Shift Work Collection by Hannah Beckham

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Shift Work (Collection) by Hannah Beckham cover art by Reneé George ISBN: 978-1-60521-435-1 Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Collections Theme(s): Ménage, Shapeshifters Length: Collection

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1403

Blurb:

Trinity Staten has seen better days, hell, better years. Between fighting "others," discovering her past, keeping her men happy, and avoiding a homicidal father, life has gotten pretty complicated. Newton Price, telepath and Trinity's hunka-licious lover, has demons of his own to deal with, while Merlin Davitch, her other lover and genius best friend -- very hot in a geek chic kind of way -- is distracted by science. Not good, when Trinity needs them now more than ever.
Can their love bridge the distance to save her? And can Trinity get her growing powers under control enough to save herself when it counts?
This collection contains the previously released Shift Work novellas Late Shift, Shift Change, and Double Shift.
Excerpt:
Shift Work
Hannah Beckham
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2010 Hannah Beckham
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
The shrink's small office smelled musky, but not unpleasant. It was like a mix of orange spice and dust. Trini stared at the small man in the brown suit and bow tie who sat across from her, looking down at his pad and paper, scribbling little notes in the margin. His hair was short and his forehead stretched to the top of his dome. She pondered whether his hair had retreated to the back of his head or whether it had just migrated to his eyebrows. They were bold and bushy.
He wore spectacles, the old-fashioned kind, hiding bulging eyes, and Trini couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever heard of Lasik. Nah, the doctor probably liked the effect of the round spectacles -- made him feel more competent somehow. Or maybe he was very competent and didn't care what anybody thought.
Psychiatrists and psychologists were a real bone of contention for Trini, who had her own motives for not trusting the profession. The only reason she was giving Dr. Myron Gray a try was because her best friend, Merl, said he worked wonders with behavior problems. And she definitely had behavior problems.
He still hadn't stopped writing in his little yellow notepad. Trini was beginning to think he was solving world hunger or curing cancer, because she'd only been in his office for five minutes and surely that wasn't enough time to write a book. She clenched and rubbed her hands together, trying to avoid putting her fingers in her mouth. She'd already shredded most of her nails to the nub, and didn't want to suffer the humiliation of having the doctor read some deep psychosis in a nail-biting habit.
Suddenly, he stopped. "Let me see if I understand what you think the problem is. You have problems maintaining yourself in stressful conditions. Is that it?"
"Exactly!" Her hand-wringing worsened as she fought the urge to nibble. "I can't take it, Doctor. One minute I'm green, the next blue, brown, silver, purple, then I'm back to my old self again. It drives me nuts!" She hadn't meant it to come out quite that way. It sounded crazy, even to her own ears.
"Green, then blue. Interesting." He jotted on the pad.
"I'm talking metaphorically of course." Damn it, her right index finger cuticle had found its way between her teeth.
"Metaphorically. Interesting." More jotting commenced.
"I mean I don't really turn blue or green, or any other color for that matter. I'm just... well, you know."
"Yes, interesting."
Trini was beginning to think that all that scribbling was going to lead to her being locked up in the looney-bin. She couldn't go through that again. After her parents had died, she'd been locked up for four years, until she was twenty, and Merl, eighteen and barely out of college, came to her rescue. Trini wouldn't allow that to happen a second time.
She stood up. "You know, Doctor. I don't think this is going to work out. I'm going to be fine." Slowly, she worked her way over to her coat and purse. "I mean, of course I'm going to be fine."
She tried a casual lazy smile, just to let him know she really was all right, but Trini wasn't sure if she knew exactly how to pull off casual lazy. She hoped it didn't look maniacal. "Just fine." Her scarf went on first, then the coat. "I don't really need therapy. I don't know what I was thinking! I must be crazy."
This was going bad in a someone-just-planted-dynamite-at-the-top-of-the-Alps-and-an-avalanche-is-coming-to-demolish-a-tiny-Swiss-town way. Talk about a little-ole-lady who was going kersplat.
She grabbed her purse and put a hand on the doorknob. "I didn't mean that. I'm not crazy really, just a little..."
He was looking at her hands.
Good God! They'd turned bright green. She knew she shouldn't have worn the neon green coat, but it was her favorite -- all fluffy and fuzzy. Quickly, Trini shoved her hands that now looked like matching mittens into her pockets.
Dr. Gray didn't appear ruffled in any way. He just calmly put down his pad and paper and said, "Sit down, Trinity. I think I can help you."
Dead stop. Something in Trini's brain clicked and her voice went two octaves higher. "You can?"
"Yes. Changing colors, though not a voluntary behavior, is still behavior. Once we get down to the root cause, or the why, then it's just a matter of training your body to an alternative behavior."
"So, you don't think I'm crazy?"
"No, Trinity." He smiled and it was a wonderful smile with shiny little white teeth. "I don't think you're crazy."
What a beautiful little man... "Call me Trini." She took off her coat. "Everyone calls me Trini."
Excerpt from Late Shift
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Shift Work 3: Double Shift by Hannah Beckham

Shift Work 3: Double Shift
by Hannah Beckham

Cover art by Reneé George
ISBN: 978-1-60521-178-7
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Theme(s): Ménage, Shapeshifters
Series: Shift Work
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1177

Blurb:

Trinity Staten has seen better days, hell, better years. Between keeping her men happy and avoiding a homicidal father, life has gotten pretty complicated. Newton Price, telepath and Trinity's hunka-licious lover, has been distant and keeping himself and his mind at arm's length, while Merlin Davitch, her other lover and genius best friend -- very hot in a geek chic kind of way -- is distracted by science. Not good, when Trinity needs them now more than ever.
Trinity is pregnant with the Triune, a child fathered by both her lovers, and the true heir of Caledon. An unexpected side effect of the pregnancy is her hormones are out of whack, and not the usual ones. The sex hormone she adapted from an Incubus demon bite has been secreting exponentially. The only cure -- fantastic sex. Without it, the levels are becoming toxic and deadly.
When Trinity is separated from her men, can their love bridge the distance to save her? And can Trinity get her growing powers under control enough to save herself when it counts?

Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Another day, another house and Trinity Staten wished it were another time. She was tired of moving and always having to look over her shoulder. Afraid, constantly afraid, for Newton, Merlin, their unborn child. Absently her hands drifted over her slightly bulging tummy. If she'd been human, she'd be a blimp by now, but as an other she still had six months to go on a twelve-month pregnancy.
Trinity piled another blanket around her body, her lips shivering against the deep bone chill running through her body. She'd turned up the thermostat to ninety degrees and it still felt freezing in the house. Turning off the television, she hunkered deeper into the cushions of the couch. Newton Price and Merlin Davitch, her lovers, had both gone out. Merl, who held doctorates in chemical and molecular biology, had gone to meet with a fellow scientist about a stupid experiment he'd done on himself.
Trinity worried her lower lip. How dumb could a smart guy be? He'd managed to isolate some of Trinity's genetic material and inject it directly into his own stem cells. The results so far were completely unpredictable. Newton, on the other hand, had an appointment to be head shrunk. Therapy he needed for post traumatic stress over the kidnapping and torture that had occurred a little over two months ago.
Newton had survived the experience, but only barely. Trinity was afraid he'd never completely recover, at least not emotionally. Goose flesh raised tight bumps on her arms, and she rubbed them hard in an effort to warm herself. It was getting damned near ridiculous. The throbbing headache pounding against the temples of her skull didn't help matters.
For over a week now, it seemed like her body had been rebelling, with heartburn, having to pee all the time, and a wonky body temperature that made her feel either overly warm or cold. Pregnancy could explain most of it, but since she wasn't human, she only had the midwife's expertise in other reproduction to go by. She had an appointment in a couple of days and had a full list of questions to ask. Though it wouldn't seem like a good antidote, sex appeared to be the cure for most of what ailed her.
Merl had speculated it might have something to do with the incubus hormones coursing through her. She bet the midwife didn't have experience with that particular side effect.
For now, she'd just be happy if she didn't feel so goddamn cold. And her head, if it would just stop hammering. Her eyes felt hot and tired, such a contrast to the rest of her. This was the worst she'd ever felt. She needed to be touched, and unfortunately, she couldn't satisfy herself -- not for lack of trying.
A brush of warmth fluttered inside -- fleeting. Was it her men? Could she intuitively feel them, or was it wishful thinking? Could they sense the need in Trinity? Her fingers slipped between the folds of her slick pussy. It was the only warm part of her body. Or at least that's how it felt. Rubbing her forefinger over her swollen clit, Trinity vigorously massaged, trying without success, once again, to bring her body to some kind of release.
Her vision blurred as the headache worsened to the point where she thought her brain might start leaking from her ears. Where were they? Where were Newton and Merl? They were supposed to take care of Trinity, to love her. And even though they'd only been gone for a few hours, it seemed as if an eternity had passed.
Writhing on the couch, Trinity buried herself deeper. They were coming. She knew it. But why weren't they already there? "Newt? Merl?" A form of delirium settled in. "Where are you? You said you'd be here for me. You promised. You promised you wouldn't leave me..."

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Send 'Em Packing Collection by Hannah Beckham

Send 'em Packing (Collection)
by Hannah Beckham

Cover art by Reneé George
ISBN: 978-1-60521-175-6
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Humor, Collections
Theme(s): Ménage, Werewolves
Length: Collection


http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1162









Blurb:



Maya Eddings is six feet tall, a black belt in tae kwon do, proficient with handguns, and an empath who runs her own private security firm in Kansas City. Her life couldn't be better, with the exception of two men who each want her to be exclusively theirs.
Matt Brewer, legal investigator and werewolf, wants Maya to be his life mate, but while she likes a little tail, actually growing one isn't all that appealing to her. Stephen Daniels, architect and part incubus demon, wants Maya too -- body and soul. But he's willing to settle on her body -- for now.
With two hunkalicous men fighting for her attention, mysteries to solve, bad guys to shoot, and a secret past that will rock her world, Maya's beginning to feel she's bitten off more than she can shoot.
Publisher's Note: This collection contains the three previously released novellas Packing Heat, Packing for Three, and Packing Up.









Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Maya Eddings patted her 9mm pistol while she stood outside the elevator doors, waiting for what seemed like minutes, but actually only seconds had passed. Nervous habit, really. It helped her to concentrate on the job. Her client, Milo Bach, a minor rock star with a major ego, fidgeted with a hand-held video game, making grunting noises every time he pushed a button.
Glancing in his direction, she rolled her eyes. He wore too long jeans and a seventies’ style, wide collared silk shirt. He was good-looking enough -- if you liked the David Cassidy meets Twisted Sister type. Milo had come to Kansas City to play Kemper Arena and it was Maya’s job to make sure he survived his press conference and autograph session.
His manager, Kit Stan, had hired Maya to get him safely from his room on the seventh floor of the Adam’s Mark hotel to the lower lobby. Apparently he’d been getting death threats from a rabid fan, and it wasn’t hard to see why. A little less than thirty minutes with the rock star, and Maya was ready to kill him.
She waited as the elevator door opened then peeked around the corners. No passengers. Good. Maya ushered Milo and his manager swiftly into the car and pushed the button for the first floor.
“Hold the elevator,” a deep masculine voice yelled from the hallway.
Maya leaned her head out of the opening and wet her lips. Mmm. Nice.
He was tall, at least 6’4”, medium blond hair, and under the tight black pants and a cobalt Nehru jacket, she could see he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long muscular legs. Tempting, but uh-uh. She was off men, even if they happened to be unbelievably beautiful.
He arrived at the doors, just as they were closing. His arm shot out in between them, making them bounce open. Maya stepped forward with cat-like quickness, placing her hand on the man’s chest. Incredible heat poured down her arm, not burning hot, just strong sensual warmth. Her nipples went rigid under her black leather jumper.
Shit.
His mouth -- upper lip slightly fuller than the lower -- curved upward in a gorgeous smile. His remarkable bright green eyes were accented with gold rings around his pupils. Her breath caught in a short gasp and her tongue went tingly.
Even though his arms stayed at his sides, Maya felt hands brush against her breasts, caress her ass, rub down her mound to her wet folds. It’s all in your mind, Maya, she told herself. He’s just standing there. Nothing else. Just standing there… Exuding some major mojo.
Heat and desire rolled off the stranger and she fought the impulse to close the distance between them and kiss his luscious mouth. Instead, Maya shook her head and nudged him back one step into the corridor. “Sorry, Stud, you’ll have to take the next elevator.”
He tilted his head to the side, raised an eyebrow, and backed away. “No problem, hot stuff.”
Yikes! His smooth low voice sent goose bumps over her body. He winked as the doors closed between them. “Oh, jeez, I need to get laid,” she mumbled, then turned her attention back to the client.
The rocker must have heard her, because he leaned against the elevator rail and whispered to her, “Hey, Maya, you gorgeous Amazon, what say we blow this joint and take a little me and you time?”
Usually she didn’t mind the Amazon reference -- being six feet tall, she was used to it -- but the rock star was getting on her last nerve. Besides, his smarmy lust-filled emotions were dripping all over her. As a bodyguard, Maya’s empathic abilities came in handy, but certain men and women could be overwhelming.
“You and me,” she corrected and mentally added, asshole.
He snuggled his body in closer to hers. “Exactly. Me and you.” His long hair brushed against Maya’s shoulder. If he kept up the touching, he might not survive the trip to the lobby.
Rolling her eyes, she put out a hand to push him off. She patted the handgun in her hip holster. “No, the correct way to say that is ‘you and me’ and the answer is no.” She wanted to add that big hair bands died in the 80’s, but held her tongue. Besides, she hadn’t been paid yet.
Milo put up his hands defensively. “Hey, baby, what’s with the ’tude? Most chicks dig me. After all, I’m going to be a legend.” He smiled -- very self-assured.
Maya shook her head and held down the button on the two-way radio that clipped to her belt then spoke into the headset. “Jack, everything set?”
A voice came back over, “Yeah, boss, good to go.”
“Tyler, you set?”
“Yeah, no problem,” came a new voice.
The elevator slowed to a stop. “Have you ever heard of Michael Damian?” she asked Milo.
“Who?”
The doors opened to the lobby. “My point exactly. Rock on, dude. Your fans are waiting.” Maya stepped out between him and a mob of screaming teenage girls chanting “Milo.” She needed aspirin -- and quickly.

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Shift Work 2: Shift Change by Hannah Beckham

Shift Work 2: Shift Change
by Hannah Beckham

Cover art by Reneé George
ISBN: 978-1-60521-177-0
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Theme(s): Ménage, Shapeshifters
Series: Shift Work
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1147

Blurb:

With a unique chameleon-like ability, Trinity Staten's problems are more than skin deep. She has daddy issues. Her biological father, Jessia, would like nothing more than to see her dead, and her two lovers -- the fathers of her unborn child -- are letting their insecurities put a rift in their Triune threesome. All Trinity wants is to forget she's not human, keep the three of them safe, and get some nookie every now and then. Is that too much to ask?
When her lover Newton Price, telepath and all around hunka-hunka, disappears, Trinity is certain he's walked out on her. To make matters worse, Merlin Davitch, her other lover and best friend -- a tantalizing combination of geek and good looks -- is acting secretive and withdrawn. The power of the Triune should bring them all together, but Trinity has never felt more alone.
Circumstances are not what they seem. And when Trinity is forced into a showdown with Jessia it could bring a permanent end to all her issues.

Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Over the past two months, Trinity Staten had become more than paranoid, but not without good reason. Demons were trying to kill her. Okay, so they weren't really demons. Not of the Heaven and Hell type, anyhow. Apparently evolution has a sense of humor, or something along those lines.
Finding out recently her own genetics fell off a branch of the evolutionary family tree that wasn't quite human had done nothing to change Trinity's mind that most of the others, as Newton called them, were better off dead and six feet under.
Of course, it did explain a lot. She was stronger than most people, faster, a quicker healer. And there was the small fact that her skin turned funny colors when she was stressed, got excited, angry, lustful… actually it was easier to list the things that didn't make her shift.
For this one moment in time, she didn't feel stressed, but she felt very horny, which was a stressor all its own. Though she was nearly ninety-nine percent sure it had nothing to do with the incubus ju-ju pheromones secreting through her sweat glands, that one percent doubt made her feel like a freak.
Either way, it had been too long. Sixty days too long, and today was D-day, or O-day, if things worked out in Trinity's favor. She strolled out of the bathroom, clad in nothing but a green towel and her birthday suit (which happened to be taking on the coloring of the walls and furniture). The television blared with an episode of Tough Love, a program where seven desperate women took advice from a male matchmaker named Steve on how to meet the love of their lives.
Insanely, it was a program both Merlin Davitch and Newton Price could agree on. Which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't a bad thing, considering there was little Merl and Newt did agree on. Especially where Trinity was concerned.
Trinity rolled her eyes. If they wanted a desperate woman, here she stood. And the loves of her life were sitting like couch potatoes watching a reality show instead of noticing.
Steeling her will, she took a deep cleansing breath and pinched the inside of her wrist. The small pain cleared her head, but her skin continued to shimmer from one pattern and color to the next.
So much for behavior therapy. All the techniques her psychiatrist had given her to use were pretty much hit and miss in the "actually working" department. Nonetheless, she was determined to have some hot sweaty monkey love tonight if it killed her. Or she could kill them… whichever came first.
Trinity walked to the side of the couch and stared at her lovers. Though lately she could scarcely call them that. She smiled at Merlin, then stifled a chuckle. He was wearing a black T-shirt with the slogan "Welcome to the Dork Side." A shirt that fit him so well, in more ways than just the dork part. A month ago, the T-shirt would have fit loosely across the chest and shoulders, but he'd been working out since the demon attacks had started. Which meant his lean, wiry muscles were getting slightly more bulky.
In other words -- more hot. Trinity felt the scorch all the way to her toes. His brown hair, loose and slightly curly, framed his green eyes spectacularly, and the thickening of his jaw line from the extra weight added to the va-va-voom factor.
Newton had always been "filled out" in the muscle department. Dark, thick black hair, and perfectly sensuous amber eyes, Newt fit the bill for anyone's idea of a wet dream. Trinity got the distinct impression he'd been a soldier of some kind in a past life. Even if he didn't like guns, he could definitely handle his own in a fight. He'd chopped a demon's head off to save her life with a move that would have made Conan the Barbarian jealous.
She watched Newton nod his agreement when Steve from Tough Love told one of the women to "suck it up and get over herself." Trinity narrowed her eyes. Was Newt subliminally trying to send her a message? She rolled her eyes again.
"Whatever," she mumbled as she stepped around Merl's legs and sidled herself between the two men. She hadn't needed to say it out loud; Newton could read her mind, literally. His telepathic powers included being able to not only read minds, but also project his own thoughts into the heads of the people around him. It had been very disconcerting the first time he'd done it to Trinity.
Since they'd all moved to the new super-secret hide out (a dilapidated ranch house outside the city), Trinity had made Newt promise to stay out of her thoughts. She suspected he didn't always follow the rules.
She missed both their quirky and unique senses of humor, but their lives had drastically changed. Trinity had given up her job as a file clerk, Merl resigned his position as chair for the science department at the university and given up a hella lump sum of grant money, and Newton, perhaps he'd given up the most -- life without the complication of Trinity Staten.
Today, she hoped to gain something back, for all of them.
"Soo…" she said to anyone who would listen. "You guys want to fool around?"
"Huh?" Merl grunted. Newton remained silent.
"Come on. It's been two months, and according to Dr. Gray, I should be fine." She amended her statement. "The baby will be fine."
Besides, if she didn't get some good old-fashioned passion and soon, she was fairly certain she would die. Okay, maybe death was over-stretching it a bit, but she hadn't even been allowed to masturbate. According to the experts -- aka Dr. Myron Gray of Caledon -- the first two months of a Triune pregnancy could be delicate. It seemed the little bundle of cells needed ample time to properly implant into the womb before anything down there could be safely jarred.
Trinity desperately needed to be jarred. "Look, fellas. I'm not a china shop, but even if I were, I really think it's time to let in the bulls."
"I don't know, Trini. You sure it's a good idea?" Merl asked. She glanced at the swelling in his jeans. He might have been over-thinking the situation, but she knew where his body stood on the issue.
She stared at Newt, who hadn't taken his eyes off the television. "What about you?" Please. Trinity allowed her unarticulated emotions to bubble to the surface.
Finally, he turned his gaze upon her. Raw, naked passion scored his expression. She watched his Adam's apple bob with a hard swallow.
His amber eyes, full of lust, focused in tight on Trinity. It was her turn to swallow.

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Shift Work 1: Late Shift by Hannah Beckham

Shift Work 1: Late Shift
by Hannah Beckham

cover art by Reneé George
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-176-3
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Theme(s): Ménage, Shapeshifters
Series: Shift Work
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1085

Blurb:

Trinity Staten works as a file clerk by day and a hunter by night. Her parents were slayers, and until they died when she was sixteen, they’d raised Trini to do the same. Her unique ability to shift skin color like a chameleon is an invaluable tool in the fight against the monsters. Since a one-night stand went bad, Trinity’s been unable to control her natural camouflage.

Merlin Davitch, super-hot genius and Trinity’s best friend, is trying to discover why her body is changing. Merl is the only family Trinity has left, but if she can’t stop going into heat every time he’s near, she’s afraid she’ll lose him too.

On top of that, suddenly the demons are knocking on her door. The hunter is becoming the hunted.

She seeks help from an unlikely ally, Newton Price, a telepath who works for the demons. He is buff and beautiful, with scars of his own, but he won’t stay out of her head, literally.

If she doesn’t get her shifting ability, her raging hormones, and her life under control, she’s going to become demon bait. As the mystery unravels, Trinity tries to hold on to her sanity and her men, and she discovers more about her origins than she ever wanted to know.

Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

The shrink’s small office smelled musky, but not unpleasant. It was like a mix of orange spice and dust. Trini stared at the small man in the brown suit and bow tie who sat across from her, looking down at his pad and paper, scribbling little notes in the margin. His hair was short and his forehead stretched to the top of his dome. She pondered whether his hair had retreated to the back of his head or whether it had just migrated to his eyebrows. They were bold and bushy.
He wore spectacles, the old-fashioned kind, hiding bulging eyes, and Trini couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever heard of Lasik. Nah, the doctor probably liked the effect of the round spectacles -- made him feel more competent somehow. Or maybe he was very competent and didn’t care what anybody thought.
Psychiatrists and psychologists were a real bone of contention for Trini, who had her own motives for not trusting the profession. The only reason she was giving Dr. Myron Gray a try was because her best friend, Merl, said he worked wonders with behavior problems. And she definitely had behavior problems.
He still hadn’t stopped writing in his little yellow notepad. Trini was beginning to think he was solving world hunger or curing cancer, because she’d only been in his office for five minutes and surely that wasn’t enough time to write a book. She clenched and rubbed her hands together, trying to avoid putting her fingers in her mouth. She’d already shredded most of her nails to the nub, and didn’t want to suffer the humiliation of having the doctor read some deep psychosis in a nail-biting habit.
Suddenly, he stopped. “Let me see if I understand what you think the problem is. You have problems maintaining yourself in stressful conditions. Is that it?”
“Exactly!” Her hand-wringing worsened as she fought the urge to nibble. “I can’t take it, Doctor. One minute I’m green, the next blue, brown, silver, purple, then I’m back to my old self again. It drives me nuts!” She hadn’t meant it to come out quite that way. It sounded crazy, even to her own ears.
“Green, then blue. Interesting.” He jotted on the pad.
“I’m talking metaphorically of course.” Damn it, her right index finger cuticle had found its way between her teeth.
“Metaphorically. Interesting.” More jotting commenced.
“I mean I don’t really turn blue or green, or any other color for that matter. I’m just… well, you know.”
“Yes, interesting.”
Trini was beginning to think that all that scribbling was going to lead to her being locked up in the looney-bin. She couldn’t go through that again. After her parents had died, she’d been locked up for four years, until she was twenty, and Merl, eighteen and barely out of college, came to her rescue. Trini wouldn’t allow that to happen a second time.
She stood up. “You know, Doctor. I don’t think this is going to work out. I’m going to be fine.” Slowly, she worked her way over to her coat and purse. “I mean, of course I’m going to be fine.”
She tried a casual lazy smile, just to let him know she really was all right, but Trini wasn’t sure if she knew exactly how to pull off casual lazy. She hoped it didn’t look maniacal. “Just fine.” Her scarf went on first, then the coat. “I don’t really need therapy. I don’t know what I was thinking! I must be crazy.”
This was going bad in a someone-just-planted-dynamite-at-the-top-of-the-Alps-and-an-avalanche-is-coming-to-demolish-a-tiny-Swiss-town way. Talk about a little-ole-lady who was going kersplat.
She grabbed her purse and put a hand on the doorknob. “I didn’t mean that. I’m not crazy really, just a little…”
He was looking at her hands.
Good God! They’d turned bright green. She knew she shouldn’t have worn the neon green coat, but it was her favorite -- all fluffy and fuzzy. Quickly, Trini shoved her hands that now looked like matching mittens into her pockets.
Dr. Gray didn’t appear ruffled in any way. He just calmly put down his pad and paper and said, “Sit down, Trinity. I think I can help you.”
Dead stop. Something in Trini’s brain clicked and her voice went two octaves higher. “You can?”
“Yes. Changing colors, though not a voluntary behavior, is still behavior. Once we get down to the root cause, or the why, then it’s just a matter of training your body to an alternative behavior.”
“So, you don’t think I’m crazy?”
“No, Trinity.” He smiled and it was a wonderful smile with shiny little white teeth. “I don’t think you’re crazy.”
What a beautiful little man… “Call me Trini.” She took off her coat. “Everyone calls me Trini.”




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Outlook Orgasmic
by Hannah Beckhamcover art by Reneé George
ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-943-9
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Humor and Satire
Theme(s): Vampires, Madam Periwinkle's Erotic Delights
Series: Madam Periwinkle's Erotic Delights Multi-Author
Length: Novella

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BLURB:

Terri Smythe, a transplanted New Yorker, is trying to find her feet in Kansas City. After an emergency "save-me-before-I-slit-my-wrists" visit from her best friends, and a shopping spree at Madam Periwinkle’s Erotic Delights, a Magic 8-ball sets her off on an adventure of a lifetime.
That adventure has one name -- Niko. He’s gorgeous. He’s strong. He’s bold.
He’s also a vampire.

EXCERPT:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

****
“My feet are killing me. Remind me again why I moved to Kansas City?” Terri Smythe asked as she strolled -- more like hobbled at this point -- down Southwest Boulevard with her three best friends. It was already getting dark out, and they’d been walking around the downtown area for more than an hour.
Maggie Bergman, the bubbly red-head of the group, answered first. “Because you needed a change.”
“There’s no one saying you have to stay here forever,” Rena Grace, the tallest of the four, said.
“Oh, quit bitching. We’re supposed to be having a stress free girls day.” Dana Constance, ex-beauty queen and all around fabulously frank, straightened her Spanx. “Come on, this shop is supposed to be da bomb.”
Terri sighed. Her friends meant well, but moving from New York to Missouri had been a shock to her system. Maggie, Rena, and Dana had all flown in earlier in the week for Terri’s emergency “I’m going to slit my wrists from boredom” intervention.
The week had been terrific, they’d stayed up every night talking and laughing into the wee hours. But they were leaving to go back to their lives, and Terri would be alone. Again.
“Fine, whatever, let’s just go.”
“Oh!” Maggie pointed then clapped her hands together. “There’s Madame Periwinkle’s.”
“I’m having second thoughts, ladies.” Rena grimaced. “All this stuff sort of weirds me out. I mean in theory, okay, but to actually go in and shop. I don’t know if I can do it or not.”
Dana stomped her heeled boot on the sidewalk. “Jeeezus, Ren. It’s a freaking novelty shop. No one’s going to be sacrificing virgins with dildos.”
“Even if they were, we’d all be safe.” Terri grinned. Although, truth be told, it had been a long time, since she’d had sex. She might as well be a virgin.
“Yeah, you fucktard. So quit being such a chicken shit.” Dana again.
“Hey!” Rena snapped. “I’m not a chicken shit. And, at least I’m not turning into the crazy dog lady.”
Dana put her hands on her hips. “Oh, that hurt. Not.” She’d added another puppy to her fold, bringing the count to eight dogs and two cats.
“Don’t fight,” Maggie said. “It’s our last day together. Let’s enjoy it.”
By the time the banter ended, they were standing in front of Madam Periwinkle’s Erotic Delights. “We’re already here,” Terri said. “We might as well check it out.”
Maggie clapped her hands again. “Woot!” It’d been her idea in the first place.
A tinkling sounded when Terri opened the door.
Everything in the shop was purple. Including the lady behind the counter. Well, not her skin, but her bustier, her hair, her fingernails, her make-up, and her tight little pants. Her voice was smooth and light. “Welcome, ladies. Please come in. I’ll be with you in just one moment.”
It was rumored that Madam Periwinkle was a mystical erotic shop. She was supposed to psychically know what you needed in order to fulfill your fantasies. Terri didn’t buy it, not for one minute. But they were having fun, and this was supposed to be part of it.
The concept was this, you handed Madame Periwinkle ten dollars and she’d give you an item in a paper bag. It was basically a grab bag situation, like going to the fair, only instead of a two dollar stuffed animal, you’d walk out with something to help with your love life.
Terri and her buddies waited at the counter for Madame Periwinkle to return. She came out with four purple gift bags. After they all put their ten-dollar bills on the counter, she handed a bag to each of them. “Don’t open them just yet.” Madam Periwinkle winked. “Wait until you get home.”
With bag in hand, Terri turned to say something to Rena but was stopped when she slammed into a very large obstacle rushing through the front door. Dana and Rena were at her side immediately, but Maggie stood stunned. Gaping.
Terri followed Maggie’s line of sight and had to fight to keep her own jaw off the ground.
“Oh my god,” Rena whispered. “He’s beautiful.”
Terri nodded before she could stop herself. Even though she was off men, entirely, some eye candy was just too good not to appreciate. And this eye candy had yummy-licious written all over him. Medium height, about five feet eleven inches, if she had to guess, and he wore the tightest black T-shirt, which fit snug against his muscular chest, and the black slacks he wore were like a second skin.
“Oish.”
A feeling of electricity shot through her body when she noticed that while she was checking out his goods, he was checking her out. Their eyes met, and his were dark like obsidian, filled with anger and rage. Dangerous. The word echoed in Terri’s mind as a chill slid down her spine. She looked away.
“Are you all right, darling?” Dana asked.
“Fine. Help me up so we can get out of here.”
The man didn’t apologize, didn’t say a word as he walked past them to the counter.
“Rude much?” Rena said.
“Leave it alone,” Terri hushed her. She dusted her jeans. “Let’s just go.”

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