Seducing
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 1
by
Shiela Stewart
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Trinity
was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince
changed her. Discovering him in the arms of another woman changed
destiny. Alone, she’s learned fast how to be tough, how to survive,
and how to protect the people in her city from the evil that lurks in
the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into
her life.
Basil
Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his
father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier. When a prophetic
dream makes him realize Trinity’s life is at risk, he decides the
only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy.
Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, ever will love, and he
can’t seem to let her go.
When
rumors arise of a plan to raise the King and blot out the sun, both
Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it
means working together. Despite the betrayal and the threat, they
find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries,
especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the
ritual before it’s too late?
Or
will the darkness capture them both?
**99
cents **
Desiring
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 2
With
the cloak of darkness surrounding Jacob’s Cove, Dante Vega must
work to protect the humans from the blood-thirsty vampires trying to
take over the human race. When a half-naked young woman races into
his arms begging him to protect her, he is compelled to help despite
the fact that she is a vampire.
Before
all hell broke loose, Gypsy Dawn was an average woman carrying on
with her ordinary life…until she’s turned into a vampire. With no
family and no where to go, she clings to Dante. Aside from his dark,
mysterious, good looks, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.
And when his life is threatened she discovers just how protective she
has become.
Trying
to bring back the sun is not easy, especially when the creature
responsible, has gone into hiding. With Dante’s long lost brother
working with the enemy, one friend is killed and another is taken
hostage.
Will
Dante be able to save him before it’s too late?
“Remind me again why I have to be the bait?”
Dante heard Jonah’s voice in his ear as he hid behind the dumpster. Lowering his voice, he replied, “Because I was bait last time.”
“Right. You’ll tell Ariel I love her if I don’t make it?”
“You’ll be just fine, Jonah. I’ve got you covered and Basil is lurking about, ready to jump in and snatch the bastards. Just stay calm.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. Oh shit! Bloodsucker, eight o’clock.”
Dante swiveled in his spot behind the garbage bin, looking in the direction Jonah instructed. He saw the chubby guy heading Jonah’s way and prepared himself for the attack. The vampire’s ugly yellow eyes caught sight of Jonah and Dante could imagine what was going through his mind.
Fresh meat.
Not this time.
“Get ready.”
“I’m ready.” Pulling the tranquilizer gun from his belt, Dante aimed it at the vampire and waited. Because Jonah had the microphone pinned beneath his jacket, Dante could hear everything, including the vampire’s comments.
“Well, looky here. What have we got? Oh, and I smell lots of fear. Gonna be a nice snack for me.”
“You don’t want to drink me. I’m anemic. I won’t satisfy you much,” Jonah added with a great deal of quiver in his voice.
“Oh, I’m betting you’ll be just what I need.”
He heard the growl, heard Jonah scream, and took his shot. The dart hit the vamp right in his backside and as
Dante stood up, he saw the vamp pull back in shock. He didn’t waste any time and took another shot. This time he hit the vampire in the arm. The vamp looked up, searching for where the shot had come from as Dante raced towards him.
“Took your time. He was about to bite me.” Jonah took a couple steps away from the vamp.
“I had to make sure I got a good shot.” The vampire hissed as he approached, then his knees gave out and he went down. “Damn, I was hoping to knock him around a bit first.”
“You’ll get your chance later.”
“Jesus Christ, Basil! I hate when you do that.” His heart pounding, Dante aimed a steely glare at Basil. The guy loved to make an entrance, but did he have to appear out of nowhere without warning and scare the living shit out of him?
“Good shot,” Basil stated as he lowered down to the vampires body. “But next time, aim higher. If you can get the neck or near the heart, he’ll go down with one shot.”
“Yeah, thanks for the advice.” He’d only known Basil a few short days and was still on the fence about him. The guy was the last of the true vampires and had several advantages over the rest of the vamps. For one, he could materialize at the blink of an eye and transport himself anywhere. Two, he could transform into any creature and blend in everywhere. And anyone that didn’t know him personally would think he was your typical average human being. Until he bore his fangs and his icy blue eyes began to glow. Only the truest vampires had the icy blue eyes, all the others were yellow.
A sign of their impurity.
“He one of Chaos’ men?” Dante asked, looking down at the unconscious vampire.
“Won’t know until he wakes up and talks. Let’s call it a night for now and get some rest.” Basil hoisted the vamp over his shoulder. “You can ride with me, Jonah, and make sure this guy doesn’t wake up before we get to the castle.”
“Gee, thanks, boss.”
“You can follow us in your car, Dante.”
While the sun was nonexistent they had all agreed to stay at Basil’s castle. It was a smart idea, keeping them all under one roof, but Dante was feeling the crunch of hanging around the same people day and night. He needed a bit of a break now and then, and though Basil’s place was huge, he still managed to run into someone often enough. He was used to living on his own, having no one around but himself.
He missed his privacy.
But he climbed into his car, ready to follow them anyway. Glancing in his rear view mirror, he watched them pull away and saw what looked like a woman, running towards him. He turned around to get a better look, then hustled out of the car. It had been a woman running towards him, clad in only a bra and panties.
And two burly men were right behind her.
“You’ve got to help me. Please, help me,” she screamed as she ran.
Running towards her he pulled out his revolver. “Get behind me,” he ordered to her and took aim. It utterly shocked him when the two men halted then spun around and took off in the opposite direction. “Fuck!” He turned to the woman who was shivering in the cold air. “Get in the car and lock the doors. I’m going after them.”
“No, no, please, don’t leave me.”
She grabbed hold of his arm and pressed her body so tightly to his he could feel the curve of her breasts through the thickness of the suede jacket he wore. “I have to go after them.”
“No, please, just let them go. I don’t want to be alone.”
She clung to him even tighter.
What was he going to do, shake her off of him and drag her to his car? Not likely. So the only chance he had was to stick by her. “Okay. I won’t go after them. You can give a description of them to the cops—”
“NO! No police. Please, don’t take me to the cops.”
He didn’t know what her deal was but she sure was adamant about not involving the cops. And that worried him some. “You have to tell them you were attacked.”
“I don’t want to follow up on this. Please, don’t make me. I don’t trust the cops,” she sighed, still clinging to him.
He could feel her body tremble and he wasn't sure if it was entirely from the chill in the air, or from fear. “Okay, I won’t take you to the cops. You’re cold. Let me give you my jacket.” When she didn’t release him, he patted her arms. “I need you to let me go so I can take off my jacket.”
“Oh, okay.” She released him and wrapped her arms around her chest.
He striped from his jacket then held it out to her. “Here, put this on before you catch a cold.”
She took the jacket and hurriedly slipped into it.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. So why don’t you tell me where you live and I’ll give you a ride home.”
“I don’t have a home.” Dante’s brow lifted and she continued. “I was evicted a few days ago.”
He heard glass breaking in the distance and assumed someone was breaking into yet another building. “This isn’t the safest place to be right now. Why don’t I take you to my place and we can figure out what we’re going to do next.”
He held his hand out to his car then walked with her to it, holding the passenger side door for her. After she’d settled in, he hurried to his side and climbed behind the wheel. He got them rolling and was damn glad they were only three blocks from his office/apartment.
“My name is Dante, Dante Vega.”
“Gypsy Dawn.”
Embracing
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 3
One
upon a time Jonah Moore had it all. Then his wife and unborn child
were taken from him, leaving his life darker than when Chaos and his
evil vampires stole the sun. Now, Jonah has lost the will to face
another day, which could be a problem, considering he’s just been
turned into a vampire and is now destined to live for eternity.
As
a nurse, Raven Moony is used to tending to the needs of others. Until
an accident changes everything. When she is abducted and forced to
tend to Chaos’ needs, she is more than ready to give in and
willingly accepts her role as his slave.
When
Jonah enters the picture, she finds herself fighting for his safety
and freedom as well as her own. Can she convince Jonah to go on
despite her own doubts? And can they open their hearts to love and
learn that there is indeed life after death?
Charming
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 4
Daniel
Vega had never been comfortable as a human so when he was offered
eternal life as a vampire, he turned his back on his family and
welcomed the darkness. Then Chaos, the one man Danny thought he could
always count on, goes missing. Now, shunned by his own kind, it seems
that leaving Jacob’s Cove is his only option. Until he crashes into
a high-spirited redhead.
Born
from witches, Starla Raine has spent her entire life learning to
control and manage her powers. Drawn to Jacob’s Cove, a city
magically cloaked in darkness, Starla runs into Daniel, a man
connected to the infamous spell, and she knows just what to do. Hold
him hostage and, use any means possible to make him give her what she
wants.
The
two forge an unlikely partnership, with Danny agreeing to help Starla
find the ritual, but only if she’ll work with him to locate Chaos.
At first he doesn’t mind using her magical abilities, or her body,
for his own gain. Sex is just sex, after all… until someone’s
heart gets in the way.
“You’re a vampire?” She backed away from him, her brown eyes wide.
“Well…yeah. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I move?” It was like his brain had lost communication with the rest of his body. Yet he could feel everything.
Weird.
“I froze you. You were going to bite me.”
“Once again, yeah. Vampire here. And what do you mean you froze me?” He was straining so hard to move that if he wasn't careful he was going to drop a load in his pants.
“I’m a witch.”
“A what?”
“A witch.”
At least he could use his face and, frowning at her, said, “You’re a witch?”
She folded her arms over her chest and cocked her hip to the side. He corrected his earlier thought. She wasn't just hot. She was damn hot! “Yeah, what’s wrong with being a witch?”
“Nothing wrong with it. You just don’t look like a witch.”
“Why, because I don’t have a green face and a pointy nose?” She rolled her eyes.
“No, because…well, you’re hot!” There was no denying it, the woman had curves in all the right places and that tight, black, v-neck t-shirt she wore teased of ample breasts. Never mind the blue jeans that looked painted on. “Only children think witches look like that. I’m not that stupid.”
She planted her fists on her hips and gave him an indignant look. “I don’t like your attitude.”
“No problem. Unfreeze me or whatever you need to do to give me back the power of my body and I can be on my merry way. Killer, hurry your ass in there already!” Where was that cat anyway?
“Killer? There are more of you in here?” She spun around, facing towards the entryway to the kitchen.
Oh, this was too perfect. “Oh yeah, there’s a whole bunch of us here and we’re all going to take turns sucking the life right out of you.”
She glared as she turned to face him. Maybe he should have used less sarcasm. “I don’t believe you.”
“Suit yourself. Come on out, guys!” This was too much fun.
Then Killer walked in, meowed, and wound his body around Danny’s legs. How was he supposed to pretend to be mean when the cat was cuddling up to him?
“There’s no one else here, is there?”
“Sure there are.” He was losing her rapidly.
“I don’t think so.” Daringly, she inched towards the doorway, peering around the corner.
Danny just couldn’t resist. “Get her!”
She jumped, spun around in some sort of karate kick, her fists raised and ready.
It was the hottest thing he’d ever seen.
“I knew it! There is no one else here.” She spun back towards Danny. “You lied.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying. All right already, Killer, go lay down on the sofa or something.” The cat was annoying him only because he was tickling Danny’s shins and there was nothing he could do to stop it, being frozen and all.
“Killer? That’s Killer?” she chuckled as she made her way to the cat, scooping him up. “You don’t look so fierce.
“Come here pretty girl.”
“He’s a guy.” The nerve of her assuming Killer was a girl!
“Aren’t you a sweetie pie?” She nuzzled her face into the cat’s fur. “Yes, you are.”
Killer was loving every minute of it. “You wanna unfreeze me now?”
“Right, because I look stupid.”
“Well—”
“Don’t.”
“You walked into it, toots.”
She narrowed those big, brown eyes at him. “Don’t call me that. If I let you go the first thing you’ll do is jump me and bite my neck.”
“Doesn’t have to be the neck and I’d probably do more than just jump you.”
Her eyes narrowed a little more. “What does that mean?”
“Just forget it. If I promise I won’t bite you, will you let me go?”
“Sure. NOT!!” She laughed at him then took a seat on the sofa with the cat. “What’s a pretty kitty like you doing with a big, bad vampire?” Her head jerked up and her eyes went wide making them look even bigger than they already were. “Oh my Goddess! You don't drink from him, do you?”
That was just the most appalling thing he’d ever heard. “What? No way. Killer and I are tight. We’re pals.”
“You’re pals?”
“Yeah, I saved him from a bunch of hungry dogs a few weeks ago and we’ve been roomies ever since.”
“You’re roomies?” Her lips twitch with a grin.
He wasn't impressed. “What’s wrong with that?”
“That’s sweet. You have a kitty as a pet.” Snuggling the cat to her face, she flashed a huge smile at him.
“Wanna release me now?” He didn’t like the way she was looking at him or being called sweet. He was anything but.
She leaned back and Killer made himself right at home on her lap. “Not yet. So why were you leaving—I don’t even know your name.”
“Danny.”
“Cool. I’m Starla Raine. So why were you leaving?”
“Starla Raine? What kind of name is that?”
“It’s a perfectly fine name. Starla was my grandmother’s name.”
“So Raine is your last name?”
“Yes. Why were you leaving?” she repeated, gently stroking the cat’s head.
Maybe if he played nice and gave her what she wanted she’d release him and then he and Killer could go on their merry way. “I’m tired of this town.”
“I would think someone like you would love living here where there’s no sun to burn you up.”
“The sun doesn’t kill us. That’s just a myth. But it does give us a nasty third degree burn. I’ve spent twenty years learning to live with the sun, doing so now won’t be any different.”
“Twenty years?” She frowned. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-three.”
“Get out? Wow, how old were you when you were taken?”
“Thirteen. I answered your questions, so you wanna let me go now.” His body was starting to cramp up and it was not a good feeling, especially since he couldn’t rub the tightening muscles.
“The response you gave to my question was lame. Now tell me the real reason you and Killer,” she smiled down at the cat on her lap, “were leaving.”
“Why does it matter to you?” She was pissing him off now.
“Just curious. What’s the real reason?”
She just wasn't giving up. “If I tell you the truth, will you please release me?”
“You bet.” She kicked her legs up onto the couch and
Killer stretched out, placing his paws and his face on her knees.
“You are just loving this,” he growled at Killer. “Okay,I’m kind of an outcast here. I used to be part of the group of vamps that started this whole darkness crap, but I disobeyed the leader and so he kicked me out. Now no one wants to hang out with me even though Chaos has been taken hostage and is hidden somewhere. So why stay where I’m not wanted?”
“Chaos was the leader?”
“Yeah. Now you know the truth you can let me go.”
She stood up holding the cat in her arms. “I don’t think so.”
“What? You said you would?” This was bullshit!
“Yes, I did, but that was before I knew you were connected to the darkness.” She walked right up to him, her face a breath away. “I came to Jacob’s Cove to find out everything I can about the ritual that cast the city in darkness. I’m thinking you might come in handy.”
She walked off towards the kitchen, the cat in her arms.
“What? No fucking way! Get back here. Did you hear me, Starla? Get your ass back here now!” If he had the ability to chase after her she would so be on her face right now. “Damn it, Starla. Let me go!”
Tempting
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 5
For
twenty long years, Cooper Hawthorne has kept the brightest light in
his bleak existence a deeply hidden secret. All this time, his
beloved Gabriella has slept safely in cryogenic stasis, awaiting the
day he finds a cure for her terminal cancer. As love blooms amidst
the Darkness, and still no cure in sight, loneliness drives Cooper to
drastic measures. He awakens Gabriella and breaks his last promise to
her—by turning her into a vampire. Gabriella’s sense of betrayal
weighs heavily on her attempts to deal with what Cooper has done to
her. Pushing him away, she turns to his friends for support—and
finds she isn’t the only one hurt by his actions. Cooper fights the
temptation to use his powers to wipe her mind of the damning
memories. But, when he comes face to face with the monster that
created him, he knows what he must do.
Will
Gabriella be able to save him before it’s too late? Or will the
Darkness swallow him whole?
“Cooper…no!”
“It’s the only way,” he said, then sunk his teeth back into her neck. He drank in her blood, sating not only his thirst for her, but his need to have her as well. He felt her struggling beneath him and knew he needed to calm her before the final release. Rising up, he cupped her face in his hand, steadying her as he looked into her eyes.
“There is no cure, my sweet, and I could not live without you in my life any longer. This is the only way. I love you,” he proclaimed and took her neck once more. As he drank her life into his, he felt something damp slide over his fingers. Glancing up, he saw that they were her tears. It would all be better in no time and then they could be as happy as they had been so long ago.
When he felt her heartbeat slow and her pulse weaken, he pulled away and bit into his wrist. “Drink from me, my sweet. Drink and live.”
Her eyes drooping, she opened her mouth—he knew to protest—but he placed his bloody wrist over her mouth instead. “Drink, Gabriella. It’s the only way to save you.” She hesitated but when the blood coated the back of her throat she gagged. To ward off choking, she began to swallow. She drank and drank and drank until Cooper felt his own pulse slow. He pulled his wrist away and took her lips. She tasted of his blood mixed with the sweetness that was his Gabriella.
He could feel her body as it began to regenerate, as it began to meld with his blood. When her mouth grew more eager, he pumped himself into her until they both screamed with their release.
“Why?” she whimpered, her arms falling to her sides.
Pulling free, he laid at her side, stroking her face. “It was the only way for you to have a life. Shh now, you need to sleep. Your body needs to reform.” He kissed her once more and sent her to a sleepy slumber.
Cooper dressed, feeling more alive than he had in more years than he could count. Mostly it was from the fresh human blood which he hadn’t had in many years, but he also knew it was because he had his love back.
Looking down at Gabriella as she slept, her body pink from their lovemaking, he felt the love wash over him.
Finally, he had her back.
Now all he needed was to bring her home.
Penetrating
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 6
A
kidnapped child, a young woman in charge of protecting her, a newly
created vampire, and a city cast in darkness. Three innocent lives
are about to change.
Amara
loves her job caring for Felicity, the child stolen from her parents
by the vampire queen. Gifted with more power than a child should
possess, Felicity escapes to look for her mother and father, and
takes Amara with her. Thrust into a strange, dark world, Amara’s
loyalty and caregiving skills are put to the test.
Dusty
hoped to finish college and become a biologist. Until a sadistic
vampire kidnapped, tortured, and turned him. When he’s taken to
find his own victim, Dusty’s chance to free himself arrives in the
form of a bright white flash, a beautiful young blonde, and a small
child with the ability to incinerate anything and anyone with merely
a thought. As the three work together to find Felicity’s parents,
Dusty and Amara discover a deep affection for each other.
Can
their budding relationship survive the power struggle between warring
vampire factions?
Consuming
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 7
In
Jacob’s Cove, where death is as common as apple pie, a serial
murderer is a first. Lieutenant Sienna Storm, the town’s newly
minted homicide detective, is eager to prove she’s up to the job of
tracking down the demon who rips out his victims’ still-beating
hearts. Even if it means using her abilities.
Detective
Nathan Powers lost his partner to the aptly named Heartless Killer,
and the trail of bodies leads him to Jacob’s Cove, a strange world
populated with bloodthirsty demons and run by a vampire. Still, the
leggy blonde, Sienna, is a pleasant distraction. Until he discovers
she’s after the same killer—and she’s not sharing.
On
the hunt, the more they cross paths, the harder it is to stay apart.
Together they discover not only clues, but a searing desire, one that
may be their downfall when the killer targets Nathan, and Sienna
risks everything to get him back.
“Behind you! Get down.”
The gun came up in his hand, aimed at her head. She felt the presence of the vampire as he jumped out from behind the dumpster. As she spun around to take him down, the gun fired, hitting the vamp in the right shoulder. He jerked back, screeching like a banshee.
“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled at the man with the gun as she ran to the vamp. “Daisy, stay!” Daisy sat as she’d been instructed while Sienna knelt down beside the screaming vamp. She pressed her knee to the vamp’s bleeding shoulder to ensure that he wouldn’t move. “You are under arrest for breaking the laws of human and vampire and will be detained in the local jail while awaiting trial.”
“You’re a cop?” the guy behind her responded.
“Yeah, I’m a cop. Oh, stop your screaming already,” she yelled at the vamp, then flipped him onto his belly and pulled his arms to his back, pinning them in one hand while she searched for her handcuffs. “Damn it, why don’t I have my cuffs on me. Wanna tell me why you were about to attack me?”
“I wasn’t…honest…I was only…out for a walk. Yeah, I was walking. I’m going to sue the cops for harassment. I was minding my own. Fuck, my shoulder is killing me. Police brutality!”
“Shut the hell up. No one gives a damn.”
“Here.”
Sienna glanced up to see a set of shiny silver handcuffs dangling down before her. Glancing up, she took a moment to survey the gentleman and noticed he wasn’t bad on the eyes. His dark brown hair was messed up, but somehow looked natural. And wow! The guy had a hell of a body. Broad shoulders, wide chest, and narrow waist. His face was pretty decent to look at, even with that thin line of hair over his upper lip that ran down the sides of his mouth to cover his chin. He had nice eyes, dark, round, with long lashes. “I’d prefer a regulation set rather than your bondage toys.”
“These are regulation. I’m a detective. Nathan Powers,” he introduced in a deep, throaty voice that sounded as if he’d had one too many cigarettes.
The vamp squirming beneath her, she took the cuffs. Before slapping them on the vamp’s wrists, she made sure they were regulated. Flipping him onto his back, Sienna pinned him with her knee as she had before. “Don’t try anything stupid.”
“Bitch!” the vamp spat.
“What the hell’s with the yellow contacts and fake fangs?”
Sienna glanced over her shoulder as she responded to the detective. “What? You’ve never seen a vampire before?”
“A what?”
“A vampire.”
“I heard you. I thought I’d seen it all, but I guess not. Now we’ve got junkies playing vampire,” The detective chuckled with a shake of his head.
One look at the guy told her he was serious. “Oh jeez, he’s a virgin.” She rolled her eyes. “I told you to shut up.” She yanked the screaming vamp to his feet. “This is a vampire, not a fake, the real deal and if you plan on being in Jacob’s Cove for any amount of time you might want to be on the lookout for them. Some of them refuse to abide by the new laws. Isn’t that right, screamer?”
“Seriously though, he’s a vampire like the blood-sucking kind?”
“Don’t know any other kind.”
“Shouldn’t you like…you know, jam a wooden stake through his heart? I can’t believe I just said that.” He laughed boldly.
Was he for real?
She didn’t care for the sarcasm in his voice. “Neither can I. We prefer to rehabilitate them rather than turning them to dust.” Holding the vamp in one hand, she pulled her cell phone out with the other and dialed the station. “Lieutenant Storm here. I have a rogue vamp I need brought in.”
“I wasn’t doing anything, you stupid bitch.”
She clamped onto the squirming vamp a little tighter as she gave her location. She slipped her phone back into her shirt pocket when she was through and gave the vamp a hard shove against the dumpster. “Right, you were only skulking in the dark because you needed a smoke, right?”
“It’s a free world last time I looked.”
“Sure, except when you’re attempting to drink someone dry. Save it for the judge; I’m done listening.”
“You can’t prove anything. I’m innocent.”
“Do you know what I am?” she asked as she leaned in real close. “I’m a Tejakkan which means I have precog abilities. I saw you moments before you jumped out and I saw just what you’d planned to do so save your ‘I’m innocent’ act for someone who gives a damn.”
“Bitch!”
“That’s right and remember it.”
Surviving
the Darkness
The
Darkness Series Book 8
You can run, but you
can’t hide.
Surviving an
abduction, and running home to hide, might seem like a good idea.
Except home is now run by vampires.
Deborah Carmichael
had it all. Fame, fortune and an amazing gift bringing songs to
life on her piano. Until a madman began stalking her. At first he
seemed harmless, attending her concerts, asking for autographs. Then
he turned creepy, sending photos of himself wearing identical dresses
she wore, dressing up mannequins in her likeness. But she made a
vital mistake, sending her bodyguard away. It was the perfect
opportunity for her abductor to strike.
Rich, debonair, and
owner of the only vampire/demon establishment in Jacobs Cove, Zachary
Adams has it all. Or so he thought. When a beautiful, troubled young
woman walks into his club, he is instantly taken by her.
Helping her overcome her fears, teaching her to stand up and fight,
Zach knows she is the one.
When her abductor
finds her, and takes her captive, Deborah fears this will be the end.
Will Zach find her on time, or will Deborah find the strength to
fight?
“What is that?” A rag doll like dummy held up by posts on either side stood in the living room. His furniture had been pushed out of the way.
“Your enemy.” Taking her hand in his, he led her to the dummy. “Meet Buster.”
“Buster?”
“He’s here for you to beat on.”
“Come again?”
“I can feel you hesitating when I’m teaching you self-defense. I know it’s because you don’t want to hurt me, so this is my solution.”
“You want me to pound on this rag doll?”
“I do indeed. He can take it.” To demonstrate, Zach threw out a right cross that shook the dummy on the release.
“You’re a very strange man.” Yet it made her smile. When he took her in his arms, drawing her to his chest, and kissed her forehead, then her lips, she felt every muscle relax.
“I love the dreamy look in your eyes after I kiss you..”
Deborah stood still, her mind numb. He had a way of making her feel safe. He had a way of making her feel. Period.
“Let’s get started, he said”
“What do you expect me to do with that silly looking doll?”
“I want you to hit it. Punch it. Give it a try.”
She felt absolutely ridiculous, but she stepped up to it and jabbed it with her right fist.
Zach snorted beside her. “My grandmother can punch harder than that. Come on, Deborah, give it all you’ve got.”
Deepening her frown, she jabbed the dummy one more time with a little more heat.
“If he had a voice he’d be laughing at you right now. Hit him, Deborah!”
Shooting Zach a heated glare, she balled her hand and plowed it into the dummy’s gut. It rocked, it teetered, but it remained standing.
“See. Now kick it.” He demonstrated with a kick to the dummies shin.
“This is stupid,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“Kick it.”
He was beginning to piss her off. Lifting her right foot, she slammed it into the dummy’s gut with enough force to have it rock back and forth several times before coming to a stop. “Happy?”
“Not particularly, no.” He walked behind the dummy and lifted one ragged arm. “Is that all you’ve got?” he said in a whimpy high pitched voice. “Come on weakling, bring it on.”
“Now you’re just being foolish.”
“Look at you, all frail and scrawny.” He continued with the silly voice. “Those arms are like toothpicks. You can’t take me. You’re too weak.”
“Why do you want me to beat on this poor, defenseless object? We both know I can punch and kick.”
“Why did I get you to scream for two days?”
“Because you’re a sadist?”
One blond brow lifted. “I’ve never been called that before. No, it meant to open you up, bring out the fighter in you. Now kick me, Deb and do it with meaning.”
“You never call me Deb.” She hauled off and planted her foot in the dummy’s leg. She was sure if Zach hadn’t been behind it, the thing would have toppled over.
“Because Deborah suites you better. The dummy called you Deb. Do that again, only this time with your left.”
She did, but she didn’t have as much power in her left as she had in her right.
“Good, now try the side kick I showed you and go for his mid chest.”
“This is all fine and good for a dummy, but there is no way I can do this to a human.” She did as he asked and shifting to her left, raised her right leg, then jammed it into the dummy’s chest.
“Yes you can and you will. Now go with the left.”
She repeated the move with her left, frowning at Zach. “No, I can’t and I won’t. I can’t hurt anyone.”
“Oh, so you would rather they hurt you. It’s your life or his—which one do you value more?”
“That’s a stupid question.”
“Answer it.”
“Mine,” she said with a determined expression.
“I don’t think you really mean that,” Zach taunted, flapping the dummy’s arms at her. “Say it with conviction.”
“Mine,” she repeated a little firmer, throwing her right fist out at the dummy’s abdomen.
“Still not good enough.”
“Mine,” she snarled, and this time she put everything she had into the kick. She gasped when both Zach and the dummy went tumbling backward. Zach came down hard on his back, dummy resting on top.
“I am so sorry! Are you all right?” Rushing to his side, she pushed the dummy away, amazed at its heaviness, and placed her hand on Zach’s face.
“Now, that’s better.” Looking up at her, he smiled.
“Are you hurt?”
“Nothing I can’t manage.”
The air rushed from her lungs as he yanked her down on top of him and planted his mouth over hers. By the time her mind cleared, her body began to react. His lips were so smooth, so gifted, and as he took the kiss deeper she gave in.
Shiela
Stewart is a paranormal suspense author with a writing history that
stems back to her youth. Always a dreamer, wondering if her stories
would ever reach an audience, she was finally published in 2006 and
hasn't stopped since. It is rare to find a stand-alone book as she
prefers series stories. Her longest running series to date is her
Darkness series which is a vampire romance.
Her
joy for scary suspense is evident in each of her books. She has had
several accomplishments including fighting for the top spot in
rankings with author Stephany Myers, receiving glowing reviews as
well as interviews on television.
When
not writing, Shiela spends her time with the love of her life,
William, and their children and grandchildren. She enjoys getting her
hands dirty, working in her gardens and planting flowers. Her strong
affection for animals is evident in the many cats, fish and birds she
cares for.
Her
favorite time of day is at sunset.
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
No comments:
Post a Comment