“Any news?” she asked one of the other women in our group.
Reality crashed down on me, and my gaze drifted to my brothers. Nothing had changed. We were still running. By Mating Emmitt, I’d protected him as best I could. Now, I needed to protect Liam and Aden. My heart shattered again as I realized, I’d need to send them away…because this fight with the Urbat was just beginning. And, if I knew anything about Blake, no one was safe.
***
Thank you for reading this exclusive behind the curtain look at Emmitt and Michelle’s Mating. There’s so much more in store for Michelle and Emmitt, and all the other couples in the Judgement Series. I hope you’ll check out Hope(less), book 1, which is currently free. Visit my website for details on where to download it.
About the Author
Melissa Haag writes young adult and new adult sweet paranormal romances…usually. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three children. She is best known for the Judgement of the Six Series and Touch. You can stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, or her Website:
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Of Fire
By
Alexia Purdy
An Extended Scene from Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
The events in this scene occur during the course of the story in Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3), but can be read without reading the series, though it’s highly recommended.
Here, Shade and Dylan find themselves trapped in the Great Divide, the Ice Castle in the deep north ruled by the Unseelie Ice King Corb. With little to no memory of their past due to an enchantment placed upon them by Corb, they find themselves prisoners in the icy kingdom with plenty of time to truly discover their inner desires.
***
Shade’s hair was like obsidian against the creamy skin he always longed to touch. Pale with a tint of blue, the cold enchantment placed upon them made it so they couldn’t feel the chill, but it also made their skin into porcelain. The way she walked, the movements she made just to get across the room had Dylan’s heartbeat pounding even harder. Shade was the most beautiful woman or faery he’d ever met in the hundreds of years he’d been alive. Never once did he think he’d find someone like her; immune to the lethal fire and electrical currents that ran rampant under his skin and made it impossible to touch anyone. Anyone but Shade.
Without glamour to hide his true appearance, which could kill others with one touch of his blue fire and electricity, he could get close to no one. Not true about Shade though. She wasn’t vulnerable to his energy. It did nothing to her. This alone made her valuable to his race, the Teleen. They were dying, and fewer females were born to his clan with every passing year. For a male to find a mate was nearly impossible. Dylan thought he’d be one of the unfortunate ones, cursed to remain alone forever.
But then he met Shade, a half human, half faery hybrid that held more magic in her tiny fingers than most faeries held in their entire bodies.
Could Shade truly be his mate? He couldn’t remember much of their lives before becoming trapped here in the Ice Castle named The Great Divide, but he didn’t really care. Yes, the basics of his history, life as a child and other random stuff was there, but most things of recent occurrence were erased or he wasn’t capable of seeing them anymore. Same went for Shade. Still, it didn’t matter, for everything he wanted was here. His heart’s desire was Shade, and any place she was, he was fine with being there with her.
“What’s running through that head of yours?” Shade’s soft voice echoed about the icy chamber and woke him from his daydreaming.
“Just relishing your beauty.” Dylan admired her beauty, unafraid it would show blatantly on his face. He usually withheld his feelings, tucked them deeper into himself and hid them away from the world. Not tonight. He wanted to shout it out to the rooftops how much he loved Shade. Shoving aside a frozen lock of his own black hair, which carried a dusting of ice from the frozen temperature here in the Ice castle, he beamed her as she walked toward him.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
He nodded and slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him where he was sitting on the edge of the ridiculously oversized bed. At least the Ice King, Corb, had left them in absolute comfort in this odd exile. Memories were mostly gone of their past lives; all there was left was the here and now. They were bespelled but had each other. That was everything anyone could ever need.
“Did you, my Queen?” His eyelids hung dreamily halfway closed as he inhaled her sweet scent. Leaning forward, he buried his face into her belly as she ran her fingers through his locks.
“Yes. Oddly enough, I did. Even with the strange images in my head that I dream about a lot. I know they mean something to me, but I can’t figure it out.”
“Me too. It’s like my memories were chopped up into a thousand little pieces and I have a puzzle to put together, but it makes no sense to me.”
Her dark brown eyes lit up as he peered up to her. “Yes, just like that. So strange. It’s concerning, but it doesn’t bother me as much as I would think it should.”
“It’s this place. We’re cursed somehow.”
“Yet blessed…” Her smile made his gut knot up, and all he wanted to do was bring her lips to his again.
So he did, pulling her down toward him, and she slipped down to sit on his lap. Dylan’s hand reached to feel the infinite softness of her cheeks and caressed them before he wrapped his fingers around the back of her head and pressed her even closer to him. Her cherry lips meet his, hungry and aching with an equal desire.
How long he’d wanted to do this, over and over. Their mouths never ceased, and the kisses deepened with each hurried breath they took. His arms ached to get even closer still, for any space left between them would be far too much to be apart.
“Shade, I—I…”
“Shhh…I know, my love.” Shade placed a finger onto his lips, and it felt like fire sizzling. Dylan’s fire was ablaze as he shed his glamour. It was the only way he could get closer, to do away with the magic that held his true self from the world. She remained in his lap and admired the coursing blue fire which crawled along his fit body. He looked the same, but the blue white fire with electricity sparking along his skin reflected against the ice around them, amplifying the brightness of the constant white blue surrounding the bed.
Shade jumped to her feet and reached up, tugging loose her long dark brown hair and letting the crystal pins fall to the floor, tinkering like tiny chimes. Afterwards, her hands made their way to the back of the ethereal gown she wore. It was also made of ice, but was as soft as silk. Dylan wondered what sort of magic held something so exquisite together. She managed to unbutton it so that it fell to the ground in a soft pile.
Dylan inhaled a sharp, quick breath. She was naked underneath her gown, her skin shining perfect and even. Pale, with a tint of blue, Shade nearly glowed with the residual color from belonging to this enchanted place, though it still complimented her features well. His own glamoured skin appeared the same; where it was once a golden rich tan it was now pale with a tint of blue. But the fire that burned along it still was even more so.
Her breasts were round and succulent, tipped by tiny pink nipples, perky and erect. She hugged herself, shivering not from the cold but from her nervous energy. He wanted to reach out, to pull her back to him and suck on every bit of her exposed skin. There wasn’t a place on her body he didn’t want to kiss and inhale with every beat of his heart.
“I’ve never given myself to anyone,” she whispered. Still, she managed to walk confidently toward him as her eyes roamed his body. Dylan got to his feet and pulled off the loose pajama-like trousers he’d been given to wear here, along with the loose, white crystalized ice tunic. It was as soft as hers and joined the rest of their clothes on the frozen floor.
“You’re perfect,” he finally managed to reply, completely enthralled. She was pure, never touched. How any man could resist such beauty was bey
ond him. He couldn’t, and her proximity had him harder than steel with just a kiss. She did this to him without any magic, and he loved the feel of every enigmatic spark of sensation she gave him.
Shade’s body joined his, and the heat from both their bodies made it stiflingly warm. He wondered briefly if they’d melt the ice bed beneath them as he led her onto it. Her loose waves surrounded her body as she watched him kiss down her neck and onto her chest. He licked every part of her breasts, sending shivers down her body. It was heaven, and she relished his touch. She sighed in bliss, letting the sensations rush through her. Nothing had ever felt like this, and there was no one she’d rather give her body to than Dylan.
Admiring his prowess as he made his way down her body, sparks fluttered in her belly. His lips and tongue were proficient and expertly sent heated shots of pleasure through every last corner of her like nothing she’d ever felt before. He treated her like precious gold, softly caressing every inch of her body.
“You taste perfect, sweet and exquisite.” Dylan’s gruff voice was intoxicated with desire. She loved it, reaching down to ensnare her fingers in his hair.
“Come here,” she urged. She wanted to touch him, to feel his hardness and admire it for as long as she could.
His face reached hers, and the sharp, steely look of wanting shining from his grey eyes made her smile even more.
“You’re amazing,” she said. Though it sounded ridiculous, she couldn’t think of anything better to say at this moment. He was chiseled and sexy, exactly how she’d pictured him naked. His cock was ever so ready to enter her, and she reached down to caress it with her fingers before curling her hand around his shaft and stroking softly.
His eyes closed as he let her do what she wanted to him, a low growl resonating in his throat. He was enjoying it, and the feel of control over him, even though she knew nothing of how it would feel to make love to him, gave her some reassurance that she could make him feel the way he made her melt. This moment, lost in each other’s bodies, was the one place she wanted to be. He was home to her, and there’d never be another to fill his place.
“Dylan…” She whispered his name, barely breathing through the desire that sparkled in her eyes, craving to have him inside her.
He took that as a sign that she was ready for him. He moved gently between her thighs and reached down to position himself at her entrance. She breathed in hard, trying to relax, and yet her excitement made it hard to do so. He teased her with his tip, touching her clit, making her gasp with pleasure and wanting.
“I’ll be gentle, I promise,” he whispered, giving her a gentle smile.
“Dylan…please…”
He kissed her nose and pushed in slowly, letting her entrance stretch to envelope his hard cock. It was amazing, and he wanted to go further, faster, but didn’t want to hurt her. She let her head fall back, feeling every inch of him as he continued. He couldn’t tell if her furrowed brows were from pleasure or pain, but he slowly pulled in and out, letting her slick juices surround him and beckon him on.
“You feel like heaven.” His voice was breathy while he closed his eyes from the intensity of it all. It was better than he could’ve ever imagined because this was happening with the one woman he never believed could be his.
A moan seeped from Shade’s lips as her legs tightened around his hips. With her hands on his shoulders, digging her fingers into his skin, his fire blazed around them and the room disappeared as he started to go faster now that she had relaxed even more. She was so wet…such perfection with each stroke as he moved faster. He bent down to bring one of her nipples into his mouth again, sucking softly before doing it harder. Her body arched in response, squirming beneath him as her moans grew with every passing second.
He didn’t want the moments to end as he pumped even harder before slowing down into elongated strokes. She took all of him without complaint. He loved it and wanted to do this all day long, every day. Her body was a fascination he could never get tired of, a feeling he could never get enough of. Electricity sparked off his skin onto hers, crawling along her body where theirs touched, and he pounded harder. He wanted to explode, show her what she did to him with just her body. He could never get tired of her soft, porcelain skin, lush pink lips, and her enticing scent that lurked in his senses like a constant drug, begging to ensnare him forever. He’d give her forever if she only asked him.
“Yes…Dylan…” Her lips said his name in a way that made him want to go even faster. He loved the way her thighs tensed, her legs hooking around his body and her pussy taking all of him. Her breasts bounced with the movement, and he reached out to pinch the perky nipples, ripe and erect from his kisses.
He was coming closer to bursting but didn’t want it to end. The slight grimace on Shade’s face made him slow some, not wanting her to be too sore. He watched her for clues as he changed the rhythm, slower, longer and softer to keep himself from climaxing, but he knew she was reaching the point where pleasure was beginning to morph away.
He reached down between her thighs, slipping his fingers over her clit, rubbing it softly until she let her head fall back and moaned from his actions.
“Oh, Dylan…keep doing that…”
He grinned and followed through, knowing his touch was sending her over the edge.
“Yes…mmm…” Shade squeezed her legs as her orgasm rippled through her. He felt every bit of it as she tensed. Finally at the right moment to finish, he closed his eyes, letting her fingers slide down his chest to stroke the hardened muscles along his abdomen. Running them along his lower stomach pushed his ecstasy over the edge, and he let his orgasm pulsate through as he slowed, his face screwing up with pleasure.
He collapsed over her, taking a moment to catch his breath, his heart still racing. Shade’s fingers stroked his back gently, running up and down, soothing with every tiny touch. He never wanted to pull away, never wanted to feel anything but this moment here, forever. How could one person mean so much to another? Dylan couldn’t imagine being anywhere but there and hated having to move away to Shade’s side, where his arm encircled her tiny frame, pulling her close.
“Don’t ever go.”
“I don’t ever want to.” She smiled, kissing his lips with her soft, warm lips.
“You okay?” he asked, peering over to her, looking concerned. She nodded.
“Just a bit sore.”
He grinned. “One sec.” Reluctantly getting up, he walked toward the bathroom, returning with a towel in one hand and slipping beside her again as he handed it to her. “Here. You might need it.”
“Thank you.” She watched him as he moved to pull the soft icy blanket over them. The lack of cold didn’t bother them, as long as they could hold onto each other.
“What if we never leave this place?” Shade cradled her head in the crook of his shoulder and slipped her hand across his chest.
Dylan stared up at the crystalized roof of their room in the Ice Castle of the Great Divide.
“As long as I’m with you, we’ll find a way.”
Shade’s soft breaths softened as sleep came and the sky outside turned into night, darkening the room in an eerie glow. The moon lit up the crystals that splattered its light across the walls. If they never got out, it would be alright, but Dylan knew that with their power combined, there was no spell, no prison, or castle that could hold them. Their love was too strong for that.
***
About the Author
Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada–Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream, and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and eating Italian food.
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Also by Alexia Purdy (Available at all ebook retailer sites)
Reign of Blood Series:
Resonant (Reign of Blood Prequel)
Reign of Blood
Disarming (Reign of Blood #2)
Elijah (The Miel Chronicles):
A Reign of Blood Companion Story
Amplified (Reign of Blood #3)
A Dark Faerie Tale Series:
The Withering Palace (A Dark Faerie Tale Prequel)
Evangeline (A Dark Faerie Tale #0.5)
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1)
Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)
Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
The Cursed (A Dark Faerie Tale #3.5)
Ever Wrath (A Dark Faerie Tale #4)
History of Fire: Elemental Fire #1
(A Dark Faerie Tale #5)
Other Stories:
Keep Breathing
Breathe Me
The Fall of Sky (Parts One & Two)
Short Stories:
The Faery Hunt
Never Say Such Things
Spinning Scars
Poetic Collections:
Whispers of Dreams
Five Fathoms
Our Someday
by Julie Prestsater
Our Someday is an extended—and much sexier—version of a scene from Double Threats Forever (the last book in the Double Threat Series). In this fun-filled, fast-moving young adult series, sassy Megan Miller, and her close-knit friends, begin their four year high school journey.
Expectations and hopes are high for their freshman year. Meggie wants nothing more than to experience all high school has to offer—growing freedom, hot boys, parties, make-out sessions, and did I mention hot boys?
Enter Alex Aguilar. At seventeen, he is Carver High’s sports superstar and dreamy superstud. Yet, despite the hype, Alex is undeniably sweet, and Meggie is beyond smitten. But, of course, he is a SENIOR. So, ought to be completely off limits for a ninth grader, right?
Losing It: A Collection of VCards Page 14