Just One Bite - Volume 05

Just One Bite Volume 5

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JUST ONE BITE Volume 5 Copyright © 2011 Respective Authors Cover art by Amanda Kelsey

All Romance eBooks, LLC Palm Harbor, Florida 34684 www.allromanceebooks.com

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events, or locales is coincidental. All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever with out written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First All Romance eBooks publication: November 2011

Table of Contents 1 11 22 31 41 52 62 72 81 91 102 112

At His Knee by Raven Corinn Carluk Two Birds, One Stone by Barbara Elsborg You Will Not Kill Me by Elaine Lowe Red in Tooth and Claw by Kim Knox Going Wild by Jocelyn Michel The Vampire Next Door by Lauren Hawkeye Ownership by Ashlynn Monroe By the Fireside by Shermaine Williams His For the Taking by Angelita Gill This Cowboy Bites by Randi Alexander Every Last Bite by Christine DePetrillo Original Sin by Rosalie Stanton

At His Knee by Raven Corinn Carluk I stalked through the back hall of Blooddolls, chewing my lower lip. The best blood-tender at the hottest vamp bar didn’t get called into a meeting with the owner on a busy Friday night unless something was really important. Surely he wasn’t upset I used psychic powers to increase profits? Dietrich opened the door to the dungeon room before I knocked. The pit of my stomach plunged, and I stared at the elder vampire. If not for high-heeled boots, he’d have been a couple inches taller than me. Dark hair was pulled back from his square face, a few curls escaping. Pale skin, sienna eyes, straight brows, an alluring mouth. Tight black shirt over broad shoulders, leather pants on long legs, bare feet. Luckily I didn’t blush. The attraction was mutual. His aura filled with lust and wonderment. We were frozen in our own world, oblivious to the crowd, captivated by each other. He spoke, breaking the spell with his velvety British accent. “Kae. Please, join me.” Looking down, I walked past him. What had I done wrong? It wasn’t that I didn’t match the aesthetic of Blooddolls; tall, slim, I wore leather and velvet even outside of work. Eyeliner and dark lipstick, a few eyebrow piercings, and skullshaped earrings. I did wear silver jewelry all the time, but the vampires seemed to like my aggression.

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Raven Corinn Carluk Dietrich padded to the only chair. He looked imperial in the throne, very proper. I stood a few feet away, waiting for him to speak. “Sit.” He gestured at the stool beside him. Although not an order, I sensed he wouldn’t accept no for an answer. Better to be at his knee than on the St Andrew’s cross. He was hard to read, somehow shielded against empathy. I kept my eyes down as I sat. The vampire’s aroma enveloped me, and I had to draw my knees close to keep from touching him. We were quiet, the dance music muted by thick walls. Butterflies tortured my stomach as anxiousness built. What the hell did he want from me? “How do you enjoy Blooddolls?” Dietrich finally asked. “It’s fun, and the tips are good.” It wasn’t fun I was here for. “Jeremiah tells me your talents are a boon.” The vampire’s voice curled along my skin. My immediate manager, Jeremiah, had taught me to make proper vampire cocktails. “Seems I’m a natural at mixing blood. Better than him.” “I meant your psychic abilities.” Body stiff, I looked up. Dietrich’s face was passive, emotions merely curious. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I wanted to slap Jeremiah. “He said he wouldn’t tell anybody.” Dietrich smirked. “He didn’t volunteer your secret, but couldn’t hide it when I demanded to know why Blooddolls suddenly tripled its take.” I couldn’t look away as his smile deepened, revealing a curve of fang. “He also mentioned an unusual arrangement.” My jaw clenched. “Giving blood is not part of my employment.”

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Just One Bite: At His Knee He narrowed his eyes, one fang still bared. “Because of your powers?” “Exactly. The other girls need to give themselves up to be popular. I just make everyone enjoy me.” There was a pause of several heartbeats. Dietrich’s voice was aggressive when he continued. “We used to kill psychics who could control us.” Anger and dread rose simultaneously. “I’m not controlling the vampires.” I couldn’t speak above a whisper. “When I say make them enjoy me, I mean just strong suggestions.” Dietrich leaned forward, grasping one of my bracers. Leather laced with silver, it would cause him pain to hold it. My blood turned to ice when he didn’t flinch. “These are slayer bands, slayer magic. Who are you?” I jerked away, and he allowed me to gain my feet. “I’m not here to kill anyone. I’m a bartender, nothing more. And we’re busy, so I have to go.” Fighting back anger, I turned for the door. Dietrich was fast, and suddenly blocked my way. “Not so quickly, little girl. We’re not done yet.” Sienna colored eyes locked onto mine, his entire body tense. Adrenaline filled my veins. I was startled and scared, just a little bit aroused. My corset top was too tight, the room too warm, the vampire too dangerous. “What do you want?” My blood sang as I imagined Dietrich attacking me. Unlike the young vampires who frequented Blooddolls, this immortal was powerful, dominant, and he immediately called to something in me. “I want to know why a slayer is working in my club.” Dietrich stalked toward me, radiating danger. Vampires, like regular men, didn’t attract me. My wants were dangerous and violent, and I wasn’t going to stoop to 3

Raven Corinn Carluk someone who couldn’t satisfy those needs. In twenty-six years, no one had brought out actual lust in me. “I’m not a slayer,” I replied softly, heart racing as I held my ground. “Your gear and power say different.” He was within arm’s distance, close enough to grab me and force me to him. Dietrich flashed fang, voice low. “What are you doing here?” My knees trembled, heat filled my center, and I submitted. “Pissing off my family.” He paused, humor and disbelief replacing the danger. “Come again?” I’d cum as many times as he wanted me to. “My family are slayers. I wasn’t considered powerful enough to be properly trained, so I work for vampires to cheese them off.” He now knew what no one but my aunt knew. “How can I trust you?” The vampire came another step closer. I shrugged, cocking a hip so I wasn’t towering over him. It was hard to act casual around him, to keep my roiling emotions to myself. “How do you trust anyone?” A wicked grin came over his face, fangs gleaming. “You assume I have trust for anyone.” My blood chilled, a lump filled my throat. Gods, I wanted to give myself to him, wanted him to force himself upon me. “What would you have of me?” came my tremulous query. It took supreme effort not to throw myself at his feet. Dietrich wrapped a large hand around my throat, pressing against my protective collar. Pain pulsed through his aura, swiftly followed by pleasure. The vampire was a sadomasochist. “Your acquiescence is easily won.” “Would you prefer I fought?” I pressed against his hand, and blood flow was restricted. My head spun with his rich scent.

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Just One Bite: At His Knee His thumb stroked my pulse, hooded eyes boring into mine. Desire spiked between us, and I bit my lip. “I really think I would.” The vampire’s voice was rich and dark, wrapping itself around my heart. I slapped him, jerking free of his grasp. Slayer training had been denied by my aunt after my parents’ deaths, but I still had some clan memories, a few skills. Dietrich wanted a fight, and I would put up the best struggle I could. He reached for me, using only human speed, and I dodged away. The dungeon was not a large room, twenty feet at its longest, and filled with bondage equipment. Dietrich followed my initial avoidance, and grabbed a handful of my hair. I grunted as he flung me over the sawhorse, padded wood digging into my gut. Springing forward, I flipped over the horse, kicking him in the face. Dietrich grabbed my ankle, halting the rest of my tumble. Clenching my teeth, I swung at him with my free foot. The vampire’s grip loosened, and I squirmed out of the boot. Rolling away, I took the time to remove the other one. Dietrich rushed over and kicked me in the side. I ignored the pain and forced myself to act despite the loss of breath. Wrapping myself around his leg, I bit his calf and punched his kneecap. I tried to hold on as he slipped fingers beneath my collar, taking up all the slack and cutting off my breath. My punches grew weak, and I couldn’t stop him from throwing me toward the rack of whips. The vampire stalked toward me, giving me the heartbeat I needed to recover. Snagging a heavy riding crop, I sprang to my feet and lashed out. The crop caught him in the mouth, splitting his lip. Blood welled, and his aura filled the room. Dietrich was angry and aroused and hungry. My vision swam as my empathy was overwhelmed. I almost submitted to

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Raven Corinn Carluk him then and there, falling to my knees in worship, but he wanted to see how much further this could go. Assuming there would be release in the end, I kept up my attack. I struck again, and he blocked with his forearm. A twist of his wrist, and he wrenched the whip from me. I closed the gap between us, crossing my wrists against his throat, taking big handfuls of his shirt for leverage. The vampire snarled at the pain induced by my bracers, then brought the riding crop down hard on my ass. The initial sting caused me to yelp, then tingling pleasure spread from the spot. I was distracted by the sensation, and did nothing to stop Dietrich from ripping his shirt with his free hand. Cloth came loose, and my grip fell away. My heart skipped a beat when his lean and tattooed torso was revealed. Milky pale skin, tight muscles, a few scars, and a massive black dragon were mine to behold. I was lost. Dietrich struck me again with the crop, on the outside of my thigh, bringing my attention back to our tussle. I punched him, and he grabbed my bracer. Growling, he used my momentum to drive me to my knees. Keeping control of my arm, the vampire stood behind me, holding my chin up with the crop. “For someone not trained, you fight very well.” My heart thundered, and I drew several deep breaths. “Natural talent.” I twisted my wrist toward his thumb, breaking his grip and ducking between his legs. I leapt to my feet, moving to put him in a chokehold. Instead, Dietrich spun and kissed me. Passion had built during our fight, and now threatened to consume the pair of us. My heart raced while the world froze. I clung to the vampire, blind to anything but the touch of his mouth and his heady aroma. 6

Just One Bite: At His Knee I cried out when he wrenched my head back. The collar dug into the nape of my neck, taut against my throat. Dietrich kissed my jaw, my ear, then the silver threads. Empathy told me it hurt, but he didn’t stop. I clawed at his chest, sharing the intensity of the moment. “We didn’t always kill psychics,” he said, nipping at my collarbone. I traced the lines of his abdomen, feverish from the feel of his skin. “Sometimes we set them against our rivals.” “I’m not a slayer,” I whispered, wishing we were naked and alone. “I can’t do those things.” Dietrich bit the top of my left breast, fangs raising welts but not breaking skin. “I can think of better uses for you.” The vampire forced me to my knees, and I sighed as I stared up at him. “But first, you must be bonded to me.” His grip in my hair was forceful, overpowering me. There was no use resisting, and I didn’t want to. “What do I do?” The vampire lifted his forearm to his mouth. He grunted when he bit, and he tugged on my hair. Blood spilled from two deep wounds, and he placed them against my mouth. “Drink of me. Take me into yourself.” Without hesitation, I obeyed him. Dietrich’s blood was the richest elixir I’d ever tasted. I latched onto the wounds, our eyes locked together, and took. Powerful and heady and intoxicating, I couldn’t get enough. The first swallow was bliss, the second was rapture. We groaned as one, still staring. I lifted my hands to cling to him, rocking slightly. I nipped and sucked and tongued the wounds, blood searing my mouth Dietrich shivered, closing his eyes and tipping his head back. He released my hair to stroke my head. I bit hard into his flesh, consumed by hunger. The more I took, the more I wanted. Pressure built, ecstasy filling me with every swallow. Gods bless me and let this never end.

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Raven Corinn Carluk “Enough,” Dietrich whispered. I ignored him and clung to his arm. He groaned deeply, another shiver passing through him. “Kae, enough.” I growled, refusing to stop. The vampire’s power filled me, intensifying every sensation. He tried to pull his arm away, and I clung desperately, rising higher on my knees to follow him. “Enough!” he shouted, grabbing my hair, yanking me away. I cried out in disappointment, meeting his smoldering gaze. Dietrich swooped down and kissed me. His tongue sought the depths of my mouth, aggressive and invasive. I moaned, pressing against his body, wrapping my arms around his torso, longing to pull him down. Having his blood was wonderful, but could not be the end. Every nerve tingled, every sense worked on overdrive, every part of me ached for more. Dietrich was strong and forceful, a perfect match to the rising fire in my soul, to the dark longings I’d always buried. “Can you feel me inside you yet?” he asked, breaking the kiss. The vampire’s mouth caressed my cheek, my jaw, my ear. I sighed when he straightened up. “I do.” When I thought about it, I was aware of Dietrich, our spirits touching. He filled more than my psychic senses, like he was part of my very thoughts. “What is this?” The vampire knelt behind me and pulled me across his knees onto his lap. “A bond. Insuring your loyalty. You cannot lift a hand against me, and you must follow my orders. You will not want to leave me, and my happiness will be your happiness.” Dietrich continued touching me, hands tight on my waist, mouth seeking bare skin. Most people would have been upset at being forced into bondage. I’d never planned it or thought about it, but being on Dietrich’s leash seemed wonderful right now. As his presence 8

Just One Bite: At His Knee surrounded me, I felt safe and secure. I was his, and was happy to be so. The vampire kissed the back of my shoulder, pulling me tight against him. I sighed softly, stroking his arms, writhing in his lap. Dietrich opened his mouth, fangs touching my skin, and I stiffened in anticipation. Working with vampires because it upset my stodgy old aunt didn’t mean I let them feed. I understood the bite was supposed to be pleasurable, but that there was pain as well. How would I react? Would I become a groupie like some of the waitresses? Would I hate it or love it? Dietrich paused, lifting a hand to my chin, tipping my head back onto his shoulder. “You’re a complete virgin?” His disbelief and wonderment made me blush, took me temporarily out of the moment. I nodded, unable to look at him. Not that the bond of blood would let me entirely avoid him. “Then it shall be done proper for your first time. Remove your collar,” he said with a hungry growl. My skin prickled as I obeyed. The clasp came undone quickly, and I shivered when his breath touched exposed skin. “You’re frightened.” Dietrich licked the back of my neck. “Yes,” I admitted. The high from his blood was leveling out, though my senses were still overly sharp. Every touch thrilled me, aimed straight for my core. Fear competed with desire to keep my heart racing. Dietrich cupped my chin and jaw, his index finger sliding into my mouth. I licked and sucked his fingertip, and he shuddered. “You’re going to like this.” His mouth was chilled when it descended to my neck. I moaned, his tongue tracing a tiny circle on my skin, his finger probing deeper into my mouth. Pleasure raced along my skin, and I couldn’t catch my breath. Dietrich’s other hand locked onto my hip, pulling me hard against his erection.

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Raven Corinn Carluk His fangs pressed into my skin, and I stiffened. He gripped me harder, holding me still, and bit slowly. There was pain and pressure, like getting a piercing, but more forceful and much larger. My breath caught in my throat, whimpers threatening to rise. Dietrich was glacially slow. His fangs felt enormous as he penetrated me, invaded me. Flesh parted beneath his razor teeth. The vampire was torturing me, and it stoked my desire. When he pierced the vein, I climaxed. He groaned with the first taste of blood, and writhed with me. I moaned and bucked, rapture taking over. There was no fear or pain, just wave after wave of heated pleasure. Dietrich and I clutched at each other, my nails digging into him, my bracers burning him. The vampire drank slowly, driving his fangs deeper, searching for my limits. As I kept cumming, I knew I had none. He could have everything about me. He continued to drink, and I continued to experience ecstasy. I moaned, and he growled, and we were one. Time meant nothing so long as he fed. I grew weak, my moans quieter, and Dietrich ended his pull. The vampire withdrew his fangs, and I lolled in his grasp. He kissed my neck and shoulder, wrapping both arms around my torso. My eyes refused to open as I turned my head toward him. Dietrich’s kiss was delicious and coppery, and wrested a sigh from me. Nerves still quivered with pleasure and my breath was ragged. His bite was better than I’d ever expected. “You’re my Kae now,” he said, cradling me close. I nodded, floating in languorous darkness. “Yes. Always yours.”

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Two Birds, One Store by Barbara Elsborg Emma fidgeted at the back of the room well out of everyone’s way. She tried to look eager and attentive as Mr. White spoke, but her gaze slid first to his silver wings and then to the line of instructors standing behind him. One guy was new, all long and lean and luscious, resting with one foot propped against the wall. He had short black hair, the darkest eyes she’d ever seen and a ferocious scowl on his stubble-shadowed face. Sadly, the scowl was directed at Emma. “You are the fortunate few,” said Mr. White. “Our society’s elite.” Emma tuned back in, but she knew it all by heart. Twelve weeks of the same thing, she could have made the speech for him. “You’ll be the winged sentinels of our community, upholding the law and righting wrongs.” She tuned out again. Emma didn’t understand why there needed to be any upholding of the law in Heaven. Wasn’t this where good people came? But then Heaven hadn’t turned out to be as she’d imagined. Towering accommodation blocks, traffic jams and bad tempers. Very few up here had wings to get around and Emma had been told on arrival, she was one of the blessed ones. The birds of paradise. Except she wasn’t, because despite weeks of training, with no sign of a single feather, she was beginning to think someone had made a mistake about where she belonged. First thing when she woke, Emma checked for horns and a tail. As Mr. White finished speaking, Emma couldn’t help but notice the speed with which the instructors picked their 11

Barbara Elsborg trainees and avoided her. The scowling guy was left with no choice and walked over looking as though he’d found chewing gum stuck to his shoe. “Dex,” he snapped. “Emma.” “Get on with it.” She bit back her retort about him taking a flying leap and leaned over, hands on her knees, imagining feathers sprouting from her back to poke him in the eye and anywhere else it might hurt. In no time at all, gray wings fluttered all over the room and it slowly emptied as excited trainees went for their first flying lesson. Emma straightened. Dex circled her. “What’s wrong with you?” Bastard. “Nothing.” For the last twelve weeks she’d passed everything with flying colors—except the flying part. “A level nine angel and no wings?” he barked. “Of course there’s something wrong with you. Allergic to feathers?” “No.” “Scared of heights?” “No.” “Good. This way.” Emma followed his lovely butt up the stairs. Apart from his sunny personality, Dex was exactly her type. Tall, slim hips, long legs and bitten fingernails—like hers. “So how did you end up here?” she asked. He came to such an abrupt halt, she almost nose-dived into his backside. Emma reared away as he turned. Oh, eye level with his crotch. That bulge…She dragged her gaze to his face. “I died,” he said through gritted teeth and carried on up the stairs. 12

Just One Bite: Two Birds, One Stone Emma sighed. “Me too.” Dex’s shoulders shook. Amused or aggravated? She followed him out onto the flat roof and exhaled at the view. The highest she’d been. Gleaming towers of glass and steel pierced a pristine blue sky. Everything here was brighter and clearer. Emma gulped when she looked at Dex. His wings were out, dazzling white and tipped with cobalt blue. Her stomach lurched with longing for him and his wings. Dex walked to the edge of the roof and beckoned. As she stood by his side, his breath washed her cheek and Emma swallowed to bring moisture back into her mouth. When he slid his hand gently down her back, her lungs stopped working. He’s going to kiss me! He smiled and pushed her off the roof. Emma squealed as she fell like a stone.

Dex had hoped the shock would make her wings come straight out, but it didn’t. Shit. He folded his feathers close to his body and zoomed down. Emma was flapping her arms, which made him smile. She was kind of cute, if he’d been interested, which he wasn’t. Though his cock seemed to disagree. But Dex liked petite and curvy blondes, not tall chicks with spiky dark-red hair and problems. Not that he’d been near any bird since he arrived here a year ago. He’d refused to train any female until Mr. White had threatened to ground him if he didn’t. Dex put on an extra burst of speed and scooped Emma into his arms before she fell into the fountain. The downdraft drenched those sitting around the rim. Dex winced as they yelled and then braced himself for the anticipated blast of abuse from Emma. She beamed at him, one hand around his neck twisting his hair in her fingers, her eyes wide open and greener than they 13

Barbara Elsborg had any right to be. “Can we do that again? How many fountains are there in the city?” A snort of laughter escaped his lips. “Sorry it didn’t work though,” she said. “But when you think about it, what was there to be scared of? I’m already dead.” Dex was impressed. That she could lose her fear so fast confirmed she was special. “You can still damage your body.” Which was true. “But healing is long and painful.” Which was not. Her mouth curved in a grin. “I trust you to catch me. Fly as high as you can—er—unless your middle name’s Icarus.”

Emma was still whooping with joy the tenth time he dropped her. Dex’s heart pounded harder and harder as he left the catch later and later. Finally, he gave up on her wings and carried her to his apartment. He landed on the balcony, retracted his feathers and with reluctance put Emma down. She felt right in his arms, fitted perfectly against him and every time he’d scooped her up, she’d laughed so hard she made him grin. It was a long time since he’d smiled as much. “How long do I have to wait to get a place like this?” she asked as he ushered her inside. “As soon as you can fly and you’ve completed the rest of your training. You can recreate the home you left behind or go for something different.” Emma turned in a circle and he watched her take in his photographs, stacks of CDs, DVDs, books, his game system, the tatty red couch and huge flat screen TV. “You brought your old life with you.” “Not all of it,” he mumbled.

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Just One Bite: Two Birds, One Stone Emma dropped onto the couch. “It’s lovely in here, and nice not to be surrounded by people. Mr. White says they’ve never had anyone who’s had to repeat the training as many times as me. I really hate it when a new lot arrive at the dormitory and they’re all upset and keep going over and over why they died and fretting about those they left behind. I’ve heard so many sad stories it’s a wonder I’m not clinically depressed. I’m desperate that my wings come out.” Dex sat next to her, his thigh resting against hers. “Maybe that’s what it is. You’re too desperate. You need to relax. You need distracting.” Emma turned and smiled. “Are you volunteering?” Dex was pretty sure what he had in mind wasn’t in the training manual—not that he’d read it all. Seven hundred and thirty-two pages? Her green eyes stared steadily into his and he watched them mist over, change from teasing playfulness to something more serious. “I could try,” he murmured. “Uh? I’ve forgotten what I said,” she whispered. He moved closer. “Distraction.” She moved closer. “Oh yeah. That’s kind of you.” “One kiss. How can it hurt?” He slipped his hands around her throat and traced the line of her jaw with his thumbs. Nine months, three weeks, two days since…but he wasn’t counting. Dex tipped his head, pulled her lips against his and was lost. She melted against him, dissolved into him, and slow and hot turned fast and greedy in an instant. The taste of her made his head spin. The feel of her tongue dipping into his mouth sent his pulse rate into orbit. Dex was dimly aware they were ripping the clothes from each other, fingers tearing at buttons, hands yanking down pants, mouths always linked. His erection was rock hard, cradled against her 15

Barbara Elsborg soft belly. Then they fell off the couch onto the floor and all he could think about was touching her everywhere, kissing her everywhere, licking her everywhere. Emma smelled so sweet that every cell in his body felt electrified. Her breasts were small and round, topped with dusky nipples and tasted like—Oh God—they taste of life. Memories flooded back, need roared like a lion and Dex gulped air he no longer needed. “I haven’t since—we don’t…need anything, do we?” she whispered. Dex shook his head. No disease. No kids. Pure decadent pleasure. He cupped her breasts in his palms. “You’re beautiful.”

No one had ever said that to her before, not even to her breasts, and Emma bit back her gulp. When Dex took her nipple in his mouth and sucked, she pressed her thighs together to contain the rush of hot pleasure. Emma was desperate for him to be inside her. His fingers danced over her belly and slid between her legs. His groan almost made her come. “You’re so wet,” he whispered. He pushed one finger inside her and Emma whimpered. Two fingers and her back arched. More, more, more. He played with her clit—rubbing, stroking and teasing while her orgasm built. “I can’t wait any longer,” Dex said with a low moan. He slipped his hands under her hips and slid into her in one long, hard, deep thrust. Emma came in an instant, her muscles spasming around his cock as stars burst in her head. Wow wow wow wow wow.

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Just One Bite: Two Birds, One Stone “Don’t close your eyes,” he murmured and Emma forced her lids open. Dex smiled and reached for her hands, entwining his fingers with hers as he began to move. He watched her face as he rocked into her and Emma stared into his dark eyes, black as obsidian. She lifted her hips into his thrust, tightening her muscles around him before he pulled back to drive forward again. “Oh God,” Dex panted, his face taut with strain. Emma could feel something sparking inside her and groaned. Every thrust seemed to take him deeper. Every withdrawal, she wanted him back. Emma had never made love like this before, eyes open, hands together, with such an awareness of the other person. “Fuck, fuck, I can’t—” Dex gasped. One long, deep plunge drew cries from them both and she felt the warm spurt of his cum as orgasm rolled over her again, rushing through her blood, down every limb, carrying her on a rolling wave of adrenaline. Dex shuddered as he emptied himself inside her and Emma felt every pulse, every jet. He held himself above her for a long moment, staring into her eyes and then rolled so she lay on top of him, his cock still wedged inside her. Dex’s hands slid across her back, paused between her shoulder blades and with a sinking feeling, Emma remembered what this had been about. Distraction. Her wings. She buried her face in the hollow between his neck and shoulder and blinked back tears. This wasn’t about love. “Why are you here?” Dex whispered. “What happened?” “Promise not to laugh?” “Promise.”

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Barbara Elsborg “Some moron threw a frozen chicken out of his window and it hit me on the head.” Emma could feel Dex shaking. “You’re laughing. Liar.” She tried to push herself up but he held her down and then drew circles on her back. “I’m trembling in indignation,” he said. Emma elbowed him in the chest and he grunted. “How about you?” she asked. Dex’s fingers froze mid-circle. Emma sighed. She got that he was sensitive about the way he’d died, but— “Emma, there’s something here.” She jolted and twisted round. “Oh my God, what? Where? A demon? A zombie?” He rolled his eyes and peered over her shoulder. “Ah.” Emma chewed her lip. “Is that ah—pathetic, or ah— magnifico?” His lack of response was her answer. “Mirror?” she whispered. Dex lifted her off his cock, stood and pulled her to her feet. He tugged her toward the far wall. When Emma stood in front of the mirror, staring at her tousled hair and flushed face, and Dex’s tight mouth, she was afraid to turn. She already knew she didn’t have proper wings because she couldn’t see them hanging on either side of her body. She took a deep breath, faced Dex and then looked over her shoulder. Disappointment flooded her heart. The two clumps of fluffy feathers nestling between her shoulder blades vaguely resembled the ugly wings of giant baby birds. Emma swallowed hard. “Well, at least I know now. There must have been a mistake about my classification. Probably because I was killed by a chicken.” 18

Just One Bite: Two Birds, One Stone “Hey.” Dex pulled her into his arms and Emma let herself sag against him. “They’re kind of cute.” “No they’re not. I can’t fly with these.” He held her out, his hands cupping her face and looked into her eyes. “Then fly with me.” And Emma did—several times until they slumped into an exhausted sleep, tangled in each other’s arms.

Emma woke to find herself lying face down in bed. She was pressed up against Dex who rested on his back, his hand clasping her butt even in sleep. Dawn was breaking, the room suffused with a golden glow. As was Emma. Dex was inventive, attentive and very impressive. She’d come so many times she’d lost count. Now she ached. All over. Particularly her back. She rolled her shoulders and jumped as something clattered to the floor behind her. God, is someone there? Whoever it was had a great view of her bare bottom. Emma turned and heard another crash from the other side of the room. She tried to burrow under Dex. “There’s someone in here with us.” “What?” He lifted his head and reared up. “Fuck!” Emma jolted and watched in horror as a lamp, book and glass of water sailed off a bedside table. “Don’t move,” Dex blurted. Emma whipped round and Dex ducked as a large white wing whistled over his head. “I’ve got wings!” she squealed. “Keep still,” he begged. Emma tensed, tried to bring her wings in, shot straight up to the ceiling, hit her head and then tumbled down to land in 19

Barbara Elsborg an untidy heap of feathers on the bed, dragging a wall painting and the light shade down with her. “Ouch.” Dex wrapped his arms around her. “Sorry, sorry,” Emma blurted. He grinned. “You did it!” Emma’s wings curled in and she gasped when she saw the cobalt blue tips. “Hey, they’re like yours.” Dex’s wings unfurled gracefully behind him and wrapped around both of them. “Exactly like mine,” he said.

He couldn’t believe how much he wanted her. Dex hadn’t felt this strongly about anything or anyone since he realized he was dead. He’d drifted in a morose sulk watching others learn how to be happy again and knowing that would never be him. Women were treacherous. A lesson learned too late. He’d been wrong. Emma was the first he’d wanted to be with and now he didn’t want to let her go. She’s my last, my forever. Dex kissed her. Once he started, he found it impossible to stop. All teeth and lips and tongues, they were smiling, laughing and kissing all at the same time. Their wings brushed together, tip to tip, in their own intimate embrace. Sensation heightened, every molecule of his body headed toward orgasm. When he touched her soft folds with one of his primary feathers, Emma gave such a cry of joy, his heart ached. His cock was painfully hard, desperate for her warmth and as he sank into her, Dex whispered, “I love you.” Emma’s eyes opened wide and he saw her response in her smile. 20

Just One Bite: Two Birds, One Stone They began to move like seasoned lovers, intuitively matching the other’s rhythm, building like a piece of music to a crashing finale, sliding fast and shallow, deep and slow until neither could hold back. Emma cried out loudly as she came and Dex exploded into her and felt her milk him of everything he had. Speaking was beyond them for a while. Wings joined, bodies pressed together along their lengths, Dex was finally in heaven. Emma stroked his face, ran her fingers around his chin, over his lips, down his throat. “Why are you here?” she whispered. “My girlfriend…killed me.” He exhaled. The first time he’d admitted it, even to himself. “Deliberately?” Emma asked. “She hit me with her car and reversed over me twice. Seemed deliberate.” “Unless she was a terrible driver. I can’t parallel park to save my life.” Emma winced. “She was sick, thought I was cheating on her. I’d never do that. She wasn’t thinking straight.” Emma clutched his fingers. “And part of that was my fault,” he whispered. “I should have made her get help. Instead, I wanted to walk away.” “You paid a heavy price.” Dex ran his finger across her lips. “I thought so. I don’t think that now.” His phone rang and when it didn’t stop, Dex reached out a hand and drew it to his ear. “What?” “How’s it going with Emma?” asked Mr. White.

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Barbara Elsborg Dex smiled. “I’m still working on her. Could take some time.” He dropped the phone.

Mr. White turned to The Boss who sat opposite. “You were right about putting them together. She’s made him happy. He’s brought out her wings.” The Boss smiled. “Two birds with one stone.” Mr. White rolled his eyes. The Boss did like his clichés.

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You Will Not Kill Me by Elaine Lowe When Ellen Davies married Nicolai Romanescu the ceremony was unremarkable. It had been in the morning, before she’d taken her vows, when the odd thing had occurred. Nicolai’s only family to attend the ceremony, a wizened old aunt who spoke not a word of English, visited Ellen. The aunt had smiled after a long, silent appraisal of Ellen, and then she had handed Ellen a note written on fine parchment in a neat but archaic looking script. Ellen spoke only a little bit of Romanian from what Nicolai had taught her during their long and passionate courtship. The note said something to the effect of, “The leash of the demon is in the heart.” Ellen had nodded sagely, utterly confused. The aunt’s brown eyes sparkled as she muttered something that Ellen had taken to be a blessing, and then she had left without another word. And then, Ellen had married the man she’d loved from the moment he’d smiled at her in the Accademia in Florence. He was brilliant and charmingly awkward, with wild hair, stormy grey eyes and a grin that never failed to make her heart flutter. As a studious, homely girl with plain brown hair and a ruddy complexion, she’d thought him a foolish fantasy, that she was deluding herself with impossible dreams of love. She was an old maid, already twenty-five with too much invested in acquiring education and too little invested in acquiring a husband. But he had followed her to England, courting her and her family both, encouraging her efforts to become a doctor despite Edwardian strictures. He loved both her body and her mind, and she adored 23

Elaine Lowe him fiercely. Now, they were married, and he was hers, and they were so very happy. Months had passed, and he’d changed. He had grown more aggressive in life and in bed, though he’d never hit her. But he was more forceful in his academic arguments with colleagues in mathematics, and he’d destroyed a desk by punching a hole through it in the middle of making a point. He was constantly hungry and thirsty, but no amount of food or drink could sate him. She’d found him one day in the larder, staring at a raw side of venison and salivating, licking his fingers of blood he’d gathered from it. He never seemed tired, and heard the faintest whisper of sound. He worshiped her in bed, or in a chair, or over his desk, never letting her alone for more than a few hours – not that she complained. But it was not the normal sort of actions for a gentleman. She was equal parts fascinated, awed and terrified for the man she loved. Finally, after weeks had passed and he began to shy away from being outside during the light of day, she got up the nerve to ask Nicolai what the warning from his aunt might have meant. Then, he’d paled and shut himself away, and told her to leave him for dead. And she’d begun her research. The first time she’d forced her way inside his chambers, he’d begged her to leave, to not look at him and be repulsed by his shark-like teeth and razor sharp nails. He’d pleaded with her to go before he hurt her. But he was still within the altered shell, still her Nicolai. She pushed past the need for sleep and spent hours laboring over a medication to reduce the blood cravings that were driving him insane. The second time she’d come, she’d broken a window and climbed in to see him sitting in the corner, rocking back and forth and muttering to himself in Romanian. She had a gun in one hand, but she’d prayed to whatever gods would listen that she wouldn’t have to shoot her husband. He’d looked through 24

Just One Bite: You Will Not Kill Me her as though she was an apparition. “Nicolai, I need a sample of your blood. I’ll have something to help soon, I swear.” At the sound of her voice, his eyes grew huge and dark, and he looked at her with an aching need that she knew was not only about blood. “You…you are my mate.” His voice rippled with deep, ancient power, and she’d felt herself grow slick and wet in instant response to her lover. “Yes.” She’d whispered, and in an impossible moment he was on his feet, circling around her, not touching her but surrounding her with the sense of his power. He moved like a big cat. She was prey and she shivered with what should have been fear, but wasn’t completely. “You desire me.” His voice was next to her ear, and promised a slow, sweet death full of pleasures untold. “Always.” She did not think lying to him would change her fate. He was on his knees at her feet, his head buried against her skirts, his nose pressing into the parted lips of her quim. He inhaled deeply, his hands pinned her hips, sharp nails pricking her skin through the layers of fabric. She knew she was aroused, and more than that, her monthly was due, the scent of blood strong on her. Before she could think to flee, to try to escape, his nails had sliced through the fabric of her skirts, and with impossible strength he tore away anything that separated him from her core, leaving red scratches against her skin and wrenching a shocked scream from her throat. But his tongue snaked between her thighs, finding her nub and sucking hard. As she widened her stance, helpless against his actions, his fingers, nails once again short, thrust deep inside her sheath. With all the knowledge of her body, he licked 25

Elaine Lowe and thrust and pressed within her like a maestro, until she came shuddering, his name on her lips. He leaned back on his heels to stare into her face, his fingers in his mouth sucking on his illgotten gains, his eyes shifting between grey and black faster than she could imagine. “Nico…” He stood rapidly, his voice still that rippling weapon, “I’m not Nico. I’m not human.” “You are Nicolai Romanescu, my husband. And we will fix this so that you can live with it, learn from it.” Her voice was shaky, but her will was not. “I need another sample, and I do not want to risk contaminating it with sedatives.” She held up two glass vials, miraculously intact after their encounter. Sneering, he let his nails grow, and just as she began to be truly afraid of him, he sliced his own wrist, watching her flinch but saying nothing, holding the deep red stream over the vials until they were beyond full, and then healing before her eyes, leaving no sign that his perfect pale skin had been damaged. “Now go! Before I take more than the taste of your need!” She’d escaped, caring nothing for her exposed state. She resented the need to change clothing, and hurried to her workroom in the cellar to start work. Another three agonizing days and she knew she was close. A mix of iron supplements, exotic nutrients, advanced antianxiolytics -- it was a cocktail of desperation. This third time, she’d not bothered with clothes. A filmy nightrail in Nicolai’s favorite shade of blue, like a bride on her wedding night. On her own wedding night, she’d never gotten to dress in the seductive night clothes from her trousseau, for Nicolai had her out of her bridal gown and up against the door to their bedroom the moment they’d left the wedding luncheon.

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Just One Bite: You Will Not Kill Me She walked through the hallways holding a full syringe and a look of determination. This time, the door was locked and barred, but she navigated the back passageways of the townhouse too many times in her youth to be stymied. The guest chamber he’d chosen had been plain and functional, but she knew it had been torn to shreds in the week and a half Nicolai had remained in seclusion. The sounds of his screams of pain and rage had rang through the house, and she’d given all the servants a paid holiday to get them away. She was prepared for the worst, but she would not give up her Nicolai to madness. Pushing open the concealed door, she emerged into a darkened room with no idea where her husband could be hiding among the wreckage, the room covered with splintered furniture, torn fabric and bloodstains. “Hello, Ellen.” The voice was so close, she whipped around to confront Nicolai, but was met with empty air. “You should leave. Let me go. Let me die before I take a thousand others with me.” The deep resonance of his voice echoed with sorrow, proof that within the monster was still the man. She still couldn’t see where he was hiding, but she was not about to run. “I’ve found something to try, Nicolai. It’s not a solution, but it’s a start. Stop tormenting yourself in this room and let me help you!” Her normally fastidious husband appeared before her as though from thin air, his clothes in tatters, shredded from the sharpness of his claws. His eyes were solid black, his skin impossibly pale in the dim light that filtered through the curtains. “I will not be able to control myself much longer, Ellen. Let me die.” “No!” she grabbed on to the remains of his shirt and pulled him forward, pulling him into a kiss despite the sharpness 27

Elaine Lowe of those teeth. She tasted blood, but underneath it was still her Nicolai, and he kissed her with a passion both familiar and foreign and as exciting as it was terrifying. Somewhere, she had the presence of mind to jab the syringe in his neck and depress the plunger with a vicious efficiency. He reared back, his eyes enraged and claws far too close to her jugular. “I warn you, Ellen, I am very close to the edge. I could kill you…I don’t…” “Nicolai!” she held his face in her hands, his eyes changing back and forth between depthless black and grey blue. “You will not kill me.” It was a command, a plea, a desperate hope all wrapped together. He nodded. His teeth and claws retracted and he captured her lips in a kiss gentle and loving and soft. She relaxed, relief flooding her system. But he began to collapse, the weight of his body falling on to her frame. His lips pressed against her neck, but there was no force behind his actions. It was as though his hunger had been the only thing keeping him conscious, and she knew that he needed more that the serum to keep him alive. He needed blood. She dragged him toward the half-ruined mattress atop the wobbling bed frame and lowered herself gently, cradling him to her like she still hoped to cradle their child one day. She pressed his lips against her throat. “Drink, Nicolai. A little will not harm me. I trust you not to take too much.” “Ellen…I can’t.” His voice seemed hollow, weak. “Damn it, Nicolai, you aren’t going to die on me from your blasted squeamishness!” She raked her nails over the space between her neck and collarbone, hard enough that a red welt grew and thinnest trail of blood erupted on her skin. His eyes flashed black again and he looked into her eyes 28

Just One Bite: You Will Not Kill Me looking for a trace of fear or repulsion. “You can’t…you can’t want…” “I will have this, Nicolai. You shall not deny me my curiosity. You never could.” He smiled, a shadow of his cocky grin, but still a great comfort. Then he grew utterly still. “Stop me. Any way you can, if I cannot stop myself.” He did not wait for her answer, but let his teeth elongate and plunge delicately into her neck. It hurt like nothing she could remember, but there was not only pain. Far from it… He drew in a long gulp, and another and another, his strength returning with each swallow. She fell slowly down onto the mattress and he followed, running his hands over her body, silently shredding her thin gown with those sharp claws yet somehow so careful and precise. He released her and pushed above her, hovering over her and looking into her face, searching her eyes as her blood stained his lips a brilliant crimson. She was lost in a fog, where she would give him whatever he needed. She’d pushed past fear, and she had found that her trust for Nicolai knew no bounds, no matter how reckless everyone else would think her to be. He wouldn’t kill her. He kissed her lips, soft and quick, then his head darted to her breast, his teeth delicately outlining her nipple and he bit and released. She screamed, and he sucked away the pain of it, loving her nipple and taking her blood in long slow sucks that made her toes curl and her pleasure crest impossibly close. The other breast, another bite, and more torturous pleasure. He used his knuckles to rub at her clit, unable to control his claws enough to stroke into her body. It was enough, and she came on a strangled moan. He moved up again, latching onto her neck as he thrust his cock impossibly deep within her. She wrapped her legs 29

Elaine Lowe around him and clung to him, hands scratching welts into his back as he nibbled and sucked at his bite on her neck, drinking deeply only when they were both so caught up in the luscious rhythm of thrust and withdraw that thought or caution was impossible. She’d never reached such heights, and the world exploded in a torrent of wind and fire and Nicolai’s teeth at her neck and his cock driving inside of her. He came at her contractions, releasing her neck and growling so deep that the vibrations stretched her pleasure past the point of consciousness. She awoke from the velvet blackness surrounded by warmth and the soft sound of water lapping in the bath. Her eyes blinked open to the soft light of her own bathroom, the pale green ceiling obscured with curls of steam. “Good morning, Ellen. Although, it might be afternoon. I’m not entirely sure and I don’t particularly care.” She laughed and felt Nicolai kiss her throat with infinite gentleness. The events of the previous night flooded her mind and she felt his lips trace over the scar from his feeding, already mostly healed. He surrounded her, where she lay on his chest in the deep tub that he’d had installed after their wedding. His ankles wrapped around hers, her head lay on his shoulder, his arms crossed over her belly holding her as though he was afraid she would try to escape. “I told you that you wouldn’t kill me.” “You may very well know me better than I know myself.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and they lay in the comfortable silence. “How are you…” they simultaneously started, and the room was filled with the soft ripple of tired laughter. “I am better. I do not yearn to bite and tear and drink the blood of anyone nearby.” “Except for me.” 30

Just One Bite: You Will Not Kill Me “Were you so repulsed by it, Ellen? Are you terrified to be married into a family of blood demons? I swear, I thought it was a legend, an insane tale to explain the disappearance of my ne’er-do-well father and the odd proclivities of my uncle for raw meat. I never would have risked…” She spun around, slithering over his naked body to look into his eyes as she held a finger over his lips. “As long as you feed on no others, I think I will be able to bear the horror of it.” He grinned that devastating smile, and she felt his cock already half hard against her thighs. “In other words, it turned you into a quivering puddle of yearning and you can’t wait for your blood cell count to reach the range in which we can indulge again?” Damn, the man knew her far too well.

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Red in Tooth and Claw by Kim Knox “Red suits you.” His voice was little more than a growl and it warmed my skin, fluttering excitement deep into my belly. Shadows surrounded the high backed chair in which he sat. Flickers of light from the fireplace caught his sharp profile, shifting, lighting the burn of his silver eyes. My mark wasn’t quite human, I was sure of it. The remote hall, the obvious wealth, the secrecy. He had to be one of the rare preternaturals. “Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say. My being in the hall, in this starkly empty room with him was…hazy. The reason was important, I felt it down to the bone and something about that made me glance at the red silk of my cape. It was the only thing I wore. I frowned. I didn’t remember driving up to the hall, slipping out of my street clothes, changing… Heat from the fire warmed the silk, distracting me and the material brushed against my bared legs like the kiss of a lover. I forced a smile to twitch across my mouth and lifted the thick sheaf of paper in my hand. The splotch of a broken seal gleamed along its edges. Not that I remembered snapping the seal open. I glanced at the heavy copperplate lettering that simply stated my name, a time and that day’s date. “The…agency hasn’t given me your name.” “Balthasar.” “Balthasar…?” “My last name isn’t important.” He sat forward and firelight licked his features. My chest tightened and I stared. I hadn’t expected him to 32

Just One Bite: Red in Tooth and Claw be quite so…beautiful—all hard male planes and those silveredged eyes that burned into me. His black shirt clung to his chest, his muscled arms, bare, browned and dusted with hair. Strong hands flexed. A dark ring gleamed on his right hand. “So…” I took a step towards him, my bare feet soundless in the deep pile of the rug. I wet my lips. “What do you expect of me?” His gaze drifted down over the length of my body and made me too aware of the brushing silk of my long cape. “I expect to fuck you.” My belly tightened, nervous fear and that insane touch of excitement skittering through me. He was just another job, wasn’t he? This was what I did, gave pleasure, sweet joy with my body, letting it overwhelm both of us. And this Balthasar was so very beautiful. It wouldn’t feel like a chore at all. I stepped between his legs and his hand stroked the red silk, letting it fall between his fingers as he teased along the length of my thigh. “This stays.” “If you like.” “I like.” I touched his cheek, the heat of his skin, the smooth texture forcing a slow ripple of need under my skin. My belly hollowed and my mouth dried. Was this my usual reaction to a mark? The fuzziness of my memory should’ve worried me, but it didn’t. “Sienna…” The warmth of his voice wrapped around my name and swelled the raising heat. Firelight caught in his eyes, the gleam of gold and silver almost mesmerising. “What beautiful eyes you have…” I flushed, but the words felt somehow…right. He mirrored my touch on my own cheek, slipping lower to skim the silk and glide beneath to find by bare skin. “All the better to see you with.” 33

Kim Knox A thumb brushed my peaked nipple and I gasped. “Is that what you want? The fairytale?” His fingers and palm paused in the delicious, tormenting exploration of my breast. I bit my lip and his narrowed gaze moved there. “Fairytale?” “The gauche girl in red. And the…” My words trailed away. I could say it. It blocked and burned in my throat. “The…” “The what?” A darkness held him. He was a predator. And that fact sharpened the continuous ache in my belly. I didn’t understand anything. My reactions, my lack of memory and why this man— this stunningly beautiful man—needed to buy my time. I forced out the word. “Wolf.” He smiled then, the carnivore gleam that forced my heart to beat faster. “You think I like to play the wolf?” “Isn’t it what all this is about?” I wanted to find something sure, something that made sense. Was my mark really one of the rare preternaturals? Was he causing the confusion in my brain? “This…” His hand started to move again, a slow slide across my breast and down to the slight curve of my belly. His thumb dipped lower until he teased my clit and I bit the inside of my cheek to deny the low moan that wanted to escape. “Is about me fucking you.’ His smile deepened and the wolf shone in him. My heart kicked faster. A wolf never took a human. That was the ancient myth, anyway. Or if they did, nobody spoke of it. Was this the reason for the holes in my memory? Regret soured my thoughts. I’d lose my time with this man. And could only a human offer the little play of an old fairytale? The wolf form of a kink. I let my fingers play along his jaw to his mouth enjoying the slow circles he drew against my flesh whilst I could still remember them, him. “How do you want me, Mr. Wolf?” 34

Just One Bite: Red in Tooth and Claw He tilted his head and pushed his finger deeper. “What do you offer?” I eased in a breath. “This is your fantasy…” Something shifted in his eyes and my belly did a strange little flip. His sharp smile faded, but a second finger joined the first. “Not a fantasy. Necessity.” I wet my lips, trying to focus on him, but the increasing stroke of his fingers, the quick fire that licked at my flesh made it almost impossible. “Not…” I swallowed, the low throb in my belly deepening. “What?” “And I’m hungry.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The sharp scrape of the chair over the old stone filled the room as Balthasar kicked it back. He dropped to his knees before me. One hand took my hip, the other drew slow lines along my thigh, the sudden rush of sensation making me gasp. He pressed a hot palm to my skin and hooked my leg over his shoulder. I grabbed at his other shoulder to keep my balance. “Balthasar…?” “Such sweet flesh.” He nuzzled my belly, his hot breath burning my skin and his tongue licking a slow line to meet his fingers. “Succulent.” His fingers left me and I groaned. Laughter brushed over my flesh. “So you know, I’m a slow and thorough eater.” His thumbs teased the sensitive creases of my thighs. I fisted my fingers in his thick, dark hair and he growled, the delicious sound vibrating up through my body. One hand dug into my backside, the pain edged sharply with a strange pleasure. The ring he wore burned cold against my skin. Almost like a brand. He licked and sucked, his tongue, his teeth finding every sensitive point. The low, satisfied growls deepened the growing need in my flesh. I ached for them. Craved them. “More.” The word broke from me, quick and hard. 35

Kim Knox And somehow, Balthasar knew what I wanted, the feral growls increasing, rippling, flowing into me, mixing with the fire winding up through my body. Already the first threads of my release tormented me. The promised strength of it caught my breath. Was my reaction to a mark always like this? So…intense. I couldn’t remember. His teeth grazed my clit and the shocked heat shot through my flesh, taking me with it. All worry, all thought vanished. Fierce, white light flashed across my vision, heat and joy wrapping around me. I cried out something, my throat raw with the sudden wildness of it, and for a long moment I lost myself in hot bliss. “Sienna…” Balthasar’s hot breath burned against my belly, chasing the final threads of my release. My hand trembled as I teased my fingers through his hair and held him to me, trying to find a breath and control the wild thud of my heart. I closed my eyes. Was that it? I bit my lip. He’d promised more and already the thought of it pushed new tingles under my skin. “And now?” He ran his palms over my thighs. “Eager for more?” He stood, his hands never leaving my body and he glanced towards the long window, to the clouds shifting across the face of the full moon. “We still have time.” He caught a long strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips brushing my cheek. Firelight edged his features and his wild beauty forced my heart into a faster beat. Time. In the morning would I remember anything of him? A knot twisted in my gut but I ignored it. He was a mark. I brought pleasure. That was my role. “What now, Mr. Wolf?” His lips twitched upwards and the corner of his eyes crinkled. The sudden, sharp change, the warmth and quick humour caught my breath. I wanted to label it humanity. But he wasn’t human. Not really. A second later, it was gone. “Now I fuck your sweet pussy.” 36

Just One Bite: Red in Tooth and Claw My gaze dropped from his, his harsh words a shock after what I’d just seen. I was his fantasy. It was the reminder I needed. In the morning, I’d forget him. Balthasar yanked his shirt over his head and slid through the first button on his jeans. I stared at the dark line of disappearing hair and my fingers itched to follow, to undo more buttons, to trace a slow path along his dick. To watch his mouth part and his eyes close. To hear the quick, uneven hitch in his breath and let my lips and tongue takeover— “Now, who’s hungry?” His laughter was dark and wrapped around me, prickling my skin. He undid the remaining buttons and pushed down his jeans, kicking them to the side. Light flickered against his brown skin and my need to touch him, lick him, press my whole body against his had my flesh tight. My heart raced. “Am I meant to answer?” He tipped my chin up and the heat in his eyes held me. “You’d devour me.” He bared his teeth in a predatory smile. “And if we had time, I’d let you.” “But you just said…” His mouth dipped low over mine and I tasted myself. “Tonight is about me. You know that. It’s why you’re here.” He caught my bottom lip with his teeth and the pain shot through me, hot, stark and sharpening my desire. His hands gripped my backside. In one fluid move, he lifted me, holding me against him in a mix of silk and hot flesh. “I need moonlight on your skin when I fuck you.” My chest tightened. The moon sliced through the window to stripe the stone floor, chilled and silver. A full moon and a preternatural. Panic kicked me. Would be transform? “Worried, Sienna?” Balthasar carried me across the room, his bare feet silent against the stone. He stopped by the high window. The air was 37

Kim Knox cold, but the incredible heat of his body, the promise of what was about to happen, ran warmth through my body. I needed him. A wicked smile touched his mouth as he turned and forced the moonlight to cut across my flesh. “Don’t worry, Sienna. I’m no more wolf than you are.” Something about his words forced my hands to flex against his shoulders. He was preternatural. I could almost taste it. Wanted to taste it as my gaze followed the strong line of this throat, my lips burning. I had to look away from him before I lost myself. He was a mark. The reminder shouldn’t be necessary, but it was. The windows looked black into the night, moonlight gilding the tops of distant trees and the wide expanse of open parkland beyond the hall. A wild, open space. I refocused…and I saw him reflected in the glass. Firelight touched his naked beauty, every inch of him sculpted perfection. My heart drummed. He was a job. Nothing more. The reminder wasn’t working. Balthasar knew I stared, knew it in the way his hands tightened against my backside, caught the silk, crushed it. “Like what you see?” I willed my gaze back to his. “You know you’re beautiful.” “It’s all surface.” He rolled me against him, the tease of his dick against my flesh forcing me to tighten my grip on his muscled shoulders. The warm silk slipped down my thigh, exposing me to him. “A veneer.” I blinked, not able to speak as he firmed his hold and worked my body over his, the quick flicker of heat and want increasing in my belly. I ached for him. The movements were a slow torment. There was something in him I couldn’t name. Something like the predatory darkness I’d seen before. “Balthasar…” 38

Just One Bite: Red in Tooth and Claw “So sweet. Every inch of you.” His shadowed gaze held me, mixing fire with the need thickening in my blood. “But not for much longer.” And he thrust up, meeting the hard push of his hands on my backside, burying himself inside me. I cried out. Pain, hot and unexpected, lanced through my body. I snapped taut, denying tears. It made no sense. How could it hurt? My job was to bring pleasure, to fuck men. I couldn’t be… “Untouched.” He almost snarled the word and even in the heavy shadow, his eyes glittered. “Mine.” “I…” He pulled back and stroked again, deep and hard. A gasp broke from me, but I wanted to move with him as the tendrils of need coiled tight in my belly. He thrust again. And again. “You wanted it this way.” “I…” Words failed me. The incredible push of him into my body, the fierce heat of his skin against my thighs, my breasts, the aching promise of his mouth all caught me. His hard hands moved me, used me, finding an increasing rhythm. I didn’t fight him. I couldn’t. It was delicious. Right. My mouth moved over his, tasting his breath and his wild, animal grin quickened my heart. I was the one who wanted to play? “Why?” I tangled my fingers in his hair, wanting to bite him, devour him whole. Dear God, I couldn’t fight the need firing through my flesh. “Why this?” His low growl chased in a wild surge up from my belly. But there was an edge to it and his grin had faded. “You were scared.” Of him. That touched a memory. The terror of this moment, of him taking me, fucking me, making me his, of losing myself in his wildness…but it wasn’t like that. It, he was glorious. And a soft growl rippled from my own lips, echoing his. Because that was right too. 39

Kim Knox “Sienna?” I took his mouth in a fierce kiss, urging my hips down against his, wanting to find the wild heat of our release, the one that would bind us, the one that would change both of us. Memory burst through me with every hard stroke of him, with the delicious sound of our slick flesh. He was mine. Mine to carve, mine to mould. Mine to tame. I broke my mouth from his, needing air, needing to look at him, see the effect I wrought. My power had scared me, not him. Never him. I bit his lip and his snarl brought my body to the edge. “My beautiful wolf.” Balthasar groaned, his hands a pained-pleasure, his thrusts fast and growing wild. “My wife.” For a moment, everything in me stilled. The ring he wore. I was his…completely. Heat smashed over me, a blaze of white light and intense pleasure. I think I cried out. Possibly howled. My body shook, but he held me, his mouth at my ear, murmuring how much he had always wanted me, wanted this, us. And with a final stroke, he came, his teeth finding my bared shoulder, marking me, changing me, bringing what I was to the surface. I arched against him. A new wildness beat in my blood, the slick heat of moonlight charging my skin. Wolf. I was finally wolf. A laugh broke from me. “No more wolf than you are?” He grinned at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Humanity. My heart tightened. I’d put that there, brought this wild, lone wolf in…as he’d ignited my own wolf within me. Balthasar Roth. The only preternatural that could turn me. I’d wanted him to have the fantasy, the power of being a wolf. He’d agreed to be my mate, to offer his strength to drag out my own. Before him, I was little more than human. An embarrassment. But taking me as his wife tamed, controlled his wildness.

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Just One Bite: Red in Tooth and Claw I touched his temple, feeling the creases. “Why did you agree to this?” “You felt…right.” He turned his head to kiss my palm. “And thank you for this.” He stroked a large, callused palm up my spine, the silk spilling over his fingers. I sighed at his gentle touch. “But I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes shadowed and he stared down to where our bodies joined. “Did I…?” I growled and the silver in his eyes sparked. He was my wolf, my husband. Though the way I’d chosen to cement our union--hiding my own memory, playing out a fantasy—was unique, I would never let him think that I didn’t want him. “You could never hurt me. Never.” I licked his upper lip and eased my tongue along the line of his teeth. My smile was dark. “My, what big teeth you have, Mr. Wolf.” Balthasar’s grin grew again, predatory, fierce. His voice was a soft, intimate growl that coiled fresh heat in my belly. We could still play out our fantasy. “All the better to eat you with, my dear.” No, my wolf wasn’t completely tamed.

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Going Wild by Jocelyn Michel A brilliant blue sky arched over us without a cloud to mar it. Hot as blue blazes already, and it was only eight a.m. Used to a high-rise office with AC, my body had some adjusting to do. Sally, the make-up girl, rushed forward to dab my damp forehead with a tissue before moving quickly out of the shot. “In five, four, three...” My director, Thomas, silently completed the countdown to show time with his fingers. The camera began to roll. “Hello, I’m Neci Dominga and this is Going Wild!” I flashed the smile for which I was famous, ignoring the tight knot of doubt in my stomach. “Welcome to my world! For the next few days, I’ll be exploring the jungles of the Amazon in search of the giant anaconda. Only one cameraman will accompany me, documenting my every move in the wilderness. How will this city slicker survive? Stay tuned to find out.” “Cut! That was perfect, Neci. Beautifully done.” Thomas moved on. Eric, my producer, moved forward. “Great job. Now you’ll be leaving in ten minutes, so do whatever you need to do. That’s your transportation.” He pointed to a Land Rover loaded down with bags. I saw a guy sitting behind the wheel with one booted foot on the sandy ground. His cool glance told me nothing. “Who’s that?” “Ace Sanchez, your cameraman and guide.” “John isn’t going?”

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Just One Bite: Going Wild “No. But don’t worry. Ace is just that--an ace guide with exceptional sound and camera skills. He’ll get you in and get you out in one piece. We were lucky to find him. The rain may make filming tricky, but you have plenty of supplies if you have to stay longer than the two days we planned. We’ll see you back here whenever.” For the zillionth time, I wondered what the heck I was doing. Why couldn’t I be happy behind the scenes at Spinning Earth Productions, being paid a lot of money for my ideas? Surely it wasn’t some vain attempt to please my dad, CEO. Since he’d dumped my sweet mom for a younger model two months ago, we did nothing but trade snarls in passing. I didn’t need his approval to be happy. Was it adventure, then, that called? I liked to think so. I was, after all, very savvy, and savvy women didn’t make bad decisions. What they did do was come up with new programming concepts designed to lure viewers in the desired demographic. Who could’ve guessed that Eric would not only love my idea to debunk worldwide myths, but would want me to host it? So here I was, accepting his dare and walking toward a truck that had seen better days driven by a damned handsome man with a scowl on his face. I pasted a smile on my own and stuck out my right hand, determined to charm him. “Neci Dominga.” He took and shook it but didn’t let go right away, instead examining my French-tipped nails for a sec before raising his gaze to meet mine. “Ace Sanchez.” “Are we ready to hit the road?” “I am. Are you?” “Of course.” I settled in on the passenger side of the Rover. I saw that Ace had shifted position and sat behind the wheel.

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Jocelyn Michel He reached for the key in the ignition, but didn’t start the engine. “Sure you’re up for this?” “Why do you ask?” “The jungle isn’t very forgiving, and you’re obviously...” He shrugged one muscled shoulder. “What?” “Soft.” “Excuse me? I work out every day.” “Not that kind of soft. I can see that you’re fit.” His emerald eyes swept my body, lingering on my breasts before dipping lower. I felt a tingle deep inside and hated him for it. Not that I could blame him for our tangible chemistry. His safari clothing simply added to his mercenary charm. I’d never met a man so blatantly rugged with such an air of...danger, I guess...about him. “I’m talking about the heat, the rain, and the bugs. Lots of bugs. Not to mention venomous snakes and poisonous spiders.” “Just drive,” I told him, ignoring the warning. I would endure anything to make my show a hit. And he looked like a guy who could keep a gal safe. With a doubtful shake of his head, he started the Rover and headed it onto the dirt track that led to nowhere. We drove for two dusty hours before stopping to refuel. I peed in the nastiest outhouse I’d ever seen. The smell haunted me for many miles after that. I finally dug into my backpack for my French perfume. I dabbed a drop on my upper lip, sighing my relief when the scent wafted upward and filled my nostrils. Ace rolled his eyes, but didn’t comment. I stole a moment to study him. His chiseled features were almost too perfect, like someone had carved them from stone. The rest of his body matched. I realized I wouldn’t mind a throw-down with him, as in one of us would throw the other down and do some 44

Just One Bite: Going Wild bone jumping. Sundown hovered by the time we reached our destination at the edge of the jungle. I scanned it, noting the lush greenery, tangled undergrowth and shadows that could hide anything. Unable to suppress a shiver, I faked a smile to erase it. “This is it?” “Yep.” Ace began unloading the Rover, handing me various bags. I took them without complaint since he’d kept the heavy stuff for himself. Everything had a strap of one kind or another, which meant we could hook each over a shoulder or across our backs, which left our hands free. Lights mounted on our foreheads via an elastic strap would help us see in the dark. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, binding it with one of the elastic bands I always kept handy. Ace caught my eye. “We can do this two ways. You lead and I film, or I lead and you film.” Guessing Eric had told him I had camera skills, I chose the second. While I could video, I had no idea how to use the machete he now grasped and would undoubtedly need. Ace pointed out the buttons on the infrared camera and then started into the jungle, first heading us down a path of sorts and then veering into the wild where no man had gone before. He swung the machete with every step. I filmed our progress, vastly enjoying the sight of his upper body muscles, rippling under his tan shirt, and his ass, which looked amazing in those pants. Whenever he turned to face me, I pretty much ignored the bulging pockets, focusing instead, on his bulging fly. Was he getting off on this adventure or on me? I hoped it was me. Not sure why. I had to keep my distance. Focus, Neci. I sighed my resignation to professionalism. Our world got decidedly darker with every step thanks to the tangle of trees, the late hour, and the clouds. About an hour in, a drop of cold rain splashed onto my nose. “Uh-oh.” Ace looked back at me. 45

Jocelyn Michel “It’s raining.” “Then we’d better backtrack to that cave we just passed.” We’d passed a cave? I stepped aside; he brushed past to lead us in the opposite direction. The heavens opened up at that instant. As the rain pounded me, I sheltered the camera with my body while Ace found the cover for it. With the beams of our headlights bobbing, we managed to slip the plastic over the thing. Ace took it and moved on. I followed, ducking against the downpour that quickly drenched me. In seconds my ponytail hung limply down my back. When Ace abruptly stopped, I ran smack into him. “Sorry.” He ignored me and edged forward more slowly. Sure enough, a flash of lightning revealed the yawning entrance of a cave. I stumbled over a rock. Grabbing Ace’s belt, I saved myself from a nasty fall. He glanced back, but didn’t comment. I held on until we stepped inside nature’s shelter. Releasing Ace, I immediately began shucking bags. I rolled my shoulders to ease the cramp in them, a move that stretched my wet khaki shirt over my lush breasts. Ace’s eyes began to glow...literally. Startled, I blinked away residual raindrops and looked again. A gorgeous guy with normal green eyes looked back at me. “You okay?” “Yeah, sure,” I answered, oddly flustered. “Why wouldn’t I be?” That ridiculous question made him laugh. He began unloading bags, too. “Know how to build a fire?” “Yes.” I looked around. “But there’s no wood.” “Then you’d better go get some.” He uncovered the video camera and began wiping it dry with a cloth he’d dug up from somewhere.

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Just One Bite: Going Wild “Right.” This was my show, after all. I faced the entrance of the cave and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the deluge and a search for fallen limbs that would probably be wet. Accompanied by rolling thunder, I found several that were fairly dry thanks to being sheltered by rocks or larger limbs, as well as some grass that I’d use to start the blaze. I darted back into the cave to find Ace sitting on the rock floor with a glowing lantern next to him. He glared at me. I tossed down the wood and walked over. “What’s wrong?” “I thought you knew how to use one of these.” Ace referred to the camera he held. I realized that he was reviewing what I’d filmed so far. “I do.” “Then what the hell is this?” I looked closer. “Your butt?” “Exactly. Five minutes of it. You’re supposed to be filming the machete, or the jungle, or even the sky. Not my backside.” I winced. “Sorry.” “So why would a pro do something a lame as that?” “What can I say?” I shrugged. “You have a great ass.” “And you have nice tits. Doesn’t mean I’m going to film them. You got my fly, too, by the way. Almost a minute of it.” “Well, it was sort of...out there.” “Which is all your fault.” Huh? “Is the wood dry enough to burn?” “Um...oh...yeah. At least I think so.”I shook my head to clear it and got to work stacking the limbs, highly conscious of his hot gaze on me. I arranged the grass, dug a match from my 47

Jocelyn Michel bag, and struck it against the box. The grass went up in flames; I knelt and gently blew on them so they’d spread to the wood. Droplets of rain hissed, but the limbs eventually caught fire. Pleased with myself, I turned to Ace and found him barefoot, shirtless and stepping out of his pants. “What are you doing?” “Drying off. You should get out of your wet things, too.” “Oh. Right.” I freed my hair from the ponytail and began unbuttoning my blouse, shrugging out of it in seconds. Wearing only a lacy bra above the waist, I bent to untie my boots. I heard the thunk of Ace’s belt buckle hitting the cave floor. Before I could look to check his progress, he stepped up close behind me. “Need any help?” “I...sure.” I faced him, my pussy creaming at the thought of his hands touching me. He smiled as if he knew and began unbuckling my belt. My pants dropped to my ankles. I stepped out of them, which left me wearing a thong and the bra. “What now?” “You’re the star of this show. You tell me.” “Why don’t we spread out our things on these ledges? The heat from the fire will dry them while we eat something, and then we can get dressed again.” Ace growled. I blinked, surprised by that feral response to my teasing. “You expected another answer?” “I did, and you probably know what it was.” His eyes began to glow, proving my own eyes hadn’t played a trick on me earlier. I took a quick step back. “Yeah, but I’m thinking we should stick to business. I did a lot of research in preparation for this gig. Any distraction could compromise the outcome.” “We can hardly hunt snakes in this weather.”

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Just One Bite: Going Wild I glanced uncertainly toward the cave entrance. As if on cue, lightning struck something nearby. Thunder crashed. I jumped, highly aware of the wind sweeping the trees. “You have a point.” “And an idea. Why don’t you research a future investigation while we’re waiting for the rain to stop?” “Specifically...?” “Nasferatu. You can start with this tidbit: we actually have a lot of different names. Vampiro in Italy, vampir in Germany and Romania, vampyr in Denmark.” We? I took another step back, which put me against the rock wall. “Are you telling me you’re a—” “Vampire? Yes.” “But you don’t have fangs.” “Myth! Which is exactly why you should do a show on us. Half the stuff out there is pure crap.” Someone gulped audibly. Surely not Neci Dominga, adventuress extraordinaire. “Please don’t bite me. I like to tan.” “Myth!” “You don’t burst into flames in the sun?” Ace chuckled. “We don’t sleep in coffins, either, or die from silver bullets, or cringe from crosses and garlic.” Intrigued in spite of myself, I relaxed a little. “But you do drink blood, right?” “We drink it, but not as often as you might think. And there’s a worldwide organization distributing a synthetic plasma product that completely satisfies our cravings.” “No shit? What else sets you apart from humans?” “Immortality. We can also see in the dark, hear a bumblebee hiccup from miles away, and fuck forever.” 49

Jocelyn Michel I licked my lips. “Fuck...?” “Forever. Yes. Would you like a demonstration?” “Hell yeah. Er, just for the sake of the series, of course.” “Of course. May I?” He glanced pointedly at my bra. I turned my back to him so he could unfasten it. As the straps slid down my arms, he slipped his hands around me to cup my breasts and tease my nipples to taut peaks. My heart rate kicked up a notch. His hand moved down my flat belly to ping the elastic of my thong. “These, too.” I spun around. “I will if you will.” Ace shinnied out of his blue boxer briefs. With my eyes glued to his amazing cock, I lowered my lacy black thong and kicked it aside. He immediately lifted me onto a natural ledge; I wrapped my arms and legs around him. We began to kiss. I touched my tongue to his teeth, skimming them to check for fangs. There really weren’t any. Almost disappointed, I pulled back a little. Was he lying about the vampire thing? If he had super sight and hearing, I had no proof of it. What if this whole thing was an elaborate scheme to get inside my pants? Men could be such pigs. But his eyes are glowing and look at that cock... Ace set me on my feet and went for one of the bags. He dug out a condom, which he put on. In a nanosecond, he stood at my side again. A gentle push had me turned around bending at the waist with my fingers splayed on the rock ledge. Did I like that position of vulnerability? I wasn’t sure yet. He stepped closer. I tensed, highly aware of his proximity and the way his bare body brushed against mine. “This first time will be a little crazy. Love that ass of yours, and I’ve been hard for hours.” What a sweet promise...or was it a warning? Ace rubbed his engorged prick from my asshole to my pussy. I trembled, unsure of how he might take me. While I’d 50

Just One Bite: Going Wild fucked many times in my twenty-six years, I’d never taken it in the ass. As if sensing my uncertainty, Ace slid his cock into my soaked pussy and worked it a few times. Every bit as needy as he was, I began pushing back against him. He suddenly withdrew. His fingers probed my pussy next and came out wet. Ace teased my asshole and then slid a couple of those dripping fingers inside it. I tensed. “Is that a ‘no’?” he asked. “That’s a ‘go for it, please!’” The tip of his dick now touched my tiny hole. Holding my body firmly in place, he pushed his cock inside me. I gasped my surprise and pleasure, loving the way he filled me up and then some. Before I could really adjust to him, Ace began to shove hard, each thrust zinging my pussy. My knees buckled, but he held me in place, nailing me until my screams of pleasure rivaled the thunder. Just as my climax slammed me, Ace’s clever fingers found my clit. An explosion of ecstasy rocked my world. I felt his cock jerk release inside me. When we could breathe again, he disengaged. I turned to face him. Ace’s mouth covered mine. We kissed and kissed, each one deeper, wetter and better than the one before it. I felt like I was a teenager again, making out with my first love. Ace’s hands sliding over my skin negated that image. His expert touch reignited the flames of need and passion. When he finally raised his head, I looked at him in wonder. “You know, if I really do an exposé on vampires, I’ll need something more exciting to talk about than fake blood.” “G-rated show, then?” I nodded. “Unfortunately, so tonight’s, um, exercise, could not be mentioned.” “Then maybe you should write a book on us, instead.”

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Jocelyn Michel “Great idea. But I’d have to do a lot more research first.” I glanced out the cave entrance. “How long do these rainstorms last, anyway?” “Days, sometimes weeks. When are you expected back?” “I believe ‘whenever’ is the term Eric used.” Ace grinned. “Excellent. Up for more research?” I glanced down at his cock, still hard and ready. He obviously was. “Absolutely,” I said, reaching for it.

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The Vampire Next Door by Lauren Hawkeye I was ninety-nine percent certain that my neighbour was a vampire. It had been a week since he’d moved in next door. I’d been home sick with the flu for most of that time, so I’d had plenty of opportunities to be nosy. I’d only ever seen him at night. In fact, the first time I’d laid eyes on him it had been just past midnight. He had paused with his hand pressed to his door, the pale lemon light of a streetlamp washing over his pale, pale skin. He’d looked right up at my window, where I’d been hovering behind the curtains, as if he’d known I was there. The second night, as I’d watched surreptitiously from my window, a workman had come and pried away the mirrored tiles that covered one of the walls in his living room—tiles that had once reflected the flames of the fireplace, turning the room into a visual inferno. I’d puzzled over why a workman would come at night... and more than that, why my new neighbour wouldn’t just do it himself. He was a big man, well over six feet, broad and tightly muscled—a modern Viking. It just didn’t make sense. Then there was the lack of fire in the fireplace that had been reflected in the mirrors that were no longer there. When the curtains of my living room and his were both open, I had an unobstructed view of his main floor, something I’d discovered when the previous tenants had been in residence. My neighbour’s house boasted a gorgeous fireplace that could roast a large animal, and that fireplace had been a prominent selling feature in the realtor’s ad. 53

Lauren Hawkeye Mr. Vampire Next Door hadn’t gone near it, though the autumn nights had begun to grow cold. No wood had been brought in, either, not even sticks of kindling, nor newspaper to ignite the flames. There were other things as well. I’d never seen him bring food into the house, never seen him order a pizza. I’d scrutinized the moving van and the cardboard boxes as they were unpacked, and couldn’t detect a single pot, pan or wooden spoon. As a court would say, my snooping had netted me nothing but circumstantial evidence. Still, I was convinced. My new neighbour was a vampire. Having nothing better to do with my time, since I was too weak to do more than skulk about my house, I continued to watch, and grew ever more fascinated. I couldn’t have said why, but I was drawn to the man like I’d never been drawn to anyone before. I was obsessed. I wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to touch him, wanted to run my hands through the pale straw hair that caught only artificial light, shining wanly at night. I wanted to run my hands over the alabaster skin that stretched tightly over a warrior’s body. On the seventh night, I could take it no more. When the sky was fully dark, and I thought that I could more easily slip into the shadows, I slipped out my front door and danced across the crisp expanse of lawn shadowed olive and grey in the night. I approached his mailbox cautiously. I hadn’t seen him yet that evening, and I wasn’t going to take anything. I just wanted to know his name.

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Just One Bite: The Vampire Next Door With the old style metal box in front of me I looked left, and then I looked right. With a pang in my gut, I lifted the flap that would reveal the box’s secrets. It screeched loudly enough to make me cringe before revealing that it was empty. I cursed out loud at my own stupidity—of course it was empty. He was a vampire. He was probably several hundred years old. He probably didn’t even officially exist. “It’s Emmett.” My heart leapt into my throat as the words sliced through the thick night air. I hadn’t heard him approach, and now stared wide-eyed, caught in the act. I was calmer than I should have been, face to face with a vampire. “That’s what you were looking for, yes? My name?” The Norse god had to tilt his head way down to look at me. He had the faintest hint of an accent, one that I couldn’t quite place. “It’s Emmett. Emmett Kelly. And you are Athena.” “How did you know that?” He stepped towards me, and I waited for my heart to start hammering in my chest. It didn’t. It might have been stupid, but I wasn’t afraid. “I know lots of things.” He took yet another step, and held out his hand for my own. I looked up into eyes the colour of the summer sky that he never saw, and felt compelled to place my cool, dry hand in his own. He pulled me along the short path to his home, and up the steps of his porch. I felt a wave of nausea and knew that I should be home in bed, but knew also that I wouldn’t give up this opportunity, not even if it killed me. “Come in.” I felt better as I stepped inside from out. I glanced around the front entryway of his dim house, and saw nothing that disabused me of the notion that Emmett was a vampire.

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Lauren Hawkeye I also didn’t see anything that told me he was, but that was neither here nor there. “Would you like a tour?” I perked up at the question and nodded. Maybe I could satisfy my curiosity, maybe I’d find something that would answer my question either way. I eyed the spectacularly sculpted muscles of my vampire’s ass as I followed him down the shadowed hall, and licked a rough tongue over dry lips. I reflected that in the end, perhaps I didn’t much care either way. I wanted him, wanted him more than a tall, frosted glass of glacial water on a steaming summer day. I wondered if he wanted me, too. I got my answer as he led me into the darkness of his kitchen. Before I could even look around the room, I was pinned back against the wall. I felt the miniscule bumps of the cool plaster against my back, a sharp contrast to the six plus feet of hot, hard male flesh that pressed me back. For a long moment I stood as if frozen, my stare held in the iron grip of his hot blue gaze. Images danced through my head, primal ones of ancient stones, of naked flesh writhing, of inky warrior tattoos and blood. Then I heard a growl emanate from between my lips, a sound of pure need, and before I could think to wonder where it had come from, my mouth was pressed against his, open wide and exploring with a heat I had never before felt. I gasped, or he did, as my hands streaked up beneath his black t-shirt and felt the lean planes of muscle there. I explored for the briefest of moments before I found myself unfastening the zipper of his jeans. His hands filled themselves with my breasts, strummed rough fingers over hard peaks as I palmed the silken steel of his cock. It was erect and weeping at the tip as I stroked my fingers

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Just One Bite: The Vampire Next Door over it, and I released it only long enough to shove his jeans down around his hips. He murmured into my neck, words that sounded foreign and old. I wondered briefly if he would bite me, then forgot entirely when he swept his tongue over the hollow at the base of my throat. I twined my arms around his neck as he tugged down the soft cotton of my sleep shorts. I was bare beneath, and he twined his fingers through the softly shadowed curls that lay between my legs before dipping a finger into my moist heat and stroking once, twice. Impatient, I pressed myself into him, the steel of his erect cock grinding into the softness of my belly. Cupping his hands under the curves of my ass, he lifted me until the heat of our centres aligned. Impatient, I took one hand from his broad shoulders, certain that he would support me and that I wouldn’t fall. I guided his cock to the slickness of my opening, and in one agonizingly slow thrust he hilted inside of me. We both made sounds of something very near pain as his length and heat filled my tight wetness. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and my bare foot felt the scarlet pain of a burn. I jolted, knocking something to the floor as I did. The spell broken for the briefest of seconds, I peered over his shoulder and saw the glint and unmistakeable shape of handcuffs, now splayed on the floor. The sight made me wild, and I hissed into his neck. “Yes.” My voice sounded foreign even to my own ears. “Use them.” “I cannot.” He pressed his forehead against my own, claimed my lips again. As he did he began to move inside of me, and I forgot what I had wanted.

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Lauren Hawkeye I began to shiver as the sensation of his touch, of him riding inside me, took me over. The shivers turned to shakes as the pleasure built, and I cried out as liquid heat spread its way throughout my body. I felt him spill inside of me through the haze of pleasure, then allowed myself to be lowered, spent, to my feet again as he eased out. We leaned heavily on one another for a long moment. Thoughts raced wildly through my head. What had I just done? I was not the type of woman to be consumed by passion with a stranger... with anyone, really. Yet it had felt more right than anything, ever. I swallowed past a great lump in my throat as I tried to come to terms with the beauty of the moment. “I’m thirsty.” I realized as I swallowed that my throat was dry as bone, scratchy and swollen. I looked up as I spoke, and thought I caught the faintest glimpse of something flickering through his eyes, a creature lurking in the depths of the fathomless ocean. Then it was gone, and he nodded. “Allow me.” Following him across the room to the fridge, I watched as he removed a pale green bottle and poured liquid gold into a wineglass. It looked beautiful, but did not appeal. I had been raised to be polite, however, and so said nothing. Then he placed a second wineglass on the counter, and removed a second bottle from the fridge. This one was opaque, the contents indecipherable. Indecipherable, that is, until he started to pour.

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Just One Bite: The Vampire Next Door I felt a jolt of adrenaline in my gut as I watched the viscous crimson pour into the glass. It shimmered there, a pool of red. I looked up, saw Emmett watching me intently. “You are a vampire.” I had been right. “No, Athena.” My brow furrowed when he shook his head slowly. Then one of his lean hands slowly pushed the glass of red—the glass of blood—down the counter, to where I stood. I was mesmerized by its vibrant colour. “Athena.” It was nearly impossible to tear my eyes from the liquid that pulsed under my stare to look at him. His face was open, honest. I trusted it. I trusted him. “Do you not yet understand? You are the vampire, Athena, not I.” My eyes widened, just a fraction, at his statement. I should have been stunned, should have rejected the notion outright. Instead a flood of images streamed into my mind, each one a puzzle piece that fit together in a way that helped his proclamation make sense. I had been sick. So sick. I had been sleeping all day, unable to rest at night. Sunlight hurt my eyes, irritated my skin. Food made me violently ill. I had felt nauseous when standing before his front door, a sickness that had lifted with his invitation to enter. I was cold, and though I hadn’t tried to look in a mirror all week, hadn’t wanted to see how my ‘flu’ had ravaged me, the skin that was visible to my naked eye was pale, webbed through with spidery veins.

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Lauren Hawkeye And now I was thirsty. So thirsty. And what I craved, what would clench my thirst, was not the beautiful golden wine that Emmett had poured. No. It was the glass full of what was unmistakeably blood. The glass that I could see clearly, though the room was dark. “Who are you?” I might have fit the mould of a vampire, but so did my neighbour. I had seen it myself. “Are you a vampire, too?” “I am an Instructor.” He watched me closely, looking for my reaction. I didn’t have one. I had no idea what an Instructor was. “When a vampire turns a human, they must report it to the Council. The Council then assigns the new vampire an Instructor. Our purpose is to watch over the newborns, to guide them, to make sure they don’t starve. And also... also to ensure that they do not harm humans in their quest to satisfy the blood cravings.” I thought of the handcuffs that had fallen from his back pocket, the ones that had burned my skin. Silver. Of course. Silver to restrain me if the thirst overtook me. I was thankful he hadn’t used them, though the image of being restrained in his arms caused heat to flood through me yet again. “Drink.” Bending, Emmett nudged the crystalline glass of blood towards me. “You are in shock. You will feel better.” Mechanically, I took up the glass, lifted it to my pale lips, then lowered it again as another question occurred to me. “If you’re not a vampire, why do you act like one?” He cocked an eyebrow, an invitation for me to further explain what I meant. “You’re awake all night. You removed your mirrors. You never have a fire. I’ve never seen you eat.”

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Just One Bite: The Vampire Next Door He smiled at my obvious frustration, but I didn’t feel mocked. “Part of an Instructor’s job is to make their Student comfortable.” He sipped from his glass of wine, and I was reminded of my thirst. “Also, I don’t cook.” “Oh.” I paused for a moment, waiting for... well, I wasn’t sure for what. To cover my discomfiture, and also because my thirst was becoming angrier, needier, I lifted my glass and took my first sip of the elixir of undead life. The relief was instantaneous. I watched, transfixed, as the palest wash of blush pink painted itself over my pallid skin. I drank it all, gulping greedy mouthfuls, then tilted my head to catch the last drop on my tongue. It tasted like melted chocolate and warm honey, spreading out over my tongue. It was better than anything I’d ever tasted. When it was gone and I’d licked at my lips in disappointment, I reluctantly placed the glass back on the counter, then looked up to find Emmett watching me intently. “Well?” He waited patiently. “Would you like some more?” I thought for a long moment. No, I did not want more blood, delicious though it had been. With the thirst assuaged, I had something else on my mind. “Why do I want you so much, if I am not drawn to you because you are a vampire?” This puzzled me, for I had never before felt a craving as strong as the one that I still had for him. Yes, still had, even though I’d already tasted his flesh. “I don’t know.” Incredibly, the Viking of a man looked the slightest bit uncertain. “It is not... usual. I have read texts... scrolls that speak of a bond between Instructor and Student, one so strong that Death itself cannot conquer it. But I have never seen it for myself.” 61

Lauren Hawkeye I pondered that, and did not find an answer. I assumed that the death he referred to would be his own, for if I was a vampire, then Death had already claimed me. “How do we know?” I felt something skitter through my veins—nerves, perhaps. “How do we know if this is that type of bond?” Emmett hesitated before resignation crossed his face. Then, before I could even think to react, he palmed a metal blade that had been lying on the counter and stabbed himself in the heart. “No!” The word screeched from my throat, and my hands became painted red with his blood as I scrabbled to put pressure on the wound. “Why would you do such a thing?” He leaned back against the counter, his hand clutched to his heart, labouring for air. Unthinkably, he barked out a laugh, tangling his blood drenched fingers with my own. I swallowed the sudden urge to lick at the stream of red. “Feel.” He pressed the tips of my fingers to his chest, right where the skin should have been parted from his blade. There was no cut. The skin had knit back together, though I could feel a rough ridge where the knife had cut through. I was astounded. My mouth fell open as I looked up, all the way up until my dark eyes were swallowed by the pools of blue that were his. “We are bound, you and I. Forever.” He tightened his grip on my fingers, and I felt the throb of his pulse in every vein of my own body. “Why would you risk yourself that way?” I was angry, crimson hazing my vision. “My job is to make your life easier.” He smiled wanly, his face nearly as pale as my own.

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Just One Bite: The Vampire Next Door “Well, don’t do it again.” I snapped the words out. I still felt the thirst, but it was different than the one I felt for blood. “I need you.” He nodded, satisfied. “I need you, too.”

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Ownership by Ashlynn Monroe Part One “No, Father. Let me go, please.” Janae tried to shake her father’s tight grip from her arm. The bruising strength that he held her with brought tears to her eyes. She planted her feet firmly in the grass, but the evening dew made it impossible to hold her place. He pulled her along with heartless intent. She glanced behind her to see the three tall men waiting for them. Terror made her struggle more violently against her sire’s hold. She’d always been brave, but at this moment, she let her fear rule her actions. Janae had faced much in her short life. The vampire armies had decimated her people and their village. She’d always faced battle with reckless pride, but not now. This battle, she could not win, it held no honor. “Don’t do this. For the love of the moon goddess, don’t sell me.” She looked for Macomi; even he wouldn’t stand against the lord of the blood drinkers. “I hate you, Father. If mother lived she’d hate you too.” Janae prayed that calling upon her mother’s memory would soften the man’s heart. It did nothing as he continued to drag her to a fate more terrible than any she’d ever imagined before. “Shut your mouth girl and perhaps your new master will allow you to keep your tongue.” She glanced back to their home, her younger sister stood at the doorway. When Janae saw Macomi was the one holding back her weeping, struggling sister back, something in her heart died. It was clear to her that her fiancé had chosen to cut his losses and would soon be trying to

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Just One Bite: Ownership worm his way into Jaklea’s bed and heart when she was gone…dead. She fell, her father’s grip loosened and for a moment, she was free. Janae found her footing and ran towards the woods. She skidded to a halt as a large horse and its rider blocked her path. The moment it took her to change directions had cost her the chance for escape. Her father grabbed her hair and twisted violently, bringing a chocking sob out of Janae. The rider followed behind them and from her precarious position, Janae had a good look at his face. His fangs glinted in the moonlight. A tattoo completely covered the left side of his face, strange swirls and patterns meant to honor his unholy gods. There was a hard pleasure shining in his unnatural flame blue eyes. They all had eyes that seemed to glow like the hottest fire. A reflection of the hell where their souls were forged, another painful yank ended her wistful reflection of the vampire’s features. “Father, let me go, you have one last chance. Pay them the tribute monies and save us all. If you give them the payment, the moon goddess will forgive you for bargaining me. Please, just pay.” “I don’t have the money girl. It has been a poor year. When he agreed on you, I had no choice. If you run, we all die. One for the rest, it had to be my blood, he demanded you specifically.” “My wedding is next week. How can you do this?” She was sobbing now. “It is done.” He turned to the tallest of the three vampires. “She is yours. Does this clear our village’s debt for the year, your majesty? Do we get twelve moons of peace?” “Your tribute will be money when you see me again. I have given you this one leniency because of the innocent lives here. If you mismanage your villages finances again, we’ll not just take the life of one, we’ll claim them all.” 65

Ashlynn Monroe She could feel her father trembling as she struggled to pull her long russet hair from his hand. The two subordinate vampires beside the lord came to them and took hold of her arms. Their cold touch made her flinch, but they were gentler than her father had been. They pulled her upright and turned her around, to face the man who’d purchased her for the cost of the village’s entire year’s tribute. He’d over paid. When he came towards her, she spit in his face. She stiffened, expecting to be slapped, but the blow never came. The vampire to her right raised his hand, ready to defend his lord. “Stop. Don’t lay a hand on her.” The lord barked his order and the other monster stood down, but Janae could feel the rage he held in check as he trembled, tightening his grip. The lord mounted his horse. The vampire who wanted to hit her tied a rope around her neck, he mounted his horse, and she realized she’d have to run behind him or strangle to death. Fear gripped her heart, one slip and her neck could very well snap. She glared back at her father. He at least had the decency to look upset. Good, let him wonder if she’d make it to the vampire city alive. “I hate you.” She spat the last words at her father as the vampires spurred their horses on. She hadn’t been ready and the move tightened the rope around her neck. It bit into her flesh and she stumbled forward. A moment more and she’d have died. It was far too close for her comfort. She’d grown up during the vampire wars; she’d survived worse than this. They might plan to kill her the moment her feet touched the city streets, but she’d survive to fight for life. It would be easy just to let the horse yank her forward, snapping her neck for her whole village to see, but Janae wouldn’t take the easy way out for them, or herself. She jogged behind the horse. She’d run until exhaustion killed her, or she made it to the city. They entered the woods. Branches slapped at her. She was glad they hadn’t tied her hands. Suddenly, the lord halted his 66

Just One Bite: Ownership party. He turned. His strange eyes went from electric blue to a stormy grey when he looked at her. It made her heart stop. He had no facial tattoo, his features were just as handsome as any of his kind, but there was something more intense about him. His sandy blond hair was unusual among the vampire race. “Belamy, why have you tied her behind the horse? She is mine. Does my property mean so little to you?” “No, Sire. I meant to punish her for spitting on you.” “I told you to hold her in front of you.” “Yes, you did. Forgive me, my lord.” “Cut her free and hand her up to me.” “Sire, you shouldn’t be seen riding with a human slave.” “I’ll choose how I am seen. Give her to me.” The one he called Belamy wasn’t gentle as he cut the rope from her raw neck. She bled in places where the rope had rubbed her flesh away. When he saw her blood, she noticed his eyes lighten and a look of hunger filled them. She shrank away. Would he drain her and leave her corpse here in the same wood she’d played in as a child? He shook his head as if he could dispel the sight of her blood from his mind. To her relief he finished removing the rope and pulled her towards the vampire lord. When she looked up at the imposing vampire, she wondered if she didn’t honestly prefer the rope. He held out his arms and the other vampire pushed her up towards him. She found herself on the horse facing him. He smiled and his fangs became more prominent. Her eyes widened. He chuckled. “You are mine now. My name is Kristo. I am Lord Dracu, your people’s master, but to you I am just Kristo.” Something was so familiar about his voice, his name. Her mind struggled to remember. “Sleep.”

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Ashlynn Monroe Against her will, she collapsed against him, closing her eyes. Sleep claimed her immediately. Part Two Slowly, the nightmare started to fade. Janae sat up, and then gasped as she opened her eyes. It hadn’t been a dream; she was in a large room, a fire crackled in the fireplace to dispel the autumn chill. The large bed had no posters or bed curtains. It filled the room with its massiveness and made her feel very small. A movement in the corner startled her, causing her to cry out. He was beside her before her eyes could fully focus on him. The vampire lord sat casually on the side of the bed looking down at her, amused. “I see nothing funny, vampire.” She spoke boldly, daring death to claim her and put an end to her troubles. He said nothing, but the look never wavered from his face. “Why am I here?” Curiosity made her ask; knowing she was living on borrowed time gave her false courage. “I’m not going to kill you, Janae. You are here because you are mine.” “Why me?” She whispered the question because the adrenaline was beginning to wear away giving fear control again. “Why not you?” She hated an answer in the form of a question. It did nothing to make her less confused. “I’ve fought against vampires most of my life. I’m not just going to sit quietly and be your meal. Kill me now, and make this easier for both of us.” She was honestly ready just to be done with it. She’d struggled so many years. It had been bad during the war, worse after. Hunger and violence ruled, people bowed to their vampire overlords and men like her father who 68

Just One Bite: Ownership decided their fate with little thought or care. She knew her father had spent the money he owed on whores and wine in the city. Next year he’d do the same if the people weren’t smart enough to see a new man in power. “I know you have. I’m hurt you have no memory of me. Let me help you remember.” She flinched as he put his thumbs to her temples, the rest of his fingers slid into her hair, holding her tenderly in place. “Remember…” She closed her eyes. Flashes came to her. The blond boy in the forest, hunting with him, and splashing in the lake. Every summer her friend would return and they’d frolic and play. Then the vampire war came. She never saw him again. When he removed his hands, she looked at him for a long moment. The boy had the same strange blue eyes, the same hair. His features had been soft and young, but the same cleft in his chin had been on her friend’s face. It couldn’t be. They’d played in the bright summer sun, not darkness. “My friend was human. I’m sure he died during the war like so many other boys.” “My mother was human. I didn’t know what I was until my father came to claim me just before the war broke out. A Halfling like me can walk in the sun until we taste our first human blood, after that we…change.” “So the tales are true, there are vampires who can day walk. I thought those were just fairytales meant to keep children from wandering too far into the woods.” “Those tales didn’t work on you, did they?” She couldn’t help her sad smile. “No.” “How did you come to be the lord of the city? Tales of vampires killing the Halfling children of blood slaves have reached us in the village.” “My father tried to conceive a child with his lady wife for centuries, long before the humans knew of our people. When 69

Ashlynn Monroe he discovered that the human he’d taken as a lover had a son he came to investigate. He could sense his kin, he took me to the city and shortly after that the great king declared we take the world for our own. You know the rest of the story.” “Yes. How can you do it? How can you subject your own kind to this terrible life?” “Humans are no more my kind than vampires are. I have no kind.” There was bitterness in his words. “Why would you allow my father to sell me? It was a decade past, but we were friends.” “My father died last year. When I came to gather the tribute and your father told me he had nothing by law I was to take every woman and child in the village to be blood slaves for the city, but just as I was about to tell your father this, I saw you. You were running along the trees, and back to your hut, past curfew. Even after all this time, I recognized you. Seeing that you were still such a rebellious girl I couldn’t help myself, I told your father I’d take you. I paid the tribute out of my own pocket in exchange for you, Janae. Your people are free for another year.” “What are you planning to do with me?” He smiled. Even if the expression was one of humor it still held menace as his fangs were more prominent. “As I grew to manhood you haunted me. You’re the most beautiful nymph in the wood and I’ll have you for my own.” Janae didn’t know how to respond. “No one owns me. You might have paid for me, but I belong only to me.” His smile was even more menacing, this time intentionally. His eyes never left hers as he stood to remove his clothing. She watched in awe. He showed no sign of shame or embarrassment, as he stripped naked before her. Years of battle had shaped his body into a sculpture of hard muscles. Everything

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Just One Bite: Ownership about him was lean and masculine. Janae swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “Before the dawn I’ll hear you scream that I own you.” He moved so quickly she had no time to think, her dress ripped from her body. Instinctively her arms went up to cover her chest as she knelt in the center of the bed. Kristo was there beside her, he ran his hands softly down her back, staring at her as if she was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. She could feel a blush rising up her neck. He took her bruised arm and lifted it to his mouth. His tongue swirled over her bruises and she watched as his intimate caress healed her. When his eyes met hers again he pulled her close, his lips hovered just above her own. “My mouth can heal your kind just as effectively as I could take your life. I’ve never taken a human life, but I’m no saint. I want to taste you.” She should be afraid, but his touch melted her fear. Kristo’s lips descended into a punishing kiss that left her breathless and wanting. She’d been kissed, but never like this. When Macomi held her, he’d never inspired her to such desperation. Maybe it was vampire magic, but now Janae only knew she didn’t want it to stop. Kristo pulled away and she found herself wrapping her arms around his shoulders and trying to pull him back. His deep seductive chuckle brought her back to reality. She dropped her hands. “No matter what magic you use I’ll never say you own me.” He looked at her with an intensity that left sparks in her womb. “The only magic between us is the mystical arousal of a female responding to a male. Forget what I am for this one night.” He pushed her back on the bed, and held her in place. She managed to smother her desire to struggle, until he spread 71

Ashlynn Monroe her legs. The momentary feeling of violation made her sit up. He dipped his head between her spread thighs and she felt him caressing her with his mouth. No man had ever done that to her before. After the strangeness melted away, she felt her body come alive with sensation. When his hands reached up to play with her sensitive nipples the combination of pleasures was amazing. A moan escaped her lips. He continued the passionate assault and something inside of her built. The couplings she’d known before had been quick rough joinings that were somewhat pleasant, but nothing like what she felt now. Kristo’s touch roamed over her breasts, and his mouth worked tirelessly between her spread legs until she was thrashing. “I can give you what you need, but first I have to know I own you, Janae. Are you mine?” His voice floated up to her before his mouth continued its caress pushing her even closer to the edge. She bucked wildly with no concern for propriety. He was her enemy, but at the moment, none of that mattered. “Please, Kristo.” She begged shyly. His mouth paused, and she pushed up towards him with her hips. “Say the words.” He pinched her nipples, hard. She gasped and arched her back. “Okay, I yield.” “That’s not what I want. Never yield, but say the words.” “I’m yours.” She panted as his longer fingers delved into her pussy while his thumb rolled against her clitoris. He got up on the bed and began licking at her wounded neck, taking away the sting. His fingers never stopped between her legs. Then she felt a sharp sting. Kristo was biting her. She slapped at him. His cock slid inside of her and an unbelievable 72

Just One Bite: Ownership bliss consumed Janae as the two sensations combined. She came screaming in his arms as her pussy clenched around his cock. Her back arched, tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. She made unintelligible sounds as the pleasure coursed through her body. He stiffened a moment as her arms wrapped around him, and she felt the warmth as his cock spilled inside of her. When it was over, he looked down at her. She was helpless to deny the truth; she’d given him ownership of all she was. Her heart belonged to him.

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By the Fireside by Shermaine Williams “He’s waiting for you.” With her gaze trained on the dark archway ahead of her, the disembodied voice startled Andrea, who thought she was alone in the small foyer. The sudden instruction stiffened her shoulders, excited tension rising to seize her throat like a tight grip that prevented her from replying to the shadow that appeared. Like an apparition, it gradually became dense to clearly take the form of a female figure with supermodel proportions. Peeling herself off the seat, Andrea went from squirming with nerves in the high-backed red leather chair to concentrating on walking in a straight line as she followed her guide. She became indistinguishable from a real woman, her looks seeming to inform her actions as she walked like she was on a catwalk, her fluid gait akin to a big cat silently stalking its prey. Andrea focused, her gaze drifting to her high, taut bottom encased in painted-on black trousers, and felt a sense of calm circulating through her chest. They walked through a long arched corridor, oppressively narrow with dark grey walls, dimly lit by a faint white glow that had no obvious origin. A dry heat that made the space airless intensified as they closed in on a large wooden door, the click of her heels becoming loud enough to echo. The model stopped dead a few feet away and stood aside, looking down at her temporary charge. She smiled, for the first time, revealing gleaming white teeth. The minor gesture had a powerful effect on Andrea, urging her to ask her name in a first step toward the rapport she desperately wanted to build. 74

Just One Bite: By the Fireside The model took away her chance with her suggestive, “Have fun.” Letting the words hang in the air, she glided back the way she came, leaving Andrea standing at the door so highly polished that the dark wood would make an effective mirror. Putting aside the thought of making friends, Andrea frowned at the door, debating whether to knock. The thought of keeping him waiting made her decision and she took a deep breath before pushing the door, the thick timber unexpectedly warm. Her heart commenced a heavy pounding rhythm as she took a step into darkness surpassing that of the arched corridor, potent bitter air rushing through the gap to fill her nasal cavities. A flash of light and a rounded whooshing sound made her jump, forcing her into a reflexive step back before she recovered and continued inside. The aroma—like what remains after fireworks have been let off—faded into a great windowless hall that appeared empty, until she peeked around the edge of the door. A fireplace dominated the far left wall, large enough to house several people standing side by side. He stood in front of the blazing fire within, his dark formidable form surrounded with an orange glow as he studied the flames. The alluring sight made her heart skip—he demanded attention without saying a word. “Greetings Lord,” she breathed, her echoing voice adding to the crackle of the flames. “No need to be so formal,” he replied, still looking into the fire. “I’ve known you for a long time, Andrea.” Turning as Andrea approached, he revealed his broad expanse of bare chest, stepping forward to meet her. “You can call me Lucifer.” “Thank you, Lucifer,” she gushed, taking his proffered hand, a bolt of heat streaking up her arm to hammer at her heart. Walking backwards, he displayed an intricate tattoo on his taut chest, over where his heart should be. The thick black 75

Shermaine Williams line woven in an asymmetric pattern stood out against the rich tan of his glistening barrel torso. The heat of the fire seeped through her skin, filling her entire body though entering through her side as she submitted to his scrutiny. “You’re so beautiful and you never believed it, did you?” Sheepishly, Andrea shook her head, only briefly dipping her gaze as if unable to look away from the red glow in his dark irises, reflecting the intensity of the fire. With his hand at her throat, he forced her to tilt her face skyward to fully meet his gaze, his skin hot and calloused. “Instead you chased a fantasy and ruined yourself with surgery.” Suddenly her heart swelled to a size large enough to thud against her ribs, causing a dull pain as if from a sharp punch. At that moment, she bitterly regretted each one of her surgical procedures, though not for the first time. Andrea shook her head ruefully, a slight motion due to his restriction. “Now that you’re here with me and I have your soul, you can look however you want.” Lucifer drew his free hand down her spine to let it fall on the small of her back, holding her tightly and dropping his head with a deep breath. “Let us begin now,” he said quietly. Andrea didn’t want her to let him go and, in turn, he spoke into the crown of her head, glossy dark locks absorbing his words and shimmying them down to the tips. Her body quivered as he slowly released her. Instructing her to undress, Lucifer stepped back to observe her obedient actions, fixated on each section of her trembling body as she bared it. Her clothing lay crumpled on the marble floor for several minutes before Lucifer deigned to act, raising his palm level with her face, hovering approximately five inches away and slowly moving downward. 76

Just One Bite: By the Fireside Andrea held his gaze as his power took effect, feeling like a hot strap had been lashed around her body, pulled tight as his hand moved downward. Alteration came as distinct fiery sensations that faded as quickly as they came, tightening sagging skin and repairing scars to leave a flawlessness she hadn’t known for years. “For some,” he began in a low tone, barely audible. “I alter their face to ensure they will be successful at their job.” Dropping his arm to his side, he rolled his bulging shoulders and inclined his head a little. “But it’s not necessary for you, just some minor upkeep.” Looking down at her newly pert breasts, Andrea marvelled at the transformation Lucifer had effected and stroked her hands down the sides of her toned torso. Snatching up one of her hands, Lucifer shocked her with the unexpected action, making her drop the other as he tightly held it to his chest. “Your body belongs to me. Not only is no man ever to touch it, you need my permission to do so yourself.” Andrea nodded stiffly, her lips parted in readiness to stutter an affirmative reply but unable to before he swooped down to take her breath away. His kiss was forceful, like he succumbed to a yearning to taste her that he made no attempt to fight. Leaning against his arm supporting her back, Andrea reached up to grip his shoulders as a feeling of instability persisted, creating the sensation of being about to fall. The touch of his lips had an instant effect, swirling emotions around her core gradually becoming dense to infuse her with strength and confidence that wasn’t her own. Heat flooded her core, streaming downwards like water and pooling between her thighs to swell her clit. His release seemed begrudging, a vibrating hum emitted into her mouth before he caught her lip between his teeth before pulling back. 77

Shermaine Williams Andrea’s breasts heaved with her panting, leaving her only able to offer a breathless, “Am I more desirable to you now?” desperate for the satisfaction of him taking advantage of her body. “You were always desirable to me, but I’m prepared to give you what you want.” With a sweep of his hand, Andrea stood in an off-theshoulder black dress with a hem that fell at her thighs, tapering down to open toed stilettos that glittered when she tilted her ankle to admire the shoe on her foot. Pride in the outfit that perfectly suited her was tempered by disappointment at no longer being naked in his presence. It put an end to a possibility. “Get me what I need, Andrea, and I’ll give you what you want.” Flames flared up, crackling ominously and illuminating the room to improve Andrea’s view of the being she desired. “I hope so.” An attitude stemming from her newfound confidence made her automatically answer back, only recognising her frankness after the words were free. Andrea fought the temptation to reach out to him, feeling an urgent need to pull him into an embrace that would seal their unholy union. The couple remained locked in a stare that spoke volumes though they didn’t say a word. “Go.” His voice shook her body with a power that was unassailable, leaving no room for argument. “I know you won’t disappoint me.” Walking away, she vibrated as his words repeated on a loop, ricocheting through her like a pervading voice. Feeling as though her walk was affected by the pulsating pressure warming the space between her thighs, Andrea felt no hint of the selfconsciousness that would normally be a hindrance. Instead, she used the stirring to her advantage and enhanced the swaying 78

Just One Bite: By the Fireside motion of her swaggering saunter. At the door, she turned to see him looking into the fire, the rippled sinew of his broad back on display, his dusky skin gleaming. Though reluctant to leave, Andrea’s eagerness to be at his side was like a fuel that pushed her into completing her task to return to him. The craving she felt for him clawed at her insides like the most potent of drugs had her firmly within its grip, demanding that she get that next hit by any means. However, there was no substance that could satisfy her, she need only complete an allocated task in order to claim her prize. It turned out that her mission was easier than she expected, only requiring her to sit at a bar for approximately six minutes after leaving the hot, secure confines of her new home. Her unwitting victim was a handsome man, relying on his chiselled features rather than an invitation to sit on the stool next to her. Andrea let him buy her a drink and he was ready to go home with her before she had even finished it. Holding him under her spell was effortless for Andrea, finding it easy to keep his attention until she could put her new powers into effect, materialising in Lucifer’s room with her offering on his knees, held in place by her fist entwined in the soft hair at the crown of his head. “His name’s Kieran,” she advised, by way of a greeting. Lucifer briefly cast his eyes downward before returning his gaze to her face, the look of satisfaction in his eyes caressing her hot skin and hissed like steam. Kieran’s pained whines and protestations muddied the quiet of the sanctuary, but went unheeded by the couple who only had eyes for each other. He broke the stare that linked them by calling for his assistant, instructing her to take away the brand new minion. “Very nice,” she growled, surveying the man that Andrea released. “Can I have him?”

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Shermaine Williams Andrea’s stare remained resolutely on the only reward she wanted, seeing his eyes glittering back at her through the dim light. “Of course you can.” Kieran’s plaintive cry faded into the distance as he was dragged away, failing to earn a second glance from Andrea as she advanced when prompted by Lucifer’s outstretched arm. “Congratulations, my darling.” He squeezed the hand that she placed in his. “Looks like my newest demon is the most efficient.” “Can I be rewarded for my efforts?” Pulled to his body, Andrea’s words were muffled by the firm humps of his abdominal muscles. Nestled against his searing skin, Andrea curled to the left as he leant forward to kiss her neck so fiercely it was as if he wanted to devour her. Reaching up, she curved her fingers around the swell of his chest, marvelling at her surprise at not feeling a heartbeat. “I told you I’d give you what you want.” The last words became lost after shimmering along her tongue as he moved to her mouth. Locked in a kiss that seemed to have no end, the couple were lost in each other and Andrea felt like they were merging as he lifted her off her feet. “I want to be your concubine,” she admitted breathlessly after their lips parted. “Ah, selfish and insatiable,” he whispered huskily, warming her face with his breath as he held her with arms like boa constrictors squeezing the air from her lungs. “You make me proud.” Lucifer laid her in front of the fire, every item of clothing vanishing before her back touched the floor. His naked body, solid with muscle, weighed against her to pin her down and leaving her elated by the sensation of being deeper under his 80

Just One Bite: By the Fireside control. The broadness of his frame forced her legs apart, his frighteningly large shaft pressing against her inner thigh. A whimper muffled by his bruising lips confirmed her desire, entwining her tongue with his in a passionate tussle. Her hands slid across his broad back with the force of her tightened embrace, her fingers becoming talons with her need to hold onto him. Lucifer gave her what she wanted, demanding and focused in his need to satisfy his own lustful desire for pleasure. Each move he made, from nestling between her thighs and pounding deep was as solid as his frame, were driven by strength and vigour worthy of his status. Nothing within her sexual experience could have prepared her for the feeling of him entering her, his thick shaft spreading her open to mould her body perfectly to his. Led by the lip of the smooth head, Andrea felt every ridge and vein of his swollen cock and delighted in every one. They fit together like they were made for each other—two pieces of the same item. A hot, tight flash of delicious pain streaked through her, searing ecstasy powerful enough to lift her hips and bodily raising him with her. The rolling sensation was like the waves of an increasingly choppy sea, flooding her with a deep feeling of pleasure that took control of her body, setting her quivering out of control as she rocked with him. Relishing her struggle to breathe, Andrea felt as if her organs were becoming molten lava, melting into Lucifer’s body to make them become one. The flames of the fire leapt and roared as an explosion erupted deep within her, battering her soul with pure joy, sapping her strength in a concerted attempt to leave her completely spent. Her climactic cry echoed through the great hall, far louder than the low roar released by Lucifer as he surrendered to the rapturous. Her chest heaved with heavy pants as her body throbbed, lacking the energy to do anything more as he rolled to her side. As the scent of sweat, sex and sulphur mingled to fill 81

Shermaine Williams her head, there was only one question on her mind. However, Andrea’s body was subject to tumultuous sensations of bliss that prevented her from forming the words to voice it. With one strong hand, Lucifer gripped her jaw to turn her to face him, his solid frame weighing against her side. “Don’t fret, Andrea,” he growled in a low rumble. “I told you I would give you whatever you want.” Giving her lips a firm kiss, Lucifer laid his head on her breasts as if she were a pillow, not seeing the gleaming smile and eyes so glossy they reflected the fire. He only felt her contentment, making him proud that it matched the level of his.

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His For the Taking by Angelita Gill “I trust you realize you are a dead man.” Sitting on the dirty floor of his black dungeon cell, head hung, elbows on knees, Marex barely acknowledged the guard’s cursed statement. His eyes squinted when small halos of light began to flicker in the pitch blackness. He lifted his head. “Lighting with a torch? This place is so old you guys don’t even have light bulbs?” he said as the overweight guard began to light fire lamps along the wall of the hallway aligning his cell. “No electricity in this god forsaken place,” the guard said as he moved from lamp to lamp. “You’re in an abandoned castle out in the middle of rural Scotland, what did you expect? The Elders know how crafty your friends can be. Here, you’re untraceable.” “If you don’t want me to be found, then why are you bothering to light the place? Trying to give me some ambiance before I’m executed?” Marex sneered. The guard’s voice carried down the hall as he shuffled his feet. “Because you have a visitor.” The words barely registered in Marex’s mind as anything to get excited about. He was being held prisoner by the Vampire Elders for a misdeed he never committed, about to be sentenced the following evening. They had no mercy for traitors...or, who they had believed were traitors. He’d been framed for murdering a respected Elder, a crime he’d rather slit his own throat than commit. For his enemies knew, and despised, how close he was to forming a truce between Vampires and Werewolves. It had to take considerable planning and inevitably 83

Angelita Gill a betrayal to get him in here. He wished he knew just who exactly did it. He rose to his feet for his “visitor,” secured to the wall by a two separate chains connected to his wrists. The long creak from the dungeon’s door sounded in his ears and he frowned in disdain. The guard and the mystery guest approached his cell. “Here he is. Are you sure you want to do this?” Marex moved his gaze. His visitor was wearing a hooded cape, face unseen in the dimness of the hallway. “I’m sure. Leave us.” To his shock, it was a woman. He watched as she handed the guard a roll of cash, which the guard snatch it from her hand before opening the cell. “I have to lock you in with him.” “Fine.” Perplexed, Marex kept his back erect as she glided in and stood across from him. The guard slammed the door shut, snickering when he saw the woman give a slight jump. “You’ve bought yourself fifteen minutes.” Marex stared hard. A subtle scent of her trailed to his nose, linked with something that whispered of familiarity but he knew, even without seeing her face, he didn’t know her. He growled low. The scent ignited his blood like a struck match to a flammable liquid, the effect making his teeth aching to grow, aching to bite. The far door of the dungeon closed. The guard was gone. He snarled at her. “Who are you?” “Someone who wants to be close to you, Marex. You can say a friend.”

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Just One Bite: His For the Taking “A friend?” he drawled. “Somehow I find that highly unlikely. How did you get in here? Besides promising the guard a bundle of bills? Bribery alone on that moron isn’t enough. I am a high priority prisoner. You’d need connections. How did you get them to agree to this—visit?” A hand came from the folds of the cape and she smoothed back the hood from her head. “What a simple female wouldn’t pay to lie with a male of pure blood.” Marex gave a small, very involuntary gasp, then bit down hard on his jaw. By God, she was breathtaking. He’d seduced many with same characteristics, but none of them came close to her. She had curly, long, blondish-reddish hair—he couldn’t really tell in this light—and big, round eyes the color of...he marched toward her, held inches from her face by the limited length of the chain. Eyes the color of a clear day. His attraction to hair the color of sunset, eyes like bright sky, never ceased to withdraw. The combination was a damn addiction. The subdued light of the dank space gave her an ethereal glow and if Marex hadn’t been sure he was still alive, he would have definitely thought he was dead, and that she was an angel. “You talked your way in here to seduce me?” His brow arched, voice tinged with sarcasm. “Yes, and I paid considerably for it,” she said in a hushed whisper, leaning to see if the guard was anywhere near. Her eyes came back to his with a serious gaze. “Actually, my name is Nadine. I made up a story about wanting to seduce you. It was the only way I could get close to you without suspicion. I had to create a whole new identity, name, and cash out my accounts just for these fifteen minutes.” Marex was incredibly confused, and he prided himself on being quick. “What’s going on?”

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Angelita Gill “Shh.” She stuck out her leg through the long slit of her dress, showcasing a length of alabaster skin against the dark, burgundy material. Marex looked away with a slight growl, his teeth burning in his gums. “I knew they would search me for weapons so I all could bring was this,” she explained, bringing his attention back to her leg. “It’s the closest thing to a key I could make.” A key? He couldn’t believe it. “You’re here to help me escape?” “Yes, of course,” the siren said as if it were blatantly obvious from the start. Marex wanted to laugh out loud, but she did not appear to be joking. “Who sent you?” “No one.” She continued unfastening the key from a ribbon around her thigh. This must be a prank. Maybe he was hallucinating. “You’re here to rescue me from a death sentence, under the pretense of having sex with me, with a key you manufactured, and no one sent you?” She gave an impatient sound. “Yes. Now quit asking questions I can answer later. Give me one of your wrists.” Instead of complying with his wrists, he snatched both of hers. “You’re out of your mind. Even if we manage to get out of this cell, we’re on their territory. It’s too risky. There are guards outside. Dozens of them. There could be alarms.” He grit his teeth. “This was foolish.” She yanked her wrists out of his hold with surprising strength. “You think I dared to come here without a plan?” He lowered his chin. “Tell me it. Now.” “Before I even approached this place, I had a crate of whiskey sent to the guards. Because they know they would be in trouble helping a female get close to a prisoner, they kept the shipment a secret. Your guard doesn’t seem to be partaking in it, 86

Just One Bite: His For the Taking but it doesn’t matter. They’re taking turns right now swimming in my drugged liquor. A family recipe.” She crossed her arms. “As for the alarms, there are none. The castle is too old to bother with high-tech security. They rely on the guards and the dogs. Both have been handled.” Ah, right. The trained wolves. He didn’t want to ask how she managed to get rid of them, too. “Why are you risking everything for me?” he asked. It was the obvious question. They had never met; she wasn’t sent by anyone he associated with. He had to know. “A long time ago, I was engaged to be married,” she said. “You aren’t the first vampire to want to unite Werewolves and Vampires. My fiancé was involved with the same kind of truce many years ago. Before he could get close, those opposed to the truce hunted him down and left him for dead. By the time I could get help, it was too late. My fiancé was a good man, just like you.” She took a step toward Marex and he took an equal step back. “I know you were framed for the murder. You’ve gotten closer than any vampire before you. You have to stay alive and finish what you started.” Out of all the things Nadine said, the fact she had belonged to someone had him the most distracted. Sharp, senseless jealousy speared through his heart. He would’ve laughed if the feeling weren’t so absurd. His teeth grew with the unwelcome emotion, heart pounding with hot pumps, hands shaking. Just then, the door of the dungeon was opening. “Oh no,” she whispered in panic. “He’s coming back. Hurry.” At Marex’s questioning gaze she untied her cape, letting it fall to the floor, gestured for him to come closer and said, “You’re supposed to be giving me mindless pleasure, remember? Take me.” The last two words struck him blind with lust, instantly hard in his pants. With a feral sound, he pushed her against the 87

Angelita Gill wall, lifting her knee to hook her leg around him. She gasped as he hoisted her up. He crushed his mouth to hers, the taste of her igniting an unstoppable force as he slid his tongue inside, his sharp teeth scraping the tender lips of her mouth. She moaned, searing her fingers over his jaw to grasp behind his head, kissing him back with such ardor he thought his whole being would cave in and explode. He broke the kiss with a growl to look into her eyes. Never before had he ever seen them, but the familiarity was not to be denied. He’d seen these eyes before... He pumped his hips against her, making her cry out, making her feel his hard desire. Her eyes glazed, she scrambled to move her hands down to his waist, desperately pulling his pants down over his ass, setting his erection free against the open juncture of her thighs. From somewhere behind him, he heard the guard’s steps echoing down the hall. Mindless pleasure was easy to perform when a female looked and felt like this. Breathlessly, she kissed him again, moving her hips up, the slickness of her sex rubbing on him, making his eyes roll in the back of his head. He cupped her knee and pretended to rock inside her luscious body with quick thrusts as the guard approached the bars. It took everything Marex had not to turn around and grab the bastard, rip his throat out, and watch his life blood spill on the floor for daring to look. Seconds later, the guard grumbled something and walked back. The slam of the door should have made Marex stop, but he couldn’t. Not yet. He had to taste her... As if she knew, Nadine broke the kiss and turned her head to the side, exposing her throbbing pulse to his eyes. Marex shook his head quickly to contain the carnal need to rip into her flesh.

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Just One Bite: His For the Taking “It’s all right.” Her breath was laboring. “I dreamed about this. I want you...” Needing no more confirmation, Marex bent his knees, held her leg open to the wall and entered her with hard precision, biting into her neck at the same time. She cried out at his force, taking in the size of his engorged cock, as he began to thrust slowly with a possessive moan, rocking inside her against the stonewall. His eyes widened on the truth he tasted. Her hot, potently rich blood filled his mouth and in an instant, Marex knew she was his. His and his alone. She held his face to her neck as they moved together in perfect unison, hips moving away and toward each other with every thrust. Marex groaned against her neck, swallowing her sweet blood, necessary and divine, feeling the power it gave him, the absolution. Nadine whimpered, giving a small cry as he pumped into her again and again, her cries louder as he took her blood, her body. Her hands tightened on his neck as she gave one long cry of bliss in his ear, reaching her orgasm. Marex thrust faster, taking a long swallow of her blood, then releasing his bite from her tender neck, licking the trail of blood he’d left behind. Deeply he moaned, his muscles shaking, his whole body humming with Nadine’s blood rushing in, intertwining with his. All mine, he thought. At his final thrust, he threw back his head and cried out as the climax paralyzed him body and soul, spilling into her with final claim. Slowly, they came down from the ecstasy and Marex gently slid out from her body, eyes locked with hers. He stepped back, pulling his pants up, hands on hips, breathing hard. “You are my mate.” Nadine nodded and touched his bite with her fingertips. “I know.” 89

Angelita Gill Marex had heard of such bonding. One bite would tell you all, but he’d scoffed at the rumor for all of his four hundred years. But he now knew its truth. Unable to stop himself, he rushed to her, grasping her face in his hands, kissing with her with plain relief and fierce devotion. She was right on time. He tore his mouth away from hers. “We must go.” She nodded, fumbling around for the key. He held out his locked wrists and she went to work with deft skill. Marex didn’t know how much time they had left, but he was sure it wasn’t more than five minutes. The first lock on his left hand released and she moved to the right one. He marveled at how calm she was, how confident. How she didn’t fumble or get frustrated easily when the second lock proved to be more difficult than the first. Her inner strength matched his outer, and together they would be unstoppable. She was definitely meant to be his. “Did you love him?” Marex found himself asking. Immediately, she knew he was referring to the vampire she was going to marry. “No. He was a good man. But...he was not you.” He knew she was telling the truth. Her hands slowed and she raised her eyes to his. “I have dreamed about you all my life. For years I searched and searched but you were nowhere. Eventually, I made myself ignore the dreams. So I cast aside my search and became engaged to a man I didn’t love, but then he was taken, and killed. When I started to hear your name, who you were, what you were doing, it echoed in my mind endlessly. The dreams became vivid...with more force this time, more detail. Then I knew. I couldn’t save my fiancé, but I could save you. Because I had to.” The second lock released and clattered to the floor. 90

Just One Bite: His For the Taking Now he knew why Nadine’s eyes were so familiar. He’d seen them in his dreams as well. Always haunting him until he woke. No wonder every time he met a woman with eyes similar in color, he took her without question. He’d been subconsciously looking for her, too. Marex whipped his profile to the sound of the door opening. The guard was on his way. He grasped her upper arms, their lips nearly touching, keeping his voice low. “This will be our only chance, Nadine. As soon as he unlocks the door and lets you out, I’ll rush in on him.” He bent down and picked up the chains so that they appeared to be holding him when the guard came to release her from the cell. For the first time, he saw concern in her eyes. “Don’t worry,” he told her gruffly, “you will not go on without me.” Nadine kissed him quickly, with passion and loyalty, making him moan when she broke away. She picked up her cloak and tied it back around her shoulders, smiling wickedly at him before replacing her hood to conceal her face. Marex hid his own smile as the guard approached with grunting ambivalence. “Was he worth it?” he asked as Nadine took steps toward the bars. “Mm. I’ve had better.” Marex turned his head away to press his lips together, suppressing laughter. He was going to love this woman with every fiber of his being, he had no doubt about that. He had no doubt, period, about anything. The door opened and Nadine swept through the space. Marex leveled his gaze, growled, and marched toward the door, the loosened bounds of the chains dropping to the concrete. The guard’s eyes rounded wide as Marex mightily kicked the steel with a roar. The guard dropped with an astonished yell to his backside, desperately reaching for his knife. 91

Angelita Gill Nadine beat him to it. She snatched the dagger and held the point to his quivering double chin. “If you want to live, I suggest you obey.” Her fearlessness amazed Marex, making him swell with pride. He came around the guard’s back and took him in a chokehold, dragging his heavy body into the cell. The man thrashed about to remain conscious, but Marex was too strong, had done this too many times. He stripped the unconscious guard of his boots and tied them on before dashing out of the cell and closing the door. He took his soul mate’s hand in his and they ran down the hall to the main door, which led to a long, steep staircase above. He looked back at Nadine who slowly smiled, her eyes giving him all the strength he’d ever need, trusting him completely. He climbed the first few steps to his new destiny, his fate in his hands now. With her.

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This Cowboy Bites by Randi Alexander Chapter One In his sleep, Kade Rourke sensed someone on his property. Someone other than the ranch hand who’d already left for the day. Loud banging on the front door yanked him fully awake. “Shit.” Moving on fast-forward, he pulled on black jeans, a black t-shirt, and boots. He wrenched open the front door before the next knock. A tall blonde girl nearly toppled in, her arm raised for another knock. Her big, blue eyes opened wide when her fist stopped an inch short of his chin. “Emma?” The night shift waitress at the diner. “Who let you onto the property?” A flush of red crept up her neck. His nostrils flared as he caught the scent of blood. “I snuck in through the gate after your foreman left.” He looked past her. The sun was down, the yard lights glared from the barn, and a bike lay at the foot of the porch steps. Was she stalking him? Ironic. He usually did the stalking. Bad timing for a social visit, though. “You don’t want to be here today.” He hadn’t fed in over a month. Blood hunger clawed at his stomach. He’d planned to make the long drive to El Paso tonight, find a loose young thing at a bar, and take her with his cock and then his fangs. But when Emma tipped her head and her hair swung away from her neck, his fangs tingled, ready to come down. He leaned closer. 93

Randi Alexander She stepped back, and he sensed a small burst of fear mingling with her determination. “Please, Kade, hear what I have to say.” He nodded. They’d talked a dozen times when he went to town for a late night meal. Sometimes she’d sit with him if things were slow. He knew all about her family, her friends, her online college classes. The sexual connection between them was strong. She felt it, too. But what kept him going back was her company. He craved it, despite telling himself local women were off limits. But she made him laugh, which was something he hadn’t done in a decade. “I’m here”—her voice cracked—”because I need your help.” He’d listen to her, help if he could, then decide what to do with her. His breath nearly stopped at the image of her spread naked on his bed, holding out her arms to him. If he did take her, he’d scrub her mind, make her forget about the bloodletting. But he’d want her to remember the sex. Aw, God, if he made love to a sweet, young beauty like her, he’d want her all night, every night. “What do you need from me, Emma?” She hiccupped a breath, squeezed her hands together, and stared past his shoulder. “My little sister has disappeared. Dad said she’s been spending time with a group of kids he thought were just Goth.” She looked at him, eyes sparkling with tears. “You know, they wear black and act strange.” He grunted at the perfect description of himself. “But when she didn’t come home last night, Dad called the sheriff. He told us these kids are into vampire ritual.” That sent a chill down his spine. He’d seen what wannabe vamps did to their prey. It wasn’t pretty. “Shit.” “You don’t…know anything about them, do you?” He shook his head. He was a solo vampire. He kept to 94

Just One Bite: This Cowboy Bites himself, guarded his privacy. Except around her. The hours they spent talking brought a closeness he hadn’t experienced in a century, but obviously it had also piqued her curiosity and awakened her feral sensuality. A month ago, she’d sent him a psychic message from across the diner. “I know the rumors about you are true, Kade, and I still want you.” His gaze had shot to hers and she’d gasped, then smiled, seductive and empowered. She’d glided over and slid into the booth across from him and told him telepathically, “You can bite me, Kade. I want you to.” His mouth watered, his cock jerked, before he gave himself a mental head slap. He never, never, fed close to home. He stood, threw down a couple twenties, and left. Stayed away since. And that should have been the end of it. But, no, here was Emma O’Connor, asking him if he was involved with a gang of fake vampires. “It has nothing to do with me. I can’t help you.” He stepped back and swung the door toward her, but she bravely, or foolishly, smacked her hands on the solid oak and shoved back. “Please.” Tears trailed down her face. “I know you have powers. Is there anything, any ability you have that can help us find her?” She folded her hands. “I promise no one will know about this.” Her pain jolted him as her honesty shone like a light. A tiny thread of hope seeped out of her, reviving his long-dormant conscience. She must have seen the change in his face. Stepping forward, she grasped his forearms in a surprisingly strong grip. “Anything. I’ll do anything if you can help.” He battled a surge of lust. Anything? Her touch was like quicksilver, spreading through his body, turning him into an animal. He stared into eyes the color of the midday sky he hadn’t seen in a century. His canines moved down in his mouth as he watched life coursing through her veins beneath her pale skin. 95

Randi Alexander Behind his fly, his cock grew and filled. Every thought centered on his need to slide his hard rod into her soft, pink pussy while he sliced into her neck and drank. She glanced down at his erection then back into his eyes with a heavy-lidded gaze. He sensed her lush, dark desire replacing all other emotions. Her body quivered, her nipples peaked, pointing hard and needy, through her t-shirt. Her breasts rose and fell with her rapid breaths. He stepped back and broke contact before he lost control. She blinked a couple times, seeming to pull herself back from the fantasy she’d been immersed in. What was this intense connection between them? Nothing uprooted his world the way Emma did. He felt what she felt, understood her dreams, and wanted her with a passion that he couldn’t cage. As if fate had aligned their meeting. Even though she suspected he was vampire, she wanted him, trusted him enough to ask for his help. He would try, for her sake. There was one thing, but he hadn’t used it in years. If he attempted it, she’d know without a doubt he had powers beyond any human’s. “Do you have anything of hers?” Her fingers went to her throat. “I put on Sarah’s necklace today. To keep her close.” Raising his hand, he brushed the backs of his fingers on Emma’s throat, snagging the necklace. A blast of desire ripped through him but was quickly replaced by the chill of clairvoyance as he willed his mind to travel and meld with Sarah’s. “She’s in a dark room.” Emma cried out in anguish. “Watching TV.” He pinpointed his third eye. “No, it’s a video game. She’s playing a video game, sitting on a couch. 96

Just One Bite: This Cowboy Bites Drinking Coke and eating Lays.” “What?” She sounded incredulous. “She’s looking at someone next to her. A girl, about fifteen, with curly red hair and a lip piercing.” He dropped his hand and the power left him. Few things could make a vampire weak, but live clairvoyance was one of them. His knees wobbling, Kade walked to the wicker porch sofa and sat. Emma was on her cell phone with her father. “You know her?” After a second, she nodded at Kade. When she hung up, she deflated, nearly melting into a puddle on his porch. “Sit a minute,” he offered. She walked over and plopped down, her relaxed position belying her tension. “Dad said it had to be Rena, a girl from Sarah’s class.” “Why did she run away?” Emma sighed, heavy and slow. “It was my fault. I saw her grades and told her she had to spend more time studying if she wanted to make it into college.” She looked at him, her eyes sorrowful. “I was trying to motivate her. But I just pissed her off.” She shook her head. “Do you have sisters?” “Not any longer.” His sisters had been well behaved, but that was at the turn of the century. The last century. “Were they…” Her gaze was inquisitive, but her hesitation was back. “Vampires?” She nodded. He opened his mouth to reply, but her phone rang. “Hello?” Shit. He’d almost answered her, almost let down his guard. She did that to him. He was a century older in years lived, yet around her he was like a young man again, trusting and optimistic. 97

Randi Alexander She hung up and turned a relieved face to him. “The girls were hiding out at Rena’s. Dad’s on his way there right now.” Tears traced down her cheeks. “Thank you for helping.” She touched the necklace. “I’d like to know more about your gift some day.” It would never happen. “Some day.” She slid closer to his end of the couch. “I owe you.” She looked at him, her eyes darkening. “You can bite me.” He sensed a sweet flood of desire mixing with her gratitude. It unnerved him. He couldn’t take her up on her offer when she was this emotionally charged. Lifting a brow, he said, “Bite me as in ‘fuck off’?” She didn’t laugh, didn’t take the hint that he wanted her to back off. She tipped her head, exposing the long pale expanse where her jugular pulsed. “Please. Take my blood.” Every nerve in his body throbbed, his teeth elongated so quickly they hurt. What she was offering, he needed to stay alive. But this was no ordinary prey. If he gave in to her, he’d want to possess her. Permanently. He stood and walked past her. “Forget it. You owe me nothing.” He reached inside the door, grabbed his hat, and shoved it on his head. Taking the stairs down off the porch two at a time, he called over his shoulder, “You need to leave. Now.” Chapter Two Emma stood on the porch, watching Kade’s long strides take him to the barn. What just happened? She’d been grateful, yes, but she wanted him. Her core contracted with need, the same way it had when she put her hands on his arms. He was more alive, more wired than any man she’d known. She had to experience that electric charge. She’d seen his erection, glimpsed white teeth extending long and sharp. He 98

Just One Bite: This Cowboy Bites desired her. Why would he deny himself? Squaring her shoulders, she went after what she wanted. Her running shoes tread silently as she entered the barn. At the other end, he dropped the saddle he carried and turned to her. “I asked you to leave.” Taking a fortifying breath, she let it out with, “I don’t want to leave.” She strode forward, concentrating on one thing. His bite. Would it be painful? What would it feel like to nourish him? With a suddenness that startled her, a vision from his vantage point slammed into her mind. He held her in his arms, she was naked, her back against the barn wall, her legs around his waist, her needy core opening to take his hard, hot length inside her. As he surged upward, filling her with his rigid shaft, his mouth came down on her neck. She gasped and put a hand to her throat. He’d planted the vision in her mind. It was so real. She felt the sweet pressure in her opening, the seductive pain at her neck. He stood at the far end of the barn, his booted feet spread, his hands fisted, his hat shading his face. “Is that what you want, Emma? It’s a package deal. If you want to know my bite, you have to accept my cock.” His low, rumbling voice echoed around her, inside her, shooting sparks of desire that centered in her womb. Her lips swelled, ready to accommodate him, juices trickling at the thought of his taking her. “Yes.” It was barely a whisper, but in less than a second, he was in front of her, and she was in his arms. His mouth opened with a hiss, baring his fangs, huge and gleaming white in the low light of the barn. Emma laced her fingers in his hair, knocking his hat to the floor. She pulled him 99

Randi Alexander down for a kiss—and hesitated. Did vampires kiss? He answered her question by slanting his lips over hers, lapping at her with his tongue, demanding a response until she answered with her own tongue. The kiss was primitive, their breaths mingling, tongues twisting, tasting each crevice, sliding along straight teeth. Until Emma’s tongue encountered his fang. He stilled. She sighed as she touched her tongue to the razor sharpness of his canine. A twinge of pain then a coppery tang filled her mouth. Bliss mellowed her rioting thoughts as he sucked at her tongue, moaning his pleasure at the appetizer. Stepping back, she tugged off her shirt while he watched, his gaze heating her skin, showing his fangs proudly, breathing heavily. She unfastened her bra and slid it off, followed quickly by jeans, shoes and finally her panties until she stood naked before him. He stared, eating her whole with his eyes. “Beautiful.” Her nipples hardened to points that ached for his touch. “Now you,” she breathed, and reached for his belt buckle. But before she could touch him, he faded into a blur, and when he came back into focus, he was nude. And gorgeous, muscled and firm. His penis stood hard and long, so perfect she wanted to weep. “Take me, Kade. Hard and fast this first time.” “Who said there’d be a second time?” But he was smiling. He walked toward her, stalking her, his movements sure and strong. She backed away until her butt hit the barn wall, wanting it to be exactly the way she’d seen it in her imagination. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist. 100

Just One Bite: This Cowboy Bites The touch of his hot prick against her soft lips was rocket fire. Her body convulsed, her hips bucking as she soared so close to an orgasm that she only had to let herself go. But she waited. For him. His hand moved to her breast, his thumb torturing her nipple. “I want to suck this, Emma. Then make a cut here.” He touched the top curve of her cleavage. “And taste you, see what your blood is like there.” A picture of it flashed through her mind. It would be sensual, erotic. And her hips bucked again, urging her toward the edge. His hand moved between their bodies, where he pinched her clit. “Then I’m going to lick this, Emma. Until you come. Then I’m going to press my face into you and lap up your juices.” “Yes,” she cried, the motion of his fingers had her orgasm tearing at her for release. Kade grabbed her ass with both hands. “But that’s for later.” “I…I thought you said there wouldn’t be a ‘later’.” He chuckled. “I’m a bastard. I should send you home on your little pink bike. But I’m going to keep you here, keep at you until you’ve got nothing left to give.” “Yes, use me up.” She panted it, her body so close to the snapping point, she had no cognizant thought except holding off until she had him inside her, had his lips fastened to her neck. “As you wish, my lovely Emma.” The flash of white as he neared her throat should have scared her, but it kicked her lust even higher. As the sharp tips of his fangs pierced her flesh, jolting her with its sweet ache, he lowered her body fully onto his hard cock. The double onslaught was too much, she soared with the pleasure. Spinning, spiraling, swimming without the need for air. 101

Randi Alexander Tingles of release ricocheted through her as he possessed her, devoured her. The pull of his mouth at her neck, a new and wild sensation. The pistoning in her slick, swollen flesh created a friction that kept her orgasm at full peak. Long minutes later, he spilled himself into her, and the gush of hot fluid amped up her body. A second, more intense orgasm roared through her, this time dark and heavy, hollowing her out until she knew only feeling, only sensation. He licked her wounds, and the ache subsided. He kissed her, gently this time. “You are delicious,” he mumbled against her lips. “How often do you feed?” Her head seemed heavy on her shoulders. “Once a month, usually.” He looked at her, the blue of his eyes showed concern. “Did I hurt you?” “No.” She smiled. “It was amazing. I’ve never been that high before.” “Good.” He picked her up in his arms. “Because we have a long night ahead of us.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his jaw. “So am I to understand—vampires need sex more than once a month?” He laughed as he carried her to the house and leapt onto the porch. Once inside, he slammed the door behind them. “Between now and next month, when I take your vein again, I’m going to show you how many times a vampire can have sex.” “You want me to come back again? On my little pink bike?” He sat her on his bed and crouched at her feet. “I need you any way you can get here, Emma. I’ve never known a woman like you. I want you with me.”

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Just One Bite: This Cowboy Bites Her heart tumbled as she ran her fingers through her lover’s hair. Nothing she’d experienced in her life compared to the way she felt about him. Pulling him closer, she kissed him gently. “Lock the gate, Kade. I’m here to stay.”

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Every Last Bite by Christine DePetrillo “Exactly how much effort does it take pretending you don’t find me attractive, Tessa?” He slithered toward me, his bare feet making wavy lines in the moonlit sand. “I don’t find you attractive at all, Doren.” Okay, so I lied. “It’s a nice night.” He sat beside me, his arm brushing against mine. “It was.” I shifted a few inches away from him, though my instincts told me to climb into his lap instead. How long are we going to play this game? His voice was a mere whisper in my head. “Don’t do that. I told you to stay out of here.” I tapped my temple. “Sorry, but it’s not every day a guy wakes up from a coma and can play around in people’s thoughts. Besides, I’d stay out of your head if you’d let me in there.” He pointed to my chest where my beating heart should have been. I locked my mind down. “Look, Doren, we’ve been over this a million and one times. You and I don’t make sense.” “We make sense to me.” He was quiet for a moment. “Tessa, look at me.” “No.” Looking at Doren was never a wise decision. With his ocean blue eyes, jet-black hair, and tall, athletic frame, he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. When he first appeared to me in the emergency room, he was bloody and broken, but I knew I had to make him my own. Though I’d been in nursing for a while, none of the patients had ever taken a hold 104

Just One Bite: Every Last Bite over me like Doren had. He’d slipped into a coma shortly after arriving at the hospital. When no one came to visit him, when the doctor told me he had no family, I couldn’t resist. Doren placed his hand under my chin and turned my head to face him. “Resist what?” “I’m warning you. Get out of my head.” My shields used to be better than this. What was wrong with me? Fortunately, I’d managed to protect the one thing I didn’t want him to find in the dark corners of my mind. So far anyway. I wrenched my chin free of his grip and went back to staring at the water lapping the silvery shore. “It’s the only way I can be close to you, Tessa. You keep pushing me away.” “And yet, you refuse to take the hint.” “Hint?” He laughed, a deep, raspy sound that caressed my insides like no other noise could. “It’s more like a flashing, neon sign.” When I got up, he grabbed my wrist. I wriggled free, but he caught me again, his abilities already sharpening. “Just sit with me.” He tugged until I lowered beside him. Was there anywhere else I wanted to be? He released my hand and leaned back on his arms. His body was one long line stretched next to me. Grains of sand sparkled on his dark jeans, and his black T-shirt hugged his chest. Don’t think he’s beautiful. Don’t think he’s perfect. The right side of Doren’s mouth turned up, but he didn’t acknowledge my thoughts. Instead, he eased back all the way and rested his head on his folded arms. “You’re the only thing that feels right to me since I woke up. I want to show you how perfect we could be together.” It wasn’t everyday a kind, gorgeous man said such words to me. Most of the men I met were egotistical doctors who 105

Christine De Petrillo thought they knew everything. They didn’t. They certainly didn’t know how I’d managed to wake Doren from his coma. How I’d healed his severely injured body after his motorcycle accident. How I’d made him like me. How, every single day, I regretted what I’d done to him. Doren rolled to his side and slid his arm around my waist. Instead of shrugging him off as I usually did, I ran my fingers along his smooth forearm. He grew still beside me, the only noise the soft hush of water against sand. He shivered as I lay back, my hand inching up his arm and over his shoulder until it rested against his cheek. His eyes were huge, blue harbors, promising me safe mooring. “You surprise me.” His lips formed an uncertain smile as if he were afraid I was toying with him. Perhaps I was. “You’re so sure we’re supposed to be together. Show me your proof, Doren.” His smile solidified now, his teeth beaming white in the moonlight. “I have waited for this moment, Tessa. You’ve turned me down for nearly three months. Why have you changed your mind now?” He wanted to believe in this, in me. “Because it’s time you realize you don’t really want me.” Those words hurt more than the months I’d been keeping him at a distance. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I wasn’t supposed to have a conscience. I was a hunter, a killer, but Doren deserved better. He should have had a choice. His dark brows furrowed as he looked at me. “I know what I want. Ever since I saw you in the hospital, you’re all I can think about.” A nasty side effect. It would have been so much easier if I could have simply told him what I was, what he now was. It didn’t work that way though. He had to be shown, and I’d been avoiding this moment for too long already. Hoping he’d be set

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Just One Bite: Every Last Bite free somehow, but that wasn’t going to happen. There were rules, and I was bound by them as my maker had been. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to Doren’s. A rumble vibrated in his throat as he kissed me back. His arms supported his weight until I encircled him with my own and pulled him down on top of me. He pushed the strap of my tank top aside and trailed hot kisses along my flesh. His movements were slow and gentle at first, but gained a certain passionate wildness within moments. He was hungry, starving, and his lips were skilled. His tongue swirled over my neck as his arms tightened around my waist. He sniffed along the curve of my chin, and I knew he smelled it. Blood. But not mine. “Whose is it then?” Doren pushed up onto his elbows to look at my face, and I didn’t have the heart to yell at him for getting inside my head. After all, it was my fault he could read thoughts in the first place. “Does it matter whose blood it is? Don’t you want it anyway?” I remembered the woman I’d taken down earlier in the evening. She’d been an easy target. Running along the beach with headphones in her ears, she never heard me coming. “Why do I want it?” His beautiful eyes held worry and confusion. Maybe some fear. “Drink it, then you’ll see why. You’ll know.” I angled my neck toward him, pulled my hair aside so as to leave no obstacle in his way. He pressed his fingers to my neck, feeling for a pulse that didn’t exist. “Bite me, Doren. Do it.” I arched my body up so it touched his, and he immediately collapsed against me. Our mouths melded together again, then Doren’s lips traveled down my chin and back to my neck. His lips parted and 107

Christine De Petrillo knife-like fangs pierced my flesh. My own untamed need exploded, and I became the monster that lived inside me. Doren drank the blood. My victim’s blood. The blood of an innocent, like he used to be. Why had I changed him? He should have died in that hospital bed like hundreds of other humans who left this world when it was their time. I had no right to choose him, but once I’d seen him, I couldn’t let him go. I’d been so lonely since that fateful night when my maker changed me. I’d sworn never to turn anyone, because immortal life was no life at all. I hadn’t wanted to condemn anyone to this bleak existence, this constant thirst, this struggle to remain civilized when all I wanted to do was wet my throat with human blood, warm and rich. I hated being a vampire. Doren pulled his lips off my neck, blood dripping in delicious streams down his pale chin. “Vampire?” He licked the sweet, crimson wine from his lips, and I couldn’t control myself any longer. I sat up and caught his lips with mine. His own taste combined with the blood of my last meal to create a flavor so intoxicating, I instantly needed more. But not here. Not on the beach where children would make sandcastles when the sun turned everything golden in the morning. “Come with me.” I kissed Doren again, mainly to clean the blood off his perfect face. He was so dazed by his consumption that he followed me like a pup on a leash. With no need to hide what I was from him anymore, I grabbed Doren’s hand and ran through the streets at speeds no human could comprehend. When we arrived at my front door, Doren’s black hair was windswept, strands falling across his forehead. His eyes were sharp and clear, his lips tinged red with blood. He belonged 108

Just One Bite: Every Last Bite on the pages of a magazine, not on my steps with his hand firmly in mine. I took a moment to memorize his face, the curve of his chin, the shape of his nose, the length of his feathery, black eyelashes. He backed me against the door, pressed his hips into mine, and my entire body wanted him even though I knew what making love to him would mean. I could push him away no longer. I’d tasted his kiss. No turning back now. Somehow I managed to unlock my front door and get us inside. The house was dark and humid, like a tomb. Doren picked me up with one sweep of his arm behind my legs and turned us in a quick circle. “Where?” His perfect face alternated between light and shadow as he stepped around my living room with me still in his arms. His chest was hard against me. Hard and secure. “It doesn’t matter.” “It does matter. This is special, Tessa. Don’t you have a nice bed in your room?” Doren had never been upstairs in my house where he probably assumed a bedroom existed. It didn’t. I didn’t sleep. Neither did he, but the new ones always overlooked that until they came to terms with being a vampire. “Outside, in the grass,” I said. “Under the stars.” He smiled and dropped a kiss on my cheek. Even that chaste touch had me yearning for more. Doren carried me out the French doors at the back of the house. He cleared the patio in four giant steps and lowered me to the ground. The earth was still warm from a day in the summer heat—a day I had missed hiding inside the hospital during my long shift. A day Doren had spent at his own house on the next street because I had commanded him to stay there. He wasn’t good at taking commands, or I wasn’t good at giving them, but

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Christine De Petrillo the command to stay out of the daylight while I was at work stuck with him. The command to run from me, however, had no effect at all. Probably because I hadn’t wanted him to run from me. That was why I had put off this moment of lovemaking for so long, why I had left Doren in the dark about both of us being vampires. Why I had kept him like a pet, yet pretended I wanted nothing to do with him. Looking at him now, with the night sky twinkling behind his head, I wanted everything to do with him. I bared my fangs and pulled Doren down to me. He closed his eyes and let me sink my teeth into his neck. This bite wasn’t for drinking blood. I was already full. This bite was for marking him again as mine. Mine for the moment anyway. He let out a low growl, something feral and seductive, and I released my hold so I could pull off his T-shirt. His pale, muscular chest glowed in the moonlight, and my hands swam over his abs all the way up to his shoulders. He removed my tank top and shorts. I relieved him of his jeans. Within moments, grass caressed our naked bodies and nothing stood between us. How had I resisted him for this long? I’d seen him every day since I’d changed him, imagined being intimate with him, craved his touch, and yet, I’d succeeded in keeping him at a safe distance. It didn’t seem possible. Doren leaned down and kissed a line from my stomach up to my breasts. His lips were like silk, slippery and cool. When he closed his mouth around a tight nipple, I let out a gush of air and wrapped my legs around his back. “Tell me again how you don’t find me attractive.” His lips smiled against the valley between my breasts. “Shut up.” I cupped my hands around his face and brought his lips up to mine. 110

Just One Bite: Every Last Bite We feasted on each other, and when Doren entered me, I let out a cry of pleasure…and of heartache. His movements were slow and precise, each thrust making my body want to surround him more completely, deeper, tighter. My mind, however, knew what would come next. I would leave him. The rules made it so. My own maker had done the same to me. He’d been otherworldly striking in his looks and utterly irresistible. I’d been dancing in a club with my girlfriends and through the sea of writhing bodies, I’d seen him. And he’d seen me. The crowd parted when he waved his hand, and I hadn’t been able to move. My girlfriends had fallen still and silent around me, as had the rest of the dancers. The only noise was the thump of the bass-heavy music, mimicking the pounding of my heart—the last pounding it would ever do. “Your hair is gold,” he’d said to me. “Your eyes sapphires. Dance with me.” I couldn’t argue. Didn’t want to. So we danced. He escorted me out of the club to an enormous sailboat. While sea breezes carried us across dark water, he dined on me, drank me empty, then had sex with me. I lusted after him, desired more, but a few hours later, I’d found myself alone on the dock watching his boat float ghost-like into the mist. He’d of course explained it all to me. He’d made me a vampire. My heart would no longer beat. I would thirst for blood. The sun would be my enemy. Life would never end, and he had to go. “These are the rules, Tessa. One day you will do as I have done to you.” I’d vowed not to, and yet, here I was. Doren, my vampire progeny, deep inside me, his body giving mine incredible pleasure. I’d stolen his life, and now I’d have to cast him aside.

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Christine De Petrillo I peaked when Doren edged a bit deeper, his hands holding my hips as we rode the final wave together. I squeezed him to me, breathed him in, tried to make him part of me for what moments remained. “That was worth the wait,” he whispered into my ear as he settled beside me, his arm draped possessively around my waist. A tear of blood rolled from the corner of my eye, and I fought to keep the others from spilling. Doren rose to his elbow and wiped the tear away. “What’s wrong? Did I not please you?” “You’ve pleased me like no other ever has, Doren.” I sat up and kissed him. “I will never forget you.” I slipped out of his hold and stood. With a final look at him sitting wonderfully naked in the grass under the watchful eye of the moon, I walked away, something in my chest burning as if my dead heart had caught fire. “Where are you going?” Doren was a blur as he ran to my side. “It’s time for me to go.” I rubbed my chest, but the pain there only grew. “Don’t vampires have all the time in the world?” He grinned. “We can spend several lifetimes making love like that.” He gestured back to the grass flattened by our bodies, to our pile of clothes. “The rules say once maker and progeny make love, the maker must leave.” I buckled to the ground at Doren’s feet, the pain in my chest overwhelming. When Doren touched me to help me up, the ache subsided. “Screw the rules, Tessa. If you made me a vampire and I’m going to live forever, I’m not doing it without you.”

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Just One Bite: Every Last Bite He pulled me against him and kissed me until that hurt in my chest disappeared. In its place was a cooling flood of contentment. Perfect serenity. Completeness. “I don’t understand,” I said. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” Could I let myself believe I could keep Doren? “Says who?” Doren used his fangs to nibble on my bare shoulder. “We’re vampires. We can do whatever we want.” “But the rules say…” “Love is stronger than any vampire rules.” Doren grabbed me by the shoulders and stared deep into my eyes as if he were looking into my soul. A soul I’d thought I’d lost. “Do you love me, Doren?” My maker hadn’t, and I hadn’t loved him. “I love you now. I’ll love you always. I want to enjoy every last bite with you and only you.” He scooped me up and flew to the roof of my house where the moon was almost touchable. “I love you too.” I bit him lightly on the chest, and he kissed the blood off my lips. “Forever is ours.”

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Original Sin by Rosalie Stanton From the desk of Lucifer, King of Hell Will Also Answer To The Following: The Head Honcho The Big Cheese The Boss Jedi Master One Scary Ass Motherfucker In the beginning… Well, there was no real beginning. That’s something most can’t grasp, seeing as the human mind isn’t structured to think of concepts such as eternity. We weren’t created so much as we just were. A group of celestial bodies floating around in a grand endless nothing, doing little more than exist. It was dull as fuck, and I’m not sorry it’s behind me. There was quite literally nothing to do, as nothing was precisely what was. Paradise itself wasn’t built until it was deemed necessary, therefore the luxury apartments, swimming pools, nightclubs, and other fancy amenities for which it’s known today weren’t available for our use. There was also no Hell, of course. But that’s neither here nor there. One day, Jev decided the same old same old was boring. It was a novel notion, really. We didn’t know what monotony was, and in order to be bored one must know how to be 114

Just One Bite: Original Sin entertained. Another thing most humans don’t understand, simply because Jev didn’t wire them that way. To appreciate the value of one thing, one must have some knowledge of the opposite. The lot of us didn’t realize we were bored out of our cosmic minds until there was something there to keep us captivated. Jev always boasted the most power, and that might have been true. The man deserves credit insofar as thinking of something the rest of us had no chance of coming up with on our own. And perhaps that was our folly, but unlike the other sniveling ass-kissers, I took to the new creation skeptically. It was interesting, of course. Anything is interesting when contrasted with nothing. But it wasn’t without its flaws, and for whatever reason, I have an eye for spotting flaws. The First Man (let’s call him Adam, for posterity sake) was a blithering idiot. The First Woman, Lilith, was quite the opposite. She had sass, and she knew how to use it. She refused to kowtow to Adam’s absurd requests, and when he asked her to get on her knees and…well, pay tribute to his manhood, she, quite appropriately, kicked him where men have since discovered they least enjoy being kicked. Adam had barely adjusted to the idea of having testicles, so to have them so viciously assaulted left him with a minor grievance. He went to Jev and demanded a replacement for Lilith, who was (in Adam’s words) obviously not created in Jev’s image. Lilith was shunned from the Garden (did I mention this all took place in a garden?), and replaced with sweet, docile, accommodating, and sadly empty-headed Eve. I was partial to Lilith, myself, and I suppose that’s where the trouble began. The rest of the story is fairly well known, though a few crucial details have been omitted from popular renditions. The whole “snake” thing was a combination of both mine and Jev’s brainstorming. I told him humans wouldn’t serve him blindly, as he seemed to think he was due. The angels— which we so-called lesser beings decided to name ourselves— thought Jev was neat, sure, but didn’t take kindly calling anyone 115

Rosalie Stanton “Master”. At the very least, he had proven he was cleverer than the average bear. Creation shut up the naysayers…well, the majority of the naysayers. As they say, every party needs a pooper, and I suppose that was why Jev invited me. As a snake, I talked with Adam—not Eve—for he struck me as the more readily gullible. Once the banishment took place, the world began progressing, building itself, and populating, populating, populating. Humans, as it turned out, had a penchant for S-E-X. Truth of the matter is, they’re pretty much hardwired to fuck all the time. Sadly, since the dawn of what we’ll call time (no matter how inaccurate the term), humans have likewise cultivated a load of bogus rules concerning what sort of sex is appropriate, what must be done to have it, who can have it, and when it can be had. If something feels good, that apparently makes it “evil” by default. It’s a pity; as most of the good humans learn post-mortem, these rules regarding sex bear no place in reality. In the beginning of the human world, however, sex itself was almost as novel an idea as making the damn universe in the first place, and I was eager to give it the old college try. Following the excitement that came with Creation, poor Lilith was left to her own devices. One day, not long after Adam and Eve’s eviction, I found myself walking the terrain where the Garden once stood, and discovered the true First Woman crawling toward a patch of berries I knew to be toxic. The only food that grew in the Garden following the expulsion would immediately kill any human that so much as licked it. Looking back, I’m not sure why I was concerned with her mortality. Jev had already established those souls who perished here would have an eternal home with the rest of us, and since this was before I was given Hell as an alternative for the truly nasty bastards, Lilith’s existence would get demonstrably better if she perished. I can’t call it my youthful naiveté, because quite frankly, none of us have ever been young. Perhaps it was an early showing of my discomfort in the suffering of others, 116

Just One Bite: Original Sin though I can’t be sure. All I knew at the moment was I wouldn’t let Lilith suffer, nor would I stand by while she poisoned her earthly body. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I cautioned, stepping toward her. This wasn’t in English, of course. I can’t remember the language. In the years since, I have seen many things worse than a dying, abandoned shell of a human being, but what starvation had done to Lilith was the first horror I ever witnessed. The soft copper skin with which she was born clung to her like worn leather, ripped and ragged. Her once-full eyes sagged with desperation I didn’t understand. Her wild ebony hair, which had once been groomed to perfection, now hung loose, tangled, torn, and betraying patches of scalp. No one understood the survival instinct in the early days. We had never had to survive anything. Death was something the human world gave us. Thus when Lilith’s eyes hardened, full of fear and determination, I had no idea how to respond. She didn’t look capable of doing much more than slither along the earth, but she drew strength I didn’t credit her with having and pounced on me like an animal. My first contact with human flesh, even flesh as neglected as hers, was something I’ll never forget. Faulty historians credit Benjamin Franklin with discovering electricity, but it was I all along, for nothing else could explain the sharp bolts shooting through my body at contact. I believe touch is what drove me down and grounded me completely. I’ve witnessed it occur time and time again to those I knew B.H (Before Humans). When we first touch a human—when the Eternal part of us connects with the Mortal part of them— something changes in us that cannot be unchanged. It is a gift rarely mentioned in my world, and a side effect Jev did not anticipate. Humans are our superiors in many ways. Love, hope, frustration, compassion, desperation, need, sorrow, pain, 117

Rosalie Stanton fortitude, perseverance, desire…these and a million other things would not have existed without the invention of people. I felt I was born then just as much as anyone else is born. She filled me with a touch, and I knew myself at last. For her part, Lilith’s demeanor changed the instant we were skin to skin. She nuzzled the crook of my throat, her legs wrapping around my waist. Her hands wandered, exploring my every crevice, and I found myself sporting my first erection. To this day, I cannot recall whether or not I possessed a male anatomy before the creation of man. It certainly seemed unnecessary in a universe of nothing, and since we didn’t procreate by means of intercourse, genitalia was entirely superfluous. It definitely did not seem superfluous with her, though, or any day since. For a being of questionable origin and even more questionable purpose, I suddenly needed unlike anything I’d felt before. “You smell fantastic,” she purred, thrusting her pelvis against mine. I was naked; clothing had not yet become a necessity. We were on the ground, Lilith in my lap, her fingers searching, seeking, feeling me all over. Then her teeth pierced the skin at my neck, biting down hard enough for me to experience my very first shard of pain. Blood I hadn’t known I owned poured freely from the wound, and she drank it like the elixir of life itself. Granted, it was that for her. When human blood mingled with whatever the hell I was, it changed the human into something else entirely. The transformation was damn near instantaneous. Gone was the desperate abandon in her eyes and the war-torn state of her flesh. Her hair spun wildly out of her head, ribbons of black waterfalling over her shoulders and down her back. The skin clinging to bone grew soft and fat, plumping her out nicely. My hands cradled her breasts the second I

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Just One Bite: Original Sin remembered how to work them, and her red, healthy mouth crashed upon mine in a hungry first kiss. Losing one’s virginity at the ripe old age of I don’t know is a bizarre experience. Unlike now, when teenage boys can’t wait to drop their trousers, I had not known pleasure was something to seek and crave. When she wrapped her fingers around my cock I felt I had last touched true paradise, but nothing could prepare me for the wet haven of her body. She straddled me and impaled herself upon my flesh, and I knew nothing except the need for more. She rode me like a fucking bronco. I ended up on my back with her above me, my eyes glued to her face at first before realizing her breasts bounced with every move she made. I captured her hips and thrust her onto me. Over and over, it wasn’t enough. Numbness evaporated, and I would never feel nothing again. Instead, a burning sense of awing self-awareness washed over my very alive body. I drove my cock into her again and again, addicted to the sight of my steely flesh disappearing into her soft body. Men, as I’ve learned, are very visual creatures, and during that encounter I was no different. It was suddenly as though my eyes weren’t big enough, couldn’t absorb enough, were ill-equipped to capture the beads of sweat on her skin or the way her lips trembled with every parry. “Touch me,” she whimpered, squeezing my drenched cock. I nodded, eager to please. “Where?” “Here.” Lilith seized my hand and placed it at her center, guiding one of my fingers to her clitoris. At first stroke she dissolved in my arms, crying out, tears falling down her cheeks. The reaction was so violent I initially thought I had hurt her and jerked my hand away, but she shook her head and whispered a soft, “More. Please more.” My thumb settled over that sweet bundle of nerves and massaged her softly until she fell apart. I followed soon after, too 119

Rosalie Stanton stimulated, too high, too drunk on her. White hard shards of ecstasy shook my body. It lasted forever but not long enough, and I fell awash in an oasis of calm. I don’t know how much time passed. Lilith lay draped across my chest, panting, our bodies still intimately connected. Whatever had transpired lay beyond my understanding. All I knew was something had changed for me—something monumental. The thing I had been before was not what I was now. I’m not sure how much of it was sex and how much was the bond I felt to a creature who was so completely separate from me. I wanted to love her before I knew what love was. I wanted to, but things don’t always work out as we plan. “You saved me,” she whispered finally, her sweatsoaked cheeked still pressed to my chest. “Don’t mention it,” I responded, slightly choked. “The pleasure was all mine.” “What do I call you?” “Lucifer.” “The Morning Star?” I cocked an eyebrow, drawing nonsensical patterns across her back with my right hand. “The Morning Star? Where did you hear that?” “You have a reputation. It is said you are what caused the Garden’s destruction.” I shrugged but didn’t respond. That much was true. Her jaw hardened. So did her eyes. “Good,” she said. “That man had the audacity to replace me.” “I know.” “Does his new woman suck his cock?” Lilith didn’t wait for a response, snickering and sitting up full right. Her vaginal muscles squeezed my swelling prick. Indeed, I was hungry for her again. I would take her as often as she permitted it—these 120

Just One Bite: Original Sin sensations were too rich to deny the self, and I would not be denied. I supposed this much was obvious for the way she smiled at me. “If it feels anything like this,” I said, my hands finding her hips and guiding her strokes. “I can certainly understand why he would request it.” “He didn’t request,” Lilith replied. “He ordered. My ‘womanly duty’, he called it.” “He was a fool.” She snickered again, reaching behind her and fondling my testicles. “You don’t say.” Whether or not it was Jev’s intention to create men as the superior gender, I don’t know. However, from the second Lilith’s lips twitched with the hint of a self-satisfied smirk, there was no doubt in my mind power between the sexes was evenly split. For as much as the halfwit Adam hadn’t enjoyed backtalk, he had unwittingly created the first woman scorned. A dangerous beast in her own right…and I had fed her my blood. “You made me into something else.” Lilith dragged her teeth over her lower lip, bouncing on my cock with more enthusiasm. “I feel…different.” She was different. Whether or not I’d healed her or damaged her remained yet to be seen, but I couldn’t believe she was worse off than she had been when I found her. “How do I look?” she asked, grasping my wrists and guiding my hands to her breasts. I toyed idly with her nipples before deciding I’d like to know how they tasted. Another thing I learned: men have a fascination with breasts that cannot be explained. Well, there is a lot of credence to the fact men are programmed to be attracted to breasts as biological indicator of strong mates in breeding, but for creatures like me—who cannot procreate biologically and only have inclination for pleasure—it 121

Rosalie Stanton remains somewhat ambiguous. All I knew was I liked breasts, and I particularly liked Lilith’s. I liked hers in my hands and mouth. I loved teasing her nipples with my tongue. I loved making her gasp. “You’re beautiful,” I said honestly, releasing a mouthful of flesh. She was. She was fucking royalty. “You are a queen.” “A queen?” “My queen.” I was as certain of this as I was of anything, and I made it permanent…or at least, I tried to make it permanent. Love at first sight it wasn’t, but Lilith and I formed a bond rivaling anything I’ve experienced since, and wager I ever will. I refused to discard her the way Adam had. She deserved better, and I gave her better. I gave her everything I was, not knowing it wouldn’t be enough. She’d crave more, demanded more, and that was our ultimate undoing. When Jev decided to open Hell and list me as a deity of his caliber, Lilith was at my side. She was proof of what I had accomplished by mixing my blood with hers—transforming her weak human body into a strong, immortal vessel. But unlike me, she required food, and I had given her a taste for something she found she couldn’t live without. Perhaps it was fitting she claimed Adam first, and what she did with his remains I will not repeat. Eve was next, though Lilith showed the second woman mercy, biting and consuming rather than slaughtering. When Eve weakened as the blood loss became too much, Lilith offered her a wrist, and thus was created the first vampire. Lilith didn’t stop there. She created vampires, then drank their blood. Whenever she mixed her essence with another’s, a subspecies of demon emerged. Little by little, bite after bite, she took what she could and cast away the rest. She was a beautiful 122

Just One Bite: Original Sin monster, my addiction, and my ultimate weakness. Her thirst grew with each taste of power, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Lilith was Jev’s pet first. Whether or not he allowed her survival for my sake or his own amusement, only he can say. If he did know what I created, he had the decency not to tell me. He let me reach the conclusion on my own, as all friends should. In Lilith, I created a demigod. And I found out too late I didn’t know how to contain her.

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About the Authors Raven Corinn Carluk, the mistress of stories with bite, has long been captivated by the darkness and the beings within. Raised in Sin City, this storyteller learned that nothing was taboo, and finds nothing to be shocking or off-limits. Now she uses her words to craft tapestries of debauchery, undead passions, murderous immortals, and ever-hungry dragons. Even if you merely nibble her offerings, you will not forget her tales. To learn more about Raven, visit Raven.YouAreAnnoying.us Prior published works include: All Hallows Blood, Cresent Moon Press Saint Valentine’s Clash, Raven Corinn Carluk Stories With Bite o,.,o, Raven Corinn Carluk Deadlands, Raven Corinn Carluk

Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide. After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop. Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much

fun to read as they are to write. To learn more about Barbara, visit BarbaraElsborg.com Prior published works include: Perfect Timing, Ellora’s Cave Something about Polly, Ellora’s Cave Susie’s Choice, Ellora’s Cave Lucy in the Sky, Ellora’s Cave Digging Deeper, Ellora’s Cave Doing the Right Thing, Ellora’s Cave Finding the Right One, Ellora’s Cave Snow Play, Ellora’s Cave Strangers, Ellora’s Cave Kiss a Falling Star, Ellora’s Cave An Ordinary Girl, Ellora’s Cave The Small Print, Ellora’s Cave Power of Love, Ellora’s Cave The Bad Widow, Ellora’s Cave Saying Yes, Ellora’s Cave Anna in the Middle, Ellora’s Cave Chosen, Decadent Publishing Rocked, Loose-Id The Consolation Prize, Loose-Id Falling for You, Loose-Id Lightning in a Bottle, Loose-Id The Misfits, Loose-Id Fight to Remember, Loose-Id The Special Gift, Ravenous Romance

Elaine Lowe is a work-at-home mom in Silicon Valley California. Of her many part-time jobs, her favorite one by far is writing. She has a background in biotech, but she has branched out into the demanding world of home management, transcription, envelope stuffing, and of course, writing romantic and erotic fiction. A love of history, magic and romance combines to inspire a lot of her writing. That and her wonderful husband, who is a fantastic sounding board, support system, and research consultant. He really enjoys research. And so does she. To learn more about Elaine, visit ElaineLoweNovels.com Prior published works include: Magic Eights, Ellora’s Cave Scandalous Profession, Ellora’s Cave Mask of Ice, Ellora’s Cave Wanton Venture, Resplendence Publishing Seeds of Garnet, Ellora’s Cave Sea of Pearls, Ellora’s Cave Veins of Turquoise, Ellora’s Cave Nancy’s Sweet Spelling Bee, Ellora’s Cave Enchant the Dawn, Ellora’s Cave Command the Wind, Ellora’s Cave Reveal the Heart, Ellora’s Cave Foretell the Flame, Ellora’s Cave Don’t Wait, Ellora’s Cave New York Fairytale, Resplendence Publishing Tears of Talent, Cobblestone Press Lady Six Sky, Ellora’s Cave Match Made by Moonlight, Ellora’s Cave

Kim Knox lives on an ancient boundary line once marked by a Neolithic burial tomb. The tomb’s now a standing stone circle— thank the Georgians for that one—and it stirs her mind with thoughts of history and ancient myths. She mixes the essence of the past into fantasy, along with the essential mix of magic and sex. She also writes science fiction romance, pushing out into the far future with effortlessly sexy men and the women who can’t resist them. Kim is published with Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Loose Id and Liquid Silver Books. Come and chat at her blog: www.darknessandromance.com. To learn more about Kim, visit Kim-Knox.co.uk Prior published works include: Gambit, Carina Press Friction, Ellora’s Cave Magnetism, Ellora’s Cave Perfecting Naia, Ellora’s Cave Painted Promise, Ellora’s Cave Her Dark Soul, Ellora’s Cave Warflesh, Ellora’s Cave Demonic Attraction, Ellora’s Cave Chosen One, Ellora’s Cave Flesh and Shadows, Ellora’s Cave Consort, Ellora’s Cave Touch of a Dragon, Loose Id Shapes in the Blood, Loose Id Emergence, Samhain Publishing Breaking Chance, Samhain Publishing 7% and Rising, Samhain Publishing Satin Spar, Samhain Publishing

Weaving Words, Samhain Publishing To Summon a Demon, Samhain Publishing Nimue’s Price, Samhain Publishing Buying Mackenzie’s Baby, Samhain Publishing Past Lies, Samhain Publishing Lost Gods, Liquid Silver Books Dark Host, Liquid Silver Books Unity, Liquid Silver Books

Jocelyn Michel, aka Jael Gates, is the pseudonym of an awardwinning author with over thirty titles available in print and eformat. Her genres range from YA paranormal romance to paranormal erotica. To learn more about Jocelyn, visit ErosWithFangs.com Prior published works include: Phoenix Burning, Ravenous Romance

Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. She’s older than she looks, really, and younger than she feels, most of the time, and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories. To learn more about Lauren, visit LaurenHawkeye.com Prior published works include: Let Me In, Harlequin Spice Briefs

Lead Me On, Harlequin Spice Briefs Tie Me Up, Harlequin Spice Briefs Take Me Down, Harlequin Spice Briefs Fragile Things, Whispers Publishing Wet, Harlequin Spice Briefs Christmas Present, Loose Id LLC Sex and Love, Loose Id LLC Feature Attraction, Whispers Publishing

Ashlynn Monroe is a busy wife and mom. She enjoys writing about anything and everything paranormal or fantasy related. She spends most of her time daydreaming up her next tale of romance. Visit her website to learn more about the worlds she imagines. She’d love to hear from you. To learn more about Ashlynn, visit AshlynnMonroe.com Prior published works include: Denae’s Lesson, Ashlynn Mornoe Eternal Commitments, Ashlynn Monroe Wish, Silver Publishing Passion’s Escape, Silver Publishing Lost Hearts, Silver Publishing Mistletoe and Vampires, Silver Publishing Just One Night, Silver Publishing The Vengeance Series, Decadent Publishing Back in the Saddle, Decadent Publishing The Mirage High Series, Wild Horse Press Wild Hearts, Wild Horse Press Dark Miracle, Wild Horse Press

Hidden Magic, Wild Horse Press My Soul to Keep, Wild Horse Press Chemical Lust, Cobblestone Press

Shermaine Williams had ambitions of being a writer as a child, which manifested as poems and short stories until she reached her twenties and left the law behind. First published in 2007, Shermaine has continued writing and has titles available with a number of different publishers, both in print and e-book. She is a Londoner who writes contemporary erotic tales within a number of different sub-genres including BDSM, interracial and humour. To learn more about Shermaine, visit ShermaineWilliams.co.uk Prior published works include: Twisted Angel, Total-E-Bound Art of the Written Word, Total-E-Bound Two With A View, Total-E-Bound Remote Control, Total-E-Bound Lady in Red, Total-E-Bound Lean and Mean, Total-E-Bound The Challenge, Phaze Books The Second Challenge, Phaze Books

Angelita Gill writes paranormal and contemporary romance, living her dream in hot and steamy Las Vegas with her own Alpha hero. She adores Pin Up Couture, chocolate martinis, reading historical romances, and wishing she could go back in

time and attend a Regency ball. Prior published works include: The Untouchable, Cobblestone Press Rush, Cobblestone Press

Randi Alexander is published with The Wild Rose Press Cowboy Kink line. When she’s not dreaming of—or writing about—kinky cowboys, she’s biking trails along remote rivers, snorkeling the Gulf of Mexico, or practicing her drumming in hopes of someday forming a tropical-rock band. She blogs at Wild and Wicked Cowboys, and enjoys hearing from readers. To learn more about Randi, visit RandiAlexander.com Prior published works include: Book 1: Chase and Seduction, The Wild Rose Press

Christine DePetrillo spends her days teaching children to love reading and writing and her nights writing about happily ever afters. She fell in love with writing the first time she held a crayon in her hand and realized the blank wall in her bedroom was full of possibilities. Since then, she has been mystified by the magic of words and enjoys playing with them every chance she gets. Christine holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College and belongs to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Rhode Island Romance Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two cats, and a lizard. To learn more about Christine, visit

ChristineDePetrillo.weebly.com Prior published works include: Alaska Heart, The Wild Rose Press Lazuli Moon, The Wild Rose Press For the Love of Liberty, Whispers Publishing In the Nick of Time, Whispers Publishing Alley Cat, Whispers Publishing Table for Two Hearts, Whispers Publishing Midnight Mistletoe, Whispers Publishing The Last Stallion, Whispers Publishing

Rosalie Stanton, a lifelong enthusiast of larger than life characters, has a muse fueled by alpha males—from badass bikers to scruffy-looking Nerf herders, and the intelligent, strong, and independent women who actually do the driving. She loves interweaving the lives of people who appear to be polar opposites and delving beneath the surface to see how well one actually complements the other. Rosalie lives in southwest Missouri with her husband. Writing is her first creative love, but she also enjoys working with other authors and has a variety of critique partners, and likewise works for Mundania Press LLC as an editor. At an early age, she discovered a talent for creating worlds into which she could escape. Over the years, her vivid imagination evolved into a love of words and storytelling. Rosalie graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in English. Neither writing nor editing pays the bills, but thankfully her day-job employers understand where her true passion lies. When her attention is not engaged by writing or editing, she enjoys spending time with close friends and family. To learn more about Rosalie, visit Rosalie-Stanton.com

Prior published works include: Lost Wages of Sin, Liquid Silver Books Firsts, Loose Id Possession, Loose Id Moving Target, Lyrical Press Ripples Through Time, Siren Bookstrand Dark Solace, Noble Romance Publishing