Saturday Snippets: Favorite Intimate Moment

Today's Saturday Snippets feature our favorite intimate moments.

If you've stopped by for today's segment of the Cougar Growls Tour, please click here. If you think younger men are sexy, if you ever wished to be a cougar, check out my post "How To Be A Cougar".

Saturday Snippets:

Since I write erotic romance, all my stories have intimate moments. As my vampire romance releases this Monday, May 17th, I chose to feature an intimate scene from it.

Blurb:

Kes is obsessed with killing Nikolai – to prevent him from destroying Earth 900 years into the future.

Kes is obsessed with eliminating Nikolai before he's reborn as the evil vampire who destroys Earth and propels her family into the past.

Once she finds the Nikolai of her present is a good and kind man she's not sure she can hold the very sexy human accountable for something he hasn't yet done.





Excerpt:

Jumbled visions of Nikolai invaded her dreams, making her toss and turn, and she quickly became entangled in her sheets, feeling trapped between her duty to Earth, its inhabitants and her loyalty to her father.


She fought against them, against intangible bonds she couldn’t see but could feel with every fibre of her being. She gnawed at them with her fangs but to no avail. They tied her tighter, and she felt as if she were suffocating.

Screams ripped from her throat, and she fought her bonds.

“Shush, my love. Pray tell, don’t worry so much. Nothing is as black as it seems,” the rich masculine of her lover’s voice crooned. Strong but gentle arms crept around her from behind.

She smiled and sank into her lover’s mesmerising warmth. “Not as black? I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” Then her dream turned into the nightmare that haunted her for the millionth time as she witnessed her beloved planet exploding into a billion burning pieces, as millions of terrified voices cried for mercy. Nikolai hadn’t shown clemency to them. Why should she show it to him?

“We’re here, together, my sweet. Forget about all that. Live for today.” The last words were mumbled huskily against her ear then a moist tongue delved inside, laving it, making her quiver.

She relaxed into the embrace, yearning to do as her lover implored. She’d never truly lived, had never let go of her parents’ past. She’d never felt free to be herself, to live her own life. Surely she could shrug off if off for one more night to indulge in something for herself. But how? Her mission defined her.

“You know you want to.” The voice bewitched her, echoing her thoughts. His warm breath, his sensual lips, caressed her into a relaxed mindlessness, and she laid her head on his broad shoulder. “You deserve to.”

She nodded. Her lover had the sexiest voice she’d ever heard, and she quaked in his arms.

“We’re meant to be together, forever,” he continued, turning her around and lowering his lips to hers.

His face and form lay in the shadows, but his erection pushed unmistakably against her stomach as was the fervour of his tongue exploring her mouth.

Frissons of desire shot up her arm, through her heart and down to her pussy. When he ground his hips against hers, she fell into his rhythm, moaning. Unable to get close enough, her fingers fumbled with his laces and pushed his shirt off his shoulders. She couldn’t wait to feel his naked flesh against hers.

“You are so comely, so desirable. You’re meant to be mine,” he murmured against her lips as his calloused thumbs grazed her heated flesh.

With his help, she stepped out of her bloomers which were soaked with her moisture. Their musky scent permeated the room, intoxicating her. Consumed by a rampaging need she’d never before known, her thoughts were barely coherent. Only one remained, and she muttered it against the rapid-fire pulse in his neck, “Who are you?”

He paused and stroked her damp hair away from her cheeks. “Your soul mate.” As she opened her mouth to demand his name, he swallowed her words with a soul-deep kiss.
 
Carnal Lust will be available Monday May 17th at Total-E-Bound.
 

For more reading enjoyment, don't miss the other intimate moment excerpts today from the following fab authors.
 
Mari Carr
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Shelley Munro
Lacey Savage
HelenKay Dimon
Eliza Gayle


Recent posts you might like to read:

Author Interview: Wendi Zwaduk 

Author Interview: Frances Pauli


Author Interview: Marcia James

Author Interview: Elaine Hopper

Weathering A Bad Review

What Do You Want in a Romance Hero & What Do You Want in a Real Life Husband?

Rejection: Where Do You Go Next?

Procrastination

Cliche or Coincidence?

Incognito: free short story

Dedicating Books

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Wendi Zwaduk are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippet: Secondary Characters

The theme for this week is secondary characters.

Secondary characters add another dimension to a story: comic relief, danger and sometimes the plot hinges on a secondary character.

That's the case with "Sorry Charlie" an M/M story in the "Friction" anthology coming out in print by Total-E-Bound Monday December 7, 2009.

In "Sorry Charlie" Charlie's dad wants to make up after a 17-year family feud.

He's overjoyed, excited, and nervous as hell that his father is finally accepting his sexual orientation and speaking to him after a 17-year family feud but Charlie can't understand why his long-term partner Jonathan is acting jealous and clingy, when he should be happy for him or at least supportive.

Jon's afraid Charlie's family will hurt him again and he doesn't know if he can mend Charlie's heart if it shatters a second time or stand by and watch while Charlie sets himself up for more heartbreak.

Charlie's father is the catalyst for the story. Before Charlie's father came back into the picture, there was no conflict, thus no story.

Another secondary character in this story is Adam. Adam's a fun character. He's Charlie's and Jon's friend and provides the comic relief. In the act of trying to make Jon feel better, he causes more complications in an already complicated, emotional situation. The story wouldn't be the same without Charlie's father or Adam.




Excerpt From: Sorry Charlie

Search your feelings. You know I’m your father. The words rang in Charlie Lang’s head. For the past seventeen years, he’d wished anyone but Asa Charles Lang was his dad, even Darth Vader. His father made Vader look like a pussycat. At least, he’d wanted Luke once he’d found out about him.

Asa had been there at the moment of Charlie’s birth. He’d raised him ‘til he was seven when Charlie’s parents split. That’s when Asa had stolen off in the night to escape his debts, and according to Charlie’s mother, Gail, all his responsibilities to them. He’d found a new wife, made new kids, and only saw Charlie every few years for a measly day or two at a time.

Still, it hadn’t been too bad ‘til Charlie had come out of the closet at age twenty-two and announced he was gay. Then Asa, his stepmom, Sharon, and his half-siblings had disowned him. They’d declared him dead to them.

The thought of running into them on the street had his partner, Jonathan, freaking out.

Now Sharon and a half-brother were dead and buried, and his other sibs had moved away, leaving Asa alone. Now, he was ready to forgive Charlie and rebuild their relationship.

Charlie rubbed the half-day’s growth of beard on his chin and shook his head. This was a good thing. Right?

“I can’t do this with you right now,” he told Jonathan. “I have to meet my dad.” Charlie stood tall and didn’t allow himself to flinch—not outwardly anyway. He also didn’t let Jonathan’s pretty-boy looks or his pout sway him from today’s outing.

Jonathan glared and scrunched his nose. He threw down his towel like a gauntlet, leaving him naked. “When will you have time for me? This man abandoned you for seventeen years, trashed you to everyone you knew and made our lives hell. And now, you run every time he calls. I don’t get it. Explain it to me.”

"Sorry Charlie" in the "Friction" anthology is available in e-book now and print Monday Dec. 7, 2009 at Total-E-Bound.

To read more Snippet Saturday excerpts about secondary characters follow the links below:


Shelli Stevens
Leah Braemel
Anya Bast
Mandy Roth
Victoria Janssen
Sasha White

Vivian Arend
Ashley Ladd
Jaci Burton
Taige Crenshaw
Shelley Munro
TJ Michaels
Juliana Stone
Eliza Gayle
McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers 

Jody Wallace

Kelly Maher
Lauren Dane
Ashley Ladd


Recent posts you might like to read:

When Do You Write?

Nanowrimo Thoughts 

To Nano Or Not To Nano - That Is The Question

Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!

Snippet Saturday: Emotional Excerpts

My husband is trying to have AT&T U-Verse installed. So far, 

after four days, our Internet service has been down most of the 

time. Thus, I've missed you for the past few days and I'm sure

I've also missed important emails. If you've sent anything to

me and I haven't responded, please keep trying.  

Also please excuse the formatting. I'm having trouble straightening 

it out tonight and have little time to do it. But I can't let 

down the group. 

This is an emotional excerpt from my Christmas m/f erotic romance 

"Christmas Miracles".

Christmas Miracles is available at: Total-E-Bound 

Tiffany gasped for air and then
 frantically felt around her body taking inventory of all the parts when she
came to in a dim, chilly room. Squinting, she felt out of place. She had no
idea where she was and she was thoroughly discombobulated.







She looked around and found the
ghost less than a foot behind her. Startled, she let out a little yelp. Then
anger set in and she glowered at the phantom. “Okay, you, take me home this
instant. I don’t like being hijacked. What do you think you are? The Ghost of
Christmas?”







The apparition emphatically
nodded and then pointed deep into the room.







“Yeah. Right. And I’m the
Pillsbury Doughboy.” She rolled her eyes.







The ghost floated deeper into the
room and pulled her with him. How, she had no clue, but she seemed to be caught
in a tractor beam.







At first, the room didn’t look
familiar, but then her memory was tickled. Suddenly her memory flooded back and
she regressed fifteen years into her past.







Off kilter, her breath ragged,
her pulse skittering in her wrist, she inventoried Dax’s apartment, the one
she’d thought to share with him one day, the one she’d practically moved in, if
not officially.







Still in disbelief, still
frightened, she ran toward the two people in the room, doubles of herself and
Dax. “Help! I’ve been kidnapped. Call the police.”







But the other people didn’t
flinch. They acted as if she wasn’t there.







Frustrated, about to scream, she
grabbed Dax’s arm to shake it, to make him notice her.







Unfortunately, her fingers went
through him. She didn’t feel a thing.







Frightened out of her mind, she
jerked back and on her ass went sprawling back several feet. She landed at the
Christmas creature’s feet.







She looked up at the spectre and
accused, “You’re the Ghost of Christmas Past?”







The creature nodded.







She still didn’t believe it and
pinched herself, digging her nails into her flesh. It stung and she jerked
back. “Ouch!”







The ghost forcefully pointed at
the scene unfurling a few feet away.







Compelled, she watched as Dax
took her in his arms and kissed her as if he couldn’t get enough. “I don’t know
what I’d ever do without you, baby. You’re part of me.”







With a dreamy smile her other
self melted against Dax and looped her arms around his neck. She rubbed her
nose against his. “Why do you say that? Aren’t we going to be together
forever?”







Tiffany snorted and her heart
threatened to break all over. She knew what was awaiting her hapless former
self and she moaned. “Get out now while the getting’s good,” she warned under
her breath, willing herself to flee.







But her younger self didn’t
budge. In fact, her younger self burrowed deeper into her lover’s arms, naïve
and setting herself up for heart break.







Her gut roiling, she
turned away, unable to live through this twice. 

Jaci Burton
Eliza Gayle
Michelle Pillow
Mandy Roth
Juliana Stone
Lacey Savage
 McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers 
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
 Sasha White
Ashley Ladd
Victoria Janssen
Shelli Stevens
Shelley Munro
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
Beth Kery
Leah Braemel 

Recent posts you might like to read:

Ghost Hunting at a Haunted Hotel

Welcome to the Spookiest Month of the Year (+ don't burn your Ouija Board!)

People Don't Fall Out of Trees - Without Reason 

I'm Part of a Tribe 

Big Brother Is Watching You - This Means You BLOGGERS!

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!


You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook,
Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch,
Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape
are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Snippet Saturday: Holidays Excerpts

This week's theme for Saturday Snippets is: Holidays.

I love holidays, in particular Christmas. But usually you'll find me writing

Christmas stories in July. To get in the mood, I'll watch Christmas movies, 

especially my favorite "White Christmas". I also listen to Christmas music, 

bake Christmas cookies, burn Christmas-scented candles and sometimes deck

my bedroom and writing area with Christmas decor. If I could make it snow, I 

would. Unfortunately, I don't even get snow for real Christmas here in South

Florida. Not yet, not in the twenty years I've lived here.

Since Christmas isn't far away (Oh no! I haven't started my holiday shopping 

yet) here's a Christmas snippet. I hope you'll enjoy it. 

By the way, this is an erotic m/m romance and is published at: Total-E-Bound

Drew's had other Secret Santas but never one like this - one that
gives him erotic sex toys every day of the week leading up to Christmas.

When Ryan picks Drew's name in the office Secret Santa draw, he can't help
but spoil the man of his fantasies. He finds that it really is better
to give than receive when he has fun sneaking sex toys into Drew's
office every day of the week before Christmas. He hopes Drew will be as
turned on as him, and that Drew will return his feelings to make this
their best Christmas ever.

Excerpt from: Naughty Boys
 

Ryan Holt fished around in the Santa cap his co-worker Angie held out and pulled out a name. He wondered if he would throw away good money again this Christmas.

Last year, his secret Santa had given him a box of envelopes. Not fancy stationery. Just envelopes.
He scrunched his brows.

What a cheap bastard!

And he’d spent a lot of time and effort getting a good gift last year, and he’d dropped a wad of cash.
He hoped he’d picked his own name as he had his eye on Josh Groban’s Christmas CD. He could hear Josh’s golden tones caressing his ears now. He could feel them vibrating in his soul.
In holiday heaven, he rocked back in his chair and unfolded the slip of paper as he hummed the tune tickling his mind.

His jaw dropped when he stared at the name written in bold, sexy scroll and his heart skipped several beats before racing full speed ahead.

Drew Mason.

God, Drew was what he really longed for Santa to leave in his stocking, all six feet three of gorgeous, delectable man. Forget Josh Groban.

Drew’s blond vision flashed in his mind, and Ryan drooled. His cock flexed, as he longed to take his fantasy man into his arms, drink deeply of his lips, and strip him of his clothes. He yearned to see every naked, mouth watering inch of him. He lusted for carnal knowledge in the worst way. His two-year old bed was still a virgin, and it was high time it got worn in.

A grin tilted his lips as he envisioned wrapping his fully aroused body around Drew’s and pulling him into the cradle of his thighs. He could almost feel Drew’s cock rubbing against his, could feel his powerful thighs fitting against him as if they were made for each other. Their musk overpowered the scent of Christmas pine and peppermint. Already, their sweet juices oozed from their cocks which were so ready to fuck one another.

Their gazes glazed over with passion as they caught and held. Ryan grew hotter still when Drew’s tongue darted out, moistening his suddenly dry lips. Then slowly, sensually, Drew lowered his lips and his breath coasted over Ryan before plundering his lips with a hot, fevered kiss and rubbing his groin against his.

Ryan’s blood was on fire, he couldn’t wait a moment longer to make Drew his. Savouring his closeness, the feel of his hard body, he let his ragged voice whisper over his lover’s warm flesh, “Love me. Let me love you. Fate brought us together.”

Drew huskily drawled, “Stop talking so much and kiss me again.”

Oh, he wanted a whole lot more than a mere kiss, but he laid a big wet one on the man as he reverently laid him on the bed. When he came up for air, he lubed his cock then he rocked back and hoisted his lover onto his lap.

“Fuck me now,” Drew implored, his beautiful eyes adoring him, his hand pumping his cock. “Before I come without you.”

From the hazy edges of his peripheral vision, Angie snapped her fingers in front of Ryan’s face. “Earth to Ryan. Come in, Ryan.”

Embarrassed, aware of the humongous bulge in his pants, he rolled his chair beneath his desk to hide his obvious erection. Not that Drew worked in his end of the building. It was unlikely the man would walk by and see him, but Angie would blab to anybody who would listen. Worse, she might think him hot for her.

“Uh, I was just thinking about my, uh, work project…”

Damn! He cursed himself for how raspy his voice came out.

Michelle Pillow
Mandy Roth
Anya Bast
Lacey Savage 
Jaci Burton
 McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers 
TJ Michaels
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens
Shelley Munro

Snippet Saturday: Dialogue

Today's Snippet Saturday theme is "Dialogue".

I love writing dialogue. Several of my critique partners tell

me that dialogue's my strong point. I particularly love to write

dialogue for very different characters.

In the excerpt below from American Beauty published by Ellora's Cave,

there is Kirsty, the sweet preacher's daughter. Gigi, Kirsty's friend

and coworker who is from Great Britain. And Marshall, Kirsty's gay boss.

I love to scour the internet and books and watch movies so I can 

write authentic, scintillating dialogue. At least that's what I try to do.

When an email popped up on Kirsty's computer screen she
opened it. Clucking her tongue and shaking her head in disgust, she called out
to Gigi, "Lover boy's back and wants two dozen yellow American Beauties
delivered this afternoon."

            Gigi ambled over to the
computer and gazed at it with longing, resting her chin on her palm.
"Bugger! Why can't I find a gorgeous chap to be all dotty and doting over
me so that he sends me roses? Tell him I'm a singleton." She wrestled
Kirsty for the mouse. 

            "You've got to be joking,
right? He's only sent roses to the whole free world. He gives ladies men a bad
name." She wrote up an invoice for the roses and looked on the map to see
where the lucky lady's address was this time. It turned out that the lady of
the week lived near her out in Coral
  Springs.

            "You under the weather,
Kirst? Don't you like to get
roses?" Gigi stared at her as if she had sprouted two more heads. “Sounds
pretty purvey to me.”

            Kirsty turned her back on her
man-hungry friend and pulled two dozen American Beauties out of the
refrigerator and prepped them. Ladies men weren’t interested in women who
weighed in at 181 pounds like she had that morning. She bit down hard on her
lip to stop it from trembling before she turned around to her friend. "Sure,
if the guy's sincere. But not from some two-bit charmer who sends roses to
every pretty girl in town." 

            Gigi pouted, sticking out her
lower lip half a mile "Not every girl in town. He's not sent them to me -
or you..."

            Kirsty
grimaced down at herself as she turned around. Right – pretty. Not.

            "Or to me." Marshall flounced in,
separating them. "I don't want to hear you badmouthing our best customer.
Viva la Don Juan! As long as he's romancing the Ft. Lauderdale
ladies we have no worries about closing our doors. May we find a hundred more
like him.”

            "Well, keep Lothario away
from me. I'll prep his roses but if he ever shows up in person, you two can
duke it out. I want nothing to do with the likes of him." Kirsty turned
her nose up at the mere notion of such a nauseating thought.

            Marshall walked up behind Kirsty and massaged
her shoulders. "You still pining for Mr. Love ‘em and leave ‘em, eh Sunshine?"

            Kirsty scowled, snorted, and
tossed her head. "No way! I don't know what I ever saw in him. I like my
men sweet and kind...and loyal. No ladies men for me thank you very much."
Sweet men reminded her of her new roommate. They didn't come much sweeter. Too
bad he didn't like women as he would be really handsome if he dressed like a
man. She sighed. Wishing wouldn't do her any good. She didn't have a magic wand
to change his sexual orientation. She pricked her finger on a thorn and yelped.
Blood oozed from the tiny cut.

            "What
now?" Marshall
rushed to her side, his expression more concerned than his words.

            She sucked her finger
tasting the salty blood on her tongue. With her mouth full, her words came out
garbled. "That rose bit me. I told you that Mueller man was bad
news." 

            Marshall pulled the first aid kit out from
under the counter, cleansed the wound, and bandaged her finger. "It's just
a little prick..."

            "He’s a big prick.”
Kirsty scowled at the email again. 

            “Ooh, just
the way I love ‘em.” Marshall’s
eyebrows danced jauntily.

* If you'd like to find out more about American Beauty please visit Ellora's Cave. 

Kelly Maher
Jody Wallace 
Shelli Stevens
Michelle Pillow
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Jaci Burton
Elisabeth Naughton
 McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers 
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Juliana Stone
Anya Bast
Lacey Savage 
Shelley Munro
 Sasha White
Victoria Janssen
Eliza Gayle 

Snippet Saturday: 1st Paragraphs

Today's Snippet Saturday theme is "First Paragraphs".

I looked through my first paragraphs and chose a few fun ones to brighten up your weekend.

First paragraphs are tough to write. They're supposed to hook your reader. Even before that they have to hook your acquiring editor.

Thus, you might have to polish (rewrite!) your first paragraph until you have it right. It's your audition and if you fail, you might not get another chance.

Truth, Justice

& The Vampire Way

Acid rose in Genevieve’s throat. Biting back a sigh, she shook her head with resignation. Pushing her dark sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, she hid her intense displeasure. Would she have to baby sit Constantine forever? Sometimes this vampire queen biz sucked!

Read an excerpt...

American Beauty

“You want me to pretend be what?” Brad Mueller shook his head. Maybe he should get his hearing tested. The Ft. Lauderdale criminal element had been using him as target practice a lot lately. Perhaps the ear-shattering gunfire had affected his eardrums more than he’d realized. He certainly couldn’t have heard what he thought he’d just heard.

Read an excerpt...

Purrfect Justice 
  
     “Meow! Here kitty, kitty, kitty.” 
       Another creep fancies himself a stand up comic. Haley Yates
rolled her eyes and suppressed a sigh. She took a long swig of
the soda in her hands, about ready to spike it. Why, oh why did
every cop with at least one drink in him think he was a comedian?
They’d been meowing at her since she’d first crossed the threshold
to the Ft. Lauderdale-Miami Policeman’s Halloween party. 

Read an excerpt...


Here are several more great authors with lots more scintillating
first paragraphs for you.

Kelly Maher
Jody Wallace
Shelli Stevens
Michelle Pillow
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Jaci Burton
Elisabeth Naughton
McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers 
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Juliana Stone
Anya Bast
Lacey Savage
Shelley Munro
Sasha White

Former posts you might like to read also:

Why Write Free Short Stories
(How to) Send the Pirates to Davy Jones Locker
How Long Does It Take To Be Published?
Snippet Saturday: Kick Ass Heroes and Heroines
Kudos to Harlequin
Twitter Works

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook,
Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch,
Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape
are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Snippet Saturday: Kicking Ass excerpts

TGIS!

Thank God It's Saturday. Saturday means I don't have to go to the day job, so I'm FREE! Free to work on my books. Free to have fun. Free to sleep in.

It also means it's time for Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is "Kick Ass Protagonists". Thus, here's a treat from my vampire romance "Blessed Be" published by Ellora's Cave and prequel to "Truth, Justice, & The Vampire Way".

An Excerpt From: BLESSED BE

© Copyright ASHLEY LADD, 2004.

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

“I see you’ve let that mangy cat inside now. I should call the Health Department. Or maybe I should just take him to animal control.” The sneer on Gerald’s lips leapt to his eyes. He snatched the cat and sprinted for the door.

The tomcat screeched and clawed frantically at Gerald’s face, drawing blood, forcing Gerald to drop him in a heap at his feet. Then it tore off across the room, its eyes glowing oddly silver in the dim light.

A look of utter amazement etched comically across the doctor’s countenance as blood clung to his fingers after he touched his torn cheek. “That does it. He’s going to the pound tonight. Or maybe I’ll just tie an anchor around his neck and sink him to the bottom of the ocean.”

“No! Don’t you dare touch my cat.” Chloe dove for the cat.

The vile Gerald scooped up the struggling, spitting creature first.

The door burst open, and the vampire from Chloe’s dream stamped inside. A legion of wicked-looking dwarfs hobbled closely behind, big ears sticking out, long hair billowing behind them. The raven-haired woman pointed a talon-like finger at Chloe and leered. “Take her back to the manor. Alive.”

Chloe gasped, her heart ready to burst from her chest and her respiration became shallow. She faced off against the trespasser, planting her feet wide apart. “You can’t be real.”

One of the hunch-backed ogres batted Chloe’s feet out from under her, so that she fell to the floor and thumped her head. Intense pain slashed through her, stealing her breath.

The cat let out a horrible screech and before her eyes, transformed into Luke, just as he always looked in her dreams.

Blinking, Chloe couldn’t believe her eyes. She had to be dreaming. Cats didn’t transform into humans. Luke was dead. The vampire was a figment of her dreams. Yet Gerald and Shawanda also stared open-mouthed at the ensemble.

“Who are you?” Chloe finally found her voice and gouged the fiend in his eyes, making him howl as he retreated.

“I know karate!” Shawanda threatened, shrieking and swinging her leg in a high kick.

The vampire merely chuckled and flew into the air, avoiding the blow easily. Hissing, her fangs burst from her gums. She punched the nurse, reeling her backward into Gerald who was cowering in the corner.

Furious, Chloe threw the phone at the cackling vampire who ducked so that the phone smashed through the window. “What do you want from us?”

“I want you to leave Lukas alone. He’ll never be mine as long as you’re alive.” The vampire swooped down on her, scooping Chloe into her strong arms.

Luke delivered a deadly chop to the attacker, making her drop Chloe. Cursing loudly, he caught Chloe just before she hit the floor. “Are you okay, darlin’?”

Confused, dazed, Chloe shook her head. “Yes. No. You were a cat…you flew in the air…”

“Shhhh. I’ll explain everything as soon as I take care of Anika. Will you be okay for a moment?”

“Long as one of those things doesn’t try to devour me.” Chloe couldn’t stop staring at Luke. He couldn’t really be here. Or maybe she was dead. If so, this obviously wasn’t heaven. And yet, what could be more heavenly than to be held in Luke’s arms one more time?

“You’ll be okay for a few moments? You’re not going to faint on me?”

She touched her fingertips to her spinning head, feeling like she was being sucked into a force five tornado. It felt heavy but she wasn’t in danger of passing out. “Yeah. I think so.”

Luke brushed a kiss across her lips shooting volts of electricity through her and laid her back gently. “I’ll return shortly.”

“Promise?” On second thought, she wasn’t at all fine. She was talking to a ghost and envisioning vampires and all manners of monsters. It was probably all a bizarre dream, but it had a very real quality to it that alarmed her.

“Promise.” His eyes glowed silver and he lifted his head and howled, an earsplitting, inhuman sound that sent chills through her.

“Damn you to hell, Anika! I will have your head for this.” The vigor in Luke’s voice made Chloe blink and shrink back from him.

Anika hovered high overhead, her eyes glittering darkly. “As you are so fond of telling me, Lukas, we’re already in hell. Your threats mean little to me.” She dissipated into mist and shimmered away.

Luke swore under his breath and turned to Gerald and Shawanda. He approached them furtively but non-threateningly. He waved a hand over their eyes, which instantly glazed over. “You need to sleep now. When you awaken, you will think this was a dream.”

Chloe absorbed his words, turning them over in her mind. Luke controlled dreams? So, maybe she hadn’t been hallucinating. Maybe all her fantasies had been real, cloaked in the auspices of dreams. Struggling to her feet gingerly, her head still reeled and her heart raced. A jumble of emotions threatened to tear her up. “You promised me an explanation. Am I dreaming? Was I dreaming all those other times? Are you real?”

Luke rejoined her, supporting her to the couch in her private office. “Let me settle those two and I’ll be right back.”

Fear that he wouldn’t return grasped her and she grabbed at his hand that felt very durable and not the least bit transient. She let her hand slip to his warm wrist and felt for a pulse. To her dismay, she didn’t detect a single beat. “Don’t leave. Explain first. I don’t understand. If you’re real, why have you pretended you were dead? Why did you leave me?”

"Blessed Be" and it's sequel "Truth, Justice & The Vampire Way" are available at Ellora's Cave.

Don't miss the rest of the kick ass excerpts by the Snippet Saturday authors.

Jody Wallace
Jaci Burton
Elisabeth Naughton
Moira Rogers 
Taige Crenshaw
Lauren Dane
Victoria Janssen
Vivian Arend
TJ Michaels
Juliana Stone
Lacey Savage
Eliza Gayle
 Sasha White
Shelli Stevens
Shelley Munro

Read last week's Saturday Snippets about World building.

Then don't miss my other post today at the RomErotica Writers blog. I'm talking about "The Power of 3 (4, and More)" when writers work together.


You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook,
Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch,
Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape
are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)