by Kate Pearce
Outside the rain has stopped and the unpleasant stench of trash bins and wet tarmac drying in the sun surrounded her.
“There’s Doug!” Liz waved enthusiastically at a blue minivan.
“Nice wheels.”
“Shut up.” Liz grinned at her. “He’s coaching a shape-shifter soccer team, so we have to go and pick some of the kids up.”
“God help your opponents. If a decision goes against one of your team, does someone get eaten?”
“That’s why we need to practice.” Liz kissed Ella’s cheek. “I’m really glad you survived, hon. See you tomorrow.”
Ella was busy making faces at Doug over her friend’s shoulder. “Thanks for everything.”
She waited until Liz was safely in the van and then retreated into the hotel lobby. She saw a shape-shifter litter in her buddy’s immediate future. Where now? Should she send Vadim a text?
“Ella.”
“Hey.” That was cool and calm enough, wasn’t it?
“Can you meet me in Golden Gate Park by the Japanese Tea Garden?”
“When?”
“I’m already here, so whenever you’re ready.”
She deliberated ordering a cup of coffee from the bar to clear her head, but the alcohol in her system might help her relax more and say what needed to be said. She went to the bathroom, and after checking everyone else had gone, she closed her eyes and sent herself to where Vadim was.
It didn’t take a second until she was sitting on a bench looking out over the beautiful gardens. Here the rain had stirred the scents of nature rather than the city, and a heavy, flowery perfume hung in the air.
“Ella.”
She looked up to see Vadim in front of her. His black hair was damp from the rain and slicked back away from his amazing face. He’d somehow acquired a raincoat to protect his designer suit.
Of course he had.
“You really are quite beautiful in both your forms, Morosov.”
“Thank you.” He indicated the bench. “May I sit with you?”
“Sure.” She patted the seat. “It’s a bit damp, but nothing that’ll kill you. Not that anything can kill you anyway.”
“Only you.”
“I knew I should’ve kept that dagger your father gave me.”
She kept talking like a flipping idiot. Why was she so nervous? Why couldn’t she stop being so glib and just shut up?
He looked down at his clasped hands. “There’s something I wished to discuss with you.”
“Then go ahead. How’s Delia by the way?”
“She’ll be fine. I managed to detach the remnants of the spell from her mind.”
“Cool.”
She waited as he took another deep breath and then realized she could hardly breathe at all.
“My mother came to see me.”
“When?”
“Just after I left the hospital. She said that if I wished to return to Otherworld, I would be offered the leadership of the sect.”
“Oh.” She forced a smile. “That’s...great.”
“You think I should take it?”
“Well you’re the perfect man for it, aren’t you? With your power, you could keep that bunch of idiots in order and provide a counterbalance to your father’s evil schemes.”
“That’s what my mother said.”
“I told you she was smart.”
Silence fell between them, broken only by the odd drip of rain from the trees.
“If I took the job, would you come with me?”
She swallowed hard. “And live there full-time?”
“As my mate, you would be treated with great respect and bear the title of princess.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Indignation thrust through her hurt and made sitting still impossible. She shot to her feet. “And what about our jobs here?”
“Feehan would understand if we left.”
“And what would I do in Otherworld, apart from traipse around, being a princess?”
He looked up at her. “Most females would think that being mated to the most powerful male in Otherworld and being treated like royalty were gifts in themselves.”
“But then most females don’t realize what a dork you are, do they?”
He blinked at her. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? I spent my whole day writing a lovely fictitious report to keep you and your family out of trouble with the SBLE, and this is the thanks I get.”
“What does the report have to do with anything?”
She glared at him, her hands on her hips. “I made a deal with your grandmother!”
“You did what?” He rose too, his expression darkening.
“Your grandmother asked me to keep your family out of our report, and in return I—I made her promise something. Not that a promise means anything in Otherworld, apparently. What was your mother thinking? Doesn’t anyone talk to each other over there?”
She was babbling again...
“What did she promise you?” He was close enough now that she had to look up at him. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me.”
“That she wouldn’t ever ask you to return to Otherworld.”
“And why would you ask her for such a thing?”
Magic sparked from his skin and made all the hairs on her head stand upright. She raised her chin.
“Because I don’t want you to go back there. I want you to stay here with me.”
He didn’t react in any way or move an inch.
“Did you hear me? I don’t want you to go.”
His smile was slow but quite beautiful, like the sun emerging from behind a cloud.
“And why is that, Soul Sucker?”
She almost stamped her foot. “You’re going to make me say it?”
“Of course I am. I’ve killed for you and threatened to annihilate my whole world just to keep you safe. What are a few little words in return?”
“They’re a big deal to me!”
“I know.” He briefly rested his forehead against hers. “Would it help if I said them first?”
“No one’s ever said it to me and meant it.”
“I mean it. I love you, Ella. I always will.”
She swallowed hard. “Okay. Me too.”
He straightened up. “Ella...”
“All right! But you have to promise not to do what your mother wants, and go back to Otherworld.”
He placed his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“You should go and tell her that right now!”
He smiled. “And let you out of my sight at this crucial moment?”
She faced him. “You’ve already told her no, haven’t you? This is all a setup.” She jabbed herself in the chest. “I’ve killed for you. I even sat and typed that stupid report to keep you safe! Isn’t that enough? Why do I have to say the stupid words?”
His smile faded. “Maybe because no one has ever said them to me and meant it either, Soul Sucker.”
“Oh, God.” She whispered, “Vadim, I—”
But he had already disappeared.
* * *
Dammit! What the hell was wrong with him? Where had that pathetic, needy statement sprung from? He knew she loved him, knew it in his soul. Why was he so determined to make her say it?
He picked up the nearest pillow and sent it spinning, smashed his fist against the wall. It wasn’t enough. He needed to get out. His glance slid over the rest of his destroyed hotel room and he quickly made things right again. There was no reason to burden the staff with extra work because of his petty tantrum.
God, he needed to be free.
In a second, he magicked himself north to the immense sequoia forests and changed form. Here at least he could fly undetected and act like the animal he was. He flew for a while and then perched at the top of one of the massive trees and watched the sun go down. The scent of pine and eucalyptus filled his lungs, and he breathed deep.
“Morosov, is that you up there
?”
He squinted down and saw Ella’s upturned face at the bottom of the massive trunk. She’d never let him get away with disappearing on her. She’d even followed him to Otherworld to save him, without caring for her own safety. Without answering, he swooped down, picked her up and flew her up to the top of the tree.
She opened her mouth and he put his finger against her lips.
“Don’t say it.”
“I’m not going to say anything, I’m going to scream!” She gave a convulsive shudder. “I’m terrified of heights.”
“You are?”
She nodded, her fingers digging into his flesh.
“It’s all right. If you say it now, I won’t believe you. I was wrong to try and force the issue.”
She nipped his finger and he snatched it away.
“Listen, you big dope. I never thought about it from your side before. I only thought about my issues. You haven’t exactly had it easy in the parenting department either, have you?”
“No.”
“We’re both a bit gun-shy.”
“Yes.”
She kissed him softly on the mouth. “If you won’t let me say it, can I show you instead?”
“Be my guest.”
She looked down and instantly clutched hold of him even tighter. “Here?”
“I won’t let you fall. I’ll never let you fall.”
“I suppose I’ll have to trust you, then.”
“Yes, you will.”
She kissed him again, and unaccustomed warmth unfolded in his chest. She might not be a conventional female by the standards of her own world, but in his, she was a true warrior.
He respected that.
With a wave of his hand, he had her naked and straddling him, her hot, wet core pressed against his hard cock, her nipples tightening against his chest. He lifted her over him and let her slide down slowly over his willing flesh. When he was deep inside her, she started to move on him, and he planted his feet firmly against the tree trunk to hold them both steady.
He slid his hand into her blond hair and wrapped it around his fist until she tilted her head for his kiss. Such a beautiful female, and his for all eternity—if he played his cards right.
Her inner muscles squeezed his cock, and he lost his train of thought.
Her feelings flooded his mind, of her first meeting him at the SBLE offices and admiring his ass, of their being stuck in the elevator shaft and the shock of their unexpectedly erotic mating.
“Ella...”
More images. This time of her hurt and betrayal, and of her need. She’d never let him see such things before, never let him in so completely. She was giving him the gift of herself, reminding him that love comes in many different forms and showing him her most vulnerable self. He doubted anyone else even knew such an Ella existed.
“I’ll never leave you, I swear it on my blood.”
He wrapped his thoughts and love around her and held her there, in his mind, in his arms and in his heart.
* * *
“Vadim, concentrate. Can’t you tell I want to come?”
“Come, then.”
He buried his face in the curve between her neck and shoulder. She climaxed around his shaft, and he gave himself up to her until he couldn’t give anymore, then followed her into bliss.
After a long while, when it was completely dark and even he was starting to feel cold, she touched his cheek. “Can we just go home?”
“I’d like that.”
“So would I.” She glanced up at the sky. “Can you fly me there?”
“Like this?” He scooped her even closer and anchored his arm around her hips. He pushed off the branch and they were airborne.
She clutched at his shoulders. “Wait! My clothes!”
He kept flying. In a while she might remember that she could do magic and fix the problem herself. But he sure wasn’t going to mention it...
Revenge was sometimes rather unexpected and remarkably sweet.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
It’s possible I say this every year, but I love October. To me, this is the month that signals the start of a season of hot apple cider, evenings by the fire, and curling up on the sofa with a good book, dressed warmly in sweatpants and a comfy shirt and snuggled under my favorite fuzzy blanket. We at Carina Press can’t provide most of those things, but we can provide the good books, and this month we have more than a few good books!
In Running Back, the highly anticipated sequel to Allison Parr’s new-adult contemporary romance Rush Me, Natalie Sullivan is on the verge of a breakthrough most archaeology grad students only dream of: discovering a lost city. Her research points to a farm in Ireland, but to excavate she needs permission from the new owner: the Michael O’Connor, popular NFL running back.
If you’re like me, there are certain tropes in romance that you fall for every time. One of mine is the main theme of Christi Barth’s newest book, Friends to Lovers. (Gee, can you guess what it is?) Daphne struggles with revealing her longtime lust for Gib, sparking it all off with a midnight kiss on New Year’s Eve—only Gib doesn’t know it’s Daphne he’s kissed! Also in the contemporary romance category is First and Again by Jana Richards, which has a special place in my heart because this emotional story takes place in my home state of North Dakota.
For months, this Red Cross head nurse has been aiding Allied soldiers caught behind enemy lines, helping them flee into the neutral Netherlands. It’s only a matter of time until she’s caught in Aiding the Enemy, a historical romance by Julie Rowe. If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, be sure to check out the rest of Julie’s historical romances.
We have two mysteries for readers to solve this month. British crime author Shirley Wells returns to the sleepy northern town of Dawson’s Clough with her popular Dylan Scott Mystery series in the next book, Deadly Shadows. And in Julie Anne Lindsey’s Murder by the Seaside, counseling is murder, but it’s never been this much fun.
Erotic romance author Christine d’Abo brings us the story of Alice’s obsession with a brooding lawyer at her firm, which takes Alice on a journey of self-discovery through the rabbit hole and into the world of BDSM in Club Wonderland. Also this month, the Love Letters ladies, Ginny Glass, Christina Thacher, Emily Cale and Maggie Wells, round up five sizzling-hot stories to finish off their sexy stampede through the alphabet with Love Letters Volume 6: Cowboy’s Command.
Edgar Mason is losing Agamemnon Frost despite everything they’ve been through—the passion, the torture, the heat. Frost’s fiancée Theodora is back, and Mason can feel his lover gravitating toward her. Every day he sees them together, it tears at his heart. Don’t miss Agamemnon Frost and the Crown of Towers, the conclusion to Kim Knox’s male/male historical science fiction trilogy.
Because October is the perfect month for the paranormal, we have a wide selection of fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal to share with you. In Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy romance, Rogue’s Possession, neuroscientist Gwynn’s adventures in Faerie continue in the long-awaited sequel to Rogue’s Pawn. And in the sequel to Soul Sucker, a powerful magic user is stealing people’s faces in San Francisco, and empath Ella Walsh and shifter Vadim Morosov have been called in to investigate in Death Bringer by Kate Pearce. Also returning with another book in her Blood of the Pride series is Sheryl Nantus, with her paranormal romance Battle Scars.
Combining futuristic fiction, fantasy and urban fantasy, Trancehack by Sonya Clark is a compelling cross-genre romance. In a dystopian future where magic is out in the open and witches are segregated, a high-profile murder case brings together a police detective and a witch with unusual powers that combine magic and technology. But dangerous secrets, a political cover-up, and the law itself stand between them. Don’t miss this exciting new world of witchpunk!
Carina Press is pleased to introduce three debut authors this October. Science fiction erotic romance author Renae Jones gives us a Taste of Passion when lust strikes hard for Fedni, an empath who can taste
emotion, but her off-worlder neighbor is horrified by the caste system that the former courtesan holds dear.
Two urban fantasy authors debut with us this month. In Kathleen Collins’s Realm Walker, a realm walker hunts a demon intent on destroying both her and the mate who left her seven years ago. Also debuting in urban fantasy is Joshua Roots with his book Undead Chaos. When warlock Marcus Shifter performs a simple zombie beheading, he soon finds that the accidental framing of an innocent necromancer, falling in lust, and burning down a bar are just the beginning of his troubles.
Regardless of whether you’re discovering these books in October or in the middle of summer, any time is the perfect time for reading, and I hope you enjoy all these titles as much as we’ve enjoyed working on them.
We love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to [email protected]. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.
Happy reading!
~Angela James
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