She was just a woman. That’s what Calisto wanted to tell himself; that’s what he wanted to believe. Emma was nothing more than a woman. There were other women for him to want. To obsess over.
It couldn’t be Emma Sorrento.
Not for Calisto.
She was taken.
She was claimed.
She was not his.
In a few days, Calisto would hand her off, and that would be that. He wondered why it wouldn’t be that easy to let her go.
What good had saving her done?
He had simply taken her from one monster to give her to another.
Emma Sorrento
Emma slid on her mask. All someone would need to do was look close enough to see what was really beneath the sheer falseness of her smile.
At the other end of the table, Emma found her lies staring her right in the face.
He smirked.
And winked.
Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and the one thing she still wanted more than anything. Emma could still feel him all over her, long after his touch and kiss was gone. In thirty days, her entire world had changed—he had changed her.
Emma had a feeling that if she played another game with Calisto, she would surely lose.
She had already lost once.
Wasn’t it enough?
WARNING: The first two books in the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy end on a cliffhanger, and are not considered safe romance.
“It does hurt me,” Calisto said before he could stop himself.
He wanted to take the words back immediately.
Emma stilled in the passenger seat. “Then why play?”
To remember.
To punish himself.
To apologize.
“For a lot of different reasons,” Calisto settled on saying. “But tonight, I played so that you wouldn’t have to. You didn’t seem comfortable. I didn’t think you wanted to have everyone looking at you after what happened. It was a small sacrifice.”
“But you hurt now,” she said, seeming confused. “Don’t you?”
“But you didn’t have to.”
For Calisto, that was all that mattered.
Turning his head, Calisto stared out the opened driver’s window. He wondered if anyone had noticed that both he and Emma had left the dinner party without a goodbye. He supposed it didn’t make a difference.
Calisto didn’t mind Emma’s presence disturbing his peace, either.
“Calisto?” Emma asked softly.
“Hmm?”
Her hand rested on his thigh, and Calisto jerked in the seat at the innocent touch. The problem was, her touch couldn’t be innocent at all. Not with the way he currently felt, the things he had done, or the lines he had already crossed with a mighty “fuck you.” He hadn’t been expecting it, and he didn’t even hear Emma move in her seat.
Calisto barely had the chance to spin around and face Emma again before her mouth pressed against his. It was soft at first, smooth like her plump lips, and then her fingers dug into his leg like she was demanding something from him.
He didn’t know what it was.
Instinctively, Calisto wanted to push her away. He wanted to kiss her back, too. The crazy side of his brain won, the side that listened to his selfish wants and not his needs.
Or maybe he needed it, too.
Calisto didn’t know.
But he did grab onto Emma’s dress. He fisted the fabric around his taut knuckles, and pulled her a little closer. His tongue swept the seam of her lips, wanting more, needing to be deeper, seeking her heat and taste.
A little wouldn’t hurt, right?
Just a little more.
Emma sighed a sweet sound, giving into his unspoken demand by parting her lips. Calisto took the offering for what it was, kissed her harder, and let his tongue war with hers until she was gasping for air. Pulling away enough to catch a breath, Emma tipped her head up and hummed.
Calisto couldn’t help himself but lean forward and kiss her chin.
He was fucking stupid.
Why did she make him so stupid?
“I should go in and say goodbye,” he heard Emma say.
Calisto was too distracted by the flimsy fabric of her dress in his hands. A little pull with just enough strength and he knew that the dress would rip. She was close, and he could grab her around the waist before pulling her into the backseat.
The windows were tinted.
No one would see.
A little more wouldn’t hurt.
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
“Kilyn, you make me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. It both excites and scares me. We keep running into each other and Gus would say it was a sign and, fuck I don’t know, maybe it is. All I really know is I want to get to know you better.”
My brow lifted. “Get to know me better how?”
His eyes turned dark while he quickly swept them over me. My body responded with a shudder. When he took a step closer to me, my heart was pounding so loudly I couldn’t hear my own thoughts.
His hand slipped around the back of my neck, pulling me closer.
Oh. Dear. God.
My knees shook as I reached up and grabbed onto his arms to keep myself from falling. Thano softly ran his lips along my neck and a small moan slipped from my mouth.
I could feel his hot breath on my skin as he talked in a low voice. “I want to know what I do that makes the pulse in your neck beat like this.”
My breath caught when he pressed his lips to my neck and whispered, “Eísai tósi ómorfos.”
The foreign words swam around in my mind so beautifully. With my breathing labored, I panted out, “I have no idea . . . what you . . . just said. But you can get to know me in any way you’d like.”
It might have made me sound like a cheap whore, but in that moment I didn’t care. All I cared about was this man was able to bring back feelings I had buried long ago.
And I liked it.
I liked it a lot.
Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason...he claims it's because he loves her!
She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.
In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.
One of her favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with Gus....her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose, her golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.
Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That’s what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn’t know this. She’s just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn’t know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she’ll discover she’s in the middle of a looming warbetween Neverland and reality.
She’ll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won’t be the only one. Peter Pan’s constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she’s going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she’s going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.
Cynara and Lasiandra also began to eat the bright orange fruits as Peter asked again, “Can you tell me what the sky has been doing, what the planets have been telling you?”
Although disappointed she would get nothing more out of him than fruit, Cynara was now willing to discuss the heavens with Peter. “The planets have been all unaligned for quite some time. There is disunity in the sky, and disharmony in the world. Pluto and Neptune will remain in the far corner of this wayward house for many years, but that is the way of this time. The war’s end is not in sight, and nothing you do now will end it.
“It is a turbulent moment, with Jupiter so far from its sister planets, and alone in its own distant house. Mercury is roaming quickly through the houses, but in little more than a week’s time, it will be alongside the other dark planets, just as Venus eclipses Mars.
“There is envy in the sky, Peter, and when the heavens are jealous, no good can come of it. The stars have stopped shooting. They are holding their breath and waiting to see what magic will govern them in the centuries to come. The sky will not help you, but it will not impede you. These bodies cannot assist in a matter such as your war, but they are firmly sided with you. When your stars and his align, you will have your chance to meet the minstrel. He still moves with the music of the spheres, for now. That music continues to play, but its sound is softening, Peter.
“You must understand that the magic is being drained from the mechanics of it. The constellations have left the stars and the man has left the moon. Your adversaries are emptying out the sky, Peter. They discover more and more every day, but they assign numbers and letters where once they gave names and legends. They are stripping the sky of its majesty. That is why the stars will not aid you in your battle—they are unable. They are too governed by physics and cannot bend to manifest their prophecies. They have whispered our destinies to us, but now it is in our hands to enact them.”
The mermaid bobbed in the water with playful mystery. Peter pensively considered her words. “Thank you, Cynara, this is… an interesting turn of events.”
“The one you seek is on his way,” she assured him. “His travels will be safe, and he will be invincible until he lifts his instrument again. The stars still love him, even if man has forgotten. If you want to find him, seek out the aviator, Peter. He is closer to the stars than you realize. The aviator has seen the whole world over from his place in the sky, and he will know how to find the piper.”
“Will it really be that easy, Cynara?”
“Oh, by no means. Even if you find that minstrel, you’ll still have to convince him to play his star-music once again… thank you for the papaya, Peter.”
Cynara swam off, slyly smiling. She stayed on her back, but sank into the waters, her fruit still in her hands.
Lasiandra retreated, but she kept her eyes peeking out of the water. She still watched Gwen, hardly glancing at Peter at all during this encounter. Gwen held Lasiandra’s eyes, but Peter seemed to have lost sight of her as she drifted back behind a low rock.
“Perhaps next time, you will come swim with us.” Eglantine giggled. “Then you can speak to the planets yourself.”
“Little boys cannot speak to stars; that’s for those whose dreams are born beneath the saltwater sky.”
“Silly, Peter,” Eglantine replied as she, too, swam off. “Anyone can speak to the sky.” She left the rind of her papaya floating, having already devoured all of its flesh. “The only hard part is getting it to talk back.”
Audrey Greathouse is a lost child in a perpetual and footloose quest for her own post-adolescent Neverland. Originally from Seattle, she earned her English B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University's online program while backpacking around the west coast and pretending to be a student at Stanford. A pianist, circus artist, fire-eater, street mime, swing dancer, and novelist, Audrey wears many hats wherever she is. She has grand hopes for the future which include publishing more books and owning a crockpot. You can find her at audreygreathouse.com
In a sensual, emotionally charged novel of love and loss, a tender affair gives two daring storm chasers the strength to overcome shattered dreams and the courage to build a future together.
Drew McGovern is living for two. Her fiancé, Colby, used to savor the feeling of a powerful gale, the rain pelting his face as the sky grew dark—until a shocking tragedy struck him down. Drew’s still grieving his death a year later when she bumps into some of his old storm chasing buddies. For reasons she can’t explain, she volunteers for the next tornado. But when she reconnects with Colby’s best friend, Aiden O’Neal, Drew gets a breath of fresh air that stirs the ashes of her broken heart.
Aiden doesn’t trust himself around Drew. He’s wanted this girl for a long time—long enough to remember the stab of jealousy he felt the first time he saw her in Colby’s arms, long enough to remember the tears that fell as they buried the man they each still miss. Now he’s trying his best to behave himself. But when the wind ruffles Drew’s hair and puts a sparkle in her eye, Aiden can’t resist the urge to hold her close. And when it comes to true love, he’s holding out hope that lightning strikes twice.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
I rubbed my fingertips in circular motions on Mrs. Landon’s scalp, my gaze fixed on the TV mounted in the corner of To Dye For, the salon I worked at.
“This is so relaxing. I could just fall asleep right here,” Mrs. Landon said. “And that shampoo smells heavenly. Is that peppermint?”
“Yes, it sure is,” I said in the upbeat tone I always used with customers.
Normally I would have struck up a conversation about her summer plans since it was May and she was a teacher. Or I’d have asked her how her kids were doing.
But not today. Today I couldn’t look away from CNN, which was covering the tornadoes that had touched down this afternoon in Missouri. The damage was widespread and included cellular towers. I told myself that was why Colby hadn’t texted me all afternoon. It had to be why.
“Isn’t that a shame about those storms?” Mrs. Landon said as I rinsed away the suds. “I heard on the radio that a school was hit. They’re calling in the National Guard.”
“That’s terrible,” I murmured, squinting to read the headlines scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
“Isn’t your fiancé one of those storm chasers? You’re engaged to Carla Harrington’s boy, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” I said absently. “Colby. He’s in Missouri now with the rest of his team.”
She whipped her head around to look at me, showering me with droplets of water.
“Well, is he okay?” she practically demanded.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been able to reach him this afternoon.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus. Carla must be beside herself. Have you talked to her?”
I shook my head. “I’m not panicked. Colby’s probably still tracking storms or helping with rescue. He’ll call me when he can.”
She grunted skeptically. “Well, I’d be worried sick if the man I loved was out in that mess. It’s foolhardy if you ask me, chasing a tornado. We’re meant to run away from them.”
I wanted to point out that I hadn’t asked her, and that storm chasers put their lives in danger to save others, but I forced myself to stay quiet. Shampoo Girl Rule Number One: never upset a customer.
Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
After the most amazing week of Declan Ramsay's life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan's life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.
However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.
Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.
The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam's love.
**The story continues in "Return to Zero" (Shatterproof Bond #2)** This second book will be released on 6th June 2016
Mikky: Today I'm very lucky to be interviewing San Aiken and Declan Ramsay, main characters of As You Wish and Illuminate the Shadows, both by Isobel Starling.
Guys, welcome and thank you for agreeing to this interview smile emoticon We're so excited to host you on our blog today.
Dec: Hullo Mikky, great te be here.
Sam: Hi Darling,
Mikky: God, I don't even know where to begin. It's my first character interview and I'm a little bit nervous. Bear with me, please. For those who don't know you yet, tell us a little bit about yourselves.
D: Sam, if you dinnae mind, shall we introduce each other?
S: Fine, lead on MacDuff! D: Sam Aiken is the most amazing man i've ever known. He may only be 23, but he's lived a thousand lives in that time. He got a degree in Linguistics from Oxford at 16, and has been working all over the world as an interpreter. He speaks eleven languages, and has many special skills that I'm having fun discoverin'. Sam's very English, and most definitely an 'old school' charmer. It never ceases te fascinate how people are drawn te him, an' open up, telling him their deepest secrets. It took him only a day te wear me down, and i consider meself a tough nut te crack! Apart from his blond, boyish looks an' ball-achingly hot body, Sam's a joker. Life with him is full of intrigue, sex and laughter. Oh, did i say, I love the man, cos I do!
Mikky: MacDuff! lol Oh, Sam ..
S: Declan Ramsay was the archetypal grumpy Scotsman when i first met him. But i knew at once, t beneath that scowl there was one hell of a handsome man. The fact that his deference were so tight was quite a challenge, and I had such fun breaking him down and taking his cherry. But what i didn't count on was falling so hard for him. Declan works for my father, Sir James Aiken. My father is homophobic, and so our relationship was always going to be tricky. Declan is strong, confident,masterful and very much in control when he's at work, showing London mansions to the rich and famous, but underneath his masculine demeanor lies the truest of Scotsmen. Declan has such a big heart, and he never does anything by halves. Once Declan has made a decision he sticks to it, no matter what. Having his love changed my life and now I couldn't imagine being without him.
Mikky: You two are so sweet!
D: I know I sound like a jessie, but when ye meet the one, it doesnae matter who knows.
Mikky: I totally agree. You should never have to hide who you are and who you love. Declan, first question for you. We can say that a new life has begun for you since you've met Sam. Or should we say since he, literally, ran into you? lol If you could change something, to start from that moment at the airport again, what would you change? Aside from the obvious. You know what I'm talking about.
Sam, same question for you.
S: Hey. He ran into me and nearly floored me with his bloomin' suitcase!!
D: Ye shoulda been lookin' where ye were goin'
S: Err, so should you. I mean, who could miss a blond hottie like me!
D: Ye were dressed like a hairy hippy
S: I was not! I was rugged and macho..
D: Aye, *snickers* Course ye were darlin' ! Sorry Mikky, that was very rude. Actually, I wouldnae change a thing. On the plane Sam was just an irritation that i couldnae wait te get rid of. Yes, I had no idea who he was at that point, and i was in such a foul humor that he coulda had the sun shining outa his arse and i wouldnae have noticed... well, me'be. But I think if things were different and Sam tried it on earlier, I may have reacted badly. It took me a while to realize what i was feelin', y'know I shudder te think about what a mistake that woulda been te reject him! Thank God fer "The Princess Bride" Movie!
S: Hmmm... If i could change anything, it would be my father!
Mikky:LOL! Let's just say you were both distracted and leave it at that.
Sam, I had a feeling you would say that.
S: Declan is just about perfect for me, and the way we got together was completely hot. I would change nothing about the way we met. Actually, thinking about it. I would ensure that Declan wore his kilt all the time. Yes, I think i could live with that!
Mikky: Perv!
S: Is that a problem?
Mikky: No. Not at all grin emoticon I should book a trip to Scotland as soon as possible. It's been on my bucket list for years.
D: Oh aye, let us know when yer comin' we'll take ye out to the hills... me'be fer a wee dram!
Mikky: I would love that! Now that we know how everything started, tell us how does it feel to be, in a way, forced to take the next step in your relationship when neither of you was really ready for that? How has moving together impacted you both as a couple?
D: Well, hearin' Sam had moved in was unexpected, and really, I had no choice in the matter. I've never had a live in lover before and used te enjoy my alone time, but the apartment is big and seriously, when it comes down to it, I now have my lover and best friend te sample mah cookin', and blow jobs on tap. What's not te love?
S: I think living together has bought us closer. We fell in love and then were parted for months, so we never even had a first date. Living together gave us the opportunity to get to know each other fast. I love having someone to come home to. I love having someone to kiss goodnight... and the wall to wall sex... let’s just say I have no complaints!
Mikky: These are the benefits. Let's hear the annoying parts about living together. What habits does your partner has that makes you want to hit him upside the head? Tell us something that we don't already know, something that it's not in the book.
S: Oh Declan's a bit of a closet gourmet, so he'll stick just about anything in his mouth! He loves smelly cheeses. He has some 'Stinking Bishop' cheese in the fridge last week, i was nearly sick when i smelled it. I told him to eat it all, to get rid of it, but I swear his spunk tasted weird afterwards.
Mikky: LOL! You're killing me!
D: Sam doesnae know, but, he talks in his sleep.
S: No I don't.
D: Aye, ye do. It's kinda entertaining actually. Sometimes ye wake me up wi' all yer crazy talk and I ask ye questions.
S: What? Have you been implanting words in my brain? I bet one day you'll say a random word and I'll start dancing the Charleston.
D: Me'be, me'be not. You'll just have te wait and see! *snickers*
Mikky: Go, D! You should be afraid, Sam. Very afraid. Lol
Speaking about dates, How does your ideal date night look like? We all know about Valentine's so, give something else.*snickers*
D: We take turn's when it comes te dates. Sam loves te go dancin'... I'm no dancer, but I love te watch him move. I love te see that hungry look in other men's eyes, and know he's comin' home wi' me! Personally, I've done the whole online dating thing and I hated it. There is no ideal date. Sam knows I'm happiest if we're at a nice restaurant, wi' good food an' good company... then go home te bed!
S: Yes, I love to shake my booty, but when we go dancing, my sister Annabelle and her girls usually tag along, they feel like they need a token gay to get access to gay clubs, and who am I to refuse. Declan really doesn't mind. He knows that he's in for some fun once we get home! For intimate dates, I prefer it when we stay at home and Declan cooks for me. He does the main course, I do dessert!
D: Generally, ye ARE dessert!
Mikky: We don't know much about your hobbies. What do you like to do in your spare time?
D: Aye, ye do! Ye know i like collecting rocks, reading, movies, cookin', fuckin'. We go te the gym at The Connaught Hotel and jog around Hyde Park when we have time.
S: Oh and don't forget the clothes shopping!
D: Och aye, we like te browse fer designer suits,but i'll usually no' buy until the sales.
S: Even though we can afford them now!
D: Are ye mad? Some of the prices are ridiculous! I wouldnae pay those kinda prices!
S: My hobbies... their rather sad and solitary actually. I love to read, I do yoga, we watch movies and sometimes go to gigs, but to be honest, when i'm not working I really just want to be in bed with my man... he is my favourite hobby.
Mikky: Where do you guys see yourselves in, say.. 10 years?
D: Together. I dinnae care where in the world we are, just as long as were together.
S: I couldn't agree more. My only other hope is that by that time,my father will have found a new hobby.
D: Aye, chasing parked cars me'be! *They both snicker*
S: Thanks for the interview.
D: Aye, Thanks Mikky, that was a good laugh.
Mikky: Thank you so much for the chat and for taking the time to answer my questions! Al the very best to both of you xx
~~Mikky's Note: Every beautiful image in this blog post belongs to the author. They have been painted by her. Yes, she is a great artist, isn't she?~~
Inspiration strikes at the strangest of times.
Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art. She relocated to the UK and,faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved it more than making art.
Isobel’s first novel “Schonling” was a best seller in the GLBT-Bisexual genre on the ‘All Romance ebooks’ site.
She has just completed her sixth book, and signed French translation rights for novella “As You Wish”.
She adores the M/M genre and enjoys writing about wounded souls and the complexities of personal relationships.
Despite not having found proof yet, Isobel believes in love at first sight and endeavours to give her men a thrilling journey and a satisfying ending!
Hello, everyone, Our blog hasn't been very active lately and we have missed a lot of posts. I would like to sincerely apologize for that. I was hoping 2016 would be different but it's not meant to be. Six weeks ago my uncle was diagnosed with leukemia in the last stages and he's been in the hospital ever since. I spend my time driving 500 km every two days and taking care of my family and it's not easy. I'm doing my best to keep up with the blog but sometimes I'm too exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. Please, bear with me. I'm trying, I really am. I have no idea how long this situation is going to last or what will happen in the end but, until then, thank you all so much for your understanding and patience. I can be reached via email but it might take me a few days to reply. For urgent matters, message me on my Facebook page . All the best, Mikky xx
The stakes have never been higher as an elite team member must outwit a dangerous killer and save the man she's sworn to protect. The second installment of the exhilarating Safeguard series from Piper J. Drake.
Kyle Yeun didn't start out bad and he doesn't intend to end his life while on the wrong side of the law, either. His testimony to his former employer's environmental misdeeds has earned him a protection detail compliments of the US government. But due to a dark international conspiracy Kyle was unaware of, his former employers have made ending his life a top priority. Realizing he needs more protection than the US Marshals can provide, he turns to Safeguard after seeing the beautiful, deadly Lizzy Scott in action.
One look at Kyle, and sniper Lizzy Scott knows this isn't going to be an easy protection job. He's arrogant, irritating and almost irresistible. Instead of being put off by her hardened attitude, Kyle seems to thrive off the challenge. And she's slowly giving in to his charms.
After narrowly escaping the latest assassination attempt, Lizzy starts taking dangerous risks to keep him safe. But the last thing Kyle wants is another life ruined because of his actions. He found his redemption in Lizzy's arms and he'll risk everything to make sure they both make it out alive. As will she, even if it means walking away from him to keep him safe.
Isabelle sighed. No wingman or cavalry coming to his aid. He needed help but it wasn’t forthcoming. This was not going to resolve in the next thirty seconds and that was all she was willing to wait. Besides, she couldn’t leave a person alone to face odds like these. She’d been on her own in these situations plenty of times and it’d never been fun.
“Gentlemen, get out of my way.”
Humor and interest sparked in the Asian man’s eyes. He understood English, apparently. Seattle being a major city for travelers, it was always good to note rather than assume a listener could understand the conversation. Especially if she might have to advise him to take action.
The hulking goon who’d originally spoken to her turned then. “What did you say?”
Maybe the English language, or conversation in general, wasn’t goon number one’s strong point.
“Get. Out. Of. My. Way.” She put some steel into her voice this time. No need to increase volume when intensity works better.
Beady eyes narrowed at her as goon number one flexed his thick fingers into a meaty fist and released them. Threat clear.
Ah, well. Intonation could work on people with more neurons firing inside their heads. She might not have a whole lot of stature going on at five foot four, but her new friend should’ve at least spared a moment to ponder that maybe a woman in a black suit with white dress shirt and an earbud hanging over her collar from a wire might mean something.
He was a thug dressed in a monkey suit.
She was a much higher pay grade.
Piper J. Drake (or “PJ”) began her writing career as “PJ Schnyder” writing sci-fi & paranormal romance and steampunk. She has recently received the FF&P PRISM award for her work as well as the NJRW Golden Leaf award and Parsec award.
Now, PJ is exploring the complexity of romantic suspense, incorporating her interests in mixed martial arts and the military into her writing.
When Hunter and Alex are given the vacation of a lifetime, it’s a chance for them to pay attention to romance and get out of the path of danger. The tiny Caribbean island of Saba is gorgeous, the first to have marriage equality, and the Sabans are the nicest people on earth.
There’s lots of rum poolside for relaxing and a room with a mirror on the ceiling for passion. Hot karaoke nights, cold beer, and new friends.
But their new friends Orfeo and Max, and Max’s sister Talisha, share a troubling secret. Alex and Hunter want to help. As a hurricane bears down on them, a dead body surfaces, and a purple backpack loaded with stolen jewels leads a pair of dangerous men to the island.
Alex would rather poke his own eyes out with a pointy stick than call on his old enemy Nick Truman for help; he’d also do anything to keep Hunter out of danger. But even his nemesis can’t reach them now.
Once again, they only have each other to depend on as their paradise is about to become hell on earth.
“Ready? Take the beach bag. I’ll grab the chairs,” Alex said. “Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yeah. What’s the time?” Hunter slung the bag over his shoulder.
Alex shrugged. “Who cares? Have a cocktail. You know, to hydrate and pace yourself for a long day in the sun.”
“Let’s set up camp. Maybe a nap first.”
Their bare feet slapped against the sun-bleached boards of the footbridge, some of the flowering rainforest clinging to its edges for the hundred or so feet from the breakfast patio to the pool. The beach chairs were striped canvas and wood, chaise-style. Alex had grabbed a matching umbrella for when the sun was directly overhead. He left it closed, as they had a few hours yet before noon, by the arc of the sun in the unbelievably blue sky. The poolside held a half dozen chaise lounges and couples of various ages. They returned languorous, sun-soaked greetings in English, Dutch, and French as Alex led them to a spot he deemed worthy for their day in the sun. When the chairs were side by side, the canvas beach bag between them, Hunter sighed with pleasure, though he was soaked with sweat. He pulled off his T-shirt. “Do you want to swim first?”
“I’m dying to.” With a wicked grin, Alex slid his shorts down, the T-shirt hem falling to below his hips.
“Tell me you didn’t get a thing-thong!” God, they’d laughed together at the online models wearing bathing suits with pockets for their cocks.
Alex laughed. “No, a Speedo. For you.” He shrugged out of his T-shirt with an elegant, mouth-watering play of muscles and skin, and some of the lounging women whistled and clapped for the navy-and-white-striped Speedo he revealed. Hunter mock-growled and reached out to grab Alex, but he dashed away and ran along the side of the pool, blond hair streaming, long, muscular legs eating up the distance to the deep end. He dived like a happy dolphin into the water. Hunter ran after him and followed with a hurried, sloppy dive, shocked at the sensation of water as warm as bathwater. He wanted to melt into it. When he came up for air, hands beneath the water gripped his calves, and he grabbed a breath before Alex yanked him under. They wrestled briefly, then surfaced.
“Fantastic!” Alex shook his head briskly to whip the water from his hair.
Hunter shoved him, threw himself on top of him, and they went under again.
When they surfaced, Alex said, “We can rent a sailboat. Or a rowboat and paddle around in the bay. Or fish if you want. Do you think your leg will hold up to snorkeling?”
“Snorkeling, maybe even scuba.” He’d swim to the moon to keep Alex happy.
“I was born underwater,” Alex said, surprising him. “I even had those infant swim lessons.”
“You’re a natural,” Hunter replied. “Aqua Boy.”
Alex shoved him again; Hunter let himself fall backward into the water with a huge splash.
They swam for a while, joined by the other sunbathers when the heat got too intense. Hunter pulled himself from the pool and sat on the edge, watching Alex do laps. He shaded his eyes against the fierce touch of the sun. It pressed against his skin despite the water-resistant sunblock, and he splashed water up and down his arms, chest, and neck to cool off. Maybe he should have gone tanning like Alex had, because it hurt to touch his skin already. The water reflected and intensified the sun. He wasn’t that kind of redhead, but the tropical sun made him feel like one. Tanning had seemed kind of frou-frou…not for him…but he didn’t want to look like a strip of bacon at the end of the day either. Sucked it up and endured the tanning bed.
Alex swam over and pulled his gorgeous body out of the pool to sit on the edge beside Hunter. “I’m ready for some reading and napping. Lunch buffet is open until four… What are you laughing at?”
“We must be on vacation if we’re planning the day around the next meal.”
Alex smiled. “It’s about ten now. We can eat something light at eleven when they open.” He leaned in close. “If we go up to the room by noon, we’ll have time to screw our brains out until about two and have lunch again.”
Hunter nodded. It was all he could do.
“So it’s not meal times we’re planning for, right?” The sparkle in Alex’s eyes wasn’t about ham sandwiches and fruit salad. “Did you see the awesome mirror on the ceiling?”
Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.
