Category Archives: forbidden blood

Sensual Sunday – Hot vampire romance novel excerpt from Forbidden Blood

 

Sensual Sunday is brought to you today by Forbidden Blood, which is one of my stand alone vampire romance novels. Sensual Sunday’s always feature a hot excerpt from one of my paranormal romance books. Read on for this Sunday’s sensual snippet… In this scene, Kearn, the hero, has been sent to another vampire Venator (a type of hunter) to have his blood tested… but it seems he can’t keep his thoughts off the pretty mortal heroine, Amber…

Forbidden Blood - paranormal vampire romance Book

He nodded to Venator Greystone.

She picked up the needle and carefully eased it into the soft flesh on the inside of his elbow. It didn’t hurt. The yellow tube turned deep red and Kearn leaned back.

His focus drifted to Amber and he closed his eyes.

“It will not take long, Lord Savernake.”

That name brought him back to the truck. It grated on his nerves now. He hadn’t been Lord Savernake in over sixty years, and the Venator knew it, so why was she persisting in calling him that. Venator Savernake. That was his only title now, and it was as worthless as her bloodline.

A deep sense of discontent stirred within his heart. It grew as he lost more blood and he began to feel the effects. His defences dropped and his instincts pushed for control but he didn’t allow them to take over. He was strong enough to keep a level head. It was only a small amount of his blood and there was no threat to him. Hunger gnawed at his gut and the memory of Amber’s blood made his own call out to her. He wanted her to come to him, to straddle his lap, and let him sink his fangs into her.

He imagined her above him and it was as though she was there with him. Her hands came to rest against his chest and a smile curved her lips when she glanced at his bound wrists, as though she enjoyed the thought of him being at her mercy. He was. He was a beast at her mercy, tamed by her and longing for her to whisper him a command. He would obey.
Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, Sensual Sunday, vampire romance | Comments Off on Sensual Sunday – Hot vampire romance novel excerpt from Forbidden Blood

Teaseday – Forbidden Blood – Vampire Romance Novel Excerpt

 

Today’s tease comes from the book Forbidden Blood, which is one of my stand alone vampire romance novels, and another of my favourite books. Read on for this Tuesday’s tease…

 

Forbidden Blood - paranormal vampire romance Book

He stood and headed straight through his bedroom and into the white and black bathroom. He stared at his hands. The blood looked even redder against the white sink beneath them. They trembled uncontrollably.

Did he really want to do this?

He needed answers and to get them he needed to eradicate any control the vampire might have over her.

Kearn lifted his hand to his nose and sniffed the blood. It smelt strong and enticing. His mouth watered. He took a deep breath followed by another two, trying to prepare himself. This could be a grave mistake.

Closing his eyes, he tentatively reached out towards his fingers with his tongue. The moment the blood touched it, a jolt rocked his body. She was definitely a Source Blood. He hadn’t tasted forbidden blood since becoming a Venator but he hadn’t forgotten the effects.

He licked his finger and swallowed. The jolt became an intense buzz and his fangs extended. His eyes shot open and familiar red ones looked back at him from his reflection, a fragment of the real him that he didn’t often see. He grasped the edge of the cabinet with his other hand to steady himself and then licked the blood off his other fingers, gaining pace. He needed more. Just a little more, so he would be sure of his ability to command her and clear her blood of interference. That was the only reason he had to suck each of his fingers clean. It had nothing to do with the delightful way her blood made him tremble, made his breath stutter and his heart beat faster, at an almost human speed.

He went to lick the blood from his palm and stopped himself. Unpeeling his fingers from the edge of the cabinet, he forced himself to turn on the tap. The water ran fast and hard down the drain but he couldn’t bring himself to put his hands under it and wash the blood away. He only wanted a little more. A warm pulsing feeling relaxed every muscle in his body and his head felt light. His eyelids fell to half-mast and the warm buzz became a hot inferno in his blood, an ache to feed and give in to his animal instincts. His breath shuddered. Just a little more.

No.

Stop it.

Kearn forced his head under the water instead of his hands but it did nothing to stop the hunger gnawing his stomach and the hard ache in his trousers. He groaned under his breath and kept his head under the freezing water, begging it to clear. He didn’t want to remember.
Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, Teaseday, vampire romance | Comments Off on Teaseday – Forbidden Blood – Vampire Romance Novel Excerpt

Snippet Saturday – Author’s Choice – Sensual excerpt from Forbidden Blood (Vampire Romance Novel)

It’s time for Snippet Saturday! Each week has a theme or is author’s choice. This week the theme is author’s choice.

I delved into Forbidden Blood today for my Snippet Saturday teaser, which is a vampire romance novel. This scene takes place after the vampire hero, Kearn, has taken his human heroine, Amber, to a ball in order to lure out the man who is after her, only for that vampire to get his hands on her and end up tasting her blood. Kearn has saved her and taken her back to his apartment, and needs to deal with her injuries…

 

Forbidden Blood - paranormal vampire romance Book
 

Kearn waved his hand over his apartment door and it opened. He closed it with the same gesture once inside and carried Amber across the large white room to his bedroom. He carefully laid her down on his bed. She didn’t stir, not even when he turned on the light.

“Amber,” he whispered and touched her cheek.

He lost his hold on her blood, the connection between them severing and leaving him cold and alone. She lay on his bed, white against the brown covers, looking like death.

Kearn tried to talk to her blood again. Nothing happened. She had passed out. It would keep her safe from the vampire but it worried him. He wasn’t used to dealing with humans so didn’t know how bad this was. A vampire could lose consciousness from lack of blood and come around only a moment later. He didn’t know how long a human would take.

He removed his black uniform jacket and placed it over her to keep her warm, and then ran around the foot of the bed and into the bathroom. He wet one of the brown hand towels and came back to her, and drew the jacket away from her chest. Blood caked it in a thick line down from the left side of her neck. He gently cleaned it off her and then took the black napkins away from her throat.

Bits of the tissue stuck to the blood on her throat. He picked them off, careful not to disturb the cut, and then concentrated on cleaning around the wound.

The dried blood slowly cleared to reveal the cut. It was shallow and only half as long as his little finger, stopping just before her artery. Tonight would have gone differently if it had reached there. He would have had to seal the wound in the ballroom and suffer the consequences.

The precision of the cut backed up his earlier thoughts about the vampire. He hadn’t intended to place her in any serious danger. He had only wanted to confirm her as a Source Blood and control her.

Kearn wrapped the damp towel around his fingers and dabbed at the cut. Tiny beads of blood lined it in spots where the skin hadn’t begun to heal.
Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, snippets, vampire romance | Comments Off on Snippet Saturday – Author’s Choice – Sensual excerpt from Forbidden Blood (Vampire Romance Novel)

Sensual Sunday – Hot excerpt from Forbidden Blood, a vampire romance novel

 

Sensual Sunday is brought to you today by Forbidden Blood, which is one of my stand alone vampire romance novels, and another of my favourite books. Sensual Sunday’s always feature a hotter excerpt from one of my paranormal romance books. Read on for this Sunday’s sensual snippet…

 

“Come on.” She grabbed his arm.

He looked at her hand on him, slender but strong. She walked away, luring him along the length of the bar to where she had been sitting, and he followed her blindly.

Kearn’s eyes stuck like glue to the back of her neck, catching teasing glimpses of the nape of it and the black velvet choker through her dark hair. He longed to part the brown waves and kiss there, to run his tongue over her skin and taste her, and feel her shiver in pleasure. He wanted to ease his fangs in deep and slow, claiming her and her blood as his and his alone. Nothing compared to biting someone, to the incredible rush from the connection and the intense intoxicating feel of their blood in your veins. It was what he had been born to do—to take life from the blood of humans like a thief.

Like a beast.

And right now, he wanted to take all of Amber. He wanted to strip away the mask and show her just what he was underneath—a creature lost in her, thirsting for her body and blood.

For her love.

He tore his eyes away from her neck, horrified by his last thought and the realisation that his hunger for her went beyond physical need to an emotional one.

She stopped by her stool and flagged down the bartender, giving him a wide smile.

Kearn stared at the man, remembering what he had said. Lonely. The hand around his throat dropped to his chest and he focused there. Did it really show? Had Amber seen it? He had been on his guard around her but there had been times when he had felt as though she had looked right down into his heart and seen the man beneath the armour.

Amber put a tall glass of icy dark liquid into Kearn’s hand, bringing his attention back to her. She held a similar glass. He sniffed his. Sweet and bubbly. Some sort of soft drink. It was cold against his hand but would do nothing to satisfy his thirst.

Amber only made it worse.
Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, Sensual Sunday, vampire romance | Comments Off on Sensual Sunday – Hot excerpt from Forbidden Blood, a vampire romance novel

Snippet Saturday – Jobs – Forbidden Blood (A Vampire Romance Book)

It’s time for Snippet Saturday! Each week has a theme or is author’s choice. This week the theme is Jobs.

This week my snippet comes from Forbidden Blood, which a stand alone vampire romance novel, and another of my favourite stories.

It’s yet another long one this week… I really will get my snippets under control soon and actually resembling snippets. Promise! Since the subject this week was Jobs, I couldn’t resist using a scene from this vampire romance book as it perfectly suited the theme. Kearn, a vampire of Noble blood, has just saved a human female, Amber, from a vampire intent on taking her rare blood. He’s brought her back to his home, has bandaged her cut hand, and used that opportunity to taste her blood to confirm what she is and also to give him some control over her so he can keep her safe from his target.

 

Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, snippets, vampire romance | 2 Comments

Teaseday – Read an excerpt from Forbidden Blood, a stand alone vampire romance novel

 

Today’s tease comes from the book Forbidden Blood, which is one of my stand alone vampire romance novels, and another of my favourite books. Read on for this Tuesday’s tease… it’s a long one today because I absolutely love this scene and the one that comes after it. I might need to add a little background. Kearn, a vampire of Noble blood and a Venator (a hunter who tracks and kills other vampires who break the law), is using a human female, Amber, as bait because she has rare blood and his target hungers for a taste of her. Kearn has taken Amber to a nightclub, and is struggling with hungers of his own…

 

The sandy-haired well-dressed man behind the bar gave him a nod. Kearn didn’t grace him with one in return. The man was a Commoner, the rank of vampire far below Lesser Noble. Nothing more than a peasant. He had worked here in all the times that Kearn had visited and was the only vampire on the staff. Kearn had often wondered if the man owned the club. The Commoner walked down the length of the black glass-topped bar towards Amber. Kearn kept a close eye on the man. There was a momentary spark of red in his eyes as he took her drink order, his gaze darted down to her bandaged hand as she gave him the money, and then he moved away. Wise decision. Kearn didn’t want to have to start the evening by killing someone. The Commoner stopped at the till near Kearn and looked right into his eyes. Kearn’s switched briefly to red and he glared at the man, letting him sense his intent and making it clear that Amber belonged to him. The Commoner acknowledged him with a bow of his head and then made Amber’s drink.

She smiled at the man as he gave it to her, distracting Kearn from his dark thoughts. She did look beautiful tonight. Perhaps he should have told her that just to see her reaction. He could imagine the deep crimson blush that would have stained her cheeks and it stirred his blood.

Perhaps he should concentrate on his work.

Kearn sat several stools away from Amber. They were the only two at the bar but that soon changed.

The minutes ticked by and each one brought more people into the club. Another Noble showed up, a tall dark-haired man with three human women draped all over him. Lord Montagu. The man’s dark eyes narrowed on Kearn in contempt and then he was walking down the steps at the end of the bar area to the dance floor. Kearn shook off the irritation of such a weak-blooded man looking down on him and watched the rest of his entourage enter. All unranked Montagu men and women. The most interesting was a doe-eyed woman who watched the lord like a hawk. She was human and going through the transition judging by the scent of her blood. She had probably thought that Lord Montagu would change his ways once she had let him bite her and her dark fairytale would be complete. Humans were so gullible.

Kearn looked along the length of the bar at Amber.

Would she ever consent to becoming a vampire?
Continue reading

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, Teaseday, vampire romance | 1 Comment

Winter Warmers – Get THREE FREE EBOOKS and fantastic discounted books too this holiday!

 

As a HUGE thank you to all my readers for their continuing support and kind words about my books, heroes and heroines, this year, I’m offering THREE FREE EBOOKS and some fantastic discounts in my Winter Warmers deal.

The FREE EBOOKS are the first romance books in my three main series. You can pick up Covet (Vampire Erotic Theatre Romance Series), Her Dark Angel (Her Angel Romance Series) and Prophecy: Child of Light (Vampires Realm Romance Series) for FREE right now at selected Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks and Kobo Books stores.

If you’re a Nook or Sony user, don’t worry! You can download the FREE books from Kobo Books, download the epub file and read it on your Nook or Sony Reader without any problems.

Here’s more about the books, including the links to where they’re free. Hurry though, this offer ends December 31st 2012. Don’t forget to share it with your friends too if they like paranormal romance books.

Continue reading

Posted in angel romance, Ascension, Covet, demons, forbidden blood, free stories, Heart of Darkness, Her Angel Series, Her Dark Angel, Hunter's Moon, Love Immortal, paranormal romance, Prophecy Trilogy, urban fantasy, Vampire Erotic Theatre, vampire romance, Vampires Realm, werewolf romance, Winter's Kiss | Comments Off on Winter Warmers – Get THREE FREE EBOOKS and fantastic discounted books too this holiday!

New paranormal romance books and science fiction romance books now available on Apple iBooks

I’ve managed to migrate more of my books over from Smashwords to Apple iTunes Connect. Again, there wasn’t too much of a gap between when these disappeared from Apple and when they reappeared again. I had a bit of a problem with Crave, but I solved that.

All of my paranormal romance books are now over, so I’m working on moving my science fiction romance books over now. I have moved over the Sons of Lyra series, and I’ll do the Daughters of Lyra series in one hit next.

Because I’m moving these books, they have new ISBNs and that means new links. Here’s all the books that hit the 32 Apple iBookstore / iTunes Stores this past week.

The German version of Covet, entitled Begehren, is also available now on Apple iBooks, but only in seven stores – including the big four and the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Stand Alone Paranormal Romance Books

Forbidden Blood - Vampire Romance Book
Forbidden Blood
In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark… Read more at my website

genre: paranormal vampire romance book
length: long novel / 126000 words
released: June 2011

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 

Vampire Erotic Theatre Romance Series Books

 
Crave - vampire erotic romance book
Crave
His mind has been set on his work for the past one hundred years. Now a forbidden beauty has stolen his attention and is threatening to steal his heart too. Callum has come to the city of romance on business, not pleasure, but when he sets eyes on… Read more at my website

genre: paranormal vampire romance book
length: novella / 35000 words
released: March 2012

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 
Seduce - Erotic Vampire Romance Book
Seduce
Bloodlust runs in his veins, a dark master waiting for the day it will reign over him. Now a woman with a pure soul and wicked intentions has him in her sights and is determined to crack the ice around his heart, and she might save or damn him… Read more at my website

genre: paranormal vampire romance book
length: novel / 55000 words
released: June 2012

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 
Begehren - vampire erotic romance book
Begehren
Seit zwei Jahren waren sie füreinander entbrannt, die verbotene Anziehung mit jeder Nacht wachsend. Dem sündhaften Verlangen ihrer Herzen weiter zu widerstehen wird unmöglich. Javier weiß es besser, als seinem Hunger nach Lilah zu erliegen… Read more at my website

genre: paranormal vampire romance book
length: novella / 32000 words
released: August 2012

Available from 7 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores:
Germany | Austria | Switzerland | USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 

Vampires Realm Romance Series Books

 
Spellbound - Erotic Paranormal Vampire Romance Book
Spellbound
What’s a girl to do when the two men she loves are suddenly her love slaves? A vampire and leader of her bloodline, Prophecy celebrates her Death Day in style with a two night ball. Everyone is there, but all she can think about is getting her mate.. Read more at my website

genre: paranormal vampire romance book
length: short / 17550 words
released: October 2007

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 

Sons of Lyra Science Fiction Romance Series Books

 
Sons of Lyra: Slave Princess - Sci-Fi Romance Ebook
Sons of Lyra: Slave Princess
Captain Lyra II, known as Balt to his family, is one of the famed sons of Lyra, the handsome princes with passionate hearts that every girl in the galaxy wants to catch. The second eldest son, he’s content with the freedom and adventure that life… Read more at my website

genre: sci-fi romance book
length: short / 16111 words
released: May 2008

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 
Sons of Lyra: Runaway Hearts -  Science Fiction Romance Ebook
Sons of Lyra: Runaway Hearts
Heir Prince Lyra I hates his life, and it’s only getting worse. Not only do Sebastian’s parents force him to remain on Lyra Prime with them and control his life, now they’ve gone and arranged his marriage. Unable to stand the thought of getting… Read more at my website

genre: sci-fi romance book
length: short / 16111 words
released: June 2008

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 
Sons of Lyra: Fight For Love - Sci-Fi Romance Ebook
Sons of Lyra: Fight For Love
Lieutenant Lyra IV is as sinfully handsome and irresistible as his elder brothers, but the one woman he wants seems to be immune to his charm. Every man in his squadron is falling over themselves to win her. Literally. When the reward is getting… Read more at my website

genre: sci-fi romance book
length: short / 15274 words
released: July 2008

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

 
Sons of Lyra: Stranded - Science Fiction Romance Ebook
Sons of Lyra: Stranded
Captain Lyra III is known for his vicious attitude and brilliance in battle. Second youngest of the infamously passionate and handsome sons of Lyra, he’s a born leader and doesn’t take no for an answer. Except this time. Acer is facing a future… Read more at my website

genre: sci-fi romance book
length: short / 12129 words
released: August 2008

Available from all 32 Apple iBookstores / iTunes stores, including:
USA | Canada | UK | Australia

Posted in Apple iBookstore, forbidden blood, paranormal romance, science fiction romance, sons of lyra, Vampire Erotic Theatre, vampire romance, Vampires Realm | Comments Off on New paranormal romance books and science fiction romance books now available on Apple iBooks

My favourite scene from Forbidden Blood

I have the hard task of choosing my favourite scenes from some of my books to share with you this weekend. It might sound like a lot of fun, but sometimes there is more than one scene that I really love in a book and choosing between them can be very tricky. Add to that the fact that I can’t choose a scene that gives something major about the plot away and it becomes doubly tricky!

My next favourite scene is from Forbidden Blood and I had a hard time choosing this one again. I have other scenes in this book that I really love but I can’t share those as they give too much about the book away!

I’m a sucker for dance scenes and this is one I just had to post. This one needs a little scene setting though. Amber, the heroine, is a Source Blood (a human with very powerful blood that can turn a vampire into something god-like) and was saved from a vampire by Kearn, who is also a vampire and a Venator. Venators hunt vampires who break the law by attempting to use Source Blood. He’s been on the trail of the Source Blood abuser for years and Amber is the perfect bait. The game between Kearn and his enemy heats up when the vampire says he might be at a masquerade ball held by Duke Montagu. Kearn doesn’t want to show his face in society but must go there with Amber, and she gets her first glimpse at the world of vampires, and draws the attention of the host. Duke Montagu threatens to have them removed from the premises unless Amber dances with him and she reluctantly agrees, and when Kearn offers to teach her the waltz by using the remnants of her blood in his to control her so she impresses the duke, she can’t resist the chance to be in his arms.

My Favourite Scene From…
Forbidden Blood

Amber looked around her to see what everyone else on the dance floor was doing. The ladies curtseyed to their partners so she did too, going low enough that she would make the right impression on Kearn and the watching vampires, but not so low that she wouldn’t be able to get back up. She rose again and the ladies stepped forwards into their partners’ waiting arms.

She went to touch Kearn’s arm and take his hand.

Kearn stepped back.

“The first thing you need to know is never touch me or anyone above your rank.” His voice was stern again. She had committed a faux pas by grabbing the duke. Everyone here was probably above her. “You must allow your partner to place your hands.”

Kearn gently placed her right hand on his shoulder and held her left, their palms pressing together. His hand was warm and his fingers curled tightly around hers. Both of his hands were steady. Hers shook like crazy.

She swallowed to ease the dryness in her throat but it didn’t help.

“I need a drink,” she whispered and Kearn’s gaze slid to her neck and then back to her eyes. A shiver tripped through her at the flash of red in his irises.

She jumped when his left hand settled against her waist and then they were moving. The tempo of the orchestra was slower than before. It was a triumphant sounding piece, with rising strings and deep brass. The choir sung beautifully but she didn’t hear it. She was lost in Kearn’s eyes and the way he was holding her, moving with her. They turned in slow circles and it didn’t feel as though he was moving her feet for her. She felt in control.

“See,” he whispered and smiled into her eyes, “nothing to it.”

She smiled and his look turned serious, his head tilting to one side. His eyes dropped to her mouth, briefly enough that she might have missed it had she not been watching him so closely. Did he want to kiss her? She swallowed again. She wanted to kiss him.

“Tell me about your brother,” he said.

She stumbled slightly. “I don’t think this is the time for conversation. I need to concentrate.”

“No, you do not. You will only make it more difficult for me. I can concentrate for both of us.”

Amber tried to think of what to tell him. It was hard not to focus on her feet when she knew she was dancing.

“He’s around your height and build, funny and smart, looks like a male version of me and lives in Paris,” she said and no longer noticed the way the vampires stared, the couples glancing their way as they passed, or even the duke. The music and Kearn filled her world. He was so handsome, looking at her with warmth in his eyes and no trace of loneliness. She felt as though she had helped erase his hurt after all. “He’s always trying to get me to move to France and it must have finally worked because I’m going to Paris soon.”

Kearn frowned. “You are leaving England?”

She nodded. “I’m moving there for work.”

The warmth in Kearn’s eyes dissipated, leaving ice in its wake. He turned his face away, looking in the direction that they were moving with the music, and her feelings shifted. The excitement and happiness she had felt on mentioning her move to Paris gradually changed into something darker.

Anger?

That feeling winked out of existence and she stumbled, barely keeping herself standing as she turned with Kearn again.

Cold swept through her.

He had shut her out, relinquishing control of her and leaving her in the dark about his feelings. Why?

Amber focused hard, biting her lip and tripping her way through the steps. This wasn’t good. She panicked, the feeling blasting through her so quickly that her temperature shot up and her heart skipped. She caught her foot on Kearn’s boot and her eyes leapt to his, her apology balancing on her lips.

It fell away when her feet suddenly knew the way and her legs no longer shook. Was he controlling her again? The anger she had felt before he had surrendered control of her wasn’t there anymore. She searched his eyes for it and found nothing. The desire to question him burned in her heart but she couldn’t find the courage to go through with it. What was she going to ask him?

Was he angry because she was leaving England? Didn’t he want her to go to Paris? Did he want her to stay?

Did he want her?

Amber glanced down at the bright silver buttons on the breast of his black jacket, focusing on herself instead of him, studying her own feelings. What did she want? The thought of Paris had excited her before she had met him, but now her move felt like something to fear rather than look forward to. Her eyes roamed up over his chest and neck to his face, lingering on his sensual mouth. Fire skittered over her skin at the memory of their kiss. The thought of kissing him again excited her, sent her blood rushing and her mind leaping forward to imagine how everything would unfold from even the gentlest of caresses.

She forced her eyes onwards, until they met his. There had to be something that she could say to break the ice between them again.

“I’m not really sure I’ll like it in Paris,” she whispered, looking deep into his eyes. She had loved the thought of it just a few days ago but meeting Kearn had changed her whole world, knocking it off kilter, and now she wasn’t sure of anything. She shrugged. “I’m not even any good at French.”

Kearn leaned over and her eyes widened when his cheek brushed hers, heating hers through. He whispered in French into her ear, his breath tickling her neck, and continued to turn with her. Her eyelids fell to half-mast and she melted into him, savouring the feel of him against her and the relief that blossomed deep in her heart as she realised he was no longer angry with her. Only warm feelings danced inside her now, and a part of them were his. He drew back again and she shook some sense into herself, enough to look him in the eye.

“What did you say?”

He just smiled.

She wanted to know. Whatever it had been, it had sounded distinctly romantic.

The choir began to sing again, slower now but rising with the music, sweeping over the room and carrying her along. Their words sounded as beautiful as Kearn’s had and she listened to them.

“Is that Latin?” She turned with Kearn. They had moved closer together. His chest brushed hers as they spun to the music, galloping around the room. It was still hard for her not to think about the steps. Whenever she stopped speaking, her focus went back to her feet. She used Kearn as a distraction, keeping her eyes on his face, and floated along in his arms.

He nodded.

“Do you understand it?” What other languages did he know? He was over three hundred years old. He had probably learnt many languages and studied all sorts of things in his years.

He nodded again and looked ahead of them.

“What are they saying?”

“You do not want to know.”

Amber gasped when they collided with another couple. The sandy haired man glared at her. Marquess Pendragon. Had he bumped them on purpose? Amber didn’t recognise the woman in his arms.

“Ignore them,” Kearn said and she focused on him again, only this time the world didn’t melt away. She was aware of everyone staring and the intent behind their glares. She could sense they wanted to harm her.

No, not her. She stared into Kearn’s eyes. These were his feelings again.

The tempo of the music increased. Her legs were growing tired but she kept going, determined to finish the dance.

“You must curtsey to the duke and allow him to place your hands. Do not speak unless spoken to and do not look him in the eye. Keep your gaze on his chest.” The warmth was gone from Kearn’s face and voice, but at least he wasn’t shutting her out again.

“Why?”

Kearn turned with her and she caught a glimpse of the duke. He was still watching her.

“Because regardless of what he said to you, you are beneath him, just as I am.”

Amber wanted to ask why he was beneath the duke but the hurt was back in his eyes. Would he really tell her later or had he been using it as an excuse to keep her quiet on the subject so she would forget about it? She would never forget the way the people had treated him tonight.

“Remain polite at all times and maintain the proper distance between you and him.”

Kearn’s hand slid around her back and he drew her closer to him, until their chests were against each other the whole time they danced. That wasn’t proper distance, but she didn’t care. It felt too good to be this close to him, in his arms. It didn’t matter that her feet were tired and her legs ached. She wanted to keep dancing so she could remain like this with him.

Her eyes met his just as he was about to speak and his mouth closed. He stared down into her eyes, warmth resurfacing in his. She was glad the loneliness was gone again. They shone now, and deep contentment filled her. It wasn’t only her feelings.

Kearn raised his left hand and trailed his fingertips down her bare arm and then over her long black satin glove. The touch was light and sensual, teasing her and stealing her breath. Her lips parted and her gaze fell to his mouth. His parted too, an invite to a kiss that she wanted to take more than anything. The world disappeared again and she was drifting with him with nothing but the sound of her heart beating and the light strings of the orchestra filling her ears.

She raised her gaze to his. Red tinted the edges of his irises. What was he thinking to make them look like that?

The dance ended.

He took her hand from his shoulder, raised it to his lips, bowed low and pressed a kiss to it.

Amber smiled, warm all over, and then realised that she wasn’t the only one looking at him. Half of the room had stopped to stare again and were whispering to each other. Her gaze stopped on Kyran. He stood a few metres away, blue eyes narrowed behind his black mask. The woman in his arms looked disgusted.

Kearn rose, turned Amber’s hand in his, and led her from the dance floor. Either he was oblivious to the dirty looks they were receiving or he didn’t care. They stopped in the spot where they had been before, near the wall and away from everyone.

“You danced well.” He smiled.

Amber smiled too and touched the spot on her glove that Kearn had kissed. Was the kiss why everyone looked so shocked? She had wanted far more than such a tame moment of intimacy. She had considered kissing him on the mouth.

“That was quite a spectacle.” Venom dripped from the male voice.

Amber looked up to see Kyran stood beside Kearn, glaring at him. Kearn’s expression was void of emotion as he stared back. The tension between them was palpable. Kyran’s red eyes darted to her and his lips compressed. None of the usual kindness and charm touched his face now.

“A Noble lowering himself to a human.” Pure disgust tainted his expression and his tone. She had been wrong. The kiss hadn’t shocked everyone. It was the fact that Kearn had bowed to her. Kyran smirked. “Do not expect such behaviour from Duke Montagu.”

She wasn’t sure how to react or what to say.

Kyran snorted in her direction and then grabbed Kearn’s upper arm.

“Excuse me, I must speak with my little brother before he ridicules the entire family.” He turned on his heel and dragged Kearn away.

Kearn didn’t seem to care that he was in for an earful. He looked back over his shoulder at her.

“Do not move from that spot. I will not be long. I will bring you a drink.” He actually smiled.

Amber’s eyebrows rose. She stood rooted to the spot, watching the brothers. Kyran jerked to a halt and shoved Kearn out in front of him, pushing him back towards the wall near the corner of the room. She was too far away to hear them but their thunderous expressions said they were arguing. Kearn threw Kyran’s hand from his arm and stepped up to him. She wanted to know what they were saying.

“That was quite a dance.”

Amber turned quickly to face the owner of the female voice.

A short dark haired young woman and two other women, both of them closer to Amber’s height, stood before her. They were all wearing black empire-line dresses with a lot of cleavage on show, and a lot of make-up in sombre tones. They looked like death, ashen and dull.

Amber smiled politely. Kearn had told her that there would be other humans at the ball and they might be unmasked. These women were going through the transition from human to vampire. If she were bitten, would she look this bad when changing?

Heat touched her cheeks when she thought about Kearn biting her. She had dreamt of it today while sleeping in his bed and had tossed and turned so much that Kearn had woken her by knocking hard on the door and asking whether something was wrong. She had blushed ten shades of red then and hadn’t been able to tell him the truth. Instead, she had said it was nothing and had hurried into the shower. He had gone out and when he had come back, he had given her the dress.

She felt incredibly sexy in it.

Especially when he told her that she looked beautiful.

“He is quite the catch.” The blonde woman in the group looked past Amber.

Amber followed her gaze. Kearn was still arguing with Kyran. The other vampires nearby had moved away and were warily watching them. What were they arguing about? It couldn’t just be about her. Was it about their family name too?

“And so subservient.”

She looked back at the three women. They all smiled at her. She didn’t think that Kearn was subservient but she smiled anyway.

“To think a Noble would behave such a way.” The short dark haired one cast a wistful look in Kearn’s direction and then her brown eyes found Amber’s again. “I have never seen anything like it.”

The third woman, a brunette with a bob, stepped forwards and looked Amber over. “How far along are you?”

Amber glanced down at her stomach. She looked pregnant?

“I thought the dress was quite flattering.” She skimmed her hands down her sides. Kearn definitely liked it, and she’d had a duke and Kyran call her beautiful too.

All three women laughed.

“In your turning.” The brunette smiled. “You must be far along for a Noble to behave in such a way. It shocked the crowd something terrible.”

Amber hadn’t failed to notice that.

The blonde twisted her hair around her fingers. “I’ve almost completed my transition but my Lesser Noble won’t even dance with me.”

Kearn had also warned Amber that humans going through the transition never danced. Most Nobles and Lesser Nobles didn’t associate with them until they had fully turned. It seemed strange that they went to the trouble of courting a human to convince them to become a vampire and then discarded them during their transition. It was almost cruel. Kearn hadn’t said what happened when they had finished becoming a vampire.

“So how far along are you?” the brunette prompted.

Amber smiled politely. “I’m not a vampire.”

They all laughed again.

“No.” The blonde took Amber’s black gloved hand and patted it. “You’re what my Lesser Noble refers to as a chrysalis—the transition from disgusting worm to beautiful butterfly—and you must be close to spreading your wings.”

Amber’s smile faltered at the corners. “I’m afraid you’re all quite mistaken. I’m the caterpillar.”

They gasped and backed off a step. The blonde woman dropped her hand and wiped hers on her dress, glaring at her as though she had been the one to take hold of her.

“A human.” The dark haired one sneered and flicked her long locks behind her shoulder, revealing a set of scars on her neck.

The three women turned their backs on her, looped their arms together, and moved off as one, disappearing into the black-clad crowd.

Heat burned through Amber, a remnant of her dream. Kearn had bitten her neck. She had worn marks just like that woman. If she did in reality, would Kearn treat her differently? Was he merely courting her with the intention of sending her through the transition and then discarding her until she had become like him?

No. He wanted to protect her, even from himself. He had slipped tonight and allowed a glimmer of his feelings to shine through, but she was sure that he wasn’t out to make her into a vampire.

She turned to look for Kearn and found Duke Montagu standing before her. Instinct whispered that it was dangerous for her to be alone with him. He frowned over her head towards the women and then at her, his red eyes intent and cold behind his black mask. He was over one thousand years old. How powerful did that make him?

“I hope they have not upset you,” he said with charm and grace. “If they have, I will see to it that the young Venator is punished.”

Amber’s eyes darted towards Kearn. He stood a few metres behind the duke, a glass of champagne in his hand. His eyes were wide. Stunned? She couldn’t feel anything of the sort. He could definitely control the connection between them and had shut her out again.

“I was not offended.” She smiled, not wanting him to punish Kearn for what he had done. It was an honour to have such a noble man lower himself to her regardless of the rules.

There wasn’t a trace of cruelty in the duke’s smile this time. His red eyes held hers.

“Jealousy is such an ugly thing.” His eyes narrowed as his smile widened. “The presence of such a beautiful creature will always upset those desiring to attain beauty beyond their grasp.”

Amber wished that Kearn had been the one to say those words. If he had been standing before her, telling her again how beautiful she was, she would have kissed him. She wouldn’t have cared if they had thrown them out for it either.

She glanced past the duke to Kearn. He no longer looked stunned. The warm edge to his eyes told her that he believed the duke’s words and what he had told her earlier. When he looked at her like that, with a shine to his green eyes and a smile starting to tease at his lips, she felt as beautiful as he painted her to be.

She blushed and looked back at the duke. He stared in the direction of the three women.

“They had hoped to believe you almost a vampire, desiring that they would become as beautiful as you on their transition, and that their master would show them such attention.” His gaze dropped to her and a serious look replaced his smile. “They are still foolish enough to believe it will happen. What they will find when they join us is nothing more than they have now—empty vanity and a male who will move on to a new female.”

The women had been nasty to her once they had realised that she was human but she felt sorry for them. They only wanted their vampire to love them. They were alike in that respect. She barely knew Kearn but she was falling for him, and she wanted him to fall for her too. She had come here tonight with the intention of keeping his attention on her, desiring him to be as lost in her as she felt in him. Regardless of their differences and the fact they walked in two different worlds, she wanted to be with him.

“But you,” Duke Montagu said. “If you changed, you would attain that beauty and the heart of your Noble. You would rule absolute.”

A shiver danced through her and her gaze roamed to Kearn. Would she really win his heart that way?

No trace of denial touched Kearn’s features. His eyes were open, allowing her to read his feelings in them, but she couldn’t decipher them and she desperately wanted to.

“I said a Noble.” Duke Montagu’s tone was darker, commanding, and her gaze snapped back to him. “Not a Venator. Such a creature is unworthy of you. I spoke of someone like myself.”

In the corner of her vision, Kearn’s eyes turned vivid red.

Duke Montagu raised an eyebrow and his gaze slid to the side, towards Kearn, but he didn’t turn to face him.

“You dare to threaten me, Venator?” The duke’s voice was pure ice. His red eyes narrowed behind his mask.

Kearn’s irises melted back to green and he lowered his head.

Duke Montagu held his hand out to one side, towards the dance floor.

The music stopped.

The crowd parted and left the large dance floor bare.

“Allow me to show you how a true Noble behaves.”

Amber looked at Kearn.

He cast his gaze to one side. She could feel hurt inside her, a dull ache in her chest, that wasn’t just hers.

She followed Duke Montagu onto the dance floor, her heart too heavy to care whether she made a fool of herself. When she stopped opposite the duke in the middle of the dance floor, she glanced back at Kearn.

He was watching her now.

She wanted to go to him and tell him that he was worthy of her.

She didn’t want the duke or anyone else for that matter.

She only wanted him.

Remember you can download Forbidden Blood for FREE today on Amazon Kindle!

Forbidden Blood
Felicity Heaton
In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark.

Exiled from his family and with only his duty to sustain him, Kearn has been on the trail of an elusive Source Blood abuser for three years. When he saves a beautiful human female from the vampire’s grasp, it turns out she’s the lead he’s been waiting for. Amber is a Source Blood and the perfect bait, but for who?

As they race to catch the vampire and survive the cruel games he plays, Amber is pulled deeper into Kearn’s world and discovers the painful secrets he hides behind his handsome but emotionless exterior—hurt that she has the power to heal if she is brave enough.

Forbidden Blood is book one in the Vampire Venators series and a dark, sensual tale of betrayal, revenge and a love that knows no bounds.

FREE on Amazon Kindle this weekend!

Amazon Kindle Stores:
US / World | UK | Germany
France | Italy | Spain

Posted in forbidden blood, paranormal romance, vampire romance | Comments Off on My favourite scene from Forbidden Blood

Three FREE Paranormal Romance Ebooks on Amazon Kindle

I have a further three fantastic free paranormal romance ebooks for Amazon Kindle users to grab this weekend. The novels are free on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th April only, so be sure to download your copies asap, and don’t forget to tell all your friends so they can get themselves a copy of each book too.

Here are the free ebooks that I’m offering on Amazon Kindle.

Forbidden Blood
Felicity Heaton
In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark.

Exiled from his family and with only his duty to sustain him, Kearn has been on the trail of an elusive Source Blood abuser for three years. When he saves a beautiful human female from the vampire’s grasp, it turns out she’s the lead he’s been waiting for. Amber is a Source Blood and the perfect bait, but for who?

As they race to catch the vampire and survive the cruel games he plays, Amber is pulled deeper into Kearn’s world and discovers the painful secrets he hides behind his handsome but emotionless exterior—hurt that she has the power to heal if she is brave enough.

Forbidden Blood is a dark, sensual tale of betrayal, revenge and a love that knows no bounds.

genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 126000 words

Available as a FREE ebook from the following Amazon Kindle Stores:
amazon.com | amazon.co.uk | amazon.de | amazon.fr | amazon.es | amazon.it

Ascension
Felicity Heaton
A witch on the verge of achieving phenomenal power, Lealandra must turn to her half-breed demon ex-lover Taig for protection from the dark force that is after her and also from her own magic.

With her Counter-Balance dead and her coven against her, Taig’s blood and power is the only thing that can help her control her magic and survive the ascension and gain the strength to defeat her enemy.

Old feelings come flooding back as Taig allows her into his world and Lealandra finds herself fighting not only for survival but to win his broken heart again and heal the pain in their past. Can he forgive her for walking out on him all those years ago and will he ever believe her when she tells him that he’s not a monster but the man that she loves?

genre: paranormal romance
length: 91000 words

Available as a FREE ebook from the following Amazon Kindle Stores:
amazon.com | amazon.co.uk | amazon.de | amazon.fr | amazon.es | amazon.it

In Heat: Mating Call
Felicity Heaton
The English winter weather has no chance of cooling Kim down when her dreams of Erik return, and this time they’re hotter than ever! Having spent the past two years waiting to be in heat again so she can mate with her black panther shape-shifter lover, Erik Blackwell, Kim is excited about the prospect that she’s ready at last. But there’s one thing that she isn’t ready for…

The handsome white tiger shape-shifter that walks into their visions and then into their life, proclaiming himself to be her potential mate too!

Torn between two lovers and unable to stop herself from joining in the carnal pleasures in their visions, will Kim be able to resist the lure of Kristian in real life? Will Erik believe everything that happens or will he see past the lies to the truth and fight for the woman he loves?

genre: paranormal shape-shifter romance
length: 63000 words

Available as a FREE ebook from the following Amazon Kindle Stores:
amazon.com | amazon.co.uk | amazon.de | amazon.fr | amazon.es | amazon.it

Don’t forget to grab your free copies of my other paranormal romance books too…

Vampire for Christmas
Felicity Heaton
It was one last mission. Shannon, a demon hunter with the agency, is looking forward to leaving behind the small town and the vampire she’s been stuck with for the past two years. Things are getting complicated fast and she wants out. A fresh start, free of her vampire partner, awaits her if she can survive their final mission and the lonely Christmas holidays.

It was one last mission. Rafe, a vampire doing time with the agency, watches it approach with dread weighing heavily in his stomach. Two years of working with Shannon has been difficult, especially since he started falling for her, but he doesn’t want their partnership to end. He has barely a few days to make her face her feelings and stop her from leaving, and he intends to do just that.

When a slimy demon threatens the season of peace and goodwill, it’s the chance Rafe has been waiting for and the moment Shannon secretly fears. Rafe’s determination to prise open her heart and her own resolve to keep it closed clash as violently as they do with the demon, and threatens to end as messily.

Can Rafe make Shannon see that his love for her is real and that she feels something for him too? Can Shannon face her fears and her past, and stop herself from running away from both? Will a wish on a star bring her what her heart truly desires—a vampire for Christmas?

Available as a FREE direct download:
.mobi | .epub | .pdf

Or get the FREE ebook from:
Amazon Kindle Stores:
UK only

Apple Stores:
iBookstore US | iBookstore UK | iBookstore Australia | iBookstore Canada

Other Retailers:
Barnes and Noble | Sony Reader Store | Smashwords

Reunion
F E Heaton
The Law Keeper for the Venia bloodline, Marise doesn’t want to return home but duty dictates that she must investigate the attempt on her lord’s life by another vampire.

When she sets eyes on her lord, Marise realises that she might have been called for another reason and that the attack on her lord might not have been by a vampire after all. Her only source of information is a guard who was mortally wounded during the attack, a guard who turns out to be the man who broke her heart fifty years ago.

The sight of Jascha so close to death triggers a battle in Marise’s heart that will see her struggle to turn her back on him and her family again, and maintain her sense of duty. Is fifty years enough to forgive the one you love for breaking your heart? Will Marise finally confess to everything she’s held inside and kept hidden from him? And can Jascha convince Marise to listen to what he has to say and make her love him again?

Available as a FREE direct download:
.mobi | .pdf

Or get the FREE ebook from:
Amazon Kindle Stores:
US / World | UK

Apple Stores:
iBookstore US | iBookstore UK | iBookstore Australia | iBookstore Canada

Other Retailers:
Barnes and Noble | Sony Reader Store | Smashwords

Posted in Amazon Kindle, Apple iBookstore, Ascension, Barnes and Noble Nook, forbidden blood, free stories, paranormal romance, shapeshifter romance, urban fantasy, vampire romance | Comments Off on Three FREE Paranormal Romance Ebooks on Amazon Kindle