“No.” She couldn’t get the denial out fast enough, feeling foolish for bringing it up. “You risk yourself to help others, and I was just wondering if, when you needed it, there was someone to help you.”
“Now I am disappointed.”
“Why?”
He moved so only a breath separated their mouths. “I was hoping you were curious about the girlfriend thing.”
“You don’t seem to care about whether or not I have anyone in my life.”
His hand closed over hers, drawing it towards his mouth. “Would you be standing here in the dark with me if you did?”
“Are you always this arrogant, or is it just part and parcel with the hero complex?”
“Arrogance is my fatal flaw.”
“I suppose you have an arch enemy too?” It was getting damn difficult to pull together a coherent thought, let alone be remotely witty when he held her hand, his thumb trailing seductively down the center of her palm.
“None to speak of yet, but I’ll keep you posted.” He leaned in, bringing his chest in full contact with hers.
She sucked in a surprised breath as drops of water from his jacket dripped down between her breasts. “You’re wet.”
He peeled her shirt up, exposing her midsection. “I think you are too.” The wicked tone suggested he was talking about more than her clothing.
She slammed her eyes shut, her senses at war over which part of her ached the most for his touch.
“What were you doing on the roof?” As much as her body hungered for something from this man, she couldn’t drown out the voice that warned her not to confuse her fantasies with reality. The rough brick wall against her back was real. The hard, damp body pressed intimately against her belonged to a flesh-and-blood man who courted danger on a nightly basis. A man as threatening as he was sinfully provocative.
“Watching you.” His jaw scraped against hers.
“For how long?”
“Just a few minutes.”
“And what are you doing now?” She swallowed as he tucked her hand between their bodies, over his heart.
“Trying very hard not to kiss you.”
Do you believe in chance?
Dark Chance
© 2008 Melissa Lopez
Absolution Book OneA book of Netherworld.
Olivia Sutcliff is a lost soul who has endured the tortures of Netherworld for more than a hundred years, but now she’s given one chance to get out—on a task set by the Dark Prince himself. She must use her sexual wiles to help damn an innocent man, and failure means a fate worse than hell.
FBI special agent Malin Cross has devoted every waking moment to catching the killer who haunts his nightmares. Until he meets the woman of his dreams. She’s a perfect submissive, one who anticipates his every fantasy. But she also asks too many questions, leaving Malin to wonder if she’s as innocent as she seems…or if she’s bait to lure him into the killer’s web.
As Olivia entices Malin deeper into a world that wants him destroyed, her second thoughts grow into a desire to save him from making a damning mistake.
But as the forces of light and dark collide, their lives—and their souls—hang on the one sacrifice that could destroy them both.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Dark Chance:
Doing her best to hold back the trembling, Olivia huddled in her suspended cage. Her breathing hitched. Even after all the time she’d spent in this horrid place, her tormenters could bring her to her knees.The pain in her head brought about from Alastor’s snide remarks had disappeared, but her reprieve from Netherworld was over. She was home.
She’d been so stupid to step out of line! But she’d wanted to protect Malin so badly. Now she’d never get to see him again.
Below her, the slithering snakes’ hissing grew fiercer.
Her need to urinate intensified. How she hated the torture of the snake dungeon. How many times had they already inflicted death? She’d lost count.
The room went eerily quiet. Along with Olivia, the lost souls sharing her punishment held a collective breath.
Olivia whimpered at the sight of the Dark Prince. He held a chain, attached to the jeweled collar of his mistress, Sienna. Since her arrival in Netherworld, Olivia had only been in the Prince’s presence one other time. And that’d been when he’d inspected her for his harem. To this day, she gave thanks she’d been found lacking.
Alastor followed behind their Prince.
The serpents separated to allow them to walk through the wiggling mass covering the dungeon floor.
A female lost soul nearby started to cry when the Dark Prince stopped under her cage. He moved to stand at the opening.
Without being asked, the slave scooted forward so her pussy and ass now settled over the slot on the bottom of the cage.
His tongue darted out as he tasted her. After several long licks, their Prince stepped back.
Olivia shivered as stark fear crawled up her spine. She shook her head at his smile. Then watched in terror as he waved his fingertips to a large, coiled snake. The creature uncurled itself, rose up on its body until its eyes were level to its Master.
Satan stuck his tongue out and allowed the snake’s to caress his. Once finished, their lord faced Olivia’s direction and smiled. His amber gaze glowed to match the fires he ruled over.
Olivia’s head swam. How could someone so truly handsome be so completely cruel? Her mum had been right. Beauty was only skin deep. Like many of the nobles of her time, Satan abused his power.
The snake turned its head to the blonde lost soul the Dark Prince had been tongue fucking moments ago. Ever so slowly, the serpent moved to the woman’s cage.
She screamed in fright and scooted as far back as possible in her prison. There was nowhere for the condemned woman to escape.
Olivia closed her eyes.
At her cage the Dark Prince tsked, “Pet, do you want the same fate? I know how you love to play with my serpents.”
Olivia cringed as the lost soul screamed. She didn’t dare look. Tears clogged her throat. “Please, Master… I’ll be good…” Her bladder pained her as a sob tore its way up from her stomach. Please keep the snakes away from me.
“You understand our time constraint?” His could barely be heard over the other woman’s terror.
“Yes, Master.” Desperate, she nodded. She didn’t understand anything other than they wanted to hurt Malin, but she nodded again. No one questioned the will of the Prince. “Yes, Master.”
“There’ll be no trouble from you?”
“I promise, Master…”
Satan spared Alastor a glance. “Give her some space. Send a minion to keep watch.”
“Yes, Master.” The demon bowed.
The Dark Prince clasped Sienna’s hand to guide her away from Olivia’s cage. He held Sienna’s collar loosely in his other hand. “Olivia, dare fail me and my friend will also know you intimately.”
The caged blonde’s screams had turned hoarse.
“Yeesss…yes, Master.” Olivia barely had time to nod.
On a gasp, she returned to her body cradled in Malin’s arms. “Olivia?”
She blinked in utter relief and threw her arms around his neck before he could straighten up from the bed.
“You all right?” His strong arms went around her back. “You fainted, but I no sooner had you settled on the bed than you came to. How do you feel? Still lightheaded?”
Such kindness, such concern from him. A moan slid through her lips. She’d never be able to do him harm. She didn’t want to. Looking into his gaze, she knew what had to be done. No matter the cost, she’d try and save his soul.
“I’m well.” She hugged him as if her life depended on the embrace. “Only lightheaded from not eating.”
“Damn.” He caressed her from her hips to shoulders. “Of course, you’re hungry.”
With sure motions, he continued to massage the length of her back. She moaned as warmth spread through her limbs. An unexpected craving hit h
er middle. Not one for food but for his touch. His caresses provoked something delicious deep inside her center. Nothing had ever felt so good. She moaned arching into his hard body.
His breath quickened, exciting her all the more. Deep brown eyes darkened as she watched. Thick lashes lowered to shield his gaze.
Moistening her lips, she regarded his mouth. She’d never noticed a man’s lips before. For decades she’d gotten used to cruel slurs being hurled from between them but Malin’s… Well, just the sight of his made her toes curl.
A rush of liquid heat wet her pussy. She gasped at the pleasant feelings he caused. She ached to arch her body along his. To rub herself against his hard muscles. Her breasts swelled, her nipples tingled delightfully.
His head lowered ever so slightly.
Olivia closed her eyes in wonder. “Oh yes, Master.” Kiss me.
Kia must learn to trust—before the evil in her house destroys them all.
Shadows of Evil
© 2008 Cheryel Hutton
For Kia Wolfe, moving to an isolated mountaintop is an act of independence from her demanding family and ex-fiancé. She’s literally dreamed about the regal old house for years, and for the first time in her life she feels at home. She’s here to stay, even though the house’s history of violent deaths is enough to scare off most people.Garrett McKnight, owner of the contracting firm Kia has hired to renovate her house, is wary of the new resident. Emotionally bruised and battered by a self-centered ex-wife, he can’t get around the fact that there’s something about Kia that both attracts him and sets him on edge. And when Kia dabbles in a bit of Wicca, accidentally unleashing a hidden evil, it’s tempting to walk away and leave her to her to her fate.
But he can’t. Not when four people have died in that house.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Shadows of Evil:
Interest grew large and demanding inside her. Kia leaned against the opposite counter and eyed the man in front of her. “Okay, so tell me about the history of my house.”She sipped her own beer as she watched his expression. He was thinking about how much to tell her, of that she was sure.
“People died here,” he finally said.
Now that was interesting information. “Really, how?”
“A father and two sons were attacked by an animal right in the front yard.”
“Thanks for the tip. I’ll watch out for marauding bunnies.” She took a long drink of her beer to hide the smile.
He sent a narrow-eyed look her way. “A couple who lived here in the seventies was killed by an escaped criminal.”
“I’m careful, and I have Dracula to protect me.”
The dog barked to second her assessment.
“Ms. Wolfe—”
“Kia.”
She heard him sigh. “Kia, I’m trying to tell you that you might not be safe out here alone.”
She put the back of her hand against her forehead and leaned dramatically against the counter. “I’m just a poor little woman in this big old house all alone. Oh thank you, kind sir, for trying to protect me.”
“It isn’t funny.”
She put her hand down, and saw irritation along with what looked like true concern on his face. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
He nodded before he turned up the last of his beer.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the dreaded wardrobe smirking at her from the living room door. She took a pull on her beer to cover her smile. “Hey, cowboy. I bet all that physical labor you do makes you good and strong.”
He eyed her as if he didn’t trust her. Good instincts. “Reasonably.”
“Good, ’cause I need some help.”
“Does this ‘help’ involve heavy furniture by any chance?”
She nodded. “There’s this horrible old wardrobe that just won’t budge for little ol’ me.” She batted her eyes in his direction.
He sighed. “Where is it?”
She smiled her prettiest smile, and led him to the offending piece. “When I got this thing, I didn’t realize how heavy it was.”
He gave it an experimental push. “You’re not kidding. What’s this thing made of, lead?”
She took hold of the other side. “Yep, it’s where I keep the kryptonite.”
He caught her gaze and grinned. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m immune.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, cowboy.”
It took a lot of struggle on both their parts to move the wardrobe twenty feet across the foyer and into the parlor/bedroom. They were both gasping and drenched with sweat when they were done. “You gonna pay for my hernia surgery?” he asked.
“No, but I will give you another beer.”
“One’s enough. I’ll take some water, though.”
“Coming right up.” She went into the kitchen and took out two bottles. “Thanks for helping,” she said as she handed him one of them. She hoped her true appreciation was showing through. Maybe he wasn’t a pushy jerk after all.
“You’re welcome.” He gulped the water.
She smiled. How could drinking water look so sexy? “And for believing my ghost story.”
He nodded.
“And for trying to warn me.”
He looked at her then. “Even if you don’t believe me?”
There was concern in his eyes again, and it tugged at her. “It’s not that I don’t believe you.”
“You just aren’t scared of ghosts?”
“Not really. I think they’re kind of cool.”
“Got a piece of paper and a pencil?”
She pulled a small notebook and pen from her purse. “Gonna write me up a bill for the furniture moving?”
He gave her a slow up and down perusal. “As intriguing as that might be, no.”
“I appreciate your help.” She felt a smile pull at her face, as her blood began to heat. Wanna help with another little problem? Maybe something involving a bed?
“You’re welcome.” He handed her back the pen and notebook. “That’s my number. I only live a couple of miles from here.”
Convenient. “In case the ghosts try to get me?”
“Yes.”
She looked into his bright green, way too serious, eyes. “Thanks, cowboy.”
He tipped a nonexistent hat. “Anytime, little lady.”
Kia watched as he sauntered across her lawn and climbed into his truck. The view was stunning.
“I do believe I’m going to like it here,” she told Dracula.
***
As he drove the two-point-three miles between Kia Wolfe’s house and his, Garrett considered what sort of person would move to the middle of nowhere, live alone, and actually enjoy encounters that would send most people running and screaming.
A sexy one, that’s who. Swallowing hard, he tried to ignore the heat that moved through him just picturing her body. The energy that woman had. And the fire. She would be an awesome lay, that was for sure. And she’d made it pretty clear she was interested.
So why wasn’t he in her bed right now? It was a man’s dream come true—a sexy woman ready to offer herself up without strings. He suspected that she’d be insulted by an offer of commitment.
So why not take advantage of the situation?
Because he was far from convinced that would be a good idea, that’s why.
The fact that she seemed thrilled to have bought a haunted house bothered him. Did he want to get involved with another screwy woman? Hadn’t his ex-wife taught him anything?
Not involvement, he reminded himself. What Kia Wolfe was offering was a roll in the hay. At least that’s what she seemed to be offering. You never knew with women. Again, there was his ex-wife as an example. Tricky creatures they were.
Then again, it had been a long time since he’d been with anybody. Kia was offering, and he was tempted. Fun, that’s what she wanted. And he could use a little fun. Short-term fun. Until the house scared her away.
If she was lucky.
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