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.

CARAMEL KISSES
Order at Ellora’s Cave
Order at Amazon

“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.

Oh well, may as well get back to work. Sigh.

Snippet Saturday Authors
Jody Wallace
Emma Petersen
Leah Braemel
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Sasha White
Shelli Stevens

In Shards of Ecstasy, De’Alla Isaacs is tasked with guarding an Atlantean crystal called a Piece of Eight. The demon, Asmodeus, who would prefer that she give up her treasure has a bit of a problem – Dee’s mate, Faison. Well, good old Asmo, bad guy extraordinarily, has decided that Faison has to go. And he’s gonna make it hurt. Bad.

Enjoy this excerpt from Shards of Ecstasy, available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon and the publisher, Ellora’s Cave. Afterward, be sure to check out the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the end of this post.

Have a great weekend!

Faison opened his eyes and froze. The shades were up and revealed a coal black sky. Black? What time was it? He remembered falling asleep reading the journal but it had been broad daylight, barely nine o’clock this morning. How much time had passed? And wasn’t he supposed to be somewhere? Damn. His mind went blank as a freshly washed old-fashioned chalkboard.

He sat up in bed and foundhimself slammed back down to the mattress.

“What the hell?”

“No, human, the question is whothe hell.”

It was that guy who had been harassing Dee last night. Dev… Uh, Dal…? D-something-or-other? “How the hell did you get in here?”

“I will ask the questions before I kill you, but unfortunately for you I don’t have any questions.”

“What? You’re not making any goddamned sense. What the fuck do you want?”

“Again, wrong question. It’s who the fuck do I want.”

Faison tried to get up again. Crap. Couldn’t move an inch.

“What are you?” Though in truth, he knew he faced a demon if Uncle’s journal was correct. A demon who wanted the Chosen for his own ends. This was so not good. At least Dee was nowhere around.

“Finally a question that makes sense. I am your undoing. I am the one that will fuck your little water elemental until she begs for more, then begs me to stop. Until I drill a hole through her body straight into her soul. Then I’ll fuck her some more before devouring her life’s energy.”

Oh hell no! This pasty-faced asshole threatened to hurt Dee?

“You won’t touch her, Devon, David or whatever the fuck your name is.”

“This body’s name is Devon.”

“Fine, then whatever your real name is.”

The thing moved fully into the room then dropped its illusion of being a Seattle techno-geek. A mouth full of razor-sharp teeth looked completely out of place in the handsome face of the demon. He truly was an angel of light, gorgeous to look upon but with an aura so dark and perverted it almost caused Faison physical pain to be in the same room with it.

“Damn, you are one ugly motherfucker,” Faison taunted.

The thing laughed. The sound was a mix of chimes and the sound that metal makes when it scrapes across metal, like a train trying to come to a screeching halt on the tracks.

“Your Chosen should have been mine.”

“Listen, I don’t choose who the woman is interested in, so don’t be mad at me.”

“Enough!” It lifted a hand and Faison’s two-hundred-ten-pound self was tossed through the air like a measly lightweight. But at least he was no longer stuck to the bed flat on his back.

Snippet Saturday authors:
Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Eliza Gayle
Shelli Stevens
Lauren Dane
Jody Wallace
Helen Kay Dimon
Sasha White

This week’s Snippet is Vacations or Exotic Locations. I love this excerpt from Egyptian Voyage. The story is exotic and takes our hero and heroine, and their resident bad guy, on a trip through the Mediterranean to Egypt. Enjoy! And don’t forget to visit all of our fabulous Snippet authors via the links at the end of this excerpt.

“Mah, come to me,” he whispered around his toothbrush. At least his eyes were open and he was beginning to recall how to focus. Damn, he was tired. Mahpiya eased to the forefront of his mind, the slabs of dense muscle under her tawny coat flexing as she moved. He closed his eyes a second and grinned when the great cat flopped down on her stomach, raised her amber eyes and waited for him to speak.

Glad no one was around, so that he could speak out loud, Rahn jumped right in and said, “I wonder what the hell happened to Chrysalyn, Mah. I mean, the last time I saw her, she was engaged to that asshole, Kevin or Calvin or something like that. What the bloody hell went down? It’s times like this I wish you could pop over to wherever she is and read her mind.”

Shaking his head in wonder, he was still unable to believe the one woman he knew he couldn’t live without was somewhere around this sprawling apartment. And she was available. Heading for the shower, he stopped short at Mahpiya’s next words.

*There is no need for mind reading. Chrysalyn Geyer is your mate.*

Whoa! Back up. Rahn spun around so fast the clear glass door to the huge stall he’d just opened smacked him soundly on the knuckles. Rubbing the now-tender skin, he reached into his mind, demanding an explanation.

“Mah, how the hell can you know that?” When she didn’t immediately reply, he summoned the feline onto this plane so he could look her in the eyes. “Mahpiya, come to me. Right now.”

The sleek African lioness disappeared from behind his eyes and shimmered into her corporeal form right in front of him. Damn, she was huge—four feet tall and almost four-hundred-eighty pounds of raw power. At the top of the food chain, her earthly cousins were the perfect hunters. And Mahpiya was no less formidable. With the ability to speak mind-to-mind with those in her care, Rahn tended to forget how majestically imposing Mahpiya was. He immediately lowered his head and asked her forgiveness for his impertinence. After all, she served him at her pleasure. He was blessed to have such a wise companion.

Stepping into the shower, he dunked his head under the lukewarm flow and exhaled sharply. The scent of his favorite sandalwood soap filled the oversized stall.

“Okay, Mah, what do you mean, Chrysalyn is my mate?” Could it be? Chrysalyn, the woman perfect for him? He should have been shocked, so why wasn’t he? Because Chrysalyn had been everything he’d ever dreamed of in a woman, a real class act. All he’d had to do was pursue her. But noooo, he’d been an idiot and allowed himself to be, uh, distracted by woman who’d chased after him instead. He’d learned later that same woman not only pursued him, but any other cock she could get her hands on. Hell, she had even slept with his best friend. Claimed it was all part of the job as an undercover. Yeah, right.

Obviously, their relationship hadn’t lasted, but by the time he’d pulled his head out of his ass, Chrysalyn had moved on to someone who treated her like she deserved. The two had been engaged to be married and the woman seemed happy enough. So what happened?

He was snapped out of his musings by Mahpiya’s sharp words and sultry voice.

*Get dressed, hoksila. You must be about your business. Your mate awaits you.*

With that, Mahpiya herded him out of the shower and back into his room with an urgency that had him moving double time. Was something wrong? Was Chrysalyn in danger? And where the hell was the woman, anyway? And hadn’t Mah mentioned a spirit guide before?

*If you stop thinking, you can move faster,* Mahpiya growled before swatting him across the backside with a large paw.

“Ouch! Damn it, that hurt,” Rahn yelped, hoping the impending welts didn’t cause him too much discomfort later. A faint sound caught his attention as he fished around for underwear and a pair of sport socks in his dresser drawer. Lifting his eyes toward the quiet splash, Rahn spied an unlikely vision through the glass doors leading out to the deck.

Holy shit! Chrysalyn basked under the early morning sunshine, her body partially hidden by the swirling rush of hot water in the oversized hot tub. Arms spread out to her sides, the swell of her breasts was just visible above the waterline. Her delicious, cinnamon skin gleamed enticingly, wet from the steam and droplets peppering her beautiful body. The leopard-print swimsuit plastered to her curves sent a rush of heat straight to his cock. Her hair was loose and little curls framed her
strong jawline as she laid her head back, eyes closed and…puffed? On a cigar?

His cock screamed as he stood there, mute and unable to get a single muscle in his body to move. She was so damned sexy. And here he stood with another chance to have her and he couldn’t draw his eyes away from the window.

Another swat across his buttocks took care of that.

“Okay, already! I’m going, Mah.”

*Excellent,* she purred as her corporeal form shimmered away.

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?

NOTE: If you have trouble viewing the flippable pages via Amazon or other sites that don’t display it, please visit me here: http://www.tjmichaels.com/2010/07/10/snippet-saturday-dancing/

Enjoy our other snippets, too!
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Emma Petersen
HelenKay Dimon
Shelley Munro
Ashley Ladd
Lauren Dane

This week’s theme is, “Is this a date?” I guess sometimes we wonder, don’t we? And in the case of successful executive, Sydni Cannes, she’s not sure what to make of this first, er, second meeting with a man hot enough to burn butter. The problem is…that same man just got her out of jail after a case of very mistaken identity. So, what’s he doing here?

Enjoy a snippet from Caramel Kisses, available for Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook and directly from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave ;D (links are in the snippet)
NOTE: Some sites, like Amazon, won’t display the book flipper. If you have trouble viewing the pages, please visit my site directly at TJ Michaels dot com

Enjoy our Snippet Saturday author posts!

There comes a time in every hero or heroine’s life that their mate does something stupid. And stupid requires an apology…well, unless you’re just a jerk, right? Luckily, our guy, Kenoe Hatsept, isn’t a jerk. And eventhough his sweetheart is angry and upset, he’s so good at making up, she may just decide to pick fights on purpose ;D

Enjoy this Snippet from Hatsept Heat – Vampire Council of Ethics Bk 2

This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is secondary characters. I must admit, I love secondary characters, whether they are friends or family. They make a story feel ‘big’ and well-rounded. I’ve picked a snippet from Caramel Kisses (forgive me for the cover – I know it looks like our leading man can’t even grow a beard yet ;D but I promise he’s in his 30′s and, er, nicely proportioned). Here, Syndi has just gotten out of jail (total case of mistaken identity) and it’s all her sister’s fault, of course.

Enjoy our fabulous Snippet Saturday authors:

Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro
Shelli Stevens
Taige Crenshaw
McKenna Jeffries
Ashley Ladd

This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is a hard one. There are some books I like more than others in regard to novels I’ve penned, but I must admit that they ALL have a favorite scene.

The following scene is from Egyptian Voyage, a book with two snarky spirit guides who are responsible for two bone-headed human undercover agents. The story takes place mostly on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. Enjoy the banter!

With a smile at the light banter going on in her head, Chrys followed an immaculately clean waiter through the restaurant. Rice paper lanterns sent a gentle glow from the center of each large circular table. Japanese kanji symbols strategically placed along the walls and the rich red cinnabar ornaments here and there, gave a feeling of “rightness” to the atmosphere. She wasn’t really into Feng Shui, and doubted the decorators of this Japanese restaurant were either, considering the art was of Chinese origins. Either way, her spirit guides seemed to love the energy of the place.

Chrys settled down in her chair, sat back and allowed a sense of peace and relaxation to envelop her—something she hadn’t felt since she learned of the case Rahn was working.

The Mastersens were seated and already sipping on frozen, delicious-looking green cocktails. Several couples Chrys didn’t recognize were in the middle of ordering the same thing when Mrs. Mastersen spoke to her.

“Chrysalyn, dear,” Mrs. Matersen beamed. “I’m so glad you could join us for dinner. You must try one of these. It’s a Midori Sunrise and tastes like tropical paradise.”

Mrs. Mastersen was an all-out chatterbox. On the way back aboard ship on Ibiza, the woman had amused Chrys when she’d spotted the bag of specialty cigars she’d purchased. She’d introduced herself and her husband, then asked to try one without an ounce of shame. Gray-haired, feisty and carefree, the two were enjoying their retired years sailing around the world. Chrys had loved them on sight.

“Your dress is downright sexy, young lady. Now where is that delightfully handsome beau of yours? And he let you out looking like that? He’d better be careful or Harold here might put the moves on you. Mr. Mastersen was quite the rake in his day. Still has great skill…”

Chrys wondered if the woman had taken a single breath.

“And even after all these years, he still makes sure I come before he does.”

Chrys coughed on the iced water she’d been sipping. Way more information than she needed to know. Clearing her throat, a quiet giggle escaped between words.

“Thank you for the compliment on my dress, ma’am. As for Rahn, an earlier outing took a bit longer than he thought.”

Captain Laurens sat down at the head of the table and said, “That would be my fault, I’m afraid. Hope we didn’t put too much of a dent in your plans.”

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 the big cat 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.

Enjoy the other Snippet Saturday authors:

Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
Vivian Arend
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro
Shelli Stevens

One of my favorite scene related to music is when Bix and Carin from Carinian’s Seeker are dancing at a big vampire shindig. The music is funky and hip, and they get close to doing more than dancing – woot!

But I also love the scene from Shards of Ecstasy where De’alla Isaacs soulful R&B artist takes the time to sing to her…in the middle of his sold out concert!

Enjoy a snippet from Shards of Ecstasy and then visit the other Snippet Saturday authors through their links at the bottom of this post.

Blurb: De’alla Isaacs is a typical businesswoman in Seattle, but away from the day job she lives another life. She is Chosen. Her job—carry and protect a precious jewel. Each Piece of Eight is part of a key, the only thing standing between this world and complete demonic devastation. Dee’s job would be easy except for one problem—Faison Dow, R&B singer, celebrity playboy and all-out dog has appeared on the scene.

If he’s such bad news, why does he make her heart pound, body temperature soar, set her crystal buzzing and send her mind on a one-way trip to Gimme Some? Is it his sultry voice? His pursuit of her as if she’s the only woman for him?

Whatever it is, they’d better hurry and figure it out because the Prince of Hell has arrived.

*******

Dressed in a pair of tailored gray slacks and a black dress shirt open to the middle of his chest, Faison appeared on stage. The crowd exploded. An overhead spotlight illuminated his skin. Immediately his dark gaze found and settled on her, picking her right out of the crowd with ease. Almost like some kind of De’alla radar. And that gaze brought with it a beam of lust and light that seared her to her very core. And it felt good. Right. And she was out of her damn mind to think so.

God the man was sexy. All that dark hair and those beautiful eyes. And lord, forget about that sinfully handsome face. To her surprise, she even enjoyed his snarky sense of humor and odd pursuit of her. It made her feel good to know that Faison really wasn’t an old hat at flirting or getting a woman out of her clothes. Oh and forget about the fact that his voice set her pussy on pure-dee fire.

Then Faison played to the crowd as he made his way up and across the stage. With one toe planted on the very edge, the man sang to her. His eyes never left hers and she didn’t have the strength of will to look away. Nor did she wish to. As the words of the melody drifted out to the audience, to Dee the crowd melted away until it was just the two of them.

Faison seemed to glow, as if his aura flowed out of him as he poured his heart and soul into his music. Suddenly the breeze picked up and Dee sensed that this particular love song was more than words set to pretty music for Faison. It reached deep and unexpectedly touched her heart just as the warm summer air wrapped around her body and gently embraced her. The elemental energies inside her reacted to the wind’s touch in a way she’d never experienced before, as if her gift craved to open up to the flow of air around her. It was strange yet comforting. Unsettling yet exhilarating. Foreign yet welcome.

Dee had heard Faison sing plenty of times in Japan, both in person and on CD. Even on a couple of soundtracks for a few Japanese movies while she’d been in Tokyo. Something about his voice had always called to her. Called to her enough that she’d kept up with his albums. But to her, it had been about his songs and only the songs because the man himself had such a rotten reputation that it stank to high heaven. Yet here she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, happily flying into the fire without a care for how the heat might destroy her.

The song was over but the spell remained. Even as he moved about the stage and worked the crowd Dee felt as if her very soul swam in him, connected in a way that didn’t make sense.

*It would make perfect sense if you simply believed what your instinct is telling you.*

“She, your timing sucks,” Dee silently grumbled.

Besides, Dee knew her instincts couldn’t be correct, not if Angela’s story from so many years ago was right. Faison would have to have a crystal that matched hers, a Piece of Eight. And so far she hadn’t seen anything. Even right now while sweat poured from his body and his shirt was open nearly to the waist there was nothing around his neck. No pendent. No necklace. So he couldn’t be the one.

So what was this thing she was feeling? Could she just be so horny that a rogue like Faison made her hot and wet? Sticky and needy?

Perhaps he was Asmodeus? That would explain why she was out of sorts, right?

No, no, no, no and no!

Her sisters had made it pretty clear what being in that demon’s presence was like. She didn’t feel drained of life in Faison’s presence but energized and, to her surprise, deeply cherished. But if Faison didn’t have a stone, why did she feel so gaga around him?

Hmmm, she didn’t feel nearly as loopy or attracted to the guy she’d recently met, Devon something-or-other, also knows as Mr. Faceplant in the Sand. He was cute, nicely built and very smart. Not to mention he wanted to fuck her brains out. Question was how the hell did Dee know that? She wasn’t empathic like her sister, Charlotte, but there was no mistaking the nasty and deliberate emotions she’d picked up from the man. Or was it herself? It was hard to tell. It seemed as if her thoughts were not her own when around that guy. A simple thought about sex turned into
the raunchiest fantasies imaginable. It made her extremely uncomfortable.

But not because she was uncomfortable with her sexuality. No, the thoughts made her uneasy because she was comfortable with what she wanted in bed. It didn’t make sense because to Dee sex was beautiful and nothing about it was tainted, out of bounds or wrong. So why did it feel wrong in Devon’s presence? Why was it so dark, forbidden and perverted?

But enough about Devon. The concert was almost over and just thinking about seeing Faison at the private after-party set her pulse to a gallop. Maybe he would kiss her again. Replaying the reaction of her body to his kisses in her mind, she certainly hoped so.

Interesting. She’d gone full circle from thinking she was a fool to come here to straight anticipation of spending a few minutes in Faison’s embrace.

“Gods, what a mixed-up elemental I’m turning out to be.”

She laughed quietly in the small corner of Dee’s head. Dee rolled her gaze up to the dimming sky and huffed. She laughed harder.

Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
Ashley Ladd
Shelley Munro
HelenKay Dimon
Eliza Gayle