cover art by Bryan Keller
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-011-7
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Urban Fantasy
Theme(s): Ménage, Bisexual and More, Vampires
Series: Crimson Dichotomy
Length: Novella
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-011-7
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Urban Fantasy
Theme(s): Ménage, Bisexual and More, Vampires
Series: Crimson Dichotomy
Length: Novella
Blurb:
Sentinel Lukas Mandalay has never encountered anyone as utterly tempting as Rebecca McNeil. Despite being half-human, Rebecca is the youngest member of the Dichotomy elder council. She’s independent, self-sufficient -- and shaped like a centerfold! Sensing the passion smoldering beneath her professional façade, he guides her through a journey of sexual discovery.
Rebecca is forced to admit she needs protection when an obsessive vampire nearly kidnaps her. Still, the handsome Sentinel who prevents her abduction seems nearly as dangerous as the vampire. Each time Lukas touches her, their bodies erupt with carnal longing and neither can remember why they should resist their growing attraction.
Excerpt:
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Rebecca lowered her carryon bag to the foot of her bed and kicked off her low-heeled pumps. Traveling was tedious at best and today hadn’t even qualified as good. She rubbed the back of her neck and rolled her shoulders.
“Welcome back.”
A smile automatically curved her lips as she turned toward Katsu. His calm, unassuming presence never failed to soothe her. “It’s good to be home.” He stepped into the room as she unzipped the bag.
“Would you like something to eat? Unless you’ve changed significantly in the past two weeks, you grabbed a bagel and a massive cup of coffee on the way to the airport and haven’t eaten since.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Guilty as charged.” With an audible sigh, she looked at the contents of her carryon. All the clothing would have to be laundered, which left the toiletries for her to unpack. “I’m too tired to be hungry.”
Cooking was outside the responsibilities of a personal trainer, in her estimation, but Katsu often disregarded the norm. He was part executive assistant, part sensei, and part confidant. He’d been sleeping with Bianca for the past three months and Rebecca suspected he’d like to sleep with her as well.
“Would you like me to run a bath for you?” The caressing quality in Katsu’s tone drew her gaze back to his handsome face. With a long rolling stride, he crossed the bedroom and stood beside her. Jet black hair swept back from his face, a stubborn tendril escaping to angle across his brow. The exotic tilt of his dark eyes and prominent cheekbones reflected Japanese heritage, while his height and the breadth of his shoulders revealed an Italian grandfather.
“As delightful as a bath sounds, I have too much to do before my guard dog arrives tomorrow.” She reached for her cosmetic case and his long fingers curved around her wrist.
“I can protect you, Rebecca.” He spoke her name in a whisper-soft tone that sent tingles down her spine. “There’s no need to let this… Sentinel invade your privacy.”
The subtle sneer in his voice left no doubt about his feelings. He didn’t want another man intruding on “his” territory. Her heart fluttered and their gazes locked. She’d been tempted by Katsu the first time she’d seen him, but she’d resisted the attraction. Their relationship was uncomplicated and comfortable, and she preferred it remain that way.
“If the threat were human, I’d agree,” she told him. “You’re fast and strong, easily capable of combating other humans.”
“You honestly believe a vampire is after you?”
She smiled. “Do you doubt the reality of vampires or that one would be interested in me?”
He moved closer, cupping the side of her face. “I don’t doubt your appeal. I’m captivated by you and you know it.”
Awareness arced between them. She licked her lips, enjoying the tingling heat for another moment before she stepped back. “You’re a trusted friend and valuable employee. That’s more important to me than sex.”
“Sex doesn’t have to ruin our friendship.” He recaptured the space between them, lightly resting his hands on her hips. “This is the natural culmination of our mutual attraction.”
“I know you’re sleeping with Bianca. Isn’t that enough?”
He framed her face between his palms, desire gleaming in his eyes. “Bianca told me to bend you over the bed and fuck you fast and hard until you stopped denying that you want me.”
Lust curled through her body as the graphic image took shape within her mind. Katsu was always polite and patient. He smiled and patted her hand when she wanted to be overwhelmed by passion.
“That sounds like Bianca.” Her nocturnal twin had always been more sexually aggressive, more certain of her desire. “I never denied my attraction to you. The situation is more complicated than what I want.”
Leaning down, he brushed her lips with his. “Only because you complicate it.”
“Bianca doesn’t have to think about the ramifications of --”
He silenced her objections with a kiss. His mouth pressed over hers and his tongue traced the seam of her lips. Heat pooled between her thighs, and an odd heaviness expanded within her chest. Why had he waited so long to confront her? The timing couldn’t be worse.
For just a moment she relaxed into the embrace, tempted to surrender. The kiss was gentle, patient. Her obligations loomed and she grew restless. Grasping his upper arms, she arched away, turning her head sharply to the side.
“Starting tomorrow I’ll have a bodyguard with me night and day.”
His lips grazed the side of her face, his breath warm and moist against her ear. “It might only take them a day or two to track down the vampire. Besides, we still have tonight.”
She didn’t want a hurried tumble and the inevitable awkwardness that would follow once the Sentinel arrived. She wanted endless nights of carnal abandon and a lover assertive enough to control her. Her mind stumbled over the word control. Did she want to be controlled? No, more like guided. She wanted a lover strong enough to guide her.
“I’ll transform. You and Bianca can --”
Another kiss interrupted her suggestion. “I don’t want half of you. I want all of you.”
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