Friday, April 29, 2016

Curious Little Werewolf Cover Reveal and a special #Free offer #AmReading Today Only! #PNR #YA


Curious Little Werewolf
(Little Werewolf Book #2)
Available on Kindle
May 24th 2015
PreOrder your copy today!


Things would be perfect if supernatural disasters would quit creeping up and ruining Giselle’s happy new life. After finally finding the fur-ever home she’s always wanted a witch blows into town promising to reveal the bloody past of Giselle’s birth, and the circumstances that led the little werewolf to end up in the foster care system to begin with.
Hot on the witch’s trail, another pack of wolves is on the hunt for revenge, and will accept nothing less than her death in retribution for the havoc she’s wrought on them.
Caught in the crossfire, Giselle desires only the truth, and if the witch is who she claims to be, the little werewolf must protect her at any cost. If she’s lying, though, Giselle risks her own kind seeing her as a traitor. Neither her new pack nor her hottie witch boyfriend Damien can offer any help. 
Giselle is on her own again. And if she makes the wrong decision, she’ll lose the only link she has to her own past.

*****

SAMPLE

They eyed each other silently, neither one offering up a word to start the conversation. 
In the quiet between them, Giselle studied the scent. Definitely a perfume: natural oils of patchouli had been mixed with clary sage and just a hint of citronella. It worked well to mask the other synthetic smells of deodorant and floral soap that still clung to her body, but not well enough to trick Giselle’s nose. This woman was no wolf. She was definitely a witch, though. The pendant she wore was enough to give that away, and the Bohemian style clothing with flowing skirts and odd colorful patterns screamed “earth mother.”
The woman closed the distance between them after the silence had long since gone stale. “You do recognize me, don’t you?” There was an oddly hopeful edge in the woman’s voice that caught Giselle off guard. 
Should she recognize her? Sure, they both were redheads. But how many other ginger women in the world were there? That meant nothing. And if she was being truly honest with herself, all the faces of all the foster families that had taken her in and subsequently sent her back into the system had long since blurred together into one wretched image in her mind. If this woman had been a part of the foster system, she was barking up the wrong tree if she thought Giselle would welcome her back into her life with open arms.
“Sorry. No.” Giselle crossed her arms in front of her and stood firmly in place.
“Oh, but how could you?” A tear trickled from the corner of the woman’s eye. “I just thought… You were such a tiny thing the last time I held you in my arms.”
Giselle scoffed silently, remembering all the broken promises and false hope that came with each new family that took her in. “Lots of people held me in their arms… and dropped me just as quickly.”
Her words seemed to cut straight to the woman’s heart. More waterworks had her wiping her cheeks with the billowy sleeve of her shirt. “I know. I wish I could have given you a different life. You were meant for so much better things. But…I… sorry.” She sniffled, taking a few stuttered breaths, and then cleared her throat. “Giselle, I am so very sorry.”
“I never told you my name.” The woman’s tears had tugged at Giselle’s heart, but at the mention of her name, she was back on point. How much did this woman know of who she was? And why?
“I didn’t mean to come off so forward. I have just been searching for you for so long.” The woman reached a hand out as if to welcome her in for a hug, but Giselle took one step backwards, out of her reach.
Giselle opened her mouth to speak, but the words refused to come. The woman had all but admitted to being her mother. She had certainly made a show of emotions. But sad as they were, her sobs failed to stir the same feelings within Giselle. Numbness and confusion had Giselle’s feelings locked tighter than a bank vault. If she was her mother… But that wasn’t possible. She was no wolf. 

Release day will be here before you know it. Snag the PreOrder now and be first in line to see if the witch is telling Giselle the truth or not. 

*****

Need to catch up on the Little Werewolf before book two comes out? 


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Saturday, April 16, 2016

Interview with Author Sylvina Storm on the NNP Blog! #aliens #beyondtheveil #paranormal #boxedset #99cents


Interview with Author Sylvina Storm

Hello to the best readers any author could ask for! So happy you could join us again today!
These interviews, getting to know the talented authors behind your favorite books, it's just awesome, right? I just hate that we are done the last of them. *pout*

To find all 19 full length paranormal romance books by these amazing authors, head on over to your favorite online retailer, grab yourself a 99 cent copy of Beyond The Veil: Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set (Under the Veil & Beyond the Veil Book 2), then pour yourself a drink, pull up your cozy chair, and settle in for an enjoyable bit of relaxation time! This is one boxed set you won't want to miss!
Shifters, Vampires, Witches, Wizards, & More! 
All manner of Magical & Mystical Paranormal Creatures!
Over 1 million words of riveting, sensual romance all in one place!

Beyond the Veil is 'Where Magic Happens,' and the alpha men and their sassy, head-strong and independent women, heat up the pages of this steamy and engaging collection of books.
Limited time deal so grab it while you can!

Available at the following retailers:
Nook  iBooks  Kobo  ARe

**Don't forget to add to your *want to read* list on Goodreads

A quick reminder to check out our previous boxed set, Alpha Fever, if you haven't already. I know you won't want to miss it!

I have Sylvina Storm with me here today. I hope you'll join me in giving her a warm welcome, NNP style. *smiles and claps*
I’m so glad I could be here today. This is my first full-length box set, and Gina has really broken me in. :P

Hahaha! I guess I didn't scare you away, at least. *grins*
How long have you been a writer and how did you get into writing?
I’ve been writing for at least twenty years, though I kept it all to myself until recently. I started with poetry and short stories in middle school and started my first epic fantasy novel in high school. Ugh. It was an epic monstrosity, but we all have to start somewhere, right?

I wrote two stories in an urban paranormal setting under another pen name before I decided erotica fit my interests better. Now I write smoking hot inter-dimensional alien ménage romances. I couldn’t be happier with the new world I’ve wandered into.

Are you a full time author?
I write part-time, but I wish I could devote myself to a full schedule writing. I still treat my work as a career, though. I have other hobbies, but they don’t consume me with the same passion as writing.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?
Creating new worlds and meeting the characters is the best way to idle away an afternoon. I spend a month or so outlining each book. My characters speak to me at the oddest times, but I always keep a pen handy to write down their secrets.

I hate editing, though it’s a necessary evil. I learn more with each pass, so the next book is faster to edit than the last. One day, I hope the words flow onto the page without errors and in the best sequence possible. We can dream, right?

Always. Without our dreams where would we be. *smiles*
What inspires you to write?
Literally everything. Passing a stalled car on the street. Watching a father play with his kids. Seeing a beautiful sunset. They all invoke a horde of plot bunnies.

Some I allow to idly wander in my daydreams. Others, I wrangle into words and sentences for later contemplation. I can’t go a day without dreaming up a new scene, character, or concept.

Is there a particular author who inspires you?
I grew up reading Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, Madeleine L’Engle, and Mercedes Lackey. Julia Kent hooked me on ménage romances. Johanna Lindsey made me fall in love with historical romance. Every author I come into contact with inspires me. Their characters become part of me, and therefore, influence the stories I create.

What is the title of your inclusion in Beyond the Veil? How did you come up with the idea for it?
Destined is book one in the Aliens, Myths, & Magic series. I originally wrote this story as a vampire ménage romance. I sent it off to my beta readers in 2014, and several commented that is was ‘similar to other vampire ménage stories’. 

That wasn’t good enough for me. Although the story was almost ready for release at the time, I went back to the drawing board. I wanted something fresh and original, without straying too far afield.

I’m a big fan of Ancient Aliens, and I love mythology with a passion. One of the big ‘conspiracy theories’ is that aliens are among us. Not only have they influenced history, but they co-exist on earth alongside us. I embraced the idea and a new series was born.

How did you conduct your research for Destined?
I joined a polyamorous group on Facebook to research the romantic angle. I didn’t just want to write a threesome kink story. They have their place, but my characters demanded more. The people on that group helped me work out the dynamics of such a complicated relationship.

For the BDSM angle, I joined some other groups and followed a few blogs from those in the lifestyle. I wanted to make sure I represented the people and their culture as realistically as possible. I also read several hundred books a year, so I have a good idea what resonates and what doesn’t.

For the mythology, I had to pare back a few times. I wanted to embrace all the myths and legends using one race- the Intarans. I started with their bloodlines looking at mythologies and pantheons, but those are well represented in romance already. I decided to broaden the concept. My aliens are capable of the magic qualities found in any of the myths and legends because they inspired them. They aren’t werewolves or angels or gods, but some of their ancestors played the role in the past.

Can you give our readers your two favorite lines/quotes from Destined?
“There’s no reason to be afraid, Red. There’s no big bad wolf here tonight.” 

The twinkle in his eyes told me the opposite was true. The wolf was right here. And if I let him, he wouldn’t hesitate to eat me.

What would your friends say is your best quality?
My dirty mind. LOL. I have awesome friends who appreciate my warped sense of humor.

Hmmm, I think a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste. Glad to see you putting yours to great use! *winks*
Are reader reviews important to you?
Absolutely. I cherish anyone who takes the time to leave an honest review, even if they don’t like my book. I discovered a lot about my style while reading the reviews on my first two published novels. I hope to continue learning from their comments. Their encouragement and excitement give me a reason to keep writing.

What do you do when you don’t write?
Is this a trick question? :)

I’m always writing. I send myself notes in email and write on napkins and post sticky notes everywhere. I’m disabled, so I can’t sit at the computer long, but I’m always conversing with my characters as I take care of the odds and ends necessary to running a household. 

Tell us about your other books?
I wrote two urban paranormal novels under the pen name Kyra Dunst. They aren’t romances, and my style changed considerably between those novels and my current series. The second book in the Aliens, Myths, & Magic series comes out on May 2, 2016. I have nine books planned in this series and two spin-offs in the works.

If you could share one thing about yourself you would like our readers to know, what would it be?
Hmm. I can offer good recommendations on naughty toys? :D

Uhmm, better leave that for another post. Didn't mark this one down as explicit. *winks*
Where can readers find your works, do you have a blog or website? 
http://www.sylvinastorm.com/my-books/

Where else might readers contact you or follow your everyday writing journey? 
I don’t blog, but they can join my newsletter at:
http://www.sylvinastorm.com/newsletter/

Or friend me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sylvina.storm.1

Thank you so much for joining us today, Sylvina. It's been a true pleasure working with you on the Beyond the Veil Boxed Set. I am sure readers will fully enjoy Destined.
We are going to leave our readers with a small tease to get them started. Care to give us something steamy? *naughty grin*


Destined
Aliens, Myths, & Magic
Book One
Excerpt

***Ryleigh***

Lukas trailed his hands under my shirt and caressed my breasts. Since I hadn’t anticipated company after Mimi left last night, I was naked underneath the sweater. He murmured in approval as he tugged the material off. When his lips closed over my nipple, I sighed in delight. The slightest nip of teeth sent waves of pleasure straight to my clit.

I yanked at his jeans as I tried to lower the damned zipper, and he laughed against my breast. 

“Patience, love.”

His tongue moved to the other tip as he ran his fingers down my back. His right hand played with the neglected peak, and he soothed it in time with his mouth. When he rolled until I reclined underneath him, I gave up on the stubborn zipper for a minute. Desperate to return the affection, I cupped him through the denim. He sucked in a breath, and I increased the pressure again.

Lukas lifted himself away from me and grabbed my hands. He gently held them together and placed them above my head. “If you don’t slow down, I won’t last long.”

As soon as he let go, I brought them down to his naked shoulders. When had he removed his shirt? He growled against my chest.

“I should’ve worn a belt.” He muttered.

“A belt?” I whispered. “Why do you need a belt?”

“You want Mimi upset with me for tearing up this blanket to restrain those naughty hands? No? Then keep them there.” Oh god, his voice changed into something dominant and demanding and his words inflamed me. 

I felt my clit getting wetter, and shifted my legs, trying to relieve the aching need. He inhaled and pressed his lips against my pulse as a shudder raced through his body. I smiled to myself, pleased I elicited this reaction in such a large and powerful man.

My hands drifted to his back, and I ran my fingers through the silky strands at the base of his neck. His head shot up, and a ferocious grin lit up his face. I shivered in response as a sliver of delicious fear slid down my spine. I wasn’t afraid of him, but his demeanor turned feral. 
His raw and untamed passion threatened to consume me.

As he slipped the blanket from under me, his gaze never left mine. The sound of ripping fabric filled the room, and I flinched. He wrapped a strip of torn cloth around one wrist and tied the end in a neat knot. It was obvious he’d done this before.

“Won’t Mimi be upset with you?”

He shrugged, but a smirk crept over his lips. “I’ll get her another.”

The other edge of the material snaked under the loveseat around the far leg. He pulled until my arm stretched toward the sofa. When he looked at me, his smile crumbled. 

He cupped my cheek in his palm. “Are you okay with this? I can stop…”

I cut him off with a kiss, grateful for his concern. He had no idea what crazy things I fantasized about doing. Hell, he’d met me at a kink club, for god’s sake.

“Don’t stop now.” I whispered as I placed my free wrist in his hand.

The pleased glow lighting up his eyes sent a thrill through me as he bent to finish his task. I’d never gotten beyond fantasizing about bondage. He wanted to do more than play, he took charge. His hands slid down my bound arms, and I tested the bonds. 

Honestly, I could pull hard enough to move the furniture, but I played along, pretending to be restrained.

His appraisal took in my nipples as they peaked in the chilled room, and a hungry look appeared on his face. He trailed his lips from one wrist to my shoulder and repeated the process with the other arm. His tongue tasted me at intervals as he caressed my neck and collarbone. Then he brought my buds to peaks before moving down my stomach to my jeans. With deft fingers, he removed them, humming in pleasure as he revealed my mound. 

As I lay there before him helpless, I rubbed my legs together and tried to relieve the ache in my clit.

Lukas shook his head. He grabbed one ankle and secured it to the nearest chair with another strip of blanket. Though he was extra cautious handling my bandaged leg, it didn’t hurt anymore, and the scratches were already healed. He attached it to the side table. 

I trembled, spread before him, naked and exposed. 

He nuzzled my legs in the same manner he’d worshiped my arms. I could tell it excited him, having me bound and at his mercy. I tested the bindings again. They had a little play, but the ties weren’t uncomfortable. In fact, under his caring ministrations, I felt safe.

Cherished.

“Now, what shall I do with you?” His lips whispered over my pussy.
He hovered over the curls guarding my core, keeping his focus on my face. When he dipped his chin, I arched toward him in anticipation. With a deep, throaty chuckle, he splayed his hands on my hips and held me in place as he positioned himself above me. He still wore his jeans, and the rough material rasped against the tender inner flesh of my thighs.
Taking his time, he kissed a trail from my mouth to my clit.

He blew through the tendrils, watching and waiting to see if I would move. I fought the urge to squirm. He finally parted the damp folds and licked my slit. I groaned with him as his eyes closed, savoring the contact. He nibbled on the distended nub, increasing the pressure and length of each stroke until his tongue found my center and plunged inside.

The sensation sent me over the edge, and I came.


Enter to Win!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Author K. de Long visits the NNP blog to chat about herself and her inclusion in Beyond the Veil #paranormal #succubus


Interview with Author K. de Long

Hello to the best readers any author could ask for! So happy you could join us again today!
These interviews, getting to know the talented authors behind your favorite books, it's been so cool, right? I hate that we are almost done. One more tomorrow and that's it! *pout*

To find all 19 full length paranormal romance books by these amazing authors, head on over to your favorite online retailer, grab yourself a 99 cent copy of Beyond The Veil: Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set (Under the Veil & Beyond the Veil Book 2), then pour yourself a drink, pull up your cozy chair, and settle in for an enjoyable bit of relaxation time! This is one boxed set you won't want to miss!
Shifters, Vampires, Witches, Wizards, & More! 
All manner of Magical & Mystical Paranormal Creatures!
Over 1 million words of riveting, sensual romance all in one place!

Beyond the Veil is 'Where Magic Happens,' and the alpha men and their sassy, head-strong and independent women, heat up the pages of this steamy and engaging collection of books.
Limited time deal so grab it while you can!

Available at the following retailers:
Nook  iBooks  Kobo  ARe

**Don't forget to add to your *want to read* list on Goodreads

A quick reminder to check out our previous boxed set, Alpha Fever, if you haven't already. I know you won't want to miss it!

I have K. de Long with me here today, folks. I 'm sure you'll all join me in giving her a warm welcome, right. *grin*
I write paranormal under K. de Long, but Katie works just fine.

Okies, Katie it is! Thanks! *smiles*
How long have you been a writer and how did you get into writing?
I've been writing around two years now, but before that I was a developmental editor, and an avid reader. My partner is a writer, too, and after a few years of working closely with him on his work, he took an interest in pushing me to write, too. It worked out, and he's even been cool about how on a good day, I can probably hit quadruple his word count. Thank goodness we aren't competitive.

Are you a full time author?
More or less. I'm homebound with health issues, so I found myself as a full time writing assistant to my partner, and then divvied up that time further to make space for my own writing, once things moved that direction. I work 12-18 hour days, usually every day of the week. Joys of being obsessive and methodical. If I'm gonna be sitting watching a brainless movie, I just as well do it while flagging typos in a rewrite.

I know how it is to be stuck at home due to medical issues, so I am very happy for you not letting life push you around. Good on you!
What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?
I've got a very love/hate relationship with my writing, to be honest. I love that in my family, it's a social thing. My partner and I pass drafts back and forth, though he's not much of a romance reader. We spend lots of time brainstorming together, and at this point, writing is as much a part of what binds us together as our pets.
As for the hate part of that relationship? It's that writing tends to be very personal; in choosing which aspects of a person or story are worth focusing on, you can get tremendous insight into yourself, or in the author. For me, that means that the characters I write best tend to be... challenging. Neurodivergent or mentally ill, involved in controversial or unorthodox things... As a former sex worker, and a woman living with a number of severe mental illnesses, those characters are the most personal to me, a little bit of me creating a mirror that I never had, growing up. But these characters are often challenging to readers, too, as well as to myself. I've written several novels that actually triggered my mental illness to the point of causing unhealthy relapses or spirals. To do these characters well often does mean putting my own blood on the page. It's rewarding knowing it's out there, but sometimes it's hard not to resent it, when I'm on my third night awake, shaking writing the aftermath of a sexual assault or something.

What inspires you to write?
Lots of things. I have entirely too many ideas- more than I'll ever be able to work with. And often, series snowball. Dreamers is a part of the Inkubus series, however I recently concluded that the series is getting long and convoluted enough that I'm gonna need to subdivide it into smaller subseries, for reader accessibility. The books have a massive central arc, but as they've gone on, I've found myself returning to narrators after their book is over (Each book is a standalone romance, though the overall story veers toward dark fantasy/urban fantasy), and doing other nonchronological things that make it a lot more expansive than you'd think. Dreamers, for instance, begins during the first Inkubus book (not that you'd know it), but the events at the end of the first Inkubus book are what enable Dreamers to have a happy ending. So you reach this labeling thing, like, what do I call that? Add retailers refusing to let you use fractions or decimals, and it's complicated even further. I tend to call Dreamers “Inkubus 1.5”, since it doesn't have an even place to sit in the series order.

I sink my teeth into characters or atmospheres, and once I get a good one, I can write it indefinitely. More on that later. I usually do “broad canvas” type things, like the Marvel movie universe, so there's lots of easter eggs and cameos across different series. My paranormal stuff is largely in the one series, but especially with my contemporary stuff, the same supporting character might recur in several series. I love the idea of my characters stumbling across each other on the street.

Is there a particular author who inspires you?
Oh hell, yes. My partner inspires me a lot. He's a hard worker, and an endlessly creative soul. He doesn't recognize limitations, and that do-or-die mentality has played a huge role in my development as a writer. I'd never have attempted my first NaNoWriMo without having seen him do his, effortlessly. I'd never have approached my own work with that same mentality, and discovered that I'm capable of producing a first draft of a 50k word novel in a week (Edgeplay, if you're curious to see what that looks like. A close runner up is Weapon, in the Inkubus series, which I drafted in about 10 days.).
I'm also inspired by some of my favorite writers: Tad Williams' series planning in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is the most perfect example of complex yet human fantasy worldbuilding. Mike Carey's Lucifer graphic novels, too, are the most striking unconventional love story with surreal visuals and tender touches, and surprisingly meta  big-picture themes. Lucifer has been a tremendous inspiration for the Inkubus series.

What is the title of your inclusion in Beyond the Veil? How did you come up with the idea for it?
Beyond the Veil includes my novella Dreamers, a surreal fantasy romp through a succubus's world as she struggles to overcome her own fractured psyche on a journey to save a friend.

Dreamers was inspired by a dream I had, in which I was carrying a bloodstained stuffed animal, with the awareness that something inside it was alive. I'm a massive horror fan, so the little gruesome flourishes captivate me. The entire story built from that one idea. You'll see how it fits once you've read Beyond the Veil.

How did you conduct your research for your book?
Internet, mostly. I didn't want as dense a written tone as you often see in historical fantasies, but Dreamers does have historical roots, as substantial portions of it are affected by Aletta's mortal life as a professional ballerina in mid/late 1800s Florence. So for the most part, it was a balancing act between historical detail and my preferred tone, which is more modern, conversational, and streamlined.

Can you give our readers your two favorite lines/quotes from Dreamers?
“I am sex, made flesh. Or at least made dream.” I've used variations of that series stuff for Inkubus, too. It's the perfect summation of the incubi's relationship with lust.

The other one is the scene I've included as my excerpt: Aletta and Han's first real kiss. So much of Aletta's existence is shaped by isolation, so that first moment of them seeing each other... it gets me every time.

What would your friends say is your best quality?
My answer is my empathy. But their answer would probably be my brains. I am obsessive, especially obsessed with contextualizing the world around me. So my friends are treated to an endless series of ruminations on everything from the nature of our society, to its intersections with all of the various 'isms' that govern how we view ourselves and others. It's an exhausting way to live, but it's very intellectually challenging.

Are reader reviews important to you?
Absolutely. Writers and readers alike depend on these reviews to get an idea of what a given book is like. As a reader, I dig for the 3*s, the ones that show both strengths and weaknesses of the book. I avoid reviewing, because those are the reviews I write, and those reviews can be stressful to get as an author. To hear me talk about a book I love, you'd probably conclude I'm giving it 1-2*s lower than I actually would, just because of how deeply I analyze it. 
As a writer, reviews can be a little more fraught. Remember how I said that the writing is a mirror? Well... it's doubly true in a reader's hands. It won't be my own reflection winking back at me, but someone else's, based on how they interacted with the book. And sometimes books don't just click for people. Sometimes it's hard looking at that distorted reflection and missing the one that I see when I look at the work. That's not to say that anyone's wrong... just that sometimes it's hard pouring my soul into a character and hearing that that reviewer just didn't “get” the character. But those are the times when I remind myself that those reviews aren't for me; they're for other readers.

What do you do when you don’t write?
Garden, mainly. I'm a plant fiend. I also am somewhat of a gamer, and a big nerd. Writing takes up the majority of my time, but I try to keep openings in my schedule to enjoy the rest.

Ohhh I love gardening myself! *smiles*
Tell us about your other books?
Well, I write a variety, and a lot. The Inkubus series follows a fantasy world with demonic factions, including the incubi, who are forced to reproduce through mortals to overcome their own sterility. Only the sterility is a lie the other demons are using to keep the incubi distracted and unable to work together, and when it's discovered... well, you'll see. 
I also write another series, Love and Lapdances, following the staff of a strip club as they find romance. On top of that, I've got Princess of Thieves, following Anna, a criminal. I've got several other series in varying stage of rewrites, too: dark romances (Siren, Black Roses), erotic thrillers (Eden's Exiles, Honeypot), and more. Variety's the spice of life, right?

Absolutely!
If you could share one thing about yourself you would like our readers to know, what would it be?
About me? Not really anything coming to mind. About the series? Well, that there's loads more of it. And loads more coming.

Where can readers find your works, do you have a blog or website?
I blog at http://delongkatie.com/, which also has information on all of my writing.

Where else might readers contact you or follow your everyday writing journey?
I suggest readers follow my facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.delong.12 or join my Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/696177510494600/ 
The Honeypots reader group is a great space to follow along with the day-to-day stuff, see previews and teasers, and inspiration. My Facebook tends to have a little more of that internal dialogue I mentioned above, as it's where I share various articles that are food for thought, and that shape the way I approach my characters. Just to warn you, that stuff is not for the faint of heart- I try to include trigger warnings for the worst of it, but you can expect to see some really serious discussions.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Katie. It's been a true pleasure working with you on the Beyond the Veil Boxed Set. I am sure readers will fully enjoy Dreamers.
We are going to leave our audience with a small tease to get them started. Care to give us something steamy? *naughty grin*
Thanks so much for including me!


Dreamers
Excerpt

The concert ends, but neither of us makes an effort to move until the hall is mostly empty. Her eyes are glassy; she still hasn't come back to Earth yet. Finally, she looks at me with large doe-eyes. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I help her to her feet, then put my jacket back on her. She toys with one of its buttons, idly. Then, she speaks. “I know you're capable of understanding what I have to say.” 
I blink, and wait for her to think it through.
 “On the first count, I'm going to arch backward. If you don't catch me, I'll fall.” Her eyes are piercing, but full of faith and temptation. 
I stop fidgeting, uncertain what she's playing at.
She begins the count, her voice breathless and quiet. “Five, six, seven, eight...one.” 
She does exactly what she said, rising to tiptoe, dropping herself backward one vertebrate at a time, her arms above her head. I catch her waist just as her hand grazes the floor and pull her upright, sliding my hand along the length of her spine to make sure her weight is on her feet.
“What was that all about?”
“Trust. Trust in art. In your co-performers. You said ballet bored you. But I don't think you've looked at it from this angle. Dozens of people onstage, performing, frequently disregarding their personal safety to let themselves be caught, or catch. A borderline suicidal, driven version of the beauty that people can create when they abandon their self.”
I lose myself in her voice's purr, the muscles in her back shifting under my hand. 
“Musicians play safely. They don't risk life, limb, and self to bring a performance to life.” She pauses as we step onto the sidewalk, and slips off her heels, tucking them in her purse. She takes my hands, puts them on her waist. “Help me push myself higher.”
“Wha—”
She jumps before I've finished the sentence, entirely too close to me. The motion startles me, and I instinctively tighten my grip on her, relishing her muscles under my palms. 
“Let's try that again.”
This time, I'm prepared. Her muscles work as she tenses in my hands, helping me keep a firm grip on her while she's in the air. 
She's right. It's in her trust. Something that makes me feel as though the orchestra were still playing. As though that moment never ended. 
She takes my hands. “This time, when I jump, push up, and when I let go, catch my shoulders on one of yours, and then put your hands on my waist to control me.” 
I would rather just hold her hands, maybe taste her sweet lips again, but she's animated, and the change is so striking, I can't turn her down. She holds my hands, our palms pressed together at her side, her back to me, that slender frame rubbing against me Then she bends her knees and jumps. 
I push up as she pushes down, and her hips are level with my face. Gravity pulls her back down, and I struggle to recall the rest of her instructions. I lean in, braced for her. Through her straightened arms overlaying my shoulders, dispersing her weight, and my hands, firm on her hips, she comes back to earth slowly, every inch of her sliding against me, toned ass to muscular back. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as her bare toes touch the ground.
“You get it?” There's a yearning in her voice I don't fully understand. 
“I think I do.” 
Her face is relieved, bloodless under her faintly tanned complexion. A smile splits her lips, and she presses them to mine, kissing me with whatever the sexual equivalent of her dancing was. Falling backward into me, trusting me to catch her, to lead her.
Now, as then, I don't have the wherewithal to say no.


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