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The Romance Reviews

Tuesday, 25 August 2015

BAD ALPHA: MANLOVE EDITION #guestspot

Just how sexy is a Bad Alpha?
Find out in BAD ALPHA: MANLOVE EDITION.
Shifters so ruthless they will stop at nothing to protect their pack, these Bad Alphas are
dangerous men with an animal side that rivals their human fierceness. Feared, inked, they take what they want, never give in to their enemies, and think love is for the weak—until they meet
their mate. Are you ready to learn how to tame a savage heart?

Don’t be fooled. These aren’t your usual sugar-and-spice heroes.

Ruthless. Fearless. Scarred, hard, and fully in charge of both their human and animal sides. These bad
Alphas aren’t the kind to take prisoners or believe in love—until they meet their mate.

With seven stories from authors such as James Cox and Doris O’Connor, Bad Alpha: Manlove Edition features Alpha shifters who do whatever it takes to survive and protect their pack. Bear, wolf, pit bull, the animal doesn’t matter as long as the Alpha is pitiless enough to do his job. It’s a hard life and doesn’t leave much room for love, until each Alpha stumbles across his male mate in locations
ranging from a Victorian London alley to a modern biker bar.

Bad Alpha: Manlove Edition will be released with its sister publication Bad Alpha. Both anthologies will be available from Evernight Publishing on August 20th,  2015 and from online retailers from August 21st.




“Bully Boys” by Nicola Cameron

When Victorian solicitor Arthur Finter is forced to cut down a dangerous London alley after
work, he stumbles upon pit bull shifter Alpha Gunner Jones in the middle of a dogfight with a
rival shifter pack. The hardnosed bully boy scents Arthur and recognizes him as his mate,
but will events orchestrated by the other pack separate them before Gunner can lay final
claim?

“The Alpha’s Assassin” by Doris O’Connor

Bear shifter Zayden Reid makes his living doing what he does best—killing people. The sought
after assassin doesn’t have to think twice when he’s offered a lot of money to kill the Alpha of a
wolf pack, until he scents his mate. As the Alpha of his pack Quinton Thorn is used
to giving orders. He may be gay, but that doesn’t mean he’s weak, and he’ll squash any
challenge to his leadership with ruthless efficiency. When the threat comes from a
source he trusts, however, can he afford to give into his feelings for his mate, knowing that he’ll
endanger everyone under his protection?

The mating bond cannot be denied, no matter what the consequences, and they might well
kill.

“Discarded Pup” by Angelique Voisen

Betrayed by his beta and abandoned by his pack, Cole Reyes wasted the last ten years of
his life rotting behind bars. A cage is no place for a wolf, and wounds left open, fester. Cole
has zero tolerance for mercy. The time Cole spent in prison didn’t just bleed out all the
decency he once possessed. It broke him. Made him hard and unforgiving. Cole’s vengeance
starts now, beginning with his beta’s new toy.

“Yellow Eyes” by Gale Stanley

The brutal war between shifters and humans is over, but each side still sees the other as a
threat. The only thing they can agree on, is that they can’t agree. Humans live east of the
bridge, shifters live west. Camden is a halfbreed, the product of a rape that happened
during the war. Neither side wants him, but he lives with his human mother. The night she dies, Camden goes west looking for revenge. He knows he won’t find his father, and he’ll
probably get himself killed, but he doesn’t care. As long as he takes a shifter with him, he’ll die
happy.

Wyat is alpha of the pack living in the west. He’s a warrior who believes in separation of the races.
Then on the night of the full moon, he discovers a half-breed hiding in the alley. The man’s scent
makes him burn with lust, and against his better judgement, he takes him home—and discovers
that sleeping with the enemy might just lead to a better future.

“Destined” by L.D. Blakeley

Caleb Stokes has had a shit night. Too bad catching his boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the
club DJ isn't the worst thing he’ll witness before the night is through.

Marick Gevrees has no time for romance. He has even less time for a tipsy twink looking for a man
to fill some Daddy fetish. But what the hell is he supposed to do when said twink wanders headlong
into the middle of a bloody vendetta that could result in the exposure of his clan?

“Trouble” by James Cox

Tremarc is sleeping his way through the entire Bear Shifter Clan. He’s sent to the moon, under
the colonized dome to stay out of trouble. When he meets sexy alpha Lyon and his mated human,
Quinn his life takes a sharp turn that may just find him his happy ending or get him kicked out
of yet another bear shifter clan.

“Outlaw Wolf” by Elizabeth Monvey

Dekker ran away from his pack in an order to protect his lover and Alpha, Grey, when he
overheard two higher ranked wolves talk about killing him. When Grey finds him six months later, Dekker tries to convince the man he loves to go away. But Grey won’t take no and as the two talk it out, their mutual attraction overwhelms them. In desperation, Dekker renounces Grey as his
Alpha. But when another force tries to punish Dekker by silencing him forever, Grey must
choose which stand he’ll take…being the alpha for all his pack, or being the man Dekker needs,
even if it means breaking the rules.


Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Doris O'Connor - Panther Magic #Giveaway

Doris O'Connor is spoiling us today with an excerpt from her new release and a giveaway...


Thanks so much for having me on your blog today with my new release, Panther Magic, book five in The Projects series. :) 

Famous magicians Zeb and Arran Harris are at the end of their current tour, and kicking back at the spa-with-a-difference when they scent their mate. The fiery Zeb is all for swinging the delicious human morsel over his shoulder and stalking off with their prey, but his more level headed and five minutes younger twin Arran urges caution.
After all, as responsive as Kate seems to them, she is human, and there is the small matter of her animosity toward all things magic.
Magic is in the brothers’ blood as much as their need to shift, and as their mate and sub, Kate will have to accept all of them.
A slow seduction is what’s needed, but when circumstances force the brothers’ hand, that plan goes out of the window and their animal instincts take over with disastrous results.
It’s just as well Kate has spirit, because she has to rescue her Sirs right back.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and get somewhat hot and bothered, because when these three get together, they ignite the pages.

Blurb:
There’s no such thing as magic…
Kate doesn’t believe in it, let alone the panther sort Arran and Zeb Harris are famous for. Using animals in their act is just downright cruel. If only she could convince her libido of that. Instead she seems to have fallen head over heels in lust with those sex-on-legs twin brothers. Getting laid will cure this, surely?
When panther shifters Arran and Zeb scent their mate, they know they’ll have a fight on their hands. The delectable human morsel might be submissive, but Kate has spirit, never mind the small matter she has no idea shifters exist.
They want her submission freely given and not forced upon her by the mysterious mating bond. However, when their panthers kill while rescuing Kate, that bond might well be the only thing to keep them alive.
It’s up to Kate to save her Sirs.

Buy it from Evernight  ARe  Bookstrand  Amazon  B&N

Adult Excerpt:

Sirs, are we going to play—now?” The words came out hesitant, but her breathing sped up when Zeb walked toward her and placed the end of his crop under her chin to nudge her head up. He slowly ran it along her throat, rested it on each of their bite marks and then trailed it along her collarbone and into the valley of her breasts.
I thought we might, unless you have any objections?”
Kate shook her head and whispered a shaky, “No, Sir.”
Good girl.” Zeb trailed the tip across her lace covered breasts, and over each nipple in turn, and Kate gasped and tried her best not to squirm.
Arran barely managed to hold in a groan of his own. It was incredibly erotic watching their girl reacting to his brother’s strokes against her flesh. Her skin took on the rosy glow of arousal, and her nipples firmed into hard buds that strained against the delicate blue lace covering them. Zeb nudged her knees apart further with his foot, and traced the tip of the crop over her quivering abdomen and down to her delectable wet pussy. The fabric covering her slit darkened further, and Arran’s nostrils flared as the sweet musk of her arousal filled the air. His cock jerked, and he stroked along his length to give himself some relief.
Zeb looked back at him and smirked, and mimicked Arran’s actions on his own dick. Kate licked her lips when she noticed, and moved toward Zeb, but he brought the riding crop down between her legs. It flicked across her wet slit, and Kate jumped and moaned. It was such a deep throated sound that Arran’s balls drew tight, and he fisted himself harder.
Such a naughty girl we have. So wet for us already, so eager for a cock, aren’t you? Tell me, wildcat, how badly do you want my cock?”
Zeb took himself in hand more firmly as he spoke to her, and Kate’s gaze seemed riveted to the action of his hand going up and down his shaft. Arran fisted himself faster, as Kate’s pink little tongue dipped out and licked her lips. Drops of pre-cum emerged from the tip of his cock, and he rubbed his thumb over his wet slit, and used the natural lubrication to fist himself harder. It felt way too good, and his grunt of pleasure brought Kate’s attention back to him.
Zeb laughed when he noticed.
Or perhaps you want my brother’s cock?”
Kate looked between them, and she nodded.
What’s that, girl? I can’t hear you. Which cock do you want? Mine or Arran’s, or perhaps you want both?”
Arran and Kate both groaned in unison, and Zeb’s grin deepened. His sadistic brother always did get a kick out of playing mind games, and seeing both Arran’s and Kate’s discomfort no doubt turned him on.
Hmm, perhaps you’ll get your wish, and we’ll fill all your holes today. Would my little wildcat like that?”
A moan was his only answer, and without warning Zeb brought the riding crop down across her thigh. Kate yelped, and a red thin stripe appeared across her pale flesh immediately. Zeb repeated the action to her other leg, and tears sprang into Kate’s eyes, yet her sweet musk increased tenfold, and Arran’s beast near salivated at tasting the bounty between her legs.
Yes, Sir, please, anything … I’m yours.”
Kate’s whispered reply was music to Arran’s ears, and Zeb winked at him.
Good girl, you best start with my little brother then. He looks about ready to explode.”
Kate’s gaze sought Arran’s, and the love and need to please that shone out of her right now meant the world to him. She made to rise, but Zeb’s heavy hand on her shoulder stopped her.
Who said anything about getting up, girl? I want you to crawl, and swing those hips and tits. Give Arran a show, and then suck him good. I don’t want to see a drop of his cum spilled, do you hear me?”
Yes, Sir.” Kate’s eager reply and the speed with which she complied meant that Arran had to pinch the bottom of his shaft to stop himself from shooting his load like some inexperienced teenager. He was so fucking close already, and judging by the wicked grin on his brother’s face Zeb knew that, too. He mentally flipped his brother the finger, and then concentrated on the poetry in motion that was Kate crawling toward him. With an inherent grace that would have done any cat shifter proud she put one hand in front of the other, and slid her knees across the soft carpet, while swinging her hips from side to side.
Zeb’s face dropped, and he seemed unable to tear his gaze away from her ass. Zeb had always been an ass man, and seeing her pale globes so beautifully presented to him, had to be torture for his brother. Served the bastard right.
All conscious thought fled Arran’s brain when Kate reached him, looked up at him from under her naturally long eyelashes, and smiled.
Sir? May I please suck your cock?”

Story Excerpt:
Have you actually seen our act?” Arran’s softly spoken question took the wind out of her righteous sails somewhat, and she tried her best to glare at him, too, which lasted all of two seconds under his quiet regard. One eyebrow rose in query, and with his full mouth set in a grim line, he radiated disapproval, and she couldn’t bring herself to hold his gaze. Instead she shook her head, and she dropped it down to his muscle packed chest, which was not helping one iota. Wrenching her gaze upward again, she finally settled for staring at his jaw. Mind you, that, too, was far too distracting, covered as it was in designer stubble. It simply drew her attention to his strong neck and the way his Adam’s apple moved as he spoke, even more softly this time. There was no mistaking the edge to his words though that made her want to sink to her knees and apologize.
She once heard it said that a true Dom didn’t need to raise his voice, and she’d never truly understood that until this moment, and they weren’t even in a scene. Lord help her if they ever were.
So, tell me, sweet thing, how can you form an opinion on how we treat the animals we use if you’ve never seen us in action?”
Kate wanted the ground to swallow her up whole. He had a point there, she guessed, but, bugger it all to hell and back if she was going to admit that.
She settled for shrugging her shoulders, and jumped when Zeb grasped her chin and thus gave her no choice but to look up at him.
Give us the courtesy of looking at us when you condemn us without knowing all the facts, girl. Shrugging your shoulders like that is downright rude, and I think you know what happens to rude girls. If you think yourself safe from recriminations, because we’re in a public space, then think again. I have no compunction of putting you over my knee right now.”
Natasha’s loud gasp broke the tense moment, and Zeb smiled and released her as abruptly as he had grasped her.
“Sorry, Sir.” Kate had to murmur that quiet apology, when the loss of his touch on her skin left her curiously at sea. Approval flashed across his far too handsome features, and Kate got the oddest sensation when she stared into his eyes. They seemed to briefly flash to a soft, glowing yellow, before she blinked, and she looked back into their more usual warm chestnut.
However, Sir,” she said and Zeb frowned and Arran gave a short laugh, and shook his head in what seemed to be wry amusement. “You are not my Dom. I have not agreed to a scene, and if you tried to put me over your knee in any way shape or form without my agreement, public space or not, I’d have you up for an assault charge faster than you can say poor mistreated cat.”
There, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Kate crossed her arms again, in an effort to hide her trembling hands, and focused on Natasha, instead of the two overbearing hunks in front of her. Despite her insides churning like clothes on a spin cycle, her lips twitched at the open mouthed expression on her friend’s face.
Talk about giving her a demonstration to prove the point that submissive didn’t equal doormat. They’d had that discussion only this morning on their way over to the spa. Then again, Kate was the first to admit that she was a rather bratty sub at the best of times.
She’s got you there, bro.” Arran’s amused voice brought Kate’s attention back to him, and she lost herself in the smile he gave her. That smile alone would guarantee that most females would drop their knickers in an instant. Not that she was most females, and besides she wasn’t wearing knickers. Bikini bottoms didn’t count, surely.
I fear we’ve started off on the wrong foot somewhat, and for that I apologize, Kate.” He looked across at his brother and some sort of silent communication seemed to occur between the two men, because Zeb nodded, and he, too smiled, showing a set of even white teeth that must make his dentist very proud of him.
Kate groaned at her thought processes. This was beyond ridiculous, really. Why did these two get to her so much?
There is an easy way of remedying this situation, however,” Arran said. “We would very much like to invite you to come and see one of our performances, as our VIP guests. You and Natasha both.”
He nodded at Natasha, and for the second time in the last few minutes, Kate’s friend looked as though she was going to have a heart attack.
Oh, my, really? We’d love to come, wouldn’t we, Kate? Oh, this is so kind of you, really. Kate will be there, won’t you?”
It was on the tip of Kate’s tongue to deny this assumption, but the way Natasha implored her with her big feline eyes meant that she couldn’t, so instead she just gave a tight nod. Natasha’s squeal rang in her ears, and the two men’s tight shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t even noticed how tense they had become until that moment, and Kate briefly wondered why this seemed to mean so much to them, before she was pulled into a bear hug by Natasha.
Thank you, you’ll love it, you’ll see.” Natasha’s whisper in her ear did nothing to quell the churning in her tummy when she looked across at the two men. Cat that got the cream sprang to mind, and she forced a smile on her lips, when Natasha finally released her, and Zeb and Arran made their goodbyes.
Heat flared up her arms when they both took one of her hands each and bending over them kissed them in an old fashioned gesture that made Kate want to swoon like a Regency heroine in the historical romance novels she liked to read.
Until we meet again,” Arran said.
I’ll look forward to your proper apology then, girl.”
Kate tried to snatch her hand away at Zeb’s outrageous words, but he held firm until she stopped struggling. Only then did he release her hand after he turned it over and dropped a lingering kiss on the rapidly beating pulse in her wrist.
With a smirk to send her bikini bottoms aflame he winked at her, and left her to stare after the departing forms of him and his twin. 

To celebrate the release I’m giving away a $25 Amazon GC and two e-books from my back list. a Rafflecopter giveaway


About Doris:
Doris is a writer of sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get.  From contemporary to paranormal, Sci-fi, BDSM, F/F, M/M, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.
Happily married for the last twenty-five years, she lives with her husband and their brood of nine in a far too small house filled with love, laughter, and chaos.
Stalk her in these places










Thursday, 4 June 2015

Raven McAllan - Taken Identity #NewRelease


Today I have the pleasure of Raven McAllan's company and a sneak peek at her hot, new release...



Thank you for offering to host me on your blog today. Even though this is all about someone stealing your identity I promise I won't steal yours. (I may use your name in a book though.)

Blurb…
When the devastatingly handsome Gray turns up on her doorstep looking for his wife, and calling said wife by Jules name, Jules wondered briefly if she'd landed in an alternative universe. She knows she's not his wife, and so does he. But apparently someone with her name and history is.
Is it a case of coincidence or did his missing wife 'borrow' Jules' life?
Even though the dominant Gray sends her knickers aflame with just one look, with a missing wife in the equation, Jules knows there's no chance of finding out what else he could achieve.
There's only one thing to do—unravel the mystery and try and keep their hands off each other in the meantime. The first may well prove far easier than the latter.

Now how about a wee tease?

Jules walked into the restaurant, her long, tanned legs—courtesy of a certain fake tanning spray—bare, and her feet encased in vertiginous straps that could loosely be called shoes, that she hoped to hell she wouldn’t fall off of. Shoes this high were not made for walking. Showing off legs, looking sexy—she hoped—but not for putting one foot in front of the other and moving. Her short, floaty dress, she prayed hinted at—rather than showed—her body and she’d kept her makeup minimal. She might want a certain part of his anatomy to sit up and beg, but she didn’t want to make it too obvious. She still hadn’t made her mind up if she was stupid, or lacking sense because she fancied the socks off him.
Probably both.
Gray stood up as Jules entered the restaurant and walked towards where he waited. She tried to stop herself from drooling. If she’d thought he was drop-dead gorgeous that morning, when he was tired and irritable—well, she’d been deluding herself. Be still, my heart, she thought flippantly as she took in every last, luscious inch of him.
Bloody hell. I sound like a corny, cheesy chic flick, but sheesh, the man’s dynamite without even trying. Heaven help any woman if he turns on the charm. Seen from a distance, he was pulse jumping. Up close, he was heart attack material. Just that lazy smile, those deep, dark eyes and that sexy mouth were enough to get a girl’s pussy eager for action. And if you added in that tight butt and toned body? Oh my. Jules mentally fanned herself.
She tried not to let any of her X-rated thoughts show as she allowed him to lead her to a deep comfy sofa. The hostess took her serape, and with a slight nod of thanks she held on to the bit of satin and ribbon laughingly called an evening clutch, which held her phone, keys and what her mother called ‘mad money’. Not money to spend madly, but to spend if she or her date got mad and she needed a taxi. A wise woman, her mother. Although she’d never needed to use it yet and didn’t think this would be the first time. She’d tucked the twenty-pound note and a credit card firmly in the inside, zippered pocket of the tiny bag. Jules didn’t go as far as her mum suggested by pinning the note inside her bra. She wasn’t that paranoid.
“Right on time,” she said lightly, as they followed the maître d’ to an intimate bar area. She was impressed and showed it. Jules thought there was no point in dissembling. If you appreciated something, why not show it? “Bloody hell, you are pulling out all the stops.” Nerves and excitement made her chatter nonstop. “Tables are like hen’s teeth here. How on earth did you manage to get a reservation?”
He gave a ghost of a smile. “Insider information. Jeff and I were at school together. I’m part owner of the restaurant.”
Jules considered his statement. Obviously a man of means, which from the top of the range Mercedes she had seen driving away from her gate earlier, to the material and cut of his suit, she had already deduced.
“What do you do for a living?” she asked. “You know what I do, where I live, the fact that I have an impersonator—who may or may not be going to get me into deep, er, um…trouble. But apart from your name, I know next to nothing about you. And as it’s your not-yet-ex-wife who is the one causing any not-yet-seen problems, a wee bit of info wouldn’t be amiss.”
She watched him consider his words. Did he know his nose crinkled when he was deep in thought?
Finally, he spoke. “I’m a businessman. I have very diverse interests, all over the world.”
Jules waited, but the clam impression continued. Well, that tells me a lot. Info central he isn’t. “Hence the restaurant and your visit to Melbourne?” She did her best to prompt him.
“Hence the restaurant and my visit to Melbourne,” he said, and then he gave his drink order to the wine waiter. “Champagne now and the rest I’ll choose when we decide on our meal. Thank you.”
So that, Jules my girl, is all you are going to get, she thought, as he made no move to expound further. A smiling youth of around twenty came over to them and handed a set of keys to Gray. Jules tried not to look as if she wanted to know who he was and why he had what must be Gray’s car keys.
“Jeff’s nephew. I have him on the car hire insurance, so he can help me when needed.”
Obviously he had noticed.
“He’s parked the car and will drive us both back tonight. As a result, I can have a glass of champagne with you.”
Jules looked up at him, not commenting on the inference that they would drive home together, but noticing the way his body moved under the superbly fitted suit as he pocketed the keys.
“Who says I want champagne?” She felt a frisson of excitement run down her spine as he smiled back.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll manage a glass or two. To toast our, shall we say, collaboration?”
I’m a goner. Done and gone. Collaborated, under, over, any which way, I’m your girl. And you are the man. Think, Jules, and not with your hormones. Use your brain. Ask him if he’s spoken to his investigator person.
“Of course.” He answered her question, one eyebrow raised as if to signify his surprise that she’d ever doubted him. “Before I flopped for an hour due to sleep depravation—or tried to. You didn’t make it easy.”
His twinkling eyes made Jules think her first impression—and every one since—had been spot on. Sex on legs!
“Me?” She tried to look innocent, but inside she was shouting, Yay!
“You, and those damn legs to your armpits, and that secret smile you have. I’ve been in a permanent state of arousal since I met you.”
She risked a quick glance towards his crotch. A definite outline of a hard cock showed beneath the material that covered it, and she swore it moved.
“Yeah.” He noticed her look. “Don’t worry. I won’t try to do anything about it—yet. Be warned… When I do, you’ll know about it. It won’t be easy, and you’ll need to be very sure it’s what you want.”

https://www.totallybound.com/taken-identity


Hope you are intrigued now…

Happy Reading,


Love R x

Buy links



Monday, 11 May 2015

#Windborn by Cherie Nicholls

A huge welcome to my mate Cherie Nicholls and her new release :)


Thank you for having me!
Ok this is my book, Wind Born and it’s been a little bit of a labor of love. Those who know me, know that I’m not always able to dedicate the time I’d like to writing. Wind Born has taken me over a year to write, seriously.
But this annoying Air Element just wouldn’t leave me alone, so I was forced to write her story. Man when you’re a High Priestess you sure do expect everyone to do as you say… rude!
Let me introduce you to Aura and her best friend, Luka.

Blurb:
Luka Barend is an alpha lion shifter, member of the Shifter Council, teacher, and big brother. He's also stuck firmly in the “friend zone.” In point of fact he is King of the Best Friend zone. Sometimes it really sucks to be him.
Aura Vietor is a High Priestess, an air elemental witch, and a woman who really, really wants Luka to realize that his best friend is actually a woman, with needs. Many, many dirty needs. Stupid blind lion shifter!

Excerpt:
Luka lay facedown on his bed and wondered, not for the first time, what he could’ve done in a previous life to be cursed with a family like this.
Granted, what with them all being orphaned at young ages and ending up in children’s homes, he’d not had much choice. But still he must’ve really pissed off a couple of gods in a previous life if this crazy menagerie was his punishment.
“So I said to her, ‛Baby, if you’re impressed now, you should see what I can do with it.’ And let me tell you, she was really impressed.”
He looked up at one of his younger brothers and glared. In nature, lions and wolves didn’t mix. Sadly, that wasn’t the case here. He was a lion shifter, and Nate—well, Nate was a pain-in-the-ass wolf-coyote shifter. Another perk of being in an adopted, mixed breed family.
“Is there a reason you’re in my house?”
“Sure.”
He waited, but Nate didn’t seem to want to offer more.
“Nate, it’s been a long day. I’ve been in a council meeting for the last five hours. Tell me why you’re here before I shift and bite your tiny little wolf head off.”
“Seriously, bro, since you made the council, your fun meter has dropped, like, twenty percent.”
“Nathaniel!”
“Geez, chill. I’m here because Aura was looking for you. Something about a ritual and the lake. If she needs a sex sacrifice, I’m totally up for that.”
Luka dropped his head back to the bed and groaned.
“Please tell me you didn’t offer her your services.”
“I thought about it, and then I remembered the last time I kindly offered my time and how it took a month for the green color to fade from my fur.”
“Smart move. I’ll give her a call. Now get out.”
“I’m crashing here tonight,” Nate threw over his shoulder as he headed for the door.
“You have your own place.”
“Yeah, but your place is closer. I mean I’m literally already standing in it. So, win.”
He didn’t argue as Nate closed the door. It was true he did have his own place, but more often than not, Luka would walk into the kitchen to find one or more of his siblings there.
He was sure some psychologists would say it had to do with their childhoods. How losing their parents at such young ages had affected them. Now they would cling together, needing each other’s presence to feel secure and connected.
Personally, he thought that was all crap and they just liked eating him out of house and home.
With a resigned sigh, he rolled onto his back and grabbed his phone off the bedside table.
He punched the quick-dial number and waited for the call to be answered. It didn’t matter that it was near midnight. There wasn’t a worry that he’d wake up the person at the other end. Aura was a night owl, something he’d learned as a kid.
“About goddamn time, freak,” was the greeting he received. As tired as he was, he couldn’t help smiling.
“Sorry if I wasn’t waiting by the phone for your call, hag.”
“What were you doing? Off licking your own ass?”
“No, I was with the council planning our witch hunt.”
“Yeah, like you’d have any chance against us.”
“Us? Who said anything about the others? Nope, we’re just planning on hunting whining air elemental witches.”
“Flea-ridden alley cat.”
“Reject from The Wizard of Oz.
There was silence on the other end for a second before he heard the snorted laugh.
The sound warmed his heart. Aura might be an air elemental witch, a rare breed of witch to say the least. She might even be one of the most powerful magical women in the world. But first and foremost, she was his best friend. And wasn’t that all sorts of fun. Somewhere in their teen years he’d landed not only in the friend zone, but he was in point of fact, king of the best-friend zone. Yay him.
“So what did that boring group of dried up has-beens have to say this time?”
“That group of has-beens is the authority around here, and I happen to be a member, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I told you when they asked you to join that you’d be at least nine hundred years too young. But no, you wouldn’t listen. So deal with it, kitten.”
“No, please, Aura. You’re drowning me with your admiration.”
“Bite me.”
“Only if you ask me nice.”
He heard her breathy laugh come down the line again and willed his body not to react. He’d have more chance swimming up a waterfall.
“So, I hear you were looking for me,” he said, and tried hard to distract his body and the part of him that was getting hard at the thought of her luscious mouth on it.
“Sure was. The full moon is coming.”
“And? Happens all the time.”
“Yes, I know that, o wise one. But this one is different. It’s a blood moon. Rare and very powerful. I need to have a ceremony down at the lake. It’s going to happen, but I figured I should get your approval first, what with you being all council-like now. That way the boring old farts can’t shut me down.”
“You ask so nicely too.”
“You want nice? Okay, fine.” He closed his eyes. He knew what was coming and so did his body. “Please, Luka. Oh, oh, oh, God, please, Luka,” she panted down the line. “I promise to be a good girl, really good…oh, mmm, so good.”
He swallowed hard and forced out a laugh. “You’re getting better at that.”
“I should be. Practice does make perfect.”
That dragged a silent snarl from him. The thought of another man’s hands on what he’d always considered his had his lion pawing to get out.
“Fine, have your little magic show at the lake. But don’t poison the lake, don’t burn anything down, and, Aura, if you really must be naked, at least put up a border spell so I don’t find a group of teenagers all standing there watching you and your coven.”
“Man, Nate was right—you really have lost your fun side. Okay, fine, Mr. Prude. I’ll make sure the poor innocent boys are shielded from our perfection. I guess I shouldn’t really ruin them for all the other women.”
“I appreciate it. Now go away. I have sleeping to do, and your cackle grates on my last nerve.”
“Yeah, love you too, twinkle.”
He hung up, dropped the phone back onto the table, and lay back down.
Luka stared up at the ceiling and wondered again if the gods were messing with him.
© Cherie Nicholls 2015


Author Info:
Cherie Nicholls is an author of Paranormal Romance. By day she is an IT Manager and by night she whips up worlds where alpha men find their mates and people are always more than human.
Cherie was born and lives in London, UK, and is a daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, aunt-in-law, great-aunt, and godmother in an ever-growing family. She has a passion for shifter stories, most any sport and thimbles…don’t ask.


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