled herself. Max had been playing both sides of the fence with the vampires—friends with Clan Li on one hand, and doing deals with a human, rogue-associated, vamp drug dealer on the other. And the odds that the person tailing her was a little old Japanese lady in need of directions to the nearest fish market were slim to none.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Why in the world hadn’t she stayed at the hospital where it was at least assured that the vamps walking the halls were good guys? But nooooo, she just had to go walk it off, had to get away from everyone so she could think about things. When would she learn that getting away from everyone was exactly what she needed to stop doing? She had Kenoe now, along with all of his family and friends who’d already accepted her into the fold.
Oh well. Nothing to be done for it.
What she really needed right now was a weapon. Again, her mind shot back to the medical facility. Why? Because she happened to have a six-foot, muscle-packed, white-haired, katana-toting, deadly weapon that loved everything about her. A weapon who would give and do anything for her—Kenoe Hatsept. And where was he? Waiting for her to return to her brother’s hospital suite ready to give the doctors a decision about the blood transfusion. Not to mention the fact that she was supposed to be getting herself sated on hot coffee and perhaps a baker’s dozen of brownies.
Shinju held back the urge to slap herself in the head, then without looking back she took off at a dead run and ducked around the next corner into an alley. Chest heaving more from the burst of adrenaline than the short sprint, Shinju was faced with the possibility of her own mortality. If these were rogue vampires stalking her, without a full bond with Kenoe and the advantage of sharing his blood, she would be no match for them. Stronger and faster, they’d gut her in no time.
God, she didn’t want to die. All she’d needed was some time to get used to the whole vampire boyfriend thing. After spending a bit of that with Kenoe and company, Shinju wanted nothing more than to bond with him and get on with their no-doubt exciting lives. But here she was all alone in an alley about to face God-knows-what. Was she too far for him to hear her if she called? Only one way to find out.
Her right foot lashed out at the first pursuer to speed around the corner as she yelled for Kenoe with all her psychically non-talented might.
Of all the books I’ve written, CARINIAN’S SEEKER, VAMPIRE COUNCIL OF ETHICS BK 1, is definitely one of my favorites. In this scene Carin, our heroine (who is a pretty tough cookie) is about to play her part in capturing a bad guy vamp. How? By allowing her husband to rescue her, of course.
Enjoy this excerpt from Carinian’s Seeker, 2007 CAPA Award Nominee.
Excerpt from Carinian’s Seeker
Published 2007 by Samhain Publishing
All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2006
Note for Readers: You must be over eighteen to read this excerpt.
“Look, you tell Aleth I said he can take this outfit and stuff it up his ass.” She made to toss him out when the sickly man’s raspy words brought her up short.
“I—He said. Well, D-Dr. Sidheon said if you, if you refused…he would p-personally re-tie your hands and feet and…and,” Chase stuttered.
“And what,” she asked hotly.
“F-Feed you by hand.”
“What the hell does feeding me by hand have to do with these clothes?” she screeched, her temper as hot as San Diego in July.
“He said you would be, um, be naked, ma’am.” If she didn’t know better, both she and Chase blushed but the man remained so deathly pale she couldn’t tell. Carin snatched the leather outfit from the man’s hands, shoved him out the door and slammed it shut.
In exactly one hour, she walked into a large dining room, escorted by a very uncomfortable Chase who saw her in and ducked out as fast as his shuffling skinny legs could carry him. The room was shaped like a large rectangle and reminded her more of a conservatory than a dining room. The lengths of both sides of the room were all glass with skylights and beveled glass making up most of the ceiling as well as an entire wall looking out to the darkened beach. Comfy-looking couches and chairs surrounded a man-sized fireplace. Huge pillows done in burgundy and black brocade took up the rear of the room. The place would be lovely if Sidheon weren’t in it.
The scent of roast pork and fresh bread assailed her senses as she sat at the head of the table. Sidheon smiled at her from the other end with a pouting Natasha at his side. Her steps faltered but a second later she snapped her backbone into place and shook off her fear and surprise. Besides, her two known enemies weren’t the cause of her discomfort. It was…the others. The dining table seated twenty-two, and every seat was occupied by both male and female vampires who all looked like they’d rather eat her than the spread Sid had laid before them.
Keeping her mind quiet, Carin concentrated on the sumptuous spread and stuffed herself with honey-baked turkey, rosemary bread stuffing, fresh asparagus in some kind of butter sauce and hot yeast rolls. The meal was finished off with baked caramel apples and, for Carin, a cup of steaming hot black coffee. The vamps indulged in blood-laced champagne.
She sat back in her L.A. ‘Ho costume, pushed back her chair just a bit, crossed her booted feet and put them up on the table. Sipping the strong brew, she was more than aware the short leather skirt gave Sidheon an eyeful of almost the whole length of her bare legs. So, he’d thought to tie her up and hand feed her if she misbehaved? Nasty bastard. Only her promise to do as Bix asked made her tamp down her anger and put on a sweet-as-apple-pie face.
Several other pale and unhealthy-looking folks cleared the dishes. She thanked a particularly skinny female for a refill of her coffee. Her wan, weak smile made Carin wince. The girl looked like a strong northerly wind would blow her away. Carin looked closer at the wait staff and immediately knew the truth. Chase wasn’t the only ill vampire here. Every one of these frail-looking so-called servants were vampires.
What the hell had happened to them? Why did every vampire around the table look healthy while all the staff looked sick? Fuming, Carin slammed her cup down, ignoring the hot coffee sloshing onto her skirt and tablecloth. She shot to her feet with her hands fisted on her hips, glared at Sidheon down the long length of the table and roared.
“Aleth, what the hell is going on? What have you done to these vamps?”
“Oh, not much, my dear. Why don’t you take a closer look, good doctor?”
With a flick of his wrist, the same young woman who’d smiled so happily at Carin’s compliment now approached her with trepidation, dropped to her knees and cowered on the floor.
“There, there, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise,” Carin crooned to the female as she took her seat once more. As the girl relaxed, Carin gently touched the cool skin of her face and neck, and then quickly examined her teeth and the whites of her eyes.
Sucking her breath in on a sigh, Carin couldn’t keep the heartfelt sadness out of her voice. She was so sorry for this female it was all she could do to keep the tears in check.
“Aleth, how could you do this? You’ve altered them. This girl’s skin feels like tissue paper. There’s no way a vampire female should be this frail and weak.” Carin looked down at the miserable face and whispered for her ears only. “I’m sorry. We’ll fix it, okay? I promise. Now go on before you get in trouble.”
As the girl scampered away, Sidheon rose, tugged Natasha out of her seat next to him and stalked around the table towards Carin. With one arm around his consort, he leaned lazily against the table, much too close for comfort. Carin’s eyes never left his.
On an exasperated sigh, she asked, “Aleth, what do you want with me?”
A lone finger snaked out to wrap around a loose strand of her hair. “You know, Carin,” he said, his voice smooth as silk, “I’d hoped to woo you, perhaps even make you my mate. I’ve always been fond of you. Your beauty, and of course, your genius.”
Natasha flinched as if Sidheon’s words physically cut her. With fury in her eyes, she yanked away from him but remained by his side.
Sidheon grabbed Natasha by the hair, yanked her back against his body and pressed his groin flush against her butt. A hand slipped under the traitor’s blouse while he conversed with Carin as if they were all out for an afternoon stroll. Ewww, now this was just nasty, and not in a good way.
She wanted nothing more than to storm out, but remained in her seat instead, reminding herself that she’d promised to keep Sidheon in that damned dining room as long as possible. Carin picked up her coffee again and tried to ignore the mad scientist and his even madder Liaison. But boy was he making it hard.
Carin gulped a fortifying swallow of the strong brew and said, “You’ve always been fond of me, Aleth? Really? You could have fooled me, especially when you tried to gut me in front of my own house.”
“Just a misunderstanding really. I was quite relieved when I heard you’d taken a sabbatical from Idac.” He tweaked Natasha’s nipples through her bra and the female vamp gasped and moaned desperately as if someone were cutting off her air supply. Yet Sidheon’s gaze remained glued on Carin. “Before my partner here confirmed anything, I knew no one but V.C.O.E. could have pulled off something like that on such short notice, and only if you were alive.”
“But why try to take me out at all?”
“Because, my sweet Carinian,” he purred into Natasha’s ear, “I knew you were at least aware, if not sure, of what I was doing. I couldn’t risk allowing the V.C.O.E. to get to you.”
“Yeah, this is all good and fine, but you still haven’t answered my question. Why hold me here? I’m no threat to you, even if I did know what you were up to. And where the hell is here anyway?” She tried to block out the sound of Natasha’s ragged moans as Sidheon played with her breasts and slid his hands up under the front of her barely there skirt.
“Well, since nobody knows where you are, I see no reason not to tell you. You’re in a quaint little manor on a beach in Northern California. And while you’re here, you’re going to tell me exactly what you think of my research.”
He wanted to talk about his research? Shit. Not good. It got worse when he explained his plans for V.C.O.E. The bastard planned to use his biological weapon to blackmail the Council. If they refused to make him the leader of a rogue vampire state he would use the serum he’d developed. And since it only affected those with pure, unaltered vampire DNA, he could put it into a main water or food supply and no one would be affected except his kind. Every vamp in the area would be toast, literally, in a matter of hours.
“Let me get this straight. You want every vampire declared a rogue by the Council to be placed under your guidance so you can create a rogue state and live happily ever after?” Carin couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The man was definitely crazy. What made him think he could control a whole horde of lunatics with fangs? She was amazed at what she was hearing and forgot to put her psychic shields in place. Watching Natasha writhe and moan against Sidheon as he kneaded her breasts like bread dough wasn’t making it any easier.
She screwed up her face in disgust. Sidheon chuckled and flicked one of Natasha’s nipples into a hard, stabbing point.
“But you’re right,” Sidheon continued, “the Elders would want to know how I planned to control them. The same way I’ll control the Council. Cross me, and they die. Give me what I want or they die. Finance my projects, or they die. Simple, yes? As for you, I don’t actually need you. I do, however, want you.”
Carin’s skin crawled when Natasha’s blouse slid down her arms to the floor, a black lacy bra following close behind. Carin felt her lip curl as she watched the woman raise her arms behind her, wrap them around Sidheon’s neck and pant like a dog in heat. All the other vampires seated around the table pushed back their chairs and headed for the comfortable love seats and mounds of pillows in front of the huge fireplace. Watching Sid and Natasha make out must have given them ideas of their own. Soon the whole room was full of moans, groans and all-out lust.
“You don’t need me, Aleth, and judging by the handful of tits you’re juggling, you don’t want me either. I want to go home. Right now.”
“Now, now, my sweet Carinian. You aren’t in a position to make any demands, except one.”
“And what’s that?” she sneered, swinging her feet off the table and pushing out of her chair to glare at him.
“You can demand me to fuck you. I’ll definitely comply. In the meantime,” Sidheon growled into Natasha’s ear, his attention still on Carin, “I’ll just have to amuse myself with…other things.”
He turned sideways and pushed Natasha to her knees. She didn’t hesitate in unbuckling the rogue’s belt, undoing his trousers and sliding them to his ankles. A pair of forest green boxers followed and Carin saw more of Sidheon than she’d ever hoped to in her lifetime. She might have been impressed with the size and weight of his cock if he hadn’t been a repulsive bastard. And Natasha was gobbling the man up as if her daily protein intake was in Sidheon’s cock.
Every couch and pillow in front of the roaring fire was filled with writhing vampire bodies, the male and females paired off. A few were in threes, and all of them naked.
Sidheon grabbed a handful of Natasha’s hair and snatched her up off her knees, hiked her skirt up and bent her forward over the table.
Carin almost gagged when he pushed into the woman’s willing body and hissed about how tight the fit was. Eyes closed, she tried to block out Natasha’s groans and moans. But when the woman began screaming bloody murder, Carin’s eyes snapped open. Her dark brown eyes clashed with Sidheon’s azure blue ones. The man hungrily watched her while he fucked Natasha into such a screaming orgasm the woman clawed at the fine finish of the table.
Gross. Carin stilled, concentrated to keep a shield in place, then reached frantically across the bond calling Bix’s name in her head as loud and strong as she could.
“Easy, sweetheart. Easy. I’m almost there.”
She stiffened as Bix’s thoughts rushed through her brain. She closed her eyes and sent him a mental picture of what she was seeing. “Take it easy? Are you shitting me? There’s a damned vampire orgy going on and you want me to be easy? Damned man. Why, I ought to…”
“Carin, move it.”
“Fine, already,” she hissed, easing towards the door. She grabbed her stomach like she was going to throw up and ran for it.
Just as she reached the dining-room entrance, every pane of the wall of glass was blown inward. In swarmed a score of pissed off Seekers and Iudex judges with one thing on their minds. Kicking some Sidheon ass.
In the Twelfth Night anthology, I have a story called Three’s a Charm. Enjoy! Reminder: The entire anthology will be available in one big book (that’s all 12 stories) on January 6th.
Click the book cover below to download your free copy in .pdf format (this is an erotic romance story, be warned, ‘TIS HOT!)
