Sunday, November 20, 2011

Reclaiming that Book you Wrote & Loved

I wrote my first paranormal romance book about four years ago. I have no idea where the time went. Rapture, was the first novel in a six book mermaid/Siren series I mapped out. I loved writing Rapture. I poured my heart and soul and my love of the sea into this book. I was lucky that book secured me an agent (okay, I fired my agent after this) but the book also got me a publisher, Cerridwen Press (CP). I didn’t know a whole lot about CP but I had heard of Ellora’s Cave which was their sister company and a much bigger erotic e-publisher. Now, my book Rapture is not erotic. I would classify it as highly sensual. So excited newbie author I signed a contract with CP and that awoke my own passion to write more erotic stories for Ellora’s Cave.

Fast-forward two years later. My sales at EC were climbing but my book Rapture was not doing well at CP. Why? I always felt a key part of what happened was that my books from EC did not link to my CP profile page so it was hard for readers to discover my sensual writings. This book was my baby. I wanted it back. What did I do? I waited for CP to close and they did and EC gave authors the option of getting our rights back to our books or merging into their new line. I got my rights back and thought what now? I couldn’t very well send it off to another publisher because it had already been published, so I thought I’m going to try the Indie route. At this point I had nothing to lose.




I knew in my heart that Rapture was a good solid story. It won an EPPIE in 2008 for Best Fantasy/Paranormal Romance and all the reviewers who had read it ranked it 5-stars. Last year I hired a cover artist who did an amazing job on the redesign of the cover and this month I launched Rapture as an Indie publication on Smashwords and Amazon.com. I know building my market for this is going to be a slow climb but I’m approaching this like any new mother setting her child off into the world—one day at a time. Today I’m off to set it up on All Romance E-books (http://www.allromanceebooks.com) and I’m off to Createspace to upload it as a print book. I figure the more markets I can get Rapture into the better exposure overall for my books in general.




What has this also inspired? Well, book two Bliss is already 86,000 words written so I’m planning to finish that book within a few months so I can launch that. In the meantime, I’ve got a few more short erotic novellas centered on Titans and Sirens that I also plan to launch. And, HQN Spice Briefs in October 2012 will be launching Claiming Poseidon’s Daughter, which is a spicy, contemporary paranormal novella. Overall, I’m feeling excited that I’m back in the driver seat and helping my baby, Rapture see the world.




Rapture – modern mermaid tale with a twist
http://amzn.com/B0068OWVZE
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105558

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Jockey and Jewels by Bev Pettersen - A Book U Can't Put Down



Jaw dropping, oh my god amazingly a great read. Honestly, I did not want Bev Pettersen’s book Jockeys and Jewels to end. If you don’t love horses and know anything about them you will come to love them by the end of this story. I confess to being an avid horse lover and one thing that stood out for me if how obvious it is that Pettersen knows her way around horses, barns, tracks and the horse industry.

The reader is introduced from the get go to Kurt MacKinnon, who is smart, wary and a harden cop—he’s basically seen all the bad in the world but what totally grabbed me was how Pettersen makes you come to love this undercover guy. We learn more about his character through the treatment of his horses and that weaves its own magic in the story. Julie West is a struggling apprentice jockey and longs to be taken serious in a field dominated by men. When Kurt’s ex-partner gets killed this sets Kurt and Julie on a collision course. Let’s just say sparks fly once they meet.

The character development in this book was a real page turner. I loved the sexual tension which came off as totally real between Kurt and Julie and I hated the bad guy, Otto, who I was supposed to hate. I kept waiting for a horse to kick him where it counts.

The mystery layered in this book kept me turning pages because I too wanted to find out why Kurt’s friend got killed. I’m not going to spoil the book for readers because this mystery is unique with a fresh perspective on smuggling and I loved it. Set in Canada that grabbed me and I can’t wait to get my hands on Pettersen’s other book Color of My Horse. I loved that this is an Indie publication but honestly have no idea why a BIG publishing house didn’t swoop this book up. Pettersen is a three time Rita finalist – no easy feat – and anyone who read the first three chapters of this book had to be hooked! My gut feeling is those publishing houses that said no are crying now. Can’t wait to read more of Pettersen’s work.

Bev Pettersen
www.BevPettersen.com
Jockey and Jewels
http://www.amazon.com/Jockeys-and-Jewels-ebook/dp/B0055OHXN8
"Color My Horse"
http://amzn.com/B005HFZZN0

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Two HQN Authors Stole My Heart - Donna Alward & Sarah Mayberry

In a week I’ve read two HQN’s books that I have truly connected with me. First I had the pleasure of reading Sarah Mayberry’s The Best Laid Plans and Donna Alward’s How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart. To say I loved both would be an understatement. Sarah Mayberry’s The Best Laid Plans is a contemporary story with a twist. You have the successful woman lawyer, Alexander Knight, and I will admit all women secretly what to hate these women who seem to juggle it all, but Alex isn’t juggling things well at all. Introduce sexy co-worker Ethan Stone and immediately you think sparks are going to fly off the page. They don’t. Oh, don’t get me wrong they certainly do later on but that’s the buildup, or should I say foreplay that was so real in this book. Alex’s dilemma is her biological clock is ticking loudly and she desperately wants a baby, which is the last thing Ethan wants, or is it? They work well together and are great friends but can these two educated overachievers get over themselves to get what they both really want – yes! I loved the emotional play with this story and felt like I wanted to kill both Alex and Ethan at one point for trying to best plot out how to conceive with the use of medical intervention. Bless you Mayberry for allowing the characters to find themselves and their own weaknesses so they could come together and go at baby-making the old fashion way. This truly was a page turner and I read it in two sittings. Sarah Mayberry books can be found at http://www.sarahmayberry.com. Donna Alward’s How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart captured me from page one. Talk about building strong characters. I immediately loved Megan Briggs, who is a strong willed woman who has suffered her share of medical problems including breast cancer. Now, I know what you’re thinking here—how can a romance about a breast cancer survivor be sexy? Well, read this book because not only does Alward touch on the physical limitations Megan has to overcome like rediscovering her own body but she has to allow herself to love. Clay Gregory doesn’t want to deal with death, especially the word “cancer” which took his father’s life and caused his mother to abandoned him, but he quickly discovers he can’t live without Megan. They start out as friends and I think that’s why I connected with this book. The characters were believable, honest about their wants and desires and fears, and they still struggled to believe in each other. I read this book in one night and couldn’t put it down! By the end I felt like Megan was my friend and Clay was the brother I wanted to throttle. LOL Check out her website at: http://www.donnaalward.com for more on Alward and her books.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Mind Games - A Read that will make you question your own reality



Mind Games by Taylor Keating

Page after page of twists and sub plots will keep you up all night reading
When the real world is worse than a virtual world, it has River Weston almost wishing she was trapped with the evil soulless Dark Lord once again. However, since River seems to attract nothing but trouble in either world she’s a gal who learns to cope. Getting pinned for murderous crimes on her home planet means she’s once again on the run, with Guardian, lover and Fey teacher Chase Hawkins, commonly called Hawk.

Hawk isn’t Fey but he’s had more experience with them than River, so she has no choice but to trust him. Back on his home planet, Hawk’s body, still trapped in a cryogenic state because he volunteered for the extended mission, starts to falter. And that has the Guardian Council wanting to pull the plug on him. At least one of Hawks’ friends believes in fighting for his life, but even he might not save Hawk in the end.

To top that off, Nick, River’s ex-boyfriend is trapped with the Dark Lord and he’s able to invade Hawk’s dreams. Making matters more personal, River feels obligated to free the Fey souls trapped in the strange graveyard. Her journey enables her to learn more about her combined Fey-Guardian heritage and trust in her own powers.

The pace Taylor Keating creates for the reader will leave you breathless and wanting more. Page after page something new, consuming and imagination-filled grabs you. Thank goodness Hawk and River finally have sex because this reader was going to kill the writer if the almost but not quite tantalizing sexual tension between them didn’t get fulfilled.

I loved the twists, turns and sub-plots of this story, and the ending will make you twitch to get your fingers on the third book in this series. This is the sequel to Keating’s first Game Over, TOR publication and I can’t wait to read more. To learn more about Keating check out www.taylorkeating.com.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

In celebration of my birthday - things I’ve learned so far in my 42 years

1. The first thing I read in the paper every morning is my horoscope and that’s it
2. The last thing I usually watch at night is CBC’s The National – seems I can handle the news at night but not in the morning
3. Baby unscented wet wipes work great as make-up removers and they cost a fraction of the price
4. Clear nail polish dapped on a run in your nylon will stop the run – why then can’t they coat nylons in the stuff?
5. Kraft Dinner is disgusting reheated the next day
6. There is nothing like peanut butter toast late at night as comfort food
7. When people ask how you are they don’t really want to know – really, just say, “Good,” even when you feel like crap
8. The older I get the more I want a dog – even though the thought of cleaning up after them makes me want to puke
9. Patience – I’m still learning it
10. I will never be as tech-savvy as my kids
11. I have no sense of direction and get lost when I’m in the mall
12. I love watching reruns of the Jerry Seinfeld show because for me they are mostly new
13. The older I get the more my roots show – not talking about hair – think heritage
14. After twelve years watching children shows with my kids I’m warped – I like Arthur, Franklin and Little Bear
15. There is nothing more annoying than going to butter your toast and opening the butter jar to find none in it! Seriously once empty how hard is it to refill?
16. I have to stop comparing what I have with what other people have – it just depresses me and in this past year I’ve learned the heart is where the home is, even if said home is in serious need of work
17. I get excited watching the birds eat from my feeder
18. I tell my best friend everything – more than I tell my hubby
19. I wish I had more time in the day to spend with my children, visit my grandmother who is 99, chat with my mom
20. I miss my youngest sister, who is very talented – I hope one day we can reconcile before it’s too late

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Wanted:Mail-Order Mistress - A Must Summer Read!


Wanting to jump dive into the heat of summer than I highly recommend reading Deborah Hale’s latest book, Wanted: Mail-Order Mistress published by Harlequin. I devoured this book and it was one story I didn’t want to end.

Immediately I fell in love with Bethan Conway, who has the gumption to set out from her Welsh country to venture to Singapore to find her lost brother. The fact her naivety plays a key role in her current predicament once she lands in the sweltering exotic heat of a foreign country is somewhat comical, but truly believable. Bethan believes she’s a mail order bride. The truth couldn’t be further from Simon Grimshaw’s desires. All Simon wants is a mistress. He doesn’t trust women, and while he likes to play at saving damsels in distress he’s okay with getting physical – and let me just insert here the high sexual tension in this book rocks! – but forming a real relationship with a woman is out of the picture. Spurned more than once he’s not looking for his heart to get involved. What I found especially appealing with this story is Simon’s daughter. She made this story unique and personally, made all of the interactions between Bethan and Simon believable.

I loved the development of Simon and Bethan’s relationship and when Simon finally came undone and found that his heart did love Bethan I especially liked how Bethan kept to her original principle – finding her brother. In the end both hearts prevailed.

Hale’s world building blew me away. I wanted to set sail to Singapore. This is Hale’s third book in the Gentleman of Fortune series. I will be purchasing the other two because I’m dying to read about the other two business men who worked with Simon. I just bet their stories are just as delightful.

I don’t have a rating system but let me just say with my two glasses of wine I read this book within one night and stayed up until 2am to finish it – couldn’t put it down!

Check out Deborah Hale's website at http://www.deborahhale.com

Monday, February 28, 2011

Elemental Love - FREE Read


Yes, Elemental Love my shifter book is out as a FREE Read. Hope many of you enjoy.
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-5332-elemental-love.aspx

Renee Field
www.reneefield.com
twitter @Pararomance

Here’s an excerpt:


“You thought to capture me.”
It was a mocking statement, not a question, but the sound of his voice roared of thunder, vibrating along the sensitive hairs in her ears that tingled for just another word from him. And it was a him. The masculine deep cedar woods scent of him filled the air where she lay.
“You cannot ensnare me, waikta.”
Waikta. It was a word she knew. It was the language her mother spoke and a long time ago it was a word her mother had used to softly chastise Ashanti. Now there were a dozen harsher words her mother used to remind Ashanti of what she was. Other. Beast. Demon. Unclean. Unworthy. Freak. The last word manifested itself only a dozen years ago after her mother finally secured a television.
Finally regaining all her senses, it was then Ashanti realized she was naked and collared. It wasn’t an electrical collar and she was thankful for that. Instead a wide black leather fastening was tightly clasped around her neck. Attached to the collar was a black leash.
I am not a dog. Her anger flared to life as she attempted to stand. She couldn’t. She fell to her knees, bracing her body’s weight with her hands.
“This I like.”
Then Ashanti felt the man’s large hands on her and she fought the tremor of lust that ripped like a lightning rod through her entire mind and body. She twisted her head around, trying to see him, but there was no one there. Her senses and the voice told her otherwise.
“You want me to fuck you. I can smell your wet arousal.”
Crude words that should make her despise him. They did the opposite. Before she could bark a forced reply, the man’s tongue lightly flicked over her exposed rump. She sucked in her breath sharply. Pleasurable goose bumps formed along her skin. Without words he widened her stance, forcing her knees to open more as he licked and nipped at her ass cheeks. It was the most erotic sensation Ashanti had ever had. To simply experience the sensations but not see the man pleasuring her was a powerful feeling. So intense was the want of what he was doing to her body that she fought the pleasure…fought the craving…fought the wicked licks and nips from his mouth that moved from her ass to her now wet pussy.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle by Donna Alward - Made my day


Reading a Donna Alward novel is like meeting a new best friend and curling up on the sofa to dish all the heartache. I devoured Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle in a day and honestly couldn’t put it down. I have no idea how Alward manages to gather so much character depth in her novels. Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle is all about the twists life throws your way and how you handle them.

The book begins with a twist – think baby dropped off on the veranda of a hunky rancher. Yes. That’s how it starts. The reader instantly gathers the type of character of Wyatt Black, who is facing his own personal demons, but he’s so tender with the crying infant who he doesn’t know that one can’t help feel sympathy for a man used to tending cows more so than babies. When Black, who is desperate within hours to get the baby to stop crying, bangs on his neighbours door, we meet Elli Marchuk. It took me a while to get into Elli because I found her a bit all over the place but once you learn she gave birth to a baby after carrying it almost to full-term, I did feel more sympathy for her.

I have to say I wanted more passion, more kissing but Harlequin Romance doesn’t do that and Alward left you feeling like the heat and smoldering passion was within reach for both Black and Marchuk. I enjoyed the characters journeys and this book read with such truth and honesty I felt like Black and Marchuk were real people who I met over a cup of coffee, willing to share their life story and how they met.

This truly was a satisfying read and I can’t wait to finish Sold to the Highest Bidder also by Alward.

Check out Alward's website at http://www.donnaalward.com

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Beastly Passion Up for Sirens Book Reviews Book of January

Hi everyone:
I just found out that my latest erotic paranormal Beastly Passion is up for Book Of The Month for January:
http://sirenbookreviews.weebly.com/book-of-the-month-january.html


This totally made my day and week because let me tell you I had a terrible week. First sick kids and then my hot water heater broke which flooded my basement (think destroyed here) and then I got sick with the flu and then hubby. Now I'm dealing with my insurance (thank god I had house insurance) but this is not fun. My 15 year-old is now sleeping on a mattress in my 9 year-old's bedroom and my house looks like a disaster, but it could be worse.

Agai, just had to blog that this made my day. Your votes would be greatly appreciated.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Beastly Passion Debuts Today at Ellora's Cave


Hi everyone:
I'm so excited. My first dragon/shifter erotic story debuts today with Ellora's Cave. I loved writing about dragons, especially a strong queen dragon who believes duty and honor are the way to rule while giving up passion. She must learn to embrace her passion if she hopes to save her planet. I know I'm going to write another dragon/shifter story because it was such fun taking on the form of a dragon and researching them delighted my 12 year-old. Below is a pg excerpt for Beastly Passion and I hope you enjoy.

Shards of ice nestled into her heart, followed by a torrential flush of melting heat. She gasped. Her body quaked with desire.

The lightweight silk sheet brushed her skin…a tangle of unfocused thirst and mind-numbing want caused her legs to involuntarily buck off the covering. Her hand slid down her throat, a sensual sweep as foreboding and significant as the rising temperature of her skin. Light fingertips skimmed over breasts, playing with the rose-colored peaks of her nipples until she answered the throb—the call and pulse that heated and thrummed through her entire body. Her fingers delved into her wet, soft folds of inviting flesh.

Honey-warm nectar lubricated her fingers. She used them like drumsticks…focused to the call of the song her body recognized at the molecular level. The rhythm and intensity of an ancient, inherent part of her evolution that yearned for her body to change, fly and soar through the realms of her tightly controlled consciousness. Her breath quickened to a fiery puff of soft, gray smoke. A singe of torrid heat caused her to move her fingers out of her sheath to tweak her hard-as-polished-stone nub. Her body, spirit and mind fractured—levitating her to that other plane of existence she fought daily to avoid.

The shift, instant. White-hot fire engulfed her spirit, mind and body. The flame morphed to solidify into what she truly was—dragon. Gone was the woman—discarded and chained away—so that the dragon beast with the long, golden-hued leathery wings stretched. She sought the heat of her thoughts. Clarity. Large, clawed talons pivoted on the marble floor. Her spiked tail slid into position behind her, but when her head swiveled to the front with the mirrors blanketing her gaze she froze. The vision of her new reality snared her like a cage of old. She caught dragon thoughts that yearned for the feel of sky and the need for the moisture-drenched orange clouds that radiated warmth from the moons.

She leashed those traitorous thoughts and screamed, squelching fire that threatened to spew forth. Instantly, she chastised her body for the lust of desire while her rational mind absorbed the impact of what had dared to happen. Shaking, she shifted back into a woman, and grasped the sheet that had fallen to the floor. The cool silk material was exactly what she needed to ground her. Anchor her.
The large, wide iron-fitted door to the chamber gave a mighty creak as it was forced open. Geirsson, her captain-at-arms, stormed in, armed and ready, followed by her maidservant.

“Get out!” Maeja didn’t care that her manner was totally uncharacteristic. She had mastered the art of being in control, as serene as polished steel. Maeja was born with beastly emotions, but they would not control her. She would not allow that to happen. No one knew what a struggle that had become of late. Evidence this morning. She hated what she had dared let slip. Shifting into dragon was forbidden. She had been the one to issue that decree. While some of her people objected, the majority saw her reason. Her world, her people were prospering and if they had to hide their true identity then so be it.

Maeja had worked centuries to ensure others saw her the way she wanted them to. It had become such a part of her skin that sometimes she questioned her own identity. Lately, the haunting, wild animalistic urge to shift had become a steady ache. Often she fled to the safety of her chamber. That was exactly what she had done last night after that horrible scene at her annual Harvest Ball.

Geirsson’s eyes darted warrior swift around the room. “You screamed.”

“I did not. Get out.” At least this time I did not yell at them. Maeja regally enveloped the sheet around her and stood. “My clothes, prepare them…but first a bath. And ensure it’s cold, ice cold,” she directed the maid, trying to ignore Geirsson.

The thought of even lukewarm water caressing her skin left her feeling slightly breathless and flushed. She struggled to regain her composure. Pursing her lips together, she hugged her arms. Her maidservant nodded, bowed low and left to do her bidding. Geirsson remained.

“You may leave, Geirsson.”

“I may…may I?”

She fought against the urge to clamp her hands over her ears. His rumbling voice always reminded her of churning stones being teased to become bright, polished gems, something her beast loved. This morning its intensity was doubled, leaving her with the oddest urge to rub her body up against his. I did not succumb to his charms years ago and I most certainly will not now.

Geirsson looked down at the floor. Two long gouges bore evidence to her swift transformation. She said a silent prayer of thanks when he simply walked over them. Then he edged forward to where she stood. She blinked. What was he doing?

“Fare thee well, my lady?”

He knows. Her nostrils flared, inhaling and tasting his scent. Woodsy smoke mixed with salt, sand and the metallic taste of jewels and minerals sailed into her. She knew he caught the slight, ever so infinitesimal inhalation on her part. Her anger instantly sparked. The spurt of that churning emotion spewed forth within Maeja and she had to close her eyes against the heat enveloping her rational senses, again. She bowed her head, hoping he would give her a moment to collect her thoughts and clamp down hard on the pebble of desire that threatened to break free. What by the Jewels was happening to her?

Purchase today at http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9004-beastly-passion.aspx

Monday, January 3, 2011

Beastly Passion - first dragon story debuts soon


I'm so excited. Two major reasons. One, my new erotic futuristic dragon story debuts Jan 14 from Ellora's Cave and I had such fun writing this that honestly it felt effortless. That never happens for me. Secondly, I've got the rights back to the first book I've ever written, a sensual paranormal story called Rapture which features Sirens and Titans and is set in Atlantic Canada. I'm seriously thinking of self-publishing Rapture on my own and the second book in the series is almost finished. I love writing paranormal and having the opportunity to write about Atlantic Canada thrills me - trust me it is an exotic place to live. Below is an excerpt from Beastly Passion and you can check out the coming soon page at Ellora's Cave at http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-9004-50-beastly-passion.aspx.

Beastly Passion Excerpt:
Shards of ice nestled into her heart, followed by a torrential flush of melting heat. She gasped. Her body quaked with desire.

The lightweight silk sheet brushed her skin…a tangle of unfocused thirst and mind-numbing want caused her legs to involuntarily buck off the covering. Her hand slid down her throat, a sensual sweep as foreboding and significant as the rising temperature of her skin. Light fingertips skimmed over breasts, playing with the rose-colored peaks of her nipples until she answered the throb—the call and pulse that heated and thrummed through her entire body. Her fingers delved into her wet, soft folds of inviting flesh.

Honey-warm nectar lubricated her fingers. She used them like drumsticks…focused to the call of the song her body recognized at the molecular level. The rhythm and intensity of an ancient, inherent part of her evolution that yearned for her body to change, fly and soar through the realms of her tightly controlled consciousness. Her breath quickened to a fiery puff of soft, gray smoke. A singe of torrid heat caused her to move her fingers out of her sheath to tweak her hard-as-polished-stone nub. Her body, spirit and mind fractured—levitating her to that other plane of existence she fought daily to avoid.

The shift, instant. White-hot fire engulfed her spirit, mind and body. The flame morphed to solidify into what she truly was—dragon. Gone was the woman—discarded and chained away—so that the dragon beast with the long, golden-hued leathery wings stretched. She sought the heat of her thoughts. Clarity. Large, clawed talons pivoted on the marble floor. Her spiked tail slid into position behind her, but when her head swiveled to the front with the mirrors blanketing her gaze she froze. The vision of her new reality snared her like a cage of old. She caught dragon thoughts that yearned for the feel of sky and the need for the moisture-drenched orange clouds that radiated warmth from the moons.

She leashed those traitorous thoughts and screamed, squelching fire that threatened to spew forth. Instantly, she chastised her body for the lust of desire while her rational mind absorbed the impact of what had dared to happen. Shaking, she shifted back into a woman, and grasped the sheet that had fallen to the floor. The cool silk material was exactly what she needed to ground her. Anchor her.

The large, wide iron-fitted door to the chamber gave a mighty creak as it was forced open. Geirsson, her Captain-at-Arms, stormed in, armed and ready, followed by her maidservant.

“Get out!” Maeja didn’t care that her manner was totally uncharacteristic. She had mastered the art of being in control, as serene as polished steel. Born with beastly emotions, they would not control her. She would not allow that to happen. No one knew what a struggle that had become of late. Evidence this morning. She hated what she had dared let slip. Shifting into dragon was forbidden. She had been the one to issue that decree. While some of her people objected, the majority saw her reason. Her world, her people were prospering and if they had to hide their true identity then so be it.

Maeja had worked centuries to ensure others saw her the way she wanted them to. It had become such a part of her skin that sometimes she questioned her own identity. Lately, the haunting, wild animalistic urge to shift had become a steady ache. Often she fled to the safety of her chamber. That is exactly what she had done last night after that horrible scene at her annual Harvest Ball.

Geirsson’s eyes darted warrior swift around the room. “You screamed.”

“I did not. Get out.” At least this time I did not yell at them. Maeja regally enveloped the sheet around her and stood. “My clothes, prepare them…but first a bath. And ensure its cold, ice cold.” She directed herself to the maid, trying to ignore Geirsson.

The thought of even lukewarm water caressing her skin left her feeling slightly breathless and flushed. She struggled to regain her composure. Pursing her lips together, she hugged her arms. Her maidservant nodded, bowed low and left to do her bidding. Geirsson remained.

“You may leave, Geirsson.”

“I may…may I?”

She fought against the urge to clamp her hands over her ears. His rumbling voice always reminded her of churning stones being teased to become bright polished gems, something her beast loved. This morning its intensity was doubled, leaving her with the oddest urge to rub her body up against his. I did not succumb to his charms years ago and I most certainly will not now.

Geirsson looked down at the floor. Two long gouges bore evidence to her swift transformation. She said a silent prayer of thanks when he simply walked over them. Then he edged forward to where she stood. She blinked. What was he doing?

“Fare thee well, my lady?”

He knows. Her nostrils flared, inhaling and tasting his scent. Woodsy smoke mixed with salt, sand and the metallic taste of jewels and minerals sailed into her. She knew he caught the slight, ever so infinitesimal inhalation on her part. Her anger instantly sparked. The spurt of that churning emotion spewed forth within Maeja and she had to close her eyes against the heat enveloping her rational senses, again. She bowed her head, hoping he would give her a moment to collect her thoughts and clamp down hard on the pebble of desire that threatened to break free. What by the Jewels was happening to her?

“I am fine. No need to concern yourself.” She turned, needing the space to breathe, fearful of the animalistic urge that told her to simply push Geirsson to the floor and straddle him. Take what she knew he could skillfully offer. As always, she denied herself.

She was Maeja III. A royal Queen of Castra, descendant from a dynasty of dragon queens. And she was the last of her line.

That sad, hard rock of reality as always robbed her of breath. She had tried everything—a hundred or so draconic men through the long passage of time—and about a century ago when she had ushered her planet into the computer age, she had even resorted to in-vitro fertilization. But nothing worked. She was a good queen, and maybe the Blessed Jeweled Scribe scholars would record her reign as the best but she was barren. All my work will not be for naught. It was a recitation that had become her own dreaded motto.

Maeja didn’t have anyone she could leave her dynasty to and she wanted to be able to do that. She wanted a child of her own to nurture with the understanding of what her race needed. A firm hand.

Again, the image of what had transpired last night flashed through her. Note to self, check on the witch in the dungeon and find out which faction sent her to infiltrate my royal palace.

“I questioned the witch.”

Lost in her own turmoil of thoughts, Maeja was astonished when Geirsson spoke. She had assumed since she had turned her back to him that he had left. She should have known better. Lately Geirsson seemed always to be under foot.

He crossed his arms and she tried hard to ignore the play of muscles on his forearms. Maeja felt her throat constrict with longing and her heart accelerate. She pivoted and moved farther away from him, not wanting Geirsson to assess her reaction. Both were beasts to the core and he was not blind. To pretend he knew nothing of her desire for him would not benefit her rational mind.

“She claims she was not sent by any factions. I’m not one hundred percent sure. She claims she came of her own free will. She also…”

Geirsson’s long pause forced Maeja to turn and face him. “Yes, what?”

“She wants to speak with you alone.”

Maeja tugged the sheet around her tighter. “Alone. I don’t think so.”

Geirsson paced her bedroom. It was so uncharacteristic of her stoic guard that his movements caused her to examine him again. The thought she should replace him with someone else flashed hotly through her. She was beginning to admire his strong, muscular physique far too much for her own good. Often during the day she found herself fantasizing about him and it was beginning to annoy her.

“Stop that. Why are you doing that?”