Pressing his long lips together, he searched the hall for the most horrendous of the mortal women. As he eyed the head table, his heart about stopped. A dreamy smile came to the troll’s crinkled lips and he smacked them together.
Now, there’s a tasty little treat, he thought, as he stared at the large goddess at the high table. She was wrapped in yards of clashing yellow silk. A touch of drool spilled over the side of his mouth, dripping to the floor like thick tree sap.
A torch burned brightly behind the woman’s head, making the frizzy strands of her most beautiful hair stick out like a banshee. Her nose hooked at the end in the most delectable way and the large mole on her chin had a glorious three hairs growing out of it. Three! The luckiest of numbers when it came to hairs and moles!
Cupid sighed dreamily, loving the pull of her one eyebrow dipping over her narrow eyes. Musicians played a lively tune, but Cupid couldn’t hear them over the frantic beating of his pea-sized heart. She was perhaps the most enchanting mortal he’d ever seen. Ah, but the fair temptress wouldn’t be going with him this night. She was too beautiful and he was in search of an ugly maiden--the most repugnant female he could find.
“Aye, he keeps ’er locked away in the tower,” Cupid heard a burly man whisper. The troll stopped, changing his route to near a table of knights.
The soldier who spoke tore a chunk of meat off a bone and then threw the scrap over his shoulder. It landed on the floor at Cupid’s feet. The little troll smacked his lips, took the bone up, and gnawed at it in pleasure. These men might be mortals, but they sure knew how to live right.
Cupid perked his tiny ears up as he crept closer to listen, the bone hanging halfway out of his lips. He sat beneath the large soldier’s bench seat, surrounded by the satisfying perfume of sweaty feet. He continued to gnaw. The mortal court was much better than Lycaon’s cleanly ways. Whoever heard of a law stating you must come to the table clean?
Bah! Cupid thought with a repulsed shiver. He’d been kicked out of Lycaon more than once for not bathing.
“Lord Orrell is afraid she’ll turn away Lady Agrona’s suitors,” the knight continued. The men all looked at the high table where Cupid’s temptress sat. Her thick lips chewed greedily on a hunk of meat. When she pulled the bite away, the lower half of her face was covered in grease. The men grimaced slightly as they watched the lady.
Cupid sighed. It must be a terrible woman indeed to frighten a suitor away from such a lovely vision of womanly perfection. And to make grown soldiers shiver at the very thought of her!
Slowly, a smile formed on his wrinkled face. A woman so hideous that she had to be locked away in a tower? A maiden like that was exactly what Cupid needed to avenge himself against Lord Ilar, Commander of the Lycans! Let his whole wolfen army go mad with lust for an unsightly woman. Let Ilar himself fall so madly in love that he would blindly mate with her!
Aye, Cupid mused with enthusiasm. Let him degrade himself by choosing an ugly mortal for a lifemate! That will teach him to tease a troll!
We thought you might like…
Executive Decision
by Mandy M. Roth
The bright lights of the big city called to Liz Rogers. Her best friend and almost roommate, Dale, helped her make the transition from small town girl to big time ad executive. They work together and nearly live together. For eight years he’s been her rock, her sounding board. As Liz starts breaking off one workplace relationship, another one—that has been brewing since the first day she arrived in New York, blossoms—leaving her confused and concerned. She’d been burned once by love and isn’t willing to risk her heart again, especially not to a man who was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Dale Corbins has been in love with Liz from the moment he laid eyes on her. He knows time is running out, that one of these days she’s going to come home and tell him she’s fallen for someone else. When he finds out she’s been sleeping with their boss, he decides it’s time to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, winning Liz’s heart isn’t an easy game to play. It will take more than romantic gestures and sweet nothings to get the woman he loves. Thankfully, he’s a very persistent man. But is this a game even he can’t win?
Rating: Spicy/Carnal
Warning: This book contains a quick tempered heroine, an uber hot leading man, toe-curling sex and people who aren’t afraid to speak their mind, regardless the language used.
To learn more about Mandy M. Roth and her books, visit www.MandyRoth.com
Have you read them all?
Romances by Michelle M. Pillow Checklist
Futuristic
Dragon Lords
Ø The Barbarian Prince
Ø The Perfect Prince
Ø The Dark Prince
Ø The Warrior Prince
Lords of the Var
Ø The Savage King
Ø The Perfect Prince
Ø The Bound Prince
Ø The Rogue Prince
Ø The Pirate Prince
Zhang Dynasty
Ø Seduction of the Phoenix
Ø Temptation of the Butterfly
Space Lords
Ø Frost Maiden
Galaxy Playmates
Ø Sapphire
Ø Diamond
Ø Quartz
Ø Xena
Ø Red Light Specialists
Alternative Reality
Divinity Warriors Series
Ø Lilith Enraptured
Ø Fighting Lady Jayne
Ø Taking Karre
Ø Keeping Paige
Ø Last Man on Earth
Paranormal
Lords of the Abyss Series
Ø Mighty Hunter
Ø Commanding the Tides
Ø Book 3
Call of the Lycan Series
Ø Call of the Sea
Ø Call of the Untamed
Ø Call of Temptation
Pleasure Cruise Series
Ø Pleasure Cruise
Ø Date with Destiny
Ø Pleasure Island
Ø Faire Justice
Ø Good with His Hands
Ø Portrait of His Obsession
Ø Scorched Destiny
Ø Portrait of the Night
Ø Silk
Dark Paranormal
Tribes of the Vampire
Ø Redeemer of Shadows
Ø The Jaded Hunter
Ø Eternally Bound
Contemporaries
Matthews Sisters
Ø Bit by the Bug
Ø Along for the Ride
Ø Recipe for Disaster
Ø Degrees of Passion
Ø Fierce Competition
Ø Opposites Attract
Ø Mountain’s Captive
Ø Christmas Curse
Historical
Ø Maiden & the Monster
Ø Emerald Knight
Ø Pride & Prejudice: The Wild & Wanton Edition
Historical Paranormal
Naughty Cupid Trilogy
Ø Cupid’s Enchantment
Ø Cupid’s Revenge
Ø Cupid’s Favor
Ø Portrait of His Obsession
Fantasy
Realm Immortal Series
Ø King of the Unblessed
Ø Faery Queen
Ø Stone Queen
Anthologies
Ghost Cats Series
Ø Animal Instinct
Ø Carnal Instinct
Ø Primal Instinct
Ø Talons: Seize the Hunter
Ø Stop Dragon My Heart Around
Ø Sex in the Office
Ø Black Lace Quickies 5
Ø Taming Him
Ø Prisoner of Love
Ø Lady Jaided Paranormal Passions
Nonfiction
Ø The Write Ingredients Cookbook
For a complete, up-to-date list, visit www.MichellePillow.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapt
er Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
Captive of the Deep Page 9