This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is work…which is something I do entirely too much of. Actually the story, Caramel Kisses, was sort of spun out of my life at a time where all I did was work, work, then work some more just to take care of my family. I was tired of being tired and dreamed of being swept off my feet (actually I’m still kind of dreaming of that part ;D) by a gorgeous man who wanted nothing more than my happiness.
In walked Sydni Cannes – executive at an international company and because of one ‘Oops’ moment with her sister she has met her match in a man who won’t take no for an answer….and she likes it.
Enjoy this bit from Caramel Kisses, then be sure to visit the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links below.
“Okay! Fine.” Charli cracked up. “But you can’t deny you had a good time. Well, until you got arrested.”
“Speaking of getting arrested, how did you pull off finding that lawyer on the fly? When he dropped me off, I was relieved he simply opened my car door for me, waved at you like your best girlfriend and got the hell out of here. God, how embarrassing to be saved by a co-worker. Hell, to be saved by anyone. Anyway, he seemed familiar as if I’d seen him somewhere other than the office, but I can’t place him.”
“We went to law school together. Have been good friends ever since. When I saw them carting you away, he was the first person I thought of to call. God, Syd, I completely forgot that he was working at your place now. He’s only been there, what, a couple of months?”
Sydni shrugged. No point in worrying about it now. “Well, girlfriend, he’s quite a catch,” Sydni said around a swig of orange juice. “He said you two weren’t going out, but if he’s single, you should. You two would make a cute couple. You know, your cocoa to his vanilla? Go on, girl.”
“We’re not dating. Just friends. Besides, I’m not his type.”
“What? Is he gay or something? Maybe you can convert him, girl.”
“Drew? Gay? Not even close!” Then she laughed like a sailor who’d been told the raunchiest joke on the high seas. But then came that sideways look Charli flashed whenever she was up to something. Sydni nibbled on her bottom lip and eyed her sister closely. Hmm, what was that about?
“I swear I’m not up to anything!” Charli threw up her hands and blurted the words before Sydni could even ask, which meant she was most definitely up to something.
“You’d better not be. The last thing you want is my sore size nines planted up your backside.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Charli demurred with a big bright smile. “As for Drew, he graduated top of his class and passed the bar on the first go. You remember, he was at the grand opening party for my boutique.”
“No, I don’t remember. As for lawyer related topics, I still can’t get over the fact you went to law school, passed the bar exam, then decided to become a fashion designer, er, tailor.”
“Yeah, but I’m a highfalutin tailor,” Charli sassed.
After clearing the dishes, a bit of sisterly hugging and laughing over Sydni’s stint in the hooskow, and the thankfully dismissed charges, the two ladies kissed, made up and set plans to get together for a family dinner the following weekend.
Before driving away, Sydni’s only sister planted another big wet smack on her cheek and said, “I’m glad everything worked out, Syd. You’ve taken care of me forever. You deserve to be happy. You’re the best sister a girl could have and I love you.”
Sydni held back the tears gathering behind her eyes at the tenderness pouring out of her sibling. She felt cherished, special…even if nobody loved her but Charli.
With a sigh, she watched Charli put her little black sports car in reverse and back out of the driveway.
Sydni thought about dragging herself up to bed. An image flashed into her brain of herself laying in the big king-sized number with her body wrapped around an oversized pillow. Going to bed lost its appeal, especially when one side of it was always empty and cold.
But Sydni was a realist. She’d been so devoted to taking care of Charli she’d already missed the “family and kids” boat. At her age, most women were settled into their families by now while all she had was work. Hell, her biological clock had stopped ticking so long ago she was sure the thing had suffered battery corrosion. And there was no expectation for a damn thing to change now.
This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is hot spots. One of the places I would love to go on vacation is the island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean. It’s one of the ports of call for the cruise ship carrying our hero and heroine as they attempt to catch a killer. After a night of passion with her lover, undercover agent, Chrysalyn Geyer, heads into Ibiza to blow off some steam with her two spirit guides, Adonei and Mahpiya. Can we say, bad ass African lions, boys and girls?
Enjoy this excerpt from Egyptian Voyage then visit all the Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post.
“Ibiza and Formentera have been a popular destination for visitors from overseas for thousands of years, but unfortunately it is only during the last few decades that these frequent visitors have brought money with them on their visits to the islands.”
Hardy har har. Chrys winced at the dry humor.
‘I am bored out of my head. I think I’ll go off on my own,’ Chrys whispered along her link with her lions. Strange how Mahpiya occupied the same space now, yet the feline was separate and apart from her awareness of Adonei. Almost like they had their own special connection without excluding “the guys”.
*Chrysalyn, it is not wise to venture off alone,* the lioness said firmly.
Apprehension snaked through the link and Chrys felt compelled to listen to the big cat and do exactly as she suggested. She pushed the strange feelings away.
‘I’ve got two bad-assed African lions with me. What do I possibly have to be afraid of?’
The uneasiness of the previous moment surged into full-blown protective instinct. Mahpiya was concerned for her. But why?
‘May I call you Mah, like Rahn does?’ she asked respectfully.
*Of course.*
‘Thank you. Now, Mah, what’s going on? I can feel you’re on full hunter alert. And shouldn’t one of you be with Rahn?’
Neither lion said a word for what felt like eons. Their postures seemed easy enough, but tension wrapped around the bond like a tangible thing. They were hiding something. But if Mahpiya was anything like Adonei, no amount of harping in the world would get her to spill.
Sigh. Well, perhaps she’d try anyway. Even picking away at the patience of a spirit guide had to be less boring than this stupid tour she’d signed up for.
‘Well, since neither of you are telling, I guess I’ll drop it.’ For now. ‘Meanwhile, let’s go into the heart of town and explore. Maybe get some lunch.’ Chrys didn’t wait for them to answer or give permission. With a farewell wave to an older couple she’d met while debarking off the ship, she turned and left the droning tour guide and the group of tourists behind her.
Down the road was a row of modern restaurants and shops, all top-notch according to her research. There was one that specialized in rare gifts. Oooh, and they carried Dominican Republic hand-rolled cigars. Wow. Would Rahn enjoy something like this? He’d never smoked in her presence, but a man of such impeccable taste might appreciate a seasoned mild cigar. For her, there was nothing better than a Tatiana groovy-flavored smoke with an after-dinner dessert. Or the coffee-flavored smoke of a Kahlua cigar mixed with the cool smoothness of a cream-laced beverage. Yum.
With her purchases tucked into her day bag, Chrys walked up a hill, turned down a quiet street and settled for a small mom-and-pop cafe for lunch. Suppressing laughter at Mah and Adonei’s antics, she stepped through the door and was immediately shown to a table out back with a clear view of the sea’s crystal blue waters off in the distance.
The food was fabulous. She’d never been a big fan of Mediterranean food, but this stuff was wonderful. With every kind of cuisine under the sun to choose from, perhaps the French five-star restaurant down the street would get a visit before she headed back to the ship later. After all, Ibiza was no backwater island, but a place where the young and chic came to vacation.
Her companions were quite a pair. The faint image of the two lions grooming each other lovingly as she sipped a cup of espresso produced an inward smile. Then the next instant, Mah swatted at Adonei’s head after he’d said something so totally male even Chrys grimaced. The lioness was quick-witted and even quicker with her claws. And, of course, Chrys had to throw in her two cents, usually on Mah’s side. Soon Adonei was mumbling about catty women who were too smart for their own good, and perhaps he would go and keep Rahn company after all. Chrys bit the inside of her cheek and tried to keep her mirth under wraps—not smart to have the locals thinking she’d gone bonkers by laughing at someone they couldn’t see.
After lunch, she stepped out into the bright afternoon sunshine. The sun was dazzling, shining off the many white stone churches common in every town on the island.
Then the hairs on the back of her neck hit orbit, standing on end as the bottom fell out of her stomach. Someone was watching her.
Ever had a day where you just wanted to get up on the ledge and jump…or worse, push someone off? Well, our girl, Shinju, the heroine of Hatsept Heat Vampire Council of Ethics Bk 3, is having a meltdown. Why? Because she just found out that the very thing she saw almost kill her only brother is sleeping in her bed…but he didn’t bother to share his little secret before knocking boots.
Enjoy Shin’s meltdown and then be sure to visit the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links after the post. Come on, ya’ll, talk her DOWN!
Back in their room, Shinju had quickly dressed and was sitting in a chair pretending to read one of the romance novels she fancied. He knew she was faking it when her thoughts slammed into his head, practically screaming that some tragedy was coming, or that he really didn’t want her. The one that really got him was, Oh God, he’s married!
“Shin? You all right?” Kimora asked.
“Sure. What are you two up to now?”
Kenoe walked over and took her by the hand, leading her back to the bed and into his lap. “We’re not up to anything, but I thought it would be better to have your cousin here while I talk to you.”
“Really.”
Clearly she didn’t believe him. Actually, it wasn’t disbelief as much as it was fear of the unknown.
“Shinju, I want to tell you where I’m from. Who my people are.”
“Why in the world would you need Kimora here for that?”
“Because, love.” He took a deep breath and tightened his hold on her. “I’m…something you’ve never expected to exist. I’m not human.”
“What the hell did you pop while you went to get Kimora? You on drugs?”
“Shin, I’m a vampire.”
Immediately, her fear slammed into him like a two-ton steel demolition ball aimed at his chest. She believed him, and in the worst possible way.
“What?” she hissed through clenched teeth. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready for fight or flight.
So he said it again.
“Shin, baby, I said I’m a vampire.” This time he allowed his fangs to drop into place.
Shinju struggled in his arms and he immediately let her go. She flew to the other side of the room looking for something, anything with which to protect herself.
“Shin,” called Kimora. “It’s all right.”
“Are you fucking crazy? It’s not all right,” Shinju screamed, grabbing her cousin by the arm trying to haul her out the door. When Kimora didn’t move, Shinju dropped her arm and took off so fast, the other woman actually stumbled.
Kimora cut him a steel-sharp glance so hard blood should have spurted from his forehead.
She snarled, “You idiot! What the hell were you thinking showing her your teeth like that?” Taking off after Shinju, she called to her fleeing cousin’s back. “Shin, we’re on a damned plane. Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“Away. Far. Somewhere, anywhere!”
“Shinju!” Kenoe ran to the door, yelling down the hall after her. “I’m not going to hurt you. You’re my bondmate, damn it.”
“Noooo!” she screamed, her voice laced with enough fury and dread to leave a trail of terror behind her as she fled.
“Kimora, we’ve got to get out of here.”
“Shinju, will you relax already. So he’s a vampire, what’s the big deal?”
That worked about as well as a combination slap in the face followed by a bucket of iced water. Why wasn’t Kimora freaking out too? There was only one good explanation—the woman was demented.
“Are you out of your damned mind? I don’t care if we have to find a couple of parachutes and jump into the middle of the fucking Pacific, we’re getting off this plane.”
Just as her fingers wrapped around the knob to the cockpit door, Kimora caught up to her and pulled her into a fierce hug.
“It’s okay, Shin. Honest. Calm down, it’s all right.”
Shinju took a deep breath, or as deep as she could between wracking sobs. Kenoe’s dread of her doing something drastic slammed through her. No desire to bleed her dry, nor rip her neck to shreds. There was only care, concern. Love? The man, correction, vam-fucking-pire, was upset because she was afraid of him? Shinju was so stunned that Kenoe was more concerned for her well-being and absolute state of panic than he was about anything else, she didn’t even jump when his hand landed gently on her shoulder and slowly turned her to face him.
While I love chocolate, love and fluffy bunnies, humor makes the world go round. I truly believe that. When I’m having a crappy day, a little humor lifts me right on up. When I want to cry, laughter makes me, well, laugh ;D
This week’s theme is humor and while I try not to have a laugh at my friend’s expense, all bets are off in books. In this scene from Egyptian Voyage, our main characters each have a spirit guide. The Chrysalyn Geyer is the heroine, and her guide happens to be a bad-assed African lion named Adonei. Unfortunately, Mr. Adonei has no idea what to do when he meets is match in the hero’s spirit guide, Mahpiya, a lioness. But not only are the hero and heroine meant to be, but the spirit guides are mates as well.
Mahpiya decides to give the stiff-necked Adonei a bit of sass as she describes the various ways that human females describe man parts! All the while, Chrys is sitting at dinner trying not to laugh out loud as the two guides duke it out in her head.
Enjoy this excerpt from Egyptian Voyage and then check out the fabulous Snippet Saturday authors through the links at the bottom of the post. Have a fabulous weekend!
Chrys smiled and said, “When I left, Rahn was getting ready. He sends his apologies and should be walking in the door any minute now. So, I think I’ll order his drink for him. Waiter?” Chrys called, and another smartly dressed young man headed her way. “I’d like a glass of your best chilled rice wine for my, er, friend. And I’ll have one of those green things, please.”
“Friend, eh?” Mrs. Mastersen gawked excitedly. “How fabulous for you, my dear. You’ve dated a while, have you?”
“We’ve worked together for more than six years and know each other well.” The rest of it was none of anyone’s business. Out of nowhere, the image of Rahn in the shower burst into her thoughts.
*I am sure my charge would blush if he knew what you were thinking just now. Can you think of nothing but his cock?” Mahpiya whispered to Chrys, her tongue lolling to the side.
‘Oh, hush up, you. You’re not supposed to tell all my secrets, and I can tell from the way the bond feels that Adonei is listening in.’
*Of course I am listening in. It is my job, is it not?* Adonei sniffed indignantly, then turned to Mah, fussing. *And do you have to speak so boldly regarding your charge’s private parts?*
Chrys almost laughed out loud. Didn’t he know by now not to set himself up like that? Before she could form a single smart-assed response, Mah was all over him.
*My dear Adonei, I believe you are in need of schooling, and given your old age,* Mah paused for dramatic effect, *you know I certainly do not have to use the word cock. I have been a spirit guide for eons. There are many other ways to express myself, mate.*
Chrys clamped her lips together, picked up her water and sipped, trying to hide the smile at the corner of her lips. Oh, boy, here it comes.
*I could have called it by some of the other words I have heard over the years, like bacon bazooka…*
*Bacon what?* Adonei queried, his brow pulled down in a confused frown.
*Do you not like that word?‘Tis much better than cock, don’t you think? No? Perhaps pork sword?*
*What is it with you and pig meat?* Adonei groaned, clearly wishing he hadn’t said anything.
*Fine. No more pork. So what about tally whacker? Tickle-gizzard? Wanker? Tube steak?*
Chrys’ own eyebrows flew up at that last one. Tube steak? Eww. Adonei swiped a huge paw at Mah, but the lioness dodged it with a laugh and simply kept right on.
*Maypole? Meat whistle?Milk bone? Mr. Happy?*
Adonei rolled his eyes and grumbled something about the Great Spirit’s sense of humor and boneheaded mates.
Today’s theme is activities, whether dancing, singing or mountain climbing. I chose an excerpt of the hero and heroine of Hatsept Heat, Vampire Council of Ethics Bk 3, on their way to go dancing at one of the hottest clubs in the Roppongi district in Tokyo. Here, out heroine steps off the train and we get a taste of the hero’s reaction to this sizzling hot mama!
Enjoy, then visit all of the other fabulous Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of this post.
Kenoe didn’t like the idea of meeting at the train station, but the second his, yes his, woman stepped into view, he was glad they were nowhere near her house or his apartment. She looked so edible even a eunuch would be tempted to snatch her up, settle her on his face and feast to his heart’s content. Kenoe wanted to run his hands over her smooth-looking skin, then suck her essence off his fingers.
Curvy little hips were sheathed in a delicious cream leather miniskirt. A short-cut jacket in a complementing shade of light purple buttoned at the bottom and hugged her waist. The rest of the coat lay open to reveal the sexiest little sheer white top Kenoe had laid eyes on in all his days. Not that he’d never seen head-rush-inducing clothes on beautiful women before, but Shinju made every experience he’d ever had pale until it was nothing but a vague recollection.
The psychic shields he always kept in place fell like boulders, opening to her. Unadulterated fierce attraction hummed along their fragile bond. And now that he was pretty sure of what she was to him, mate and bondmate, the next time they were alone would certainly turn out differently. He wouldn’t freeze up at the mention of biting, that was for sure. There was now a new goal—to gently touch, tease and taste until she wanted him so badly she fairly crackled with it…just like he did for her right now.
With a femininely calculated tilt of her head, she lowered her eyes and watched his approach through her lashes while easing her coat down her arms and off. Making a smooth little twirl, she showed off her outfit. Teasing peeks of cinnamon skin were visible under what turned out to be a sheer tank top with a little cropped shirt under it to cover her breasts. The skin of her neck and arms shimmered slightly. He wondered what she’d smoothed over it to make it glisten like that.
Artfully applied, the eyeshadow above her slanted almond-shaped eyes brought to mind stormy seas. And her full lips were lined with a berry gloss he wanted to lick and nibble until there was nothing left but her own unique taste. A flavor he hadn’t nearly gotten his fill of the last time they were together.
Kenoe walked right up to the woman and towered over her smaller frame. Shinju refused to take a single step back. Instead, she looked up at him with those lovely chocolate brown eyes as they stood practically toe-to-toe and the tips of his boots were flush against the tips of her…holy shit. Those shoes!
My God, I’ll never make it to the end of the night.
The woman wore a pair of side-zip, high-heeled ankle boots that sent his balls scrambling for his throat. So sexy and perfectly fit, they hugged her little ankles, bringing attention to a pair of legs that would stop traffic anywhere.
When they’d embraced on her couch with her lovely ass nestled against his groin, Kenoe had enjoyed skimming his hands over her body, feeling the play of muscle underneath her jeans, but he hadn’t gotten a good look. Tonight that was no longer an issue. He got an eyeful, all right, would have to be blind not to. In fact, several other men were getting a good fucking look too. And Kenoe pierced each and every one of them with a stare as cold as a Montana winter, knowing the bluish whites were beginning to take on an eerie silvery hue.
The popular movie myths about vampires with glowing red eyes were total hooey, but, like many of his genetic human cousins, Kenoe’s eyes did in fact change color with his mood. And right now he teetered between flat-out lust and unreasonable fury.
His thoughts turned to gutting one of the staring men—a stocky fellow with one too many piercings and such a dumb-as-a-stump expression Kenoe almost felt sorry for the fellow. But another lecher wore a leer so telling it made Kenoe’s gums twitch hotly with revulsion.
A gentle touch eased down the side of his face, bringing him out of unpleasant musing. A single finger smoothed an errant loc back behind his ear.
“Down, Naoru. Besides, there are just as many women looking at you as there are men looking at me, and I’m not growling and staring daggers.”
He shot a thought her way.
“When are you going to tell me what Naoru means?”
She hesitated a second, as if deciding whether to trip out that he so easily communicated with her this way. Maybe she hadn’t realized.
Then a saucy smile spread across those glossy lips as the woman winked, backed up a step and responded, “I think you scuffed my boots.”
I had a fabulous time talking with author, Linda Mooney, on Others World of Romance. And yes, I did talk about the RT Samhain author party and how I DID NOT *grin* cause security to come and kick us out. I even named names *oooooh, no she didn’t!* Yep, I sure did ;D
Today’s Snippet is a bit from Caramel Kisses just because I feel kind of feel carefree and silly this afternoon. And Sydni is deviating a bit from being her totally serious executive self to being silly with her little sister. Enjoy! Then visit the other Snippet authors via the links at the bottom of the page.
After a hard day at the office bled into an even harder evening at home, Sydni switched off her laptop and wrinkled her nose in confusion. The numbers for the new shipping contract she’d landed still didn’t line up. Something was off but she was no closer to nailing it down right now than she’d been when she’d discovered the issue a couple of days ago.
Perched in the middle of a sea of cushions and covers all over her big comfy bed, the sexily dim lighting of the fireplace had her mind drifting elsewhere…mainly to a topic she’d been thinking too much of lately—sex. And lots of it.
It had been a whole week since her little run-in with the law yet any thought of that event instantly conjured the ruggedly handsome Mr. Drew Caruth. Sydni just couldn’t stop thinking about him. In fact her fantasies of late featured sun laden black sand beaches, hunky real-life lawyers and all kinds of naughty possibilities that sent her temperature soaring.
She jumped when the phone rang.
“Hello?” she grumped, hopping out of her personal haven of silken sheets and ran down to the kitchen.
“Is this Ms. Sydni Cannes?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“This is Earl Matheson from KWQQ, your radio station for smooth jazz.”
“Uh, okay. How can I help you, Earl?”
Tilting the handset so she could hold it on her shoulder and still snatch the Häagen-Dazs Butter Pecan ice cream out of the freezer. Grabbing a spoon, she headed back upstairs. Treating herself for landing the big Sony account was overdue. She deserved this damn ice cream, and no one was going to interrupt her long overdue indulgence. Not to mention Earl was spoiling a perfectly good evening of masturbating in between TV shows.
“It’s not what you can do for me, but what we want to do for you.”
“Okay, Earl, I’m not trying to be rude but I’m in the middle of something.” Yeah, in the middle of creaming your fingers. “You’ve got thirty seconds to get to the point then I’m going to have to go. Deal?”
“Deal. Let’s cut to it. Your sister, Charli, has entered you in our Set ‘Em Up, Knock ‘Em Down contest.”
“I’m sorry, Earl. I don’t bowl.”
The man laughed, really laughed. Hard. Like she was the biggest idiot in all of creation.
“Okay, Earl, you’re down to about ten seconds here, bud.”
“Your sister has basically set you up on a blind date. You are to meet your mystery man at a place of your choosing tomorrow morning at exactly eleven o’clock. And since your sister knows the person it’s perfectly safe.”
“Two seconds.”
“No problem, Sydni. Let us take down your information on where you want to meet this dream date and we’ll take care of the rest. You can even choose what he has to wear so you’ll recognize him. You two hit it off, we’ll send you to a five-star dining establishment and tell your story on the air. If not, we’ll pay you for your time.”
“And this was my sister’s idea?”
“Yep. Miss Charli Cannes wrote to us when she heard about the contest and her letter as to why you should get the dream date was picked unanimously by our staff. Would you like to hear the letter? We can even get her on the phone if you like.”
“No. I believe you.” Damn woman. Just wait, I’m gonna strangle her, then resurrect her just so I can kill her again.
“What was that, Ms. Cannes?”
“Uh. Nothing.”
“So will you do it?”
“Yes. Okay. What do you need?”
Fine. Anything to get the man off the phone. She’d deal with Charli later. Meddling girl.
After a few minutes spouting off the most outrageous clothing she could think of for her so-called dream date to wear, Sydni hung up the phone and scooted down in the covers.
The ice cream carton settled onto the nightstand with a soft thunk. The spoon clattered against the wood just before Sydni’s eyes slid closed. Her tongue was cool against her lips as it slid from one side of her mouth to the other while her mind conjured the delicious image of…Drew? Again? What the hell?
Why was she thinking about that Drew guy so much? She shouldn’t be filling her mind with pictures of the one man every single female in their whole company wished would push them up against the nearest solid object and fuck them into oblivion. God, the man couldn’t be more than thirty years old. But damn he was a fine specimen of a man. Hell, a simple look her way made her knees knock together. But Drew wasn’t interested in her. Why would he be when there were plenty of other women his age that made it more than clear they were interested. The man could get any piece of pussy he wanted. And learning he was a good friend of Charli’s just added to the list of why he was off limits. Too young. Too damn fine. Sigh. Just the thought of his hands on her made her go red in the face. No, she shouldn’t…but then again, who’d know?
The second the thought formed in her head, a pair of gray eyes appeared behind her lids. Drew. A sexy smile lit up his face just for her. And in her fantasy, that face moved closer and closer to her own until he was close enough to kiss, but not quite. Instead, he dipped his head and nudged her chin up so he could inhale the fragrance of her skin. With nothing touching her but the tip of his nose, Drew explored the soft underside of her jaw before nuzzling his way toward the hollow behind her left earlobe.
Talented fingers touched her intimately, gently twisting a nipple before drawing it into his mouth, pulling deeply. Sucking hard, then laving the tip, round and round.
Breathing deeply, Sydni imagined Drew’s scent filling her nostrils. His tongue slid down the side of her neck and left a warm, wet path down to her collar bone. Her hips swiveled in a slow, deliberate circle as one hand closed around a swelling breast and the other slid between dewy labia. She wasn’t even surprised at how wet she was—it was becoming the norm with thoughts of Mr. Caruth, damn it.
And now her clit needed some attention. Reaching into her nightstand drawer, her favorite toy fell comfortably into her hand.
Just received these in the mail and I can’t wait to give them away at the Romantic Times Book Lover Convention in L.A. next week! I just learned that there was a trading card craze going on and jumped right into the fray. Luckily, Robin from Robin Ludwig Design Inc. was there to catch me.
Look at the beauties she made for me! If you’re a fan of the Vampire Council of Ethics series, especially if you’ll be at RT, be sure and hunt me down. I’ll also try and get them posted on the Romance Trading Card site for you.
Yay for Snippet Saturday! The theme of the week is ‘Openers’. I love books with good strong openings. In my own writing I like to introduce the good guys and the bad guys in the first chapter if at all possible because I like to show you what I’m working with, so to speak. This week I picked the opening book to Primed to Pounce.
It’s a story about a human undercover agent, Delaine Jeris, with a bit of a paranormal twist. It was my very first published work and received a fabulous 4 stars from Romantic Times. Enjoy this introduction to our very very bad guy, a brilliant scientist (yes, I have a thing for scientists ;D) who thinks our girl could use a little bit of reigning in.
Enjoy the snippet then visit the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links to their excerpts at the bottom of the post.
Blurb: Astin Pharmaceutical and Biotech has its share of mad scientists. Delaine must get the goods on the crackpot who is using his scientific genius to create his own personal harem. During her investigation, she meets a man who would give Adonis a run for his money. After a messy divorce, Delaine is in no hurry to love anytime soon, but her spirit guide, a sleek, black mountain lion, is convinced he’s their mate.
When Justin lays eyes on Delaine, he’s dying to get next to her. There’s one problem—he’s seen her walking around a secret part of the Astin facility that she had no clearance to enter. Is she in league with the corrupt scientist he’s tailing? Or is she a mole who could blow his case, or worse, his cover?
When Delaine discovers the man she’s taken a chance on is undercover, a decision must be made. Should she kick his butt for not being honest about his undercover status while working her case? Or should she simply shoot him for sleeping with her best friend?
Baker walked into his office, closed the door firmly and turned the deadbolt. It was six-thirty in the morning and no one was around yet, but if nothing else, he was cautiously meticulous. He sat down, opened his briefcase and pulled out the file he’d been looking over during breakfast. He laid the manila folder on his desk, flipped it open and pulled out a picture of the new production process specialist being brought in.
Her name was Delaine Jeris, a technical expert newly assigned to his business unit to develop the new neuromuscular drug Zalactin. He would have to remember to reward the woman in Research & Development for getting him this information. Since the Jeris woman was coming on as a consultant and not an employee, neither Human Resources nor he had been involved. If not for his little bitch in R&D, who’d nicked the info from the dupe she was sleeping with in Purchasing, Baker would never have known someone outside of his “special circle of friends” was joining his team. Yes, he would have to thank…what was her name? Sarah Ann, yes that was it. He’d have to thank Sarah Ann for alerting him. A quick screw up against a wall should do it. He didn’t have the time or patience for a slow one.
He picked up the picture in one hand and studied it closely. This Delaine was a fine-looking woman. Her résumé said she was an expert in systems, database and process analysis. Very impressive. Very beautiful.
A hand found its way down to his crotch and stroked his burgeoning erection through his trousers as he eyes moved over her photo. He noted the intelligence in her dark brown almond-shaped eyes and her flawless cinnamon skin. Imagining his fists knotting in the long natural curls of her hair, he leaned his head back in his chair, her photo in one hand, and unzipped his pants and freed his rock-hard cock.
Baker closed his brilliant green eyes, the image of Delaine Jeris etched firmly in his mind. He spilled his seed into one of the handkerchiefs he kept in a drawer for these occasions and wondered if the woman could be bought or, depending on who she worked for, sold.
This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is (wait for it, wait for iiiiiitttt…), the Moment. Now which moment, you ask? Well, it’s authors choice so I actually took the easy way out and asked my daughter to pick one of her favorite scenes from any of my books.
Oooohohoho, you guys should have seen her squirm! I thought that I was the only one that had a hard time picking my favorite pieces and parts of books, but seems like my daughter does, too ;D Kinda nice, actually. That means she actually really does read the darn things…and luckily loves ‘em as much as I do.
So, this week we’re going to get into the mind of one of our bad guys. He used to be a mouse, easily manipulated and persuaded by other bad guys. But he’s not playing that game. Not anymore.
Please enjoy a bit from Hatsept Heat, Vampire Council of Ethics Book 3, then be sure to visit all the fabulous Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of this post.
Dan hung up the phone, tucked it in his pocket and pulled back the drapes. Surveying the city around him through the wall of glass with a huff, he watched the nightlife of Tokyo light up below him. The clubs didn’t close until five a.m. here. The night was young…but there was no way in hell he was stepping out into it. Not with the news he’d just received.
There was a Seeker, definitely not a local, hanging around the sister of Max Maruyama. Dan wondered if it was one of the huge bastards that had almost made him pee his pants on the streets of San Diego three years ago. In fact, it had been three years, eight months and fourteen days since the night he’d never forget, nor forgive. Fucking vampires. A mean-assed Aleth Sidheon had marched into Idac Pharmaceuticals where Dan worked as a scientist. Part of what he’d loved about his job was working on the same floor as Dr. Carinian Derrickson. But that crazed bloodsucker had gotten Dan tangled up in a mess that cost him his dreams, his job and almost his life. And all because the freaky vamp couldn’t keep his dick in his pants where Dr. Carin was concerned. Well, that and a need to bring the entire vampire nation to its knees if they didn’t kiss his ass. Needless to say, it backfired in a major way. But Dan had escaped with his skin intact and fled to the east. As far east as he could get.
Dan stood and looked twenty stories down at the tiny bodies swarming through the crosswalks at specific intervals. Animated ads marched across gigantic billboards hawking everything from soft drinks to music to television shows. His brow furrowed as his head filled with thoughts of another time and place.
Oh, what a mouse he’d been back then, letting that Sidheon idiot pull his strings and make him dance to his tune. But those days were long past. Dan was a bit rougher around the edges than he’d been the night he believed he’d never draw another breath. Two Seekers, one dark as night, the other a platinum blond, had shaken him like a rag doll and threatened to literally peel his hide if he didn’t hand over the information to help them get to Dr. Carin in time to save her life. In fact Dan had never been so happy to pass out cold than he had upon waking on the chilled concrete sidewalk.
Later, he’d learned the dark-headed one was Head Seeker for the Vampire Council of Ethics. And that Seeker was Jon Bixler—just the mention of that name caused every vampire he’d met since then to cut him a wary glance or flat-out refuse to do business with him. Dan had later discovered why. Jon Bixler, now Dr. Carin’s husband, was the meanest, baddest, most feared fang-bearing bastard with a badge. In short, the Head of the Seeker Corps, and those like him, were known for kicking butt, taking names and asking questions later. And the Seekers’ favorite prey was rogue vampires, the very scoundrels Dan needed to make his schemes pay off. Then there was the blond refrigerator that worked with the Bixler asshole, Alaan Serati who served as second-in-command. And Dan had no intention of ever tangling with either of them again in all his natural-born days.
So he’d dealt with rogue vampires instead. Here in Tokyo they tended to remain underground—not literally, but they flew well under the radar. Every vamp declared rogue was a criminal in one way or another and had done something to get himself excommunicated from the ten clans of the vampire nations. Only a fool would deliberately bring himself to the attention of the Seeker Corps.
The rogue vamps also knew that in order to gain territory they’d have to fight not only the ruthless Clan Li Seekers, but the human yakuza clans too. And those tattoo-wearing mobsters were more cutthroat, if not more dangerous, than the vampires. In fact the only difference between the two factions’ modus operandi was the vamps just kicked ass with a little more class and flair.
Yep, self-preservation rated high on these boys’ list of important things in life, so they specialized in smuggling black-market-type stuff. Simple things like firearms, ammunition and good old-fashioned pornography, which were all illegal in this country. Now, thanks to Dan, they peddled those things along with special biotech agents, like the physical strength enhancers that emulated vampire traits in humans.
That Dr. Carin was a true genius.
In fact, just after that little run-in with Jon Bixler and Alaan Serati, the two vamps left him unconscious on the sidewalk and rushed to Dr. Carin’s home. And Dan had taken off out of San Diego like a man with the hounds of hell on his ass, but not before breaking into Dr. Carin’s labs to borrow some of her research. Sidheon was in the middle of ripping her throat out on the other side of town while Dan shook and trembled as he tucked a few vials of samples and compounds into his pants pocket. He’d actually cried as he quickly and carefully went through her files and specimen carts. Afterward, he made sure to put everything exactly the way he found it, though he doubted Carin would ever be back in that lab again.
The grimace on his face from recalling the unpleasant memories morphed into a small smile as he thought on the day he’d received news on Dr. Carin. Dan had always liked her and had been glad to learn a year after her terrible ordeal that the two men, vamps rather, who’d jacked him up had been able to save her. It would have been a shame to see such genius snuffed out.
After Dan had a chance to really examine the items he’d snatched helter-skelter from Dr. Carin’s labs, he’d discovered that the woman had quietly developed a compound that, when given in the proper doses and intervals, produced agility, speed and unusual strength in humans. Basically, vampires without the fangs or the need for blood. Only one problem—the formula was incomplete and Dan hadn’t been able to perfect the serum. The end result was the human trial participants, as he liked to call them, had all become deathly ill after several months. In the end it was as if the enhancements not only reversed themselves, but did so with a vengeance, practically nuking the specimens’ immune systems. They’d have been better off with AIDS than the side effects of his treatment.
Since then he’d managed to tweak the formulation enough to stretch the deterioration time out to a year, which was plenty of time for Dan to do business, get the hell out of wherever he’d temporarily set up shop, and head somewhere else. And he’d keep right on milking that cow until it dried up altogether.
And dry might be coming up soon with a Seeker skulking around the home of one of the relatives of a human who should be approaching the illness stage of the enhancements.
Did the Seeker know about the flawed treatments? Worse, was Max Maruyama working with the Seekers to get revenge on Dan for giving him a short-lived treatment? Never mind the fact that Dan hadn’t bothered to reveal the side effects. Maybe the ghosts of his past had come to haunt him, come to take him to task for the punishment he’d escaped three years ago the night Aleth Sidheon had attacked the innocent Dr. Carin.
A deep tremble seeped into the core of each limb, as if his old cowardly self was clawing to get out and run for the hills. For a moment, terror gripped his lungs and sped toward his heart. His lungs seemed to have a fierce determination to hyperventilate.
He forced his logical mind to the forefront.
“No!” he yelled to no one. “I refuse to be the victim ever again. This time I am in control. This time, I’m the perpetrator. I’m the savant, damn it.” And he refused to ever go back down the hill he’d fled up so long ago.
Come on man, think, think, think. Thumb and forefinger squeezed desperately over the bridge of his nose as Dan pulled in deep, fortifying breaths.
“Okay, Dan, relax. It was only a sighting of a stranger who happens to be a Seeker.” A Seeker who his sources claimed was dressed like a common man and hadn’t bothered to speak with any of the territory leaders in regard to his arrival. Just because a vampire cop was sneaking around didn’t mean anyone was on to him. Besides, Dan never stayed in one place long enough to get caught by humans, and could only be reached through the rogues he’d brought into his employ. And not even they always knew where he’d be at any given time.
He’d escaped before. He could do it again. And this time, he was a whole lot wiser, richer and could at least be comfortable while on the run. Shaking himself out of the cadaverous grasp of the old specters, Dan pulled up his resolve and began to plan.
Angry at himself for allowing fear to send him pacing through his living room—well, his living room this month—he forced himself away from the windows and commanded the muscles in his thighs to relax enough to sit.
Settled in a comfortable chair, he put his feet up on a settee and picked up the remote control. Perhaps there was something good on the science channel tonight. With a snap of his fingers, his companion of the moment, a beautiful little human female, all dark hair, dark eyes and dark lashes, scurried into the room and knelt at his feet. In her hands was a silver tray with four of his favorite drinks and a few snacks displayed to his satisfaction.
God, he was tired of sushi, sake and soba noodles. What he wouldn’t give for a piece of southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy.
Sipping a dark brown liquid from one of the glasses, Dan sucked in a breath as the liquor burned a path down his throat, leaving behind a hint of mint and lime.
He turned his lip up at the whitetail sashimi but ate it anyway, then chased it down with the next glass of alcohol—grape liqueur and sake.
Perhaps recent events were a sign that it was time to head for greener pastures…pastures with more unhealthy food. But first, there was a manufacturing facility to clean up and a yakuza clan war to start to cover his tracks
| 
| 
