Excerpt from Alpha Awakened Hello! Today I bring to you the first excerpt from my upcoming military wolf shifter romance, Alpha Awakened. I liked writing this scene where Ice is just starting to acknowledge that he feels something for his squad mate. And I think it captures Hazard's playful nature really well. Enjoy! Ice left their barracks, setting out across the base without a particular destination in mind. It was a cool and sunny fall day. As he walked, he wasn't specifically looking for Hazard. But he stopped when he saw him. The corporal sat on a fence rail. A trio of soldiers stood in front of him, raptly listening to whatever he was saying. All of them were shifters. Alphas. The hackles on the back of Ice's neck rose. Without stopping to question why he didn't like seeing the soldiers clustered around his teammate, he strode over to their little group, stopping behind Hazard. Hazard leaned back on the fence rail, balancing precariously to look at him upside down. "Hey, Lieutenant Anderson," he greeted him. Ice reached out and put a hand on the spot between Hazard's shoulder blades. "Don't fall," he quietly cautioned. Hazard smiled. "I won't with you behind me." Ice looked down into those smiling green eyes. The heat of Hazard's body warmed his palm through the layers of his glove and Hazard's thin T-shirt. He didn't return the smile, but he kept his hand where it was until Hazard was sitting upright again. He looked directly at each of the three soldiers in turn. Two were of equal rank to Hazard. One was a sergeant. All were big, strong, and muscular. One by one, they dropped their gazes, heads slightly twisting to the side to submissively show their necks. They returned to their conversation with Hazard, but it wasn't long before they made their excuses and left. Hazard turned around on the fence to face him. A small smile curled up one side of the omega's mouth and his eyes sparkled with humor. The sun made the light green irises brighter. But even in the direct sunlight, his hair was still inky black. It looked incredibly soft. Ice wondered how it would feel to run his bare hand over it. His palm tingled behind his glove. Of course, he wouldn't touch his squad mate's hair. Or the hard line of his jaw. And he certainly wouldn't trace the curve of his plump lips. Or even touch a fingertip to the tip of his nose. Hazard was off limits. He knew that. But something within him was starting to stir, trying to convince him otherwise. "What are you gonna do now that you have me all to yourself, Lieutenant?" A flush crawled up the back of Ice's neck. Why had he chased off those soldiers? "Wasn't trying to get you to myself," he denied. "Of course you weren't," Hazard said softly. Alpha Awakened is available for pre-order. Release date April 4, 2024.
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I’d like to share an excerpt from Hector and Miguel’s story. We’re in Hector’s point of view here, and we see him finally acknowledge his attraction to Miguel. I love this scene because it’s like the air before a storm. You know what’s coming, but it’s not here yet. All you have is tension and expectation and wondering what it will be like. And of course it leads to one of my favorite romance tropes: forced to share a bed. Yes! I hope you enjoy. Hidden in the semi-darkness, Hector let his gaze trail down the line of Miguel's naked back to the enticing curve of his ass cupped by the tight underwear he wore. Hector swore under his breath. There was no confusion anymore. The box of everything he'd been reluctant to unpack was flung open, all his desires and wants spread out for him to see. He might not be ready to admit it to anyone else, but he couldn't deny it to himself any longer. Not when he was sitting there, imagining himself walking over to Miguel and picking him up in his arms again so he could carry him back to bed and touch everything he was secretly running his eyes over. Finished with his water, Miguel made his way back to the bedroom doorway. But he didn't go inside. Instead, he stood there in the shadows. Hector waited to see if there was something he wanted to say. "I feel bad about kicking you out of your bed." "It's not a problem. Don't worry about it." Miguel balanced on his crutches, staring at the floor. He was quiet for several long moments before he finally spoke. "It's a big bed, Hector." Silence. After that completely unexpected invitation, Miguel continued to stare at the floor. And Hector stared at him. He shouldn't share a bed with Miguel. Not after that night and the sexual attraction Hector had just acknowledged not thirty seconds ago. But the couch wasn't meant to be slept on by someone his size. He needed to be well-rested for work. And it was a big bed. With embarrassing speed, Hector finished rationalizing the decision he wanted to make and got up from the couch. "Okay." He grabbed the pillow but left the blanket there. He'd take care of it in the morning. "I'll put some shorts on," Miguel said as he swung around. But he moved too fast and one of the crutches tripped up in the carpet instead of swiveling with him. He overbalanced and started listing to the side. Miguel flailed. He wasn't wearing the boot so he ended up hopping on his good foot as he rushed to regain his balance. Hector leaped forward to steady him with a hand on his waist. "I've got you." His hand lingered longer than it should have, feeling the smooth, warm skin under his palm. When he took his hand away, his fingers trailed over that skin. Miguel shivered. "Thank you," Miguel said in the nervous, breathless tone that Hector remembered far too well. "No problem." He followed Miguel into the bedroom. They didn't look at each other as Miguel went to the side where he had pillows stacked at the end for his ankle. They didn't speak as Hector went to the other side and got under the covers. Miguel pulled on a pair of shorts before he joined him. The king-size bed allowed for plenty of space between them. But Hector would only have to reach out to feel more of the warm skin that he'd briefly touched moments before. Except, Miguel hadn't invited him here for that. Had he? He'd put on a pair of shorts before getting in bed, a clear signal that nothing sexual was about to go down. Unless he'd done so because he thought Hector wasn't interested. Too bad his cock growing stiff with arousal proved his interest without a doubt. Hector tried to will away the erection. Miguel wouldn’t know what was going on in his pajama bottoms. But Hector felt like a pervert lying in bed next to him with a hard-on. This was a mistake. He should have stayed on the couch. Fuck. Hector tossed an arm over his eyes again. He was here now, so there was nothing for it but to try to get some sleep. "Good night." Miguel's voice was still nervous and breathless when he responded. "Good night." Fuck. A Sniper's Devotion is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
Hello, Reader Friends! Today I am super excited to share with you news of my upcoming release. Do you like omegaverse? If so, then hold on to your butts. Alpha Awakened is a military wolf shifter romance. It's omegaverse but not m-preg. Today I'm sharing the cover and blurb with you. Check them out! When the heat of battle cools, the fire of their passion burns hot. Lieutenant Royce Anderson. Call sign: Ice. A terror on the battlefield and a lone alpha wolf who doesn’t believe in pack. He wears a mask to keep anyone from getting too close. His life is just fine, until a handsome, green-eyed omega joins his squad. Suddenly, Ice is tempted like he’s never been tempted before. All he wants is to kiss the sweet curve of Dylan’s lips and to breathe in his intoxicating scent. He tries to resist, but his alpha instincts awaken, driving him to claim the omega with the gorgeous smile as his mate. Corporal Dylan Mitchell. Call sign: Hazard. A skilled special forces soldier and proud omega wolf. He’s instantly drawn to the mysterious masked lieutenant, despite his cold, standoffish demeanor. When Hazard looks into the dark eyes behind the mask, his body burns with desire for the tall, muscled alpha. And his Instinct urges him to give the lonely soldier all the love that has been missing from his life. Royce and Dylan come together as lovers while pursuing a violent insurrectionist across the country. But when the dangers of the battlefield and the rules of the military try to tear them apart, they’ll ruthlessly fight to claim their destiny as bonded mates. Alpha Awakened is a steamy military wolf shifter romance. The release date for Alpha Awakened is April 4, 2024. The special eBook pre-order price $2.99. The regular eBook price is $5.99 Alpha Awakened will be available in eBook & paperback, as well as discreet paperback and large print paperback. Alpha Awakened will be released in eBook on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited for 90 days. After 90 days (appx mid-June), Alpha Awakened will leave Kindle Unlimited in order to be released in libraries and on other retailers such as Kobo, Apple, and Google Play. You will still be able to purchase it on Amazon but it will not be in the KU subscription service after 90 days.pa Awakened will be released in Amazon Pre-Order Links Not ready to pre-order or want to wait until release for Kindle Unlimited? No problem! You can add it to your Goodreads TBR while you wait. That's it for now, but I'll be back soon with excerpts and more.
Love, Christa Hello! Today I'm sharing with you an early look at Blood Debt Chapter 1. Blood Debt is Book 2 in the Sanguis Syndicate - my M/M Vampire Mafia Romance series. I like to have my main characters meet as soon as possible, and here you get to see them meet for the first time in chapter one. Enjoy! Raul relaxed back in his chair, watching a group of talented actors sing and dance their way through a darkly humorous murder mystery. It was a good show and he was enjoying it. But for some reason, an unusual sense of awareness hummed in his blood, keeping him from giving a hundred percent of his attention to the stage. He used his enhanced vampire senses to search for any hint of danger. But there was nothing. What had him so... unsettled? He attempted to shake off the feeling and concentrate on the performance just at the lead actress delivered a cheeky line and sauntered from the stage. A moment later, the MC stepped out from behind the curtain. "It's time for our intermission. We'll be back shortly with a decadent dessert that might be deadly." Raul applauded along with the rest of the audience. The lights went up and Raul rose to stretch his legs. The two dates who'd attended the theater with him rose as well. "This performance is great," Alan said. Linda, his other date, laced her fingers through Alan's. "I see a friend of mine over there. We're going to go and say hello." Raul nodded and the two humans went off to speak to their friends. As more of the crowd began to move around during the intermission, Raul recognized a few of his acquaintances. Upon noticing him, they came over to pay their respects. A burly vampire, with muscles straining the fabric of his suit and his bald head sweating, greeted Raul first. "Nice to see you, Mr. Raul. What do you think of the show?" The vampire accompanying him smiled. She was dressed entirely in green - her gown, shoes, jewelry. Even her hair and lipstick were in the same emerald shade. "Is it worth leaving that beautiful ranch of yours for a few hours?" she asked. Raul laughed. He was a known homebody. He socialized as needed for work, but he was most comfortable at home, riding over his property or in the house watching movies. "It's worth it. The actors are doing a fantastic job." Another acquaintance, a human in a vintage beaded evening gown with long strawberry blonde hair offered their opinion. "I love the singing voice of the president character, but I think she's the killer." Their small group began debating who they thought was the culprit behind the show's murder mystery. As they talked, the live musicians finished their song, a haunting rendition of Jewel's Foolish Games. After the audience's quiet applause, they set their instruments aside and rose to take their break. As they filed out of the theater, a DJ came out and started to play a set of old R&B hits from the nineties over the theater's sound system. In the quiet lull before the first recorded song began to play, Raul heard a soft laugh. Happy, bright, and delicate. He turned, searching for the source of that delightful sound. He didn't see who it came from at first. Then, a woman in a black silk dress moved to the side, revealing the person standing behind her. A petite, East Asian human, with short, stylishly cut flaxen blonde hair, and golden skin. The young man was dressed in a caramel brown suit with fuzzy white trim on the lapels and a cream button up shirt beneath the jacket. Looking at him smiling, his skin glowing under the theater lights, made Raul's heart pound. "Excuse me," Raul said in the general direction of the person who'd been speaking to him. Without another word, he left the group and moved across the room, headed directly for the lovely human who'd caught his attention. "Hello," he said once he'd reached him. After saying goodbye to the person he'd been speaking with, the young man turned and looked up at Raul. "Hello." His voice was as soft as an angel's kiss. Up close, Raul could see that pale brown freckles dotted the bridge of his nose and the tops of his cheeks. His lips were pink and lush and his dark eyes were still sparkling from his earlier laughter. The human was so gorgeous that it took Raul a moment to realize he was staring and mentally shake himself from his trance. "I'm Raul." He held a hand out. "I'm Ji-Su." Ji-Su accepted his handshake, his warm, fine boned hand all but disappearing inside Raul's large grasp. "It's nice to meet you." A quick glance at his neck showed recently healed marks from a vampire's fangs. This lovely human already belonged to someone. Disappointment burned in Raul's chest - startling in its intensity. He asked just to be sure that Ji-Su wasn't available. "Are you here alone?" "No. I'm with my patron and his friends. They stepped outside to smoke." His blood patron. Ji-Su was a blood pet. "Tell me, Ji-Su. What do you do when you're not looking so enchanting that you bewitch strangers at parties?" That precious laugh came again. Hearing it up close sent a tingle of pleasure down Raul's spine. "I'm a gamer." "Ah, forgive me if I'm not quite sure what you mean by that." A deep dimple appeared in Ji-Su's cheek when he smiled. "I play video games and stream myself them playing online." "Interesting. I'm into a different type of gaming. I run a casino." He ran several actually but there was no need to bring that up in casual conversation. "I've only been to a casino once. I got scared when I lost fifty dollars at the craps table, left, and never went back." "That's too bad. If you come to my casino, I'll show you a much better time than that." "Is this a sales pitch? Will part of the night be spent with you trying to sell me a time share?" Raul grinned. "Not a sales pitch. Just an attempt to get you to spend time with me so I can hear your lovely laugh again. In fact, I might nudge the table a bit to make sure you win just to hear you celebrate." Ji-Su bit his lip, clearly holding back the laugh Raul wanted to hear. "Are you saying your casino is corrupt?" "Not at all. But I'm willing to make an exception for a human as pretty as you." Now Ji-Su laughed. Raul listened and watched, completely captivated. Far too soon, Ji-Su's laugh quieted, although the humor lingered in his expression. Raul was about to ask him about his blood patron and how long he had left on his contract - when Ji-Su looked off to the side. "There's my patron." Raul turned to look in the direction of Ji-Su's nod. An African American vampire with medium-brown skin, dressed in a black tux approached. His jacket hung open and the bowtie was undone. His dark hair was separated into twists that were dyed blond on the tips. Three similarly attired humans and one vampire walked behind him. Raul recognized Ji-Su's patron but didn't recall his name. He only knew he was a LaMonte, one of the aristocratic vampire families that resided in Dear Lake. "Cedric, you're back," Ji-Su said. "Obviously," the other vampire drawled as he stepped partially in between Raul and Ji-Su. His eyes moved to take in Raul. "Who is this you're talking to?" "This is Raul. Raul, this is Cedric." Raul nodded his head at the introduction. The other vampire didn't extend his hand for a greeting, so Raul didn't bother to either. Only two seconds in Cedric's presence and he already didn't like him. After a moment of cold silence between them, Cedric's eyes left his and slid back to Ji-Su. "I left you at our table. Next time, stay where I put you." A blush tinged Ji-Su's cheeks, no doubt from embarrassment at the rude way Cedric had spoken to him in front of everyone. "I apologize for wandering off. I hope you weren't worried." "I wasn't." Cedric clamped a hand around Ji-Su's upper arm. "Let's go." Ji-Su gave Raul a polite smile. "It was nice to meet you." "You as well." Cedric practically dragged Ji-Su back to their table. Thanks to his heightened vampire senses, Raul heard their conversation over the music as they walked away. "I don't want you talking to any vampires unless I introduce you to them first and give you permission." "Okay." Raul didn't like Cedric's demeanor or the way he treated Ji-Su. But there wasn't cause for him to do anything about it. Cedric hadn't been abusive, merely rude and abrasive. And Ji-Su looked healthy and well cared for as was expected for a blood pet. Still, he had the urge to go over and steal Ji-Su away from Cedric and take him back to his ranch to keep for himself. Odd, since he'd never been one to covet what belonged to someone else. But something about Ji-Su brought out instincts he'd never felt before. Take. Keep. Make him mine. At the sound of footsteps behind him, Raul closed his mind to those thoughts and turned away from watching the group retake their seats. His own blood pets approached. Linda, a tall, willowy, raven-haired Latina and Alan a handsome, curly-haired Caucasian with a solid, stocky build. The two came to stand on either side of him and linked their arms through his. "Who was that darling young man?" Linda asked. "Ji-Su, a blood pet of Cedric's." "Is he a friend of yours?" "No, neither of them are." A bell chimed, signaling that intermission was drawing to a close. "Come on. Let's return to our table." They went back to their seats, chatting quietly as the wait staff began circulating with trays of dessert and wine. A server arrived at their table, serving each of them a peach pastry drenched in a whiskey sauce and topped with whipped cream, along with glasses of a crisp Riesling wine. Just before the lights went down, Raul caught a glimpse of Ji-Su a few tables over. He was smiling his thanks at the server who'd set a dessert plate in front of him. Once the actors retook the stage, Raul made an attempt to put Ji-Su from his mind and focus on the show. But he couldn't stop thinking about that soft, happy laugh and those sparkling dark eyes for the rest of the night. * * * A few hours later, their trio returned to the ranch. The tall black entrance gates smoothly slid open to allow the limo to enter the property. After the driver let them out, Raul thanked him and said goodnight. "Goodnight, Mr. Raul." The limo pulled away, and Raul went up the wide front steps accompanied by Linda and Alan. The three of them walked into the house and were greeted by the doorman in the softly lit foyer. Linda handed the servant the white swing coat she'd worn over her pink dress. "Raul, my love. I think our time here is over," she said as she slipped out of her heels. That statement had Raul raising his eyebrows in surprise. "What?" Linda and Alana weren't on an official blood pet contract with him. They were there because the three of them were in a casual relationship. He drank their blood and in exchange he showered them with money and gifts. It was a mutually beneficial relationship, but it wasn't facilitated by one of the agencies that set up humans and vampires. This was actually their third time staying with him over the past few years. He'd met them long ago at one of Everett's costume balls. They came at his invitation and left when they chose. But they hadn't mentioned anything about wanting to leave before now. "That's news to me. Is something wrong?" "Of course not, sweetie. We always have the best time when we're here. But..." "But?" He prompted her when she didn't finish. Linda folded her hands together in front of her, an almost mischievous smile on her fuchsia-tinted lips. "Your mind is about to be preoccupied with someone else." "He is really cute," Alan added. "I don't mind leaving so you can focus on him." Raul shook his head when he realized who they were referring to. "You're both being silly. I talked to Ji-Su for less than five minutes. And he already belongs to someone else. Our paths probably won't cross again anytime soon if ever." Linda walked up to him. She put a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. Raul met her gaze without flinching, letting her find whatever she was looking for. After several moments she patted him lightly on the cheek before she dropped her hand. "I know what I saw. And I never doubt what I see is coming." "I won't deny my attraction to him. But that is no reason for either of you to leave. I listen to you two rave over the vampires you're attracted to all the time and it's never been a problem." Linda pursed her lips, thinking. Finally, she nodded and stepped back. "All right. We'll stay. For now." "Good." "Would you like to feed tonight?" she asked in an abrupt change of subject. Raul dropped his gaze to her throat. She'd worn her hair up, exposing smooth, pale skin. Normally he'd be tempted by the sight. Tonight, his fangs didn't so much as tingle. He shook his head. "No, I don't need to." Alan stepped behind Linda and slid his arms around her waist in a tight hug. "How about sex with one or both of us?" he asked with a grin. "Not tonight." "No appetite for that either?" Linda asked with a dark brow raised. She looked over her shoulder at Alan. "What a surprise," she said in an exaggerated tone. "A truly shocking surprise," Alan teased back. Raul barked a laugh. "You two are ridiculous. It has nothing to do with that little human. I'm simply not hungry and not in the mood for sex." "If you say so. Come on, Alan. Those heels made my feet ache and I could use a foot rub." The two said goodnight, and hand in hand, they climbed the stairs, going up to the room they shared. After checking in with the ranch's mayordoma to make sure nothing needed his attention, Raul went up to his room as well. He undressed and stretched out naked in bed. As he lay there, waiting for sleep to come, his mind wasn't on the two beautiful humans who were down the hall for his pleasure. Instead, he thought of Ji-Su. A soft, pretty name for a soft, pretty human. If he'd come across him socially before he'd been contracted to Cedric or seen him on stage at one of his organization's blood pet auctions, he most certainly would have made a play for him. But he didn't poach from other vampires. He had a moment's regret that he hadn't had a chance to ask Ji-Su when his contract with Cedric was up. If he had, he might have been able to make arrangements to be Ji-Su's next blood patron. A missed opportunity. With another sigh of regret, he turned over to go to sleep. As he closed his eyes, he accepted that Ji-Su was simply someone he'd felt an overwhelmingly strong attraction to but probably would never see again. * * * "That was a fun show." Ji-Su chatted with Cedric as they walked into the vampire's luxury town house. The butler, dressed entirely in white, waited to greet them and take their coats. The lights from the heavy crystal chandelier hanging above reflected on the white marble floor of the foyer near his feet. "It's good to get away from my screens and meet new people every once in a while." "Like Raul," Cedric replied with a barely hidden sneer to his tone. "I didn't mean him in particular but yes he seemed like a nice guy." "Just remember what I said." Cedric tossed his coat at the butler. "Stay away from vampires that I haven't introduced you to." Ji-Su managed to keep the annoyance out of his expression when he agreed. "I will remember." They both went upstairs then separated on the second-floor landing to go to their individual bedrooms. As Ji-Su undressed and prepared for bed, he couldn't help but think that Cedric's insistence he didn't speak to anyone without his prior introduction and permission was insecure at best and controlling at worst. But whatever. Cedric wasn't his lover. The vampire was simply his blood patron. He supplied Cedric with his blood a few times a month in exchange for room, board, and a hefty monthly cash deposit. He'd already completed the first three months of his contract. There were nine months remaining and then he'd be free to talk to whoever he wanted, Raul included. Hopefully, by the time his contract with Cedric was over he would no longer need a blood patron. But he wouldn't mind getting to know Raul outside of an official human-vampire agreement. The Hispanic vampire was ruggedly handsome. He had warm brown skin, black brows that arched over eyes the color of melted chocolate, and dark, neatly styled hair that curled just below his ears. The rough scruff of a well-groomed shadow beard enhanced a strong jaw and full lips. And he wore onyx stud earrings in each pierced ear. Raul was a big man. Tall, with wide shoulders, and a broad chest. He'd been dressed in a tux, the burgundy color so deep, it was almost black. The jacket and pants were cut to perfectly fit his frame, giving him a smooth, elegant air. But the accents he'd chosen - an understated Western copper belt buckle and black leather cowboy boots with copper tips - set him apart from everyone else in the room. Raul's style reminded Ji-Su of a wealthy rancher from old Western movies. That was probably a fitting description, since as a vampire, there was no telling how old Raul actually was. He appeared to be in his early thirties, but he'd probably looked that way for a very long time. His favorite thing about the handsome vampire had been the way Raul smiled. Raul smiled with a slow, lazy curl to his lips and a hint of that vampire's glow lighting his dark eyes to an amber brown. His entire vibe was relaxed and friendly, which made his easy flirting charming and welcome. He'd been attracted to the vampire from the moment he'd seen him. Ji-Su sighed and turned over. Of course a gorgeous vampire like Raul wasn't single. He'd snuck a few glances at him throughout the night and noticed there were two dates accompanying him. A man and a woman - both beautiful. Maybe one day he'd see Raul again when they were each in a position to take their interaction beyond a five-minute conversation. That would be nice. With a smile on his lips, Ji-Su fell asleep imagining it. What do you think of the preview? I hope you liked it. I'll be sharing Chapter 2 with you next Friday so please look forward to it! To add Blood Debt to your Goodreads TBR and sign up to be notified when it's available, click the button below.
Thanks for reading! Love, Christa Hello and Happy Thursday! Today I have an excerpt from Blood Debt, my upcoming M/M vampire mafia romance. Blood Debt is book 2 in the Sanguis Syndicate series and will be available April 13th! "Mr. Raul, it's Ji-Su." "Come in," came from the other side of the door. He opened the door just enough to slip inside and shut it behind him. Raul was sitting up in the middle of a big bed. His dark hair was rumpled, and his chest was bare. "I’m sorry to wake you but it’s the storm. I umm... I get nervous during big storms like this. Can I sleep in here with you? In that chair over there is fine." He pointed at a big leather wingback chair in the corner of the massive bedroom. Raul shook his head. Ji-Su was immediately disappointed and embarrassed for asking. Of course, Raul said no. He probably thought Ji-Su was too old to get freaked out by storms. "I understand," he said as he turned to go. "No. Not the chair," Raul said in a voice husky from sleep. Ji-Su stopped and turned back around. Raul was holding the corner of the covers up for him. "Get in here." Relieved, Ji-Su hurried across the room and climbed into bed with Raul. "I’m sorry," he apologized as he slid beneath the covers. "I know it’s silly to be afraid of storms." "It’s not. We all have something we fear." "What do you fear?" "Big Foot." "You’re joking." A small smile curled one side of Raul's lips. "Maybe." Ji-Su didn't believe for one second that Raul was afraid of Big Foot. But he appreciated the gentle humor to help put him at ease. Trying not to be obvious, he scooted over the mattress to get a little closer to Raul. He'd just stealthily moved another inch when a heavy arm draped across his waist, pulling him up against the heated, solid wall of Raul's chest. "Is that better?" Apparently, he hadn't been sneaky enough. He was too happy he was being comforted to be embarrassed at being caught. Ji-Su nodded. "Yes. Thank you. “Do you think you can sleep now?" "I should be able-." He started to answer but lightning cracked and thunder boomed so close together it was one big snarl of terrifying noise. Ji-Su jumped, hitting the top of his head against Raul's chin as he dove forward to bury his face against his chest. He stayed there, shaking, until the angry sounds outside the windows eased up. Once it was quiet except for the sound of the pounding rain, he pulled back and looked up at Raul. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." "Barely felt it." "Are you sure?" He tried to joke as his racing heart slowly returned to normal speed. "I've been told I have a hard head." "You can always kiss it better." Raul went quiet and pressed his lips together for a moment. "Sorry, that was bad joke." "I don't mind." He leaned up and pressed a quick but soft kiss to the spot where his skull had collided with Raul's chin. "Did that help?" "Yep, the pain is all gone now." Ji-Su smiled. He appreciated that Raul was teasing him to take his mind off the storm that raged outside. When another crack of lightning came, he squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't jump, but he couldn't help the shivers of fear that ran through him. Raul rubbed his back, his big hand sliding up and down in a soothing caress. "Sssh. You're okay." His eyes still closed, Ji-Su nodded. The warm hand on his back was just what he needed to stay calm. The thunder gradually rolled into silence and Ji-Su opened his eyes. Raul was watching him. His face was mostly in shadow, but Ji-Su could still make out how handsome he was. Ji-Su shivered again, but this time it wasn't from fear. Raul was so big and he made him feel safe. But he also made him feel something else. A familiar feeling, one he hadn't experienced in a while, tugged behind his navel. The feeling grew when the hand stroking his back changed course and moved to cup his jaw, a broad thumb caressing his cheek. "You're..." Raul stopped, the unfinished sentence hanging in the small space between them. "I'm what?" he asked when Raul didn't continue. "You're sweet." "Is that a good thing?" "Mmm-hmm. I like sweet." Ji-Su's heart started racing again. He knew Raul could hear it. And sure enough, his thumb moved down to lightly press over his pulse. "Is this fear?" Raul asked quietly. Ji-Su shook his head. "No," he whispered back. At his answer, Raul slowly leaned down. Closer and closer until their lips were almost touching. Ji-Su let his eyes drift closed and waited. I'm so excited to share Raul and Ji-Su's story with you! Blood Debt will be available April 13th on Amazon in Kindle Unlimited and on Barnes and Noble .com for paperback and hard cover. Visit the Blood Debt info page to add Blood Debt to your Goodreads TBR and sign up to be notified when it's available! And if you haven't read Sanguis Syndicate Book 1 - Blood Kiss - be sure to check it out! Everett – powerful vampire and ruthless crime lord. He doesn’t have time for relationships and has zero interest in taking care of a human in exchange for their blood. Then, one night, he attends an auction where humans are sold as blood pets to wealthy vampires. The moment a young redhead steps on to the stage, Everett is instantly attracted to his beauty. Money is no object and he’ll pay any amount to possess the gorgeous human. And once Everett has Solan alone in his mansion, he plans to woo him, charm him, and finally, seduce him into his bed.
Solan – spoiled and playful prince of the Kane mob family. He entered the blood pet auction as a lark. But things quickly turn serious when he meets the glowing blue gaze of the tall, stern vampire who purchased him. Solan fights his attraction to Everett, determined to complete his contract without any physical or emotional entanglements to his new patron. However, the sensual intimacy of sharing his blood with Everett, of feeling his fangs pierce his neck, makes it near impossible to resist the devastatingly handsome and seductive vampire. Bound together by a contract, passion slowly begins to burn between the vampire and his pet. But with each sweet caress and every heated kiss, Everett realizes that he feels much more for his pretty human than simple desire. His heart enthralled, he becomes determined to do whatever it takes to make Solan his mate. Will Solan return Everett’s love or will he leave the vampire behind forever once their contract comes to an end? It's almost time! The next vampire crime lord in the Sanguis Syndicate is about to meet his match. Today, I'm revealing the two lovers who are sharing their story with you, the title, blurb, and cover. Raul – vampire crime lord respected for his strength and feared for his swift vengeance when crossed. When he hears a delicate laugh across the room, he searches through the crowd until he finds Ji-Su – a gorgeous human with a soft smile. After learning that Ji-Su belongs to someone else, Raul reluctantly lets him go. However, fate intervenes, bringing them together once more. Raul rescues Ji-Su from a dangerous situation and takes him to his secluded ranch to keep him safe. Determined to let Ji-Su heal, Raul resists his craving for the beautiful human’s blood and his perfect body. But he can only hold back his desire for so long. Raul finally gives in, taking everything Ji-Su has to give in a storm of passion. Ji-Su – sweet, charming, up-and-coming gamer. When things go terribly wrong with his first blood patron, Ji-Su turns to Raul for help. The big, gentle vampire takes care of all his needs and makes him feel safe. He also makes Ji-Su feel something else – pure, deep desire. Ji-Su wants Raul to bite him, drink his blood, and take control of his body. However, when Ji-Su unexpectedly sees a darker side of Raul, he fears that he might once again be in mortal danger. Raul only wants to protect Ji-Su. Even if that means he must protect the human from his own rough desires and violent life. Although his heart demands he claim Ji-Su as his blood-bonded mate, Raul vows to set him free for his own good. Can Ji-Su move past his fears of the violence of Raul’s mafia world to convince his vampire lover that they belong together forever? Blood Debt is an M/M vampire romance. It has a big, rough, and gentle vampire, the sweet human male he wants to protect, steamy yet loving blood lust, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After. Tags: Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Organized Crime, Slow Burn Heat Level: High/Explicit Content: Violence, Blood Drinking Blood Debt will be available on Thursday, April 13th 2023. The ebook will be on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited. Amazon will also have paperback and discreet/SFW editions. Barnes & Noble.com will have the discreet/SFW paperback and hardcover editions. There will not be a pre-order. However, you can add Blood Debt to your Goodreads To Be Read list and sign up for my newsletter to be notified when it's available by clicking the buttons below. So, what do you all think? Raul is looking hot on the cover, yeah? Are you looking forward to meeting Ji-Su? Let me know what you think of this gentle giant and cutie pie gamer boy! And make sure you check my blog or social media for more reveals over the next few weeks. Details listed below. And if you haven't read Sanguis Syndicate 1 - Blood Kiss, you can check it out here:
Although I wish every thing I write would be great, sometimes you write a book that isn't good and isn't fit for release. But what do you do in that situation when you've already got a pre-order for it up? I found out with my recent struggles with Blood Rivals. Watch to see what I decided to do and the other lessons I learned.
Trying to go cheap w/ my camera set up wasn't working. So I ordered a new one. Watch me unbox it!
Hello again Vampy Readers! This week I have Chapter 3 of Blood Kiss for you. Enjoy! Chapter 3 Copyright Christa Tomlinson July 2022 Everett ate breakfast alone as he always did. When he finished, he went into his home office to work. Normally he would be on his way to Sanguis Tower. However, since he wanted to be here for Solan's arrival, he'd decided to work from home for a few hours. Opening his laptop, he began reviewing reports from the auction. They'd made an outstanding profit. And with the exception of Solan, all of the blood pets had already been successfully set up with their new patrons.
He looked up from his computer at a knock on his open office door. It was Hubert, the butler. "Yes?" "A car and an extra van will be going to pick up Mr. Solan at seven. Would you like me to cancel your blood service appointments?" Everett thought about it for a moment before answering. "No. I expect to need time to ease Solan into fulfilling his duty to me. In the meantime, I'll continue to feed from Eric." Hubert responded with the cheek that came from the comfort of a long relationship. "It's a good thing you're known for your patience." "I suppose." He was normally patient. But he suspected he might have trouble with that where Solan was concerned. "And what room do you want him in so I can inform the staff?" "Put him in the second primary suite." "I'll have them freshen it up before his arrival. Anything else?" "No, that's it for now." Hubert nodded and left. Everett looked at the clock. The driver would be leaving to retrieve Solan in about thirty minutes. Since the auction catalogue was already on his desk, he flipped it open to entrant number nine's page. Solan Kane. Everett looked at his picture. The headshot was a good one. Solan had the hint of a smile on his plush pink lips, while his indigo eyes sparkled. That gorgeous head of hair was bright against the black backdrop. And his neck. Smooth skin dusted with freckles drew his eye and made him think of sinking his fangs into the spot just above his shoulder. Hello, Gentle Readers! This week I'm back with Chapter 2 of Blood Kiss - my upcoming M/M Vampire Mafia Romance. If you missed Chapter 1, scroll down to the post below this one. This is an advanced look and not the final edited and proofed copy so there may be a few mistakes. Okay, please enjoy Everett and Solan's next meeting! Chapter 2 Copyright Christa Tomlinson July 2022 The next evening, Everett set the wheels in motion to collect his runaway blood pet. He called Harumi, his second in command, into his office.
She came in, tablet in hand and heels rhythmically tapping on the glossy black marble floor. "Harumi, get me Nora Kane's personal number. And what's the best time in my schedule tonight for a meeting?" "I can reschedule the quarterly drinks and payoff meeting with the captain of the vice squad. That frees up the nine o'clock hour." "Do it." He hated those anyway. The vice-captain only wanted to meet in person so he could brag to his fellow crooked cop cronies that he regularly met with a mob boss vampire. But keeping him happy was essential. Because although the blood pet auctions were legal, there were many other Sanguis Syndicate enterprises that were not. A happy vice-captain kept the vice squad off his back. Harumi nodded. "Give me a minute and I'll have Ms. Kane on the line. I'll speak with the captain myself." "Thank you." Barely a minute after Harumi left the room, his desktop phone beeped and his receptionist's pleasant voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Everett, Ms. Kane is holding for you." "Thank you, Nancy." He pushed the button to accept the call. "Hello, Ms. Kane." "Mr. Everett. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" "I believe I met your brother last night. A redhead named Solan?" "Yes, that is my little brother. What is he up to now?" "That's what I'd like to come by tonight and discuss." There was a brief pause before she answered. "Of course. What time is good for you?" "I have an opening at nine o'clock." "Then I'll see you at nine." They said their goodbyes. Everett set the phone back in its cradle and leaned back in his chair. He was one step closer to claiming his pet. |
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