Friday, January 31, 2014

Cover Reveal - Hiding In Plain Sight by Cassandra Carr

I am thrilled to be able to show you the cover of the wonderful Cassandra Carr's upcoming release!!
It releases on February 11th!
 
 
Hiding In Plain Sight
by Cassandra Carr

Blurb:
 
Vladimir Gusev exists in a living hell. A year ago in the Olympics he was forced to use a homophobic slur during a game, and guilt is eating him from the inside out. Not only is Vladimir not a homophobe, but in the aftermath of the Olympics, he was finally able to admit his true nature to himself. Yet he's been taught homosexuality is a sin, so he tries to push away his feelings, but to no avail.

Joe Bufford is an out gay man and an ex-Delta Force member who was medically discharged after an injury to his hand leaves him no longer able to perform his duties. His job as a mechanic at the airport is hardly a long-term career choice, but Joe has no idea where he can utilize the skills he learned in the Army.

Vladimir and Joe meet, and Joe instantly recognizes Vladimir as a terrified closet case. Before he knows it, Joe is offering to help Vladimir figure out what he is and what he wants. As time goes on, Joe begins to hope more and more that the answers to those questions lie with him.


Coming Soon:
http://www.loose-id.com/safe-harbor-2-hiding-in-plain-sight.html
Price: $5.99

Author Info:
 

Review and Giveaway - Luke by Diana Bocco



Luke

A Forbidden Lust Novella

By: Diana Bocco
 

Blurb:

Of all the men in the world, Cailin Walker fell in love with the one she cannot have. The one her sister married.
Billionaire Luke Blackwell made the biggest mistake of his life when he married the wrong Walker sister, but that’s one mistake he intends to rectify.
Cailin’s stayed away for the past three years to fight what she feels.
But all it takes is one drunken mistake for passion to ignite.
Now that they’ve tasted the forbidden, there’s no turning back. They’ll either have to fight the passion threatening to consume them or take a chance and risk losing everything.
Losing it all might just be worthy.

The FORBIDDEN LUST novellas are erotic romances intended for mature audiences.  

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble     Amazon

 

My Mini Review:

I really enjoyed this sexy novella.  It was a well written and very hot romance about a man who realized too late that he married the wrong sister and now is working on a way to correct his mistake.  Luke is such a determined man and he refuses to let anything or anyone stand in his way of having a relationship with Cailin, his wife's sister.  Cailin has always loved Luke but her sister went after and "won" him.  I enjoyed this couple who is trying so hard to start a life together and that the person standing in their way is the wife and sister of them both is a great odd dynamic that makes the story even more interesting and entertaining.  I have to say that I am very fortunate that I do not have a sister like Erika! I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series! ~ Booklover Sue
 



Author Info:
Growing up, Diana Bocco wanted to be Indiana Jones. She ended up not pursuing a degree in Archaeology (though she toyed with the idea for a while) but she did become a huge lover of travel and history. Aside from traveling to all corners of the world, Diana has also lived in five countries in three continents -- including three years in Siberia and two in Vietnam. She's currently living in Thailand.
 Diana is also the author of the dystopian/vampire romance, City of the Fallen, as well as other novels and nonfiction books. You can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Bocco-Author/229702700531534 or visit her website at www.dianaboccobooks.com  

Author Links:

Rafflecopter Giveaway
 TWO $10.00 Amazon Gift Cards or Signed Copy of LUKE
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Release Day Blitz - Play Me (Love Me #2) by Alla Kar

FINAL Cover_Play Me
Title: Play Me (Love Me #2)
Author: Alla Kar
Release Date: January 31, 2014
Genre: Contemporary New Adult
Series: Love Me Series (can be read as a Standalone)
Cover Photographer: Lindee Robinson Photography
 
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Synopsis
 
She’s his best play yet …

ROXANNE DEEDS thinks she’s far enough away from her past that her demons can’t come back to haunt her. With only one year left of college, everything looks like it’s falling into place—until Southern Arkansas University’s drool-worthy football running back crashes into her with no intention of letting go.

WESTON GARRISON knows two things in life. Sex and football. And he doesn’t plan on changing anytime soon—until he tears his hamstring a week before his first game, and his trainer is the one woman that he can’t seem to get enough of.

When Roxy’s past catches up to them, will their love be enough to save them both?  

Buy the Book:
 
Teaser_1
 
Excerpt:
 

My fingers curl around the knob and I open it an inch. A soft sigh escapes my lips. Weston. “What are you doin’ here?”
   Weston runs his fingers through his hair and kicks the door open with his good foot. Both arms cross over his chest as he leans against the doorjamb. “That depends on if you let me in or not.”
   Why is he here? Heat swarms my cheeks remembering everything we just done in that bathroom. Could he embarrass me anymore? “Why would I let you inside? It’s in the middle of the night.” I give him a good once over. “And you’re drunk.”
    He reaches down and digs into his front pocket. He pulls out my cellphone and dangles it in front of my face by two fingers. “This is the reason you’d let me inside.”
   What? I slap my palms against my pajama shorts and realize I really don’t have my phone. Dammit. Weston hums underneath his breath as he brings my phone closer to his face. “Looks like someone has a new text message.”
     “Give it back, Weston.”
     The edge of his mouth pulls up slightly. “Let me inside and I will.”
     “Why? What’s in here that isn’t out there?”
     Something passes over his face that I can’t pinpoint. “Let me inside, Roxanne.”
    I felt that in-between my legs. That word slipping from that mouth is more than I can take. Keeping my eyes on his, I take a step backwards while opening the door wider for him. Something appetizingly wicked heats in those brown eyes.
   With the help of one crutch, he wobbles forward. I watch as he shuts the door and locks it behind him. His gaze rolls over my small apartment and then back to me. 
   Taking his bottom lip in-between his teeth he places one arm against the wall. “Is he here?”
   What? Who? Leaning closer he presses his cheek against my own. “Is he here?”
   “Is who here?”
   A stern grip cups my hip and guides me until I’m pressed against the wall. A strong wisp of alcohol heats my face. He’s definitely been drinking but for some reason he doesn’t seem too drunk. “Don’t play with me,” he whispers against my mouth. Is Blake here?”
   Blake? Why would Blake be here? “Weston you’re clearly drunk–“
  A groan slips from his clenched teeth and he presses his hand tighter around my hip. “Is he here?”
   There is a demanding tone in his voice that makes a side of me quiver. “No.”
   Ten rough fingers grip the nape of my neck and force my mouth upward. “Was he here?”
    My thighs turn to goop. If he wasn’t pressing himself against me I’d probably fall. “No,” I whimper out.
   Lowering his mouth to my ear, he breathes in. “Did he kiss you?”
   I bite my lip and close my eyes. I’m burning up … everywhere. A hard weight is pressing against my lower stomach and it is slowly eating me alive. I don’t lie. And it’s mostly because I want to see his reaction. This aggressiveness is searing underneath my skin. I want it.  “Yes, what’s it to you?”
   There is a few short moments of silence. All I hear is his harsh breathing against my ear. Then he laughs. It’s a low chuckle that sets that fire ablaze inside of me. The hand on my hip lowers to cup my ass and the other slides up my throat to gently grip my neck. “You like him, Roxanne? You like the way he talks to you? The way he touches you?”
   Anger rushes my throat and a painful lump beings to grow. Tilting my chin upward, I stare up at him. Those brown eyes bore into me and then lowering toward my lips. “Yes.”
   Something wild darkens his eyes. He laughs beneath his breathe and presses the palm of his thumb against my bottom lip. “Does he touch you like this?” he whispers against my mouth. He squeezes my ass and presses me harder into him. And I feel exactly how excited he is pressed firmly against my stomach. 
   The truth is no one has ever made me feel this alive. Hormones that I haven’t felt in years are raging inside of me. “Answer me,” he hisses through his teeth.
   No, he doesn’t.
   Weston’s teeth grazes my bottom lip before he gently bites down. All my fingers clench into his biceps. “You’re drunk,” I whisper.
   I can feel his growl surge through me. “Does it look like I’m fuckin’ drunk, Roxanne. Stop avoiding the goddamn question. Let me fuckin’ have you.”
   Let me fuckin’ have you. Grabbing my back he pulls me closer so he can bury his face into my neck. My core is throbbing. I need this release. I need this friction.
   “No, he doesn’t,” I whisper.
   Weston squeezes me tighter and brings his lips to mine. “I didn’t think so.”
   He watches me through hooded eyes while he drags the tip of his finger to the drop in the front of my shirt. Arching my back, I press my chest against him. My tender nipples rub against his hard chest and it makes my head dizzy. “I’m goin’ to show you how you’re supposed to feel when you kiss.”
   God, I can’t think straight. Every atom in me is driving me toward him. Begging me to strip him out of those clothes and let him have his way with me. But everything is spinning in my mind. Ryan and Maddox. Weston’s reputation. One night wouldn’t hurt though, right? Just one night. But would one night be enough? Weston’s lips are hovering over mine as if he’s waiting on me to kiss him. To make the first move. I can already tell that there is no way one night will be enough. Those large hands. That full mouth. Tattoos and muscles. Can anyone say no to him?

About the Author:
 
Alla Kar is from the Deep South. She lives there with her husband, feisty Chihuahua and Pit-bull puppy. She loves YouTube, Hulu, alpha males, southern gentlemen and everything new adult.

Facebook | Twitter: @allkar1 | Blog | Email
 
Giveaway:
Play Me Button

Super Book Blast and Giveaway - Untangle My Heart by Maria K. Alexander





Untangle My Heart

by Maria K. Alexander

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 

BLURB: 

When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell around her heart.  

Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust British family, and to  himself. Working alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first time, he wants more than a one-night stand.  

When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Excerpt: 

“Privacy is a hard thing to find around here, so you may want to lock the door. Especially when you’re wearing only a towel and my sister is on the prowl.” 

“I’ll have to remember that,” Edward said, taking a step toward her. “I knew she was smitten, but didn’t think she would be waiting in the room after my shower. I was struggling with a tactful way of getting her out.” 

“I’m sure you’re not accustomed to asking a woman to leave your room.” 

He gave her an unapologetic grin. “No, usually not.” 

“I guess it’s partly my fault. I told her I don’t have any claims to you. Apparently she took that to mean it was open season to pursue you.” 

“Yet you stopped by. Why?” 

“I wanted to thank you again for your help today. You dropped everything to come and help my family and that means a lot to me.” 

He took another step toward her until he stood directly in front of her. “You mean a lot to me. I’d do anything I could to help you.” 

She nodded in acknowledgement, not sure she could trust her voice to speak with him all but touching her. 

“And you’re wrong about not having a claim on me.” 

His hands found their way to her waist. Her heart thumped and she knew she should pull back, wanted to pull back. But his blue-gray eyes held her in a hypnotic state and she couldn’t move.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love. 

Maria blogs and shares her writing journey with her critique partners at: http://thevioletfemmes.com. 

When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules. 

You can keep in touch with her at: http://mariakalexander.com. 

Web Links: 


The Violet Femmes Blog: http://thevioletfemmes.com 



 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway
Maria will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning!
Follow the tour HERE
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway - The Opposite of Wild by Kylie Gilmore



The Opposite of Wild

by Kylie Gilmore 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BLURB: 

Unleash the wild woman…? 

Ex-cop Ryan O'Hare takes one look at buttoned-up control freak Liz Garner and just itches to loosen the woman up. Not that he’s into her. Because a woman like that comes with way too many expectations. Not to mention, she practically works for him, and he didn’t hire Liz to watch after his beloved Harley-stealing Gran so he could turn Liz loose in his bed. Still, there’s something about her, a hidden wild side, that makes him wonder what it would take. 

Liz must be crazy to work for the insensitive, arrogant, horribly…hot man she's avoided for years. Unfortunately, she needs the money and Ryan's grandmother needs a keeper. (Midnight tango lessons and ziplines with Gran, anyone?) Ryan's rare smile and swaggering confidence have Liz torn between throwing her favorite pinot grigio at his head or throwing herself at him. Can this control freak find a way to let loose with the tough, no-strings guy who once broke her heart?
 
 
Buy Links:

Kobo 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:
 

Ryan handed her the check. "Not going to let me in?" 

"I'm having a movie night with Daisy." 

"You know I've met Daisy before. She was only a grade behind me." 

"Thank you for the check." 

He put a hand on the doorframe above her head and leaned close. "Gran says she's having fun with you." His silky voice sent shivers through her. 

"Yes," she breathed. He was so close she could see the golden flecks in his hazel eyes framed by those long lashes. 

He grinned. "So you do know how to have fun." 

She stiffened at his teasing tone, whirled around and grabbed the doorknob. He placed a hand over hers on the knob. She looked at his large hand covering her smaller one and her heart seemed to stop and lurch painfully forward. "I'm not a puzzle," she told him quietly. "I’m not fire and ice. You just don't know me." 

"I think I do." 

She could feel the heat of his body on her back. If she turned around, she'd be in his arms. 

"If you hand deliver my next paycheck"—she scrambled to think of a suitable threat—"I'll-I'll—" 

"You'll what?" His breath was hot on her ear. 

"I'll dump ice on you!" She slipped inside and shut the door. Again she heard his low laugh as he walked away. She wanted to rip open the door and yell at him some more, but stopped herself because she didn't want Daisy to see the insanity he provoked in her.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Kylie Gilmore was lucky enough to discover romance novels at a young age as they were strewn all over the house (thanks, Mom!). She writes quirky, tender romance with a solid dose of humor. Her first book in the Clover Park series, The Opposite of Wild, will launch in January 2014 featuring the oldest of three brothers and his lady love. The next two books in the series give each brother his dream girl (eventually). 

Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she's not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash. 




 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway
 

Kylie will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card + The Opposite of Wild Romance Trading Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning!
Follow the tour HERE 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight - Ruby by Ashlynn Monroe

Ruby
by Ashlynn Monroe


Blurb:

Jewel's father, the smuggler king, decides to take his honorary title a step too far when he offers her in trade for an army and a secure port to do his illegal business. She finds herself on the run from her father, and the evil mutant prince who wants to impregnate her with his heir.
Jewel faces a brutal world alone as she attempts her escape. With a fortune in bounty on her head, she soon discovers staying free isn't as easy as she'd hoped it would be, but her cunning and fighting skill help her evade capture time and again.
Only one bounty hunter, Rion, is man enough to capture her, but she's also the true mate to his inner wolf. When he makes love with her, the act of taking her virginity bonds him to this woman of worth. Now, keeping his mate alive and safe make Rion and his friends wanted men.
Rion can only think of one way to insure his woman remain safe, she needs a guardian. Rion asks his mentor, Makis, and the other shifter agrees to bond with the woman. Can Jewel find love and happiness with both men? 


Excerpt:
Sol gripped the shuttle’s comm and turned it off. They didn’t want any ships to hail them. He set the coordinates in the computer to take them to the planet Atala. “I wish we were closer. Every second counts, and I want to earn this bounty and get back home. Linus Lilymann—huh, he’s such a crook. You know we’re probably looking for stolen, stolen property,” Sol complained. 
“I know, but Lilymann has plenty of money. This is important to him if he’s willing to contract professional bounty hunters. He doesn’t get the goods until we get paid.” 
“Fair enough. You were the one to get the details. What exactly are we hunting?” Sol asked. His eyebrow rose. 
“His ruby was stolen,” Isser replied. 
“His ruby? As in singular? One gem?” 
“That’s what he said. He said it’s the ruby he’s always wanted, and he needs it back before the full moon. A woman took it. We’re not supposed to take the gem from her. He wants us to bring the woman instead. He said she has it, without a doubt, and just to bring her back to him, alive, and that’s it. He gave me this bit of fabric. It bears her scent. She smells a bit strange, but I can’t put my finger on it.” 
Sol took the scrap of pale material and pressed it to his nose. He inhaled sharply.
“You’re right. This scent isn’t quite human. Even the most mutated human wouldn’t smell like this. It’s not like anything I’ve encountered before. It’s almost wolf, but different. Strange.” He sighed and shrugged as he handed the clue back to Isser. “I hate hunting women, even thieves. Makis would never have accepted this job...” Sol paused and rubbed his tired eyes. “If Jewel and her pups die, the pack will never be home again. I doubt Rion and Makis would even survive. Rion might because he has Boon to think about, but Makis wouldn’t have anything if they all three die. If we weren’t on the run, we could take out credit. They’d already have had the benefit of a doctor. Even free from the clan, we are still suffering. I pray to the gods someday we’ll have true safety to live in the old way. Jewel is the glue holding us together. Everything turns to shit when she dies.” 
“Don’t...fucking...talk...like...that... Just don’t! Makis is our leader. He’d never leave us by choice.” Isser sounded younger than his years and even a little frightened. The way he said leader could’ve easily been substituted for father. 
“You feel it, the way it is for the three of them. Don’t tell me you haven’t woken to a wave of passion in the middle of the night. Occasionally, I’d experience the strong impression of the possessiveness and awe those two have for her. That’s the dream, to love like nothing else matters. It’s why we risked everything to leave the clan. I doubt I’ll ever have what they have, but it’s beautiful. I wouldn’t want to live if I lost a mate and that kind of perfect, forever love.” 
Sol heard the clatter of Isser’s seat belt releasing. He turned and noticed his brother’s enraged scowl as the man crouched down in the single pilot compartment next to him. “We can’t think like she’s going to die. We do the job, and we get them what they need. We make it better, got it?” 
Sol nodded, but the horror echoing from Isser’s subconscious hit him in waves of agony. They’d all lost family and community once. The idea of losing what they had slammed into his heart with agonizing force. 
“At least we won’t have to go through any wormholes. Sit back and relax, Bro. We’re on our way,” Isser muttered. He gave his brother a quick look before he punched the accelerator on the old ship. The stars stretched out into long lines around them as they sped through space in the direction of planet Atala. The money they needed to take care of their pack waited for them. 
* * * * 
Ruby ached all over. Sleeping on the cold ground wasn’t what she was accustomed to doing. Her life of learning and prayer hadn’t prepared her for being on the run. Since her escape, she’d managed to avoid the men searching for her by staying in the dark woodland. New men, more skilled trackers, had joined her kidnappers. The idea of so many males hunting her was terrifying. She suffered, so ill, her whole body burning, as if it were on fire. The primal wilderness wasn’t helping her hold on to her civilized humanity. The tiger wanted freedom. Ruby missed her warm, safe bed back at the house of worship. Her pussy throbbed, and she glanced up at the sky superstitiously. She’d been warned about the urges. She wanted meat, rare—raw, delicious meat. The desire struck her as odd since she’d grown up on a vegetarian diet.
Her mind wandered to the many ceremonies where the male devotees worshipped in the temple. Ruby remembered singing the hymns with passion as she observed the women riding the hard cocks of their silent lovers. Little arrows of excitement darted through her core as she imagined hairless, purified male bodies naked and chained. They lay in a state of helpless arousal during the full moon.
Her fingers brushed her mound through her tattered robes. She moaned. Pleasuring herself before her consecration was a terrible sin against the goddess, so she stopped and ignored the ache for release. If she didn’t get back to her planet, and the house of worship, she’d die. She’d escaped before they could deliver her, but somewhere on this world lurked the man who’d paid for her kidnapping. She’d heard the monsters talking. They knew her time was running out. Luckily, her change had given her the strength to escape, but now that power had left her. This world didn’t have the red burning moon of her home, but the lack of astronomical markers wasn’t stopping her body from the tormenting effects of her first heat. 
Panting, she lay in the cool grass, trying to focus on the sensation of the cold dew instead of how much she craved the end of her virginity. If she were home, she’d be lying naked, awaiting the male worshippers who would unleash the cat inside her. Until today, she’d dreaded the experience, but now she needed sex. 
A wave of dizziness hit her. Light-headed, Ruby sat up. The early-dawn light burned strangely bright. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes, and the action caused her to notice her nails. Gasping, she pulled her hand closer to her face. Her eyes widened, and her lip trembled. She squeezed her mouth tightly shut to stop the tremble. Terror gripped her. The bitter taste of bile rose up in her throat. The nasty flavor caused her to suck in a deep breath as she fought to maintain her composure. Her nails had grown into sharp claws, and each of her knuckles had a frightening patch of hair jutting out from her skin. 
She wanted to kill prey and eat it. A consecrated youth learned the virtue of a sweet and serene attitude. Now she desired violence as her inner agitation escalated. Her stomach rolled. Hunger had always been a usual part of her daily routine. Showing restraint at all times, included meals, was part of her ritualistic worship practices, but she’d never experienced such a gripping demand for sustenance. Agony curled her into a ball. She took deep breaths through her nose and exhaled deeply out of her mouth. When the torment subsided, Ruby stretched. Sitting in the dirt wasn’t going to fill her belly. A strange urge to hunt made her restless.
She didn’t have the slightest idea about how to stalk prey, and yet her tiger wanted to do it. The beast had always been deep inside her, but this was the first time her inner animal was strong enough to control her. She didn’t like it. The sensation of losing control shook her with terrifying ferocity. Every moment she became more feline than human. Nothing made sense this morning. Her mind filled with images of animals running, but instead of thinking of them as creatures, she thought of them as delicious food. Her breath caught. She battled the impulse to run off into the wilderness and hunt. This foreign woodland taunted her with its majesty. Lost and alone, she wasn’t sure where to go. What remained of her rational thought reminded her she needed to find a way back to her sanctuary. The old mother would know what to do. The other tiger priestesses would help her through this transition. 
A noise caused her to sit up. At least two light-footed creatures were running. Instinct changed the way her senses brought information to her brain. Everything hit her mind so much more richly and yet in a truly primal way that left her feeling off-kilter. She tried to stand, but the world spun, and she landed hard on her ass. Ruby moaned, closing her eyes. Cramps filled her stomach. This pain clawed her much worse than her monthly cycle, this fire burned through her—killing her. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. 
“Who are you?” The gruff male voice terrified her. Ruby’s eyes opened quickly. She lay too weak to flee. She must have fallen unconscious for a few moments. Her body wouldn’t respond, as it stayed worthless for moving or fighting. This affliction had taken a great toll. Terror grew exponentially as her blurry vision sharpened, and she realized just how large and imposing the male’s body truly appeared. She could smell him. He wasn’t human. 
“I am Ruby, devotee of the cat goddess,” she managed to respond. This man wasn’t one of her attackers. They’d been human. This male was like her. Shifter. His warm amber eyes weren’t cruel. His hair was long, black. He wore it tied back in a ponytail. He was handsome. She didn’t have much experience with men, but this one was so unmistakably perfect she was able to register his masculine beauty even in her condition. 
“Shit! Damn it, Lilymann is fucking with us. This is the girl,” said the male who’d questioned her. “Do you smell her? I think we’ve been played.” Weakness lingered, and she couldn’t open her eyes, but he wasn’t talking to her.
“You’re right. The scent is different now, but it’s definitely her. She’s—oh gods, no, that spiciness—she’s a tigress,” replied another man. “That’s what smelled off about her scent. She’s never shifted. That’s why we couldn’t tell. Tigers don’t shift until they go into heat. Damn it!” 
She managed to open her heavy eyelids. The second man was almost as beautiful as the first man was. His hair was much lighter, and she marveled at the various shades of blond, light brown, and red that glinted in the sunlight. This stranger had hair any woman would envy, but there was nothing feminine about the sculpted masculinity of his face. He was incredible. He was also...different. She’d seen men who wanted to serve, but these men looked ready to dominate. They frightened her, but she also found them fascinating. He glanced at her, and they made eye contact. His eyes were such a deep green they reminded her of the forest. The image of a wolf leaping over a fallen log filled her brain, and she drew in a deep breath. She sighed before the exhaustion became too much, and her eyes closed again of their own accord. Ruby laid her head down in the dirt as she gave up the struggle. The weakness was intolerable, but she knew no remedy except returning home to the goddess. 
“We aren’t looking for a gem. She’s the ruby. Oh gods, how were we so stupid as to believe this hunt would be as simple of a matter as stolen property?” 
She had no idea what property he referred to, and she didn’t care. She hadn’t taken anything from anyone. Ruby drew in another deep breath, and her brain registered what was bothering her. These men were shifters—wolves. Why wolves would agree to hunt another shifter was a mystery to her. Her curiosity didn’t last long. Pain raced through her abdomen, tearing a cry from her lips. She hurt so badly she curled into a fetal position. She didn’t care what happened to her anymore, because she was dying. No one could hurt this bad and survive. She agonized over the emptiness of life cut too short and unfinished days. She wished for another day—an hour even—just to enjoy existence. As she lost consciousness, the darkness swept away her pain, and she sighed with relief. 
Copyright © Ashlynn Monroe