Give a warm welcome to Sarah Makela

There’s talk about whether to write what you know or not. I think with fiction writing, if we solely wrote what we know — at least for most of us — our books wouldn’t be very interesting. Part of the fun about fiction is being able to make believe. We can dream that hunky werewolves, vampires, aliens, and whatever else we love are all possible.

With my latest book, Captive Moonlight, I really took that advice to heart. It was the first story I’d written that wasn’t contemporary (or slightly futuristic). It’s a historical western. While I had dreams of being an English/History double major in college (which I ended up going for a Creative Writing degree), the Wild West was never really my focus except for watching westerns on TV and reading the occasional western romance book. I’d always longed to write a book set in the medieval period. The first romances I read were medieval historical romances. Yet I always held myself back since the thought of writing any kind of historical story intimidated me.

That said, I had to do quite a bit of research and fact-checking for Captive Moonlight, but that’s what we have to do with any of our books to make them accurate. When I finally was able to take a deep breath after signing the contract to write a western paranormal romance for my publisher, I realized that with some research it would be okay. I didn’t have to go on a learning binge to know absolutely everything there is to know about the Wild West before I wrote the story. It’s enough to write **need info about women’s nightgown** while you’re writing. You can come back to that later after you’ve written the book.

After conquering this project, my dream to write a medieval book doesn’t seem so far-fetched. I have the courage now to do it because I have more faith in myself that I can. It was kind of been a baby step toward my dream, and a lot of fun to boot.

Instead of looking at what other people think we should write or do, it’s important to be true to yourself and write the desire of your heart.

Captive Moonlight

Wolves of the Wild West, #3 (Multi-Author series)

Changeling Press

Erotic Western Paranormal Romance

Buy Now HERE 

A gentlewoman will do whatever it takes to rescue her captive werewolf betrothed.

When her betrothed, Joe, is taken captive by a group of men looking for werewolf laborers, it’s up to Charlotte to track him down and win him back — even if that means putting her own life in danger.

Excerpt:

Charlotte wrapped her arms around Joe’s broad torso and scraped her fingernails gently along the length of his muscular back. His breath came out quickly against her skin as he brushed feather-light kisses against her neck.

He nudged her thighs apart. Anticipation built within her as his hand dipped to her pussy. He parted her wet folds with his callused fingers and pushed one finger inside her.

She moaned, enjoying the tantalizing sensations his skilled attention brought about. She looked into his eyes, and he grinned down at her. The look of masculine satisfaction that he could please his lover was written clearly on his face.

She opened her mouth to protest when Joe removed his finger, but then he thrust his firm cock inside her, filling her so completely in one smooth stroke.

Charlotte dug her nails into his back. Joe’s eyes nearly rolled back in his head, and she couldn’t help but smile as he arched into her touch. Her betrothed liked a little pain with his sex. Not much, just nails and some teeth. Then again, it was befitting of a werewolf.

They didn’t talk much about that side of who he was. She figured he would share what he wanted with her. Sometimes he did, but she suspected he preferred to pretend like they were both normal. People were too quick to judge others by their race, or even species, these days.

Charlotte didn’t care about any of that. Being with Joe was her only need. She trailed a fingertip across his cheek while her other hand continued to dig into his flesh.

He met her gaze. His eyes, normally dark brown, were now wolf amber. “What did I do to get such a sweet lady like you?” he said, his voice gravelly and low.

She laughed, but the sound caught in her throat as his lips caressed her breast. “I wonder that too. Maybe it was destiny.”

He flicked his tongue over her nipple before pulling it into his mouth. He sucked on it, bringing pleasure sweeping through her. His other hand trailed along her full hips, which he insisted made her curvaceous and luscious.

She liked his answer.

He thrust even faster. Desire built within her as they reached ever closer toward climax. Charlotte leaned back against the pillow, clinging to him as he became the only thing real in her life. “Joe…”

Joe brushed kisses up from her breast to her neck until he finally placed a kiss on her lips. “Yes, love?” Hunger filled his eyes as he watched her. “You’re getting close. So tight.” He slid in and out in longer strokes.

He knew what she liked. “I love it when you talk like that.” Her body clenched as orgasm rushed toward her. She gasped and gripped his back. Joe covered her lips with his, ravishing her mouth until she didn’t know which way was up. He was the hungry wolf to her somewhat innocent maid.

 

Author Bio:

Sarah Mäkelä lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, computer and console games, and traveling all over the world. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, as well as the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal chapters. Find her online at www.sarahmakela.com, www.twitter.com/sarahmakela, and www.facebook.com/authorsarahmakela

Welcome Cynthia Arsuaga today

 

Hi and welcome to my blog, Cynthia Arsuaga. Please make yourself at home and grab a drink from my hunky cabana boys, Zeke and Jake.  So tell us a little about yourself.

 

Q: What genre do you write and for what publisher(s)? 

 

Hi Raine and thanks for having me here today. Hi, Zeke and Jake. *smiles coyly and bats lashes*

 

Okay, back to business. I originally started writing Paranormal Romance, emphasis on vampires and erotic. Over the past year I have written a contemporary western cougar novella, a co-authored piece with my husband about a shifter, and currently have a couple works in progress that are historical fantasy. Whatever my muse wants to try, I’m game.

 

Q: Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What inspired it? 

 

February is a big month for me! I have three releases—a short story which is a series with No Boundaries Publishing titled Nightfall: Cassidy’s Fantasy, a short Valentine’s Day paranormal romance (ghosts) as part of an anthology with Secret Cravings Publishing called Lost in the Sea of You AND the second full-length book in a vampire series, Forces of Beauty, also with Secret Cravings Publishing titled A Vampire in Paris. Whew! I don’t know why I did that.

 

 

 

Q: If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule?

 

Well, I usually am up between nine and ten o’clock (I’m up until two or three in the morning), check in with hubby (he’s up with the dog at the break of dawn and takes care of our granddaughter to take to school), turn on laptop to read messages and promo for a couple of hours. I then will peck away at a few of my works in progress in-between taking care of any chores around the house. After dinner, I’m back at writing until the wee hours. Pretty boring stuff really.

 

Q: When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

 

Go with the flow. I’ve tried to outline when first started, but that lasted maybe a chapter. I write what pops in my head, finish the draft and rework from there.

 

Q: What thrill do you find when you compose?

 

Thrill? When everything I had floating around in my head comes to fruition on paper, or laptop screen, and tells a good story.

 

Q: Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

 

Hmm, depends. I usually start with the characters names, the main ones anyway. I usually do research to find the right one depending upon the setting, where the male/female hail from, or if I want some type of meaning behind their names. Once I’m into the story-telling for a few chapters I come up with a name. There have been times when the title was first and I created the characters around the name. In the Born Vampire Series, all the titles revolve around “Born” in the title and the rest is influenced by the storyline. The third one in this series is Born Again in Dreams and I’m about half-way finished.

 

Q: What does your workstation look like?

 

Oh my! I don’t think you want to know. Chaos, but I know where everything is and wouldn’t have it any other way!

 

Q: Are you the type of individual who gets weepy at the end of a good movie, or a sad movie, or do you just stay neutral through it all?

 

Weepy, weepy. Even if I’ve seen the movie several times and know what’s coming, I tear up every time. Happens with reading certain books too. I’m a romantic, what can I say?

 

Q: Is there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors?

 

I love reading Kerrelyn Sparks and Christine Feehan, so anything they have coming out, I’ll pick up. Also, my daughter just introduced me to Karen Marie Moning a couple months ago and have enjoyed those.

 

Q: If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be?

 

Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Potato Chips, any brand I don’t care.

 

Q: What do you have coming next? Anything you want to tell us?

 

Other than the ones I mentioned before, I’m working on the last installment for Nightfall: Nataly’s Fantasy. The other two are in editing at this time. Oh, almost forgot this one. The second book Mike and I have co-written that follows My Life as a Dog. This one has the same characters and takes place twenty-six years later and is called, Love and Death in the Big Easy. Secret Cravings Publishing will be producing and was just accepted, so no cover or excerpts yet.

 

 

 

Q: What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?

 

Let’s see, what else? I paint model horses and show them competitively nationally. I have several national championships with my miniatures. Started the hobby over twenty years ago to have a mutual interest with my daughter.

 

As far as my work, I put a lot of heart and soul into each and every one no matter how short or long each piece is. I really want the readers to enjoy my stories.

 

 

 

Q: Where can we find you on the web?

 

I have a website and a blog:

 

http://cynthiaarsuaga.weebly.com

 

http://romanticwordsbycynthia.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIGHTFALL: CASSIDY’S FANTASY ~ No Boundaries Publishing (Link below)

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

 

 

FOUR WOMEN, FOUR FANTASIES, ONE NIGHT

 

Come on an erotic ride in a 1976 Bubble Gum Pink Cadillac Fleetwood limousine to a mysterious nightclub where the VIP package fulfills the fantasies of four women. Mistress Claudine, the owner and hostess at Nightfall, invites each woman in for her choice of pleasure. Beware, no fantasy is beyond reach once night falls.

 

 

 

CASSIDY’S FANTASY

 

Accompany Cassidy Morgan as she discovers how one night with a dark and deliciously dangerous man satisfies the craving to be claimed—to experience and learn the meaning of belonging to a vampire.

 

With the scene over, Cassidy feels disappointment that the time ended. As the night falls into morning, a new man walks into her life. In the end, will she get more than she paid for?

 

 

 

Tagline: Four Women, Four Fantasies. The Night Falls for One.

 

 

 

STORY EXCERPT:

 

“Good evening ladies. My name is Mistress Claudine, your hostess and owner of Nightfall.” The husky, sultry voice of the woman greeting them sent tingles over Cassidy’s skin. So far, everyone they encountered tonight gave her the same reaction. Despite the chills, the mysterious Mistress of the club had to be the most attractive woman Cassidy ever met, but in an eerie kind of way. “Come with me, the table is ready. Which one of you is Miss Cassidy?”

 

 

 

“I’m Cassidy.”

 

 

 

“Are you and your friends enjoying the VIP fantasy package thus far?”

 

 

 

Cassidy glanced over her shoulder and spied the expression on their faces, and smiled, “Yes, very much, thank you.”

 

 

 

“Excellent, we aim to please and fulfill every fantasy to the fullest. Who will be the first victim?”

 

 

 

The four friends gasped and their eyes widened in shock at the statement.

 

 

 

“Oh, forgive me. Just a little fantasy humor. So, who shall I escort to their room first?

 

 

 

“Um, I guess me,” Cassidy said.

 

 

 

“Here we are, ladies. Greg is your server tonight and when I return, I’ll escort each of you to the individual rooms, beginning with Cassidy. Please enjoy your stay at Nightfall where all fantasies are fulfilled.”

 

 

 

ADULT EXCERPT:

 

 

 

With outstretched arms, she tugged his head down and pressed her lips to his cooler pair, which quickly warmed to her oral caress. An urgent, wanton tongue swiped along the seam of his mouth. The sweet taste of honey filled her senses.

 

 

 

Unable to keep a groan from passing her lips, his mouth opened, inviting entry. The kiss deepened. His tongue returned the proffer of invasion. She eagerly sucked him into her warmth. The delicious faint taste of the champagne still lingered and mingled with his. The quick surge of pleasure surprised her.

 

 

 

Breaking the embrace, he worked his magic down her body, kissing and nibbling along the way. He slid between her thighs, and wrapped his arms around her legs, pushing them apart.

 

 

 

Was this really happening? Ohmigod yes!

 

 

 

With a delicate rush of air, he began to blow gently on her pussy, sending shivers through her entire body. How long has it been since a man has done this to me? Before she could finish her thoughts, she felt the warm glide of his tongue slide up and in between the slick folds surrounding her entrance. She flinched as he held her thighs, spreading them further apart, and with firm hands, began to massage them.

 

 

A VAMPIRE IN PARIS ~ Secret Cravings Publishing

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

 

 

The attraction is instant, but their new found love is tested on the journey to love eternal.

 

 

 

For over two hundred years, London-based security and private investigator, Ramsey Weiss has existed as the quintessential confirmed bachelor. New Years’ Day he is dispatched to Paris, France, to rescue an abducted cosmetics company heiress. In the melee, he butts heads with an unexpected woman.

 

 

 

Camille du Bassin is the head chemist at Institut de Beauté Biologique and her niece has been kidnapped. She teams up with a private security investigator with special skills hired by her brother. The two unlikely pair work together playing a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse not only with each other, but battle an evil ancient vampire determined to take Camille as his consort. Somewhere along the journey, Camille and Ramsey are surprised by the physical attraction that develops between them, denying the attraction.

 

 

 

Just when the two lovers’ think their love can be forever…Fate steps in to challenge the power of their love.

 

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

 

 

“Paris.”

 

 

 

“Really? I thought you wanted me off any jobs outside London for a few more months following last time’s small misunderstanding.”

 

 

 

“I did. But Paris is a short flight compared to Hong Kong or Miami. Are you up to it?”

 

 

 

“Absobloodylootely. Paris I can always handle.”

 

 

 

“Hmm, this is a relatively short assignment to find a kidnapped heiress.” Braedon tossed the dossier across the desk toward Ramsey. “Take this. The file should tell you everything you need to know—addresses, phone numbers, names, your cover, and where you’ll stay during the day.”

 

 

 

“Perfect. When can I leave?”

 

 

 

“Will tonight fit your plans?”

 

 

 

“Not a problem. Who’s the client?”

 

 

 

“The wealthy businessman’s daughter, a young heiress apparently abducted by an alleged cult group leader. According to her father, they have demanded no police involvement or they will kill her. He has hired us because he heard of our special abilities, and he did not mean our investigative skills. We need to quietly take care of this problem. Personally, this sounds more like a bad boyfriend relationship gone sour, but the money pays well, so I took it on and did not ask too many probing questions. That’s your job to get to the bottom of the crime. Find her, bring her home safely, and make everyone happy.”

 

 

 

“Hmm. Sounds like a piece of cake. My fee?”

 

 

 

“Twenty thousand.”

 

 

 

“Euros, Sterling or Dollars?”

 

 

 

“Pounds.”

 

 

 

“Certainly works for me.”

 

 

 

“And, of course, the client is picking up the expense of the round trip flight. Business class.”

 

 

 

“The least they could do at such short notice, right?” A husky, deep chuckle along with a wink to his boss went unappreciated.

 

 

 

“You’re one of my best investigators Ramsey. You also like the young lady detail jobs, so I called you in on this one, reluctantly.”

 

 

 

“Oh thanks, boss. Am I that transparent and a problem for you?” Yes, he was, but Ramsey made no attempts to disguise his weakness for the fairer sex. He loved women and was good at charming them for their blood and sex. At any rate, taking these types of assignments made them more interesting. No strings attached made for cleaner breaks when the jobs were complete. Play the role of the knight in shining armor and he’d have the heiress swooning in his arms for one night. Just the way I like my women.

 

 

 

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/

 

http://www.noboundariespublishing.com/index.html

 

 

 

Welcome Honoria Ravena Today

 

Hi and welcome to my blog, Honoria Ravena. Please make yourself at home and grab a drink from my hunky cabana boys, Zeke and Jake.  So tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a paranormal romance author. I’m going to school to be and Esthetician. So I’ll deal with skincare, and makeup (which is a little bit of an obsession of mine). I also love to belly dance. I’m dying to travel and I have a history obsession. Seriously, if I stay somewhere where I have access to the history channel I CAN’T pull myself away from the TV.

 

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

Not that much. I’m sure subconsciously it’s a lot, because every character must have a piece of me in there somewhere. Mostly I throw in my music and movie likes, because they’re all across the board and will fit a lot of characters.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

Um… <looks guilty> I really haven’t timed it. I tend to jump around because I lack focus. I’d say about a year or more for a finished book that’s ready to submit, but I’ve got so many projects up in the air that are half done (or more) so it’s hard to keep track.

 

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I tend to go really hard at the beginning of a book. The beginning is my favorite part. At the beginning I have all the information and it just pours out on to the page. When I hit 26k, I lose it, because that’s all I’ve got plot wise, and so I start something else. When I hit 26k on that next book, I get determined not to start anything new until I finish something, and so I go back to the first book, and try to keep my focus there. I’ll flop back and forth between them, and other projects until one gets so close to done with one that I HAVE to finish it, or I’ll feel like a complete failure. I’m at that point right now, and after that I’ll be making some definite changes to my process, because if you haven’t guessed, it’s not very efficient.

 

Tell us about your latest release or upcoming release. What inspired it?

Well, have you ever read a book and asked a “What if?” question. That’s essentially where all my books come from. The Devil’s Trap came from “What if the vampire this woman is hunting kidnaps her brother and turns him?” That’s The Devil’s Trap in a nutshell.

 

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

It totally depends on my mood. If I’m feeling like writing a love scene, then it’s easy, if something is wrong in the book its usually not. Like the sexual tension isn’t there, or the emotion. It all gets ironed out in rewrites, but I do tend to leave out emotion, which can make  love scenes hard. Also, if I was really into one, and then stopped in the middle, it’s hard to get back into them.

What kind of research do you do for your books?

Since I write paranormal there really isn’t a lot of research that I have to do. Of course if I’m doing a wereanimal/shapeshifter book I’ll research the kind of animal my characters are, because that’s where the truly rich details come from.
What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?

Belly dance, shop, read, do my makeup. If I had more money I’d love to travel.

Who are some of your other favorite authors and genres to read?

Paranormal romance has to make the top of the list. I love Kresley Cole, J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and MANY others. But lately I’ve been on paranormal burn out. I’m really not sure why. I’ve been reading historical romances like crazy. Johanna Lindsey, Alexandra Hawkins, Teresa Medieros, and Elizabeth Hoyt have been some of my favorites. I’m hoping to write some historical romances someday, but so far I haven’t gotten any ideas for them, so I’m starting to think I just don’t have them in me. Usually by now I would have some ideas since I devour them by the dozens.

Among your own books, have you a favorite?  A favorite hero or heroine?

I love The Devil’s Trap. It’s the best book I’ve written so far, and some days I despair at the fact that it might be the best book I write ever. But I have to go back and tell myself that at one point it wasn’t so good, and it took a lot of work to make it so good. I’ll just have to put as much work into the others. And since The Devil’s Trap is my favorite, Zarek is my favorite hero. He’s a sarcastic, pain in the ass, and I just love him.

 

Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

The story, always. It will just start popping into my head, along with world details. The characters come from the scenes that come to me, and I build on them more later.

What part of a book has been the easiest to write?  The hardest?

The beginning is the easiest to write. I have to say the middle or the end is the hardest to write. I’d say the end is easy too, but I always rush it and end up having to rewrite it anyway, so apparently it’s not so easy.
What are the elements of a great romance for you?

Mostly, I like characters I can fall in love with. But plot is so important too. I like a lot of action in my romance novels or they just won’t hold my attention.

What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?

Getting myself to focus and stay on task is the hardest. I just have issues sitting down to do the writing. And I know if I just turned off the internet and sat down to do it, it would get done. But getting to the chair is just the hard some days. The easiest part is getting the ideas. I don’t have to sit around and brainstorm for hours to get ideas. Most of them are sitting in my computer now. They just pop into my head when I read or watch something or I’m writing someone else’s book. My editor says I’m the queen of make series. I have a ridiculous amount of spin off characters, simply because they’re all interesting, and I want them to have their own book. And like I said earlier, that initial idea will give me 26,000 words in a book.

 

Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

Oh, they control me. If I try and make them do something, they will rebel. So I just sit back and let them go for it. I got tired of arguing long ago.

 

What are some of your current projects?

I’m currently working on a few things (surprise, surprise). I’m working on Laden’s story. He’s the werewolf who helps Zarek run his bar in The Devil’s Trap. And I’m working on Alaric’s story, and he’s also a character in that book. For the most part I’m trying to stick with those two, but I do have a ménage going and some short stories I’d like to finish.

 

Boxers, briefs, boxerbriefs…. Or commando on a man? Why?

Boxers, and I’m not sure why. I’ve just always thought they were sexy. Though, commando is hot, too.

 

What is your strangest habit?

My food can’t touch on my plate. So I’m always getting smaller portions, and pushing things apart. My aunt tells me there’s medication for that.

 

When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

Probably along the lines of “Holy crap, that’s a monster zit.”

 

What is your favorite pizza?

Currently its pepperoni and onions.

 

What is one thing scientists should invent?

An electric car that you don’t have to sell your children to afford.

 

If you could time travel, where would you go?

Ancient Greece, with the Spartans because I’m incredibly interested in that time period.  Ancient Mesopotamia would also be fun. And the 1700’s, because the clothes were so pretty, and the times were interesting.

 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Telling a story the way I want it told. So many books used to make me mad at the end before I started reading romance, because I wanted that happy ending for the couple, and in YA you don’t always get that.

 

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

I’d probably start you with Fear of Darkness simply because it is the first, and I like to read books in order. Some of the characters appear there first like the vampire king, who will be prominent in several books, and some day have his own. Macon shows up a lot. And the main characters in Fear of Darkness do make a guest appearance in The Devil’s Trap. But all my books can stand alone, because I think that’s really the goal of any good series. I never want a reader to pick up a book in the middle of the series and have no idea what’s going on.

 

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

I hope my books make people happy. That’s really my main goal. Nothing would make me prouder than having someone tell me my book helped them get through a tough time in their lives, or even just cheered them up after a bad day.

The Devil’s Trap by Honoria Ravena

Book 2

Buy Link: http://www.breathlesspress.com/devils-trap

 

Blurb:

Regan is the best vampire hunter money can buy. But when she’s paid to kill one of the most powerful vampires in existence, she doesn’t realize she’s in way over her head. Things go terribly wrong, and there is no escape…

Zarek is so powerful, he scares other vampires. One little hunter should be no challenge. However, Regan is different, and as soon as he sees her, he will do anything to keep her. But she’s a stubborn woman who refuses to let someone else control her.

When a powerful enemy comes to town, she’s forced to trust Zarek with her life. Who is the larger threat? The man out to destroy humankind? Or the vampire determined to own her heart?

Excerpt:

I reached the wooden bar and slid onto a sleek black stool with a groan of relief. In front of me, a shirtless vampire buffed the countertop, muscles flexing with each circle he made. Now this was a guy you actually dreamed about seeing naked. He was built like a god. Every muscle toned to perfection. He had probably been a big, chiseled guy before, and vampire blood washed away any flaws he might have had as a mortal. His raven-black hair gleamed in the lights. He was the perfect thing to bring in young women for a bite on the neck.

I sighed in pure feminine pleasure. Just because he was a vampire didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate the view. But, a black aura and raw vampiric strength bled from him. He would have been jump-his-bones hot if his power didn’t creep over my skin like spiders. I suppressed a shudder. No matter how enticing their form, vampires always made my skin crawl.

His gaze met mine, and I drew in a breath. He had the most gorgeous violet eyes. They were filled with an ancient intelligence. His lips curled into an amused grin, as if he knew I was ogling his body.

I frowned. It annoyed me that he read me so easily. I shook my head. I needed to remember the real reason I was here. I was here to kill Zarek, not drool over some gorgeous vampire. I was in a den of evil creatures, and he was one of them. Now really wasn’t the time to do any lusting.

The smile widened and he raised his voice over the music. “What can I get you?”

He had a subtle accent I couldn’t identify, and the deep, growling bass made my toes curl. It soothed my nerves in spite of what he was and caused another kind of excitement to bubble in my stomach. God, this was not the right guy to get that good down-low tickle for. Focus, Regan!

I cleared my throat and leaned closer to him. “I’d like to see the owner.”

The smirk turned wicked and suggestive. “I’m Zarek. I’m the owner.” He scanned my body, eyes finally resting on my throat. The scrutiny made me flush and wish I could hide my neck. Unfortunately, my black tank top and ultra-short shorts didn’t leave much to cover up with. People who went into vampire clubs usually favored bare skin and a gothic appearance, so I’d been forced to blend.

Had he fed tonight? Vampires were twice as dangerous when they were hungry. The better question was, had he killed tonight? For some strange reason, I found myself hoping he hadn’t. I tried to shake the ridiculous feeling. Even if he hadn’t killed tonight, he had in the past. And even if he’d stopped, like Alaric and his brothers, it didn’t change what he was, or the fact that someone wanted him dead.

He licked his lips before meeting my gaze again, leading me to believe that he hadn’t fed. Great, I wouldn’t leave this place without giving a little blood to him, even if I ended up killing him. If a vampire wanted blood, he’d find a way to take it.

“Again, how can I help you?”

I barely kept my curse of frustration to myself. I’d hoped to meet with him in private. Fighting to the death in the middle of his bar was a bad idea.