Today’s exclusive interview is with romantic suspense author and MTW2017 participant Lily Black, who writes from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her newest novel is called Storm of Attraction, available in both e-book and paperback format. Here’s a blurb guaranteed to get you scurrying out to buy the book: Love is worth fighting for. Alexa Wolving has just one rule: never give a guy a second chance. That works just fine in the safe life she’s built. In the charming town of Willowdale, her day job as a librarian balances perfectly with her evening job as a black belt instructor. But when she attracts the attention of a stalker, Alexa’s carefully built world begins to crumble. Drew Cosimo knows he broke Alexa’s heart five years ago when he took his first Ranger assignment and disappeared from her life. Now that he’s out of the army, he’s moving back home to Willowdale. He’s not looking for a fight, but making peace would be easier if Alexa hadn’t told the entire town he was a money-grubbing jerk. Despite the tension between them, Drew is quick to offer his protection when a stalker forces Alexa from her home. As the stalker’s attacks escalate, Alexa and Drew are forced to face their painful past and the simmering attraction between them. They must fight to save each other before everything they care about goes up in flames. Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: This book is an interesting mix, because on the one hand there’s some very practical self-defense stuff and the stalker, who is freaky scary. While on the other hand, there are some lovely scenes with cozy cooking in a grand old house that has a gorgeous library, which my librarian heroine instantly falls in love with. I really enjoyed writing this juxtaposition, which takes me and the reader on a real rollercoaster! Any Upcoming Promotions/Giveaways/Events We Should Know About? Storm of Attraction will be on sale at a nice promotional price for my loyal fans on the day it comes out, which is Feb. 13th. Pick it up then! My publisher will also be sponsoring a Goodreads Giveaway of three paperback copies of the book from January 30th through February 12th I will also be participating in a big literary event with some ten or so other Red Adept authors on the Saturday before Memorial Day, here in the Raleigh NC area. My website will have all the details! What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? My favorite so far was a gentleman reader/reviewer who said he didn’t like romances generally, but this one was good and it didn’t have to be read as a romance if you didn’t want to. I happen to like the romance angle, but I appreciated his support! If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet? This is such a great question! There are so many authors (living and dead) who’ve influenced me, and I look up to. However, I’m going to go with Jane Austen. Despite the fact that I don’t write historicals, her work has inspired me on so many levels, and I also really admire her as a person. I think we’d ditch tea and take a long walk through the gorgeous countryside, and talk writing. Like how to know when a draft is done, and when to rein your characters in vs. letting them lead the story. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Hmm, that’s a tough one! I’m going to say Michelle Rodriguez or Ginnifer Goodwin for my heroine, Alexa, though both of them would have to change their hair to honey-blond. And for my hero I’m thinking Jake Gyllenhaal or Oscar Isaac. What is your favorite quote from the book and why? No way can I pick one! But here’s one I’ll share, from early in the book when the heroine has just learned that she’ll have to leave her home and hide with the hero. The detective’s role in the story isn’t super big, but she won a place in my heart from this scene alone. Here you are: “So, a safe room, huh?” Something in Detective Rawlings’s voice snagged Drew’s attention. “That’s right.” He couldn’t read the detective’s expression. Was she laughing at him? “Nothing fancy, not like the movies. Just a room that’s been reinforced where possible. I installed a sturdy frame and a solid, reinforced door. Then added two deadbolts that slide straight into solid wood.” Detective Rawlings nodded. There was definitely a glint in her eye, and a smile played about her lips. “And that room would be… where? Not the kitchen or living room?” “My bedroom, actually.” Drew caught the suggestion in her look and shook his head emphatically. “Only to be used in emergencies. Besides, the guest bedroom is also a safe room.” He didn’t add that he only considered the guest room a backup, considering it was on the main floor and had a window with easy access to the ground. The detective grinned. “I only ask because I don’t want to save Alexa from the stalker only to charge her with assault and battery. She doesn’t like you very much.” Do you have pets? I have a dog named Zeke (who now considers himself famous, since he’s in my author photo on the back cover of Storm of Attraction!), and a cat named Apricot. At one point Apricot, who is orange and striped, had put on a bit of extra weight and the vet put her on a diet. My kids were young then and found this hilarious, so they started calling her Garfieldina, after the food-loving cat in the comic strip. So when I realized my heroine in Storm of Attraction was going to have several cats, one of them got named Fieldgar (Garfield backwards) in honor of all chubby orange and striped cats everywhere. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? I’m well into the companion novel, which is tentatively titled Storm of Deception. In it we have a Senator’s daughter, a wounded warrior, and a shadowy bad guy who’s looking to score some political blackmail while killing off the hero and heroine before they can uncover his secrets. Do you have any other awesome projects in the works? Why yes, I do, thanks for asking! Many years ago when I first started reading romance, I discovered that the heat level I enjoyed was much lower than that of some of the books, and the cover could only tell me so much. Out of this desire to better be able to pick my new reads my husband and I developed the Book Ninjas Blush-O-Meter. We’re still adding to the book catalog (and probably always will be) but we now have several hundred romance, YA and chicklit books in every genre sorted by blush level in the catalog. It’s super easy to use, so check it out and discover the new read that’s perfect for you! www.book-ninjas.com/blushometer. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I’m with a small traditional press. For me, it felt like the best of all worlds since Red Adept is able to provide a gorgeous cover, editing, and advertising much like the big presses, but I get to keep a larger percentage of royalties and grow creatively in the direction I want with my publisher’s support. What former author training/writing have you had, if any? I attended RWA Nationals around the same time I wrote Storm of Attraction but spent the next several years focused on my YA and MG books, while also working as a content/developmental editor. During the same time I also participated in Orson Scott Card’s Literary Bootcamp, and of course honed my skills in a variety of other ways. When I came back to romances I found that my skills had grown, and was pleased to be able to implement much of what I’d learned in the revision process! What conferences have you attended and what value have you found in attending conferences, if any? Because I write across niches/genres I’ve attended a lot of local conferences as well as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Nationals, WorldCon (where I paneled and promoted an anthology I was part of) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) National Conference. Each has their own particular strengths, and I’ve loved them all. However, I was most impressed with the curriculum and professionalism of the RWA national conference. It was so valuable that I actually forked over the cash both for that year’s recorded lectures and the year prior’s. Amazing insights into the craft and business of writing! Lily was generous enough to share an excerpt from Storm of Attraction with us below:
Drew shifted from one foot to the other. “There’s a cut in the tire wall, so you’ll need a new tire. It can’t be patched, and it looks like it’s—” When Alexa realized where he was going, the keys slipped from her fingers and jangled onto the porch steps. Drew reached down and picked them up. He flipped them once in his hand then met Alexa’s eyes. “Your tire’s been slashed. Do you know anyone who would do that? Anyone who might be angry or holding a grudge?” “Besides you?” Alexa smiled sweetly at the astonishment on his face then turned her back on him. Okay, so maybe that was uncalled for. Between the stalker, slashed tire, and Drew showing up, acting as if he had a place in her life, she wasn’t sure which way was up or down anymore. Something in the living room window caught her eye. Ragbag, her kitten, stood on the ledge inside the window. He was soaking wet and dripping. He meowed through the window then bent his head to lick his wet fur. His balance was off, and he wobbled before tumbling off the ledge. “Ragbag!” Alexa snatched the keys from Drew’s hand and unlocked the door in record time. Dumping the big box on the couch, she bent beside Ragbag and examined him carefully. He was even soggier than he’d looked in the window, but he appeared okay aside from that. Drew had followed her and stood in the doorway with his head cocked. “Is that running water I hear?” “Running water?” Alexa caught the sound and got up, running as fast as she could manage down the hall to the bathroom. Her two adult cats were in the bathtub, trapped underneath a laundry basket that had been flipped over to make a cage. The tap was turned on, and the water level in the tub had risen to the point that the cats were just barely keeping their heads above water. Even as she watched, Fieldgar’s head slipped beneath the surface. Snatching the basket out of the tub, Alexa tossed it aside and pulled Fieldgar free. She passed him to Drew, who crouched beside her, ready with a towel. Then she reached back for Oreo. When her black-and-white kitty was bundled in a towel, she looked around for Ragbag, who had followed them in, but Drew had already wrapped him in another towel. “I… I don’t…” Alexa stuttered to a stop. She put her face down close to Oreo’s face and worked to calm her racing heart enough so she could get words out. Falling apart wouldn’t help her cats—figuring this out would. She drew on the calm she reached for when sparring and lifted her head. “How did they get in the tub? And why was the water running?” Instead of answering, he picked Fieldgar up and rubbed him vigorously then held him out to Alexa. “He’s so limp, almost like he’s asleep. Is that normal?” She took Fieldgar and cradled him in her lap. She stroked his tiger-orange face then tickled him under the chin but got no response. “The water was cool, and cats hate water. Maybe he’s in shock?” “Maybe,” Drew answered grimly. “But I wonder if that’s all.” He stood and started searching around the edge of the tub. After a minute, he held up a squeezable tube for Alexa to examine. “What’s this?” Alexa gasped. “Their sedative! I use it when they travel.” She grabbed the tube then looked at her sleepy cats. Fieldgar was just this side of conscious, and Oreo wasn’t much better. “I don’t know how much they were given or how long they were in the water. I have to get them to the vet!” Copyright 2016 Lily Black. Reprinted with permission.
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Today’s exclusive interview is with romantic thriller novelist Ronnie Allen, an MTW2017 participant who hails from Ocala, Florida and whose latest offering is Aries: The Sign Behind The Crime, Book 2. It’s available as an e-book and paperback. Here’s a blurb to whet your appetite: Lying. Deception. Cover-ups. Anger. Revenge. Death. That’s what happens when an Aries-obsessed killer combines black magick rituals, knives…and murder. Samantha Wright, a rookie NYPD detective, gets her first case, a big one, by stumbling over the body while jogging in the park. Sam has a lot to prove, both to herself and to her new precinct, on this serial murder case involving fashion icons in NYC. Together with a rough around the edges BJJ fighter, forensic psychiatrist, Frank Khaos, Sam chases down leads through the five boroughs of NYC. As the bodies pile up, sparks fly and Sam and Frank, polar opposites, go from their dislike for each other to setting the sheets on fire. But their main suspect is hooked up to an IV in a hospital bed, so how has she pulled off five murders in seven days? And can Sam and Frank stop her before even more innocent lives are lost? Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: Rookie detective Samantha Wright is first coming to terms with her psychic abilities. She's not trusting her intuition and with it being spot on, she's still in doubt of herself. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? It wasn't a review, but a comment. My titles are the astrological signs, Gemini and Aries. So, some people feel they have to be under that sign to read the books which is so not true. The symbolism of The Sign helps to solve the crime. A woman at a fair wanted to argue with me about it. I don't get into that. So I merely responded, 'If you say so.' If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)? James Patterson bccause I'd love to chat about writing so many books in a series and how he keeps them fresh. I try not to make my books predictable and I'm changing each one. In Gemini, it's a female serial killer. In Aries, a group of women. In Scorpio that's coming out in September, it's a male killer. In Libra, which I'm writing now. it's the system that's the antagonist. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? This is my goal actually. Gemini and Aries would work for TV episodics. There are so many blonde, physically fit women in Hollywood, the choices are endless. For forensic psychiatrist Dr. Frank Khaos, who's former special forces, a BJJ fighter, tatted and rough around the edges as he works with NYC gang members who've left the hood in his MMA training gym in Harlem, Dave Bautista would fit him perfectly. He's the polar opposite to the forensic psychiatrist Dr. John Trenton in Gemini who's the Armani suit kind of guy. Michael Weatherly would fit him. What other jobs have you held (even what you’re doing currently): I'm a retired NYC teacher with 33 years in the Dept. of Education with a state license as School Psychologist. Actually, I had the career of the killer in Gemini. The school psychologist part, not the stripper. I'm also a board certified holistic health practitioner specializing in the alternative therapies that are also featured in my novels. What gave you the idea to write this book? I was in conflict to write the main character of Gemini, Dr. John Trenton, as the main character in Aries. That was bccause I started Aries before I received my contract on Gemini by 6 months. So I decided to select a hero who was the opposite of John's personality though both of them are very physical men and alpha males. I fell in love with both characters and they're both in the upcoming Scorpio and Libra. What is the main conflict in your book? Det. Samantha Wright and Dr. Frank Khaos are on the same NYPD team to catch the killers of fashion industry icons in NYC. Though the ring leader is in custody, so to speak, the murders keep happening. Secondary conflicts? I always write multi plot novels. Up until Frank meets Sam, the murder of his pregnant wife was unsolved, leaving him a single dad to a 7-year-old boy. Sam reopens the case which is considered cold, and finds the killer, the reasons behind the murder, and basically turns her department upside down. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I'm traditionally published and for me, this is the only route I'd consider right now. I know I have the professional editing, covers, formatting, uploading to the retailers, and I don't have the skills necessary for self-publishing. Ronnie was kind enough to share a Never Before Shared excerpt with us below. Please be aware that this clip contains MATURE LANGUAGE AND THEMES.
“I never said you were a suspect, AriellaRose.” But you sure as hell confirmed that you are one. “Okay, we can move on. What do you know about the club Whiplash?” “From spells to a sex club. You’re sure organized, aren’t you? But at least you stayed the same place in the alphabet. Okay. Okay. My dad liked it. He went a lot. So does Adam. Why?” “What about you?” AriellaRose shuddered. “Me never. Hate the pain part. Ugh.” “Well, I’m going there tonight with Tattoo—Doctor Khaos—to follow up a lead Calinda gave us.” AriellaRose paid attention as if relieved the focus was off her. “What lead?” “Calinda said your dad’s killer might have come from there.” “Hope so. That would mean you’d solve his murder quicker, right?” “Possibly. Anything I should be aware of in preparation to go?” “Like what?” “Set up of the place. Rules. Things like that.” “So you’ve never been in a club like this?” Sam shook her head. “No.” She could lie, too. But unlike AriellaRose, she had been trained. “Okay. You’ve got to be dressed for it. Can’t wear street clothes. And you can’t go in there smelling of cop. Which you do. And no sex. Save that for when you get Tattooman back to your place, or wherever.” “If you’ve never been there, how do you know?” AriellaRose rolled her eyes. “Okay, you caught me. I’ve been there lots of times, but I just watch. I don’t like them doing those things to me.” “Okay, good. Then I can be more specific. Who’s the owner or the person we should ask to see?” “Oh yeah. Dominic. Dominic what’s his last name? Yeah Trevino. He’s totally hands on.” “Hands on? Such as?” “He teaches first timers how to do everything. Spankings, the bondage. He’ll show Tattooman how to do all that to you. And from what you look like, I bet Dominick will take his time with the lessons. He’s into long spankings. He’ll go for an hour. He’s in and out of the rooms to make sure no one gets carried away. Oh, and this is important. You need a fake name. No one uses their real ones. No phones or cameras allowed inside, either.” “Do you know your father’s and Adam’s aliases?’ “Yeah. I do. But I can’t laugh. It hurts.” “Okay. I won’t laugh.” “Dad’s is Dudley. And Adam is Fido.” “Fido, like the dog?” “Yeah. Adam is always a sub, but my dad does both. Uh, did both.” “Thanks for the heads up. One more thing.” “What?’ “Calinda says you’ve been seeing Leonardo for three years and you’re close with his family.” “Yeah. Remind me to thank her for telling you my life.” “Well, is he your street pharmacist?” “He isn’t no more, now, is he?” “What do you know about his suppliers?” AriellaRose turned away. “I’m getting tired.” “I can see that, but we may need to protect you. How open was your relationship? Your mother didn’t seem to know. She thinks you’re still a virgin.” “People know. My mother is in denial. But he never did business in front of me, so I really don’t know his clients. And every transfer was in private, so no one else saw anyone, either. He never did any parties.” “Thanks, AriellaRose. This has been helpful.” “Can’t imagine how. It was all bullshit to me.” Sam nodded and left the room, knowing she had to initiate a warrant for AriellaRose’s apartment. First, however, she envisioned herself over Frank’s muscular lap with his large, warm hands toying with her naked bottom, patting her first to warm her up, then increasing in firmness as she spread her legs, so he could reward her with his fingers sliding over her clit, intermittently with the spanks. Oh my God. Her thong just stuck to her crotch. Copyright 2016 Ronnie Allen. Reprinted with Permission. 5.0 out of 5 stars
Any book with cupcakes is a winner with me! Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker, a novel of romantic suspense, is a fun, easy read. Callie, the main character, is sassy but self-deprecating and finds it hard to believe that a gorgeous hunk of a detective would wait around a year to date her. Her best friend and fellow baker, Anna, repeatedly tries to boost her self-confidence and enrolls the two of them in a pole dancing class and that's where the trouble begins. The teacher is a skinny b*tch who publicly humilates Callie for her weight, which precipitates Callie's complaints to the manager. Shortly afterward, the teacher is murdered and Callie is blamed for the crime. The remainder of the novel is filled with Callie, Anna and Callie's detective/almost boyfriend investigating the crime to clear Callie's name so she can teach at the local university (her other job). It's a fun read and I didn't suspect the actual murderer until the reveal. I would read more from D.E. Haggerty, thanks to her flowing writing style and sense of humor. And, of course, because I love cupcakes too Today’s exclusive interview is with author Khristina Atkinson, who hails from Charleston, West Virginia. Her most recent novel is titled “Hopelessly, Completely, MADLY in Love,” a Historical Romance/Suspense, available in eBook with the paperback edition to be available soon. Sounds like my kind of novel, and what a terrific cover! Just read this: Lexi Donovan leaves home to visit her grandmother in Louisville when her crush, Cooper Grayson, returns to Bardstown, Kentucky. He immediately asks her father's permission to court her after she's already accepted an engagement ring from her best friend, Silas Reilly. Silas hasn't yet found the courage to speak with her father, Heath. He's a brawny man with a fiery temper, who's extremely protective of his only child. Lexi comes back to town with a new husband, Luke Weston, and is about to deliver the wonderful news he's going to be a father when a shot rings out. Is one of the men who claim to love her trying to murder her husband? Khristina has originally announced the price of the eBook would remain 99 cents only until Christmas, but now she’s decided to leave it reduced until the end of Mystery Thriller Week in mid-February so here’s your chance to snap up a copy! Here’s what Khristina had to say about the book and the writing life in general: What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? I haven’t had a lot of time for promoting. I have two sequels coming out in early 2017. After their completion, I’m going to slow down and devote more time to getting my books out into the world. I only have one review for this book so far. It’s special because of the 5 stars. “A story that leaves you hoping for love, wondering in suspense, and eager to turn the pages. Obsessive love story that's unpredictable. This story takes you to a different time frame and place, giving you an insight of love in the eighteen hundreds. Loved it and recommended read!” If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met) and why? William Shakespeare. I’d love to hear him read a passage from any of his great works. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? I already picture Chris Pine as Luke Weston in my head. Scarlett Johansson looks terrific with any color hair, so we’ll give her long, dark-auburn locks. I’ve been seeing a lot of Zac Efron in movies lately, so let’s put him in the role of Silas Reilly. I’ll darken Matt Boomer’s hair a bit, and he’ll be the perfect Cooper Grayson. I’ve loved Shia Labeouf since “Holes,” so he’s my choice for Jesse Dalton. When and why did you decide to become a writer: I’ve been writing poems and short stories since elementary school. I thoroughly enjoy expressing my ideas on paper, and now the computer. I have a vivid imagination, so about six years ago, I started jotting ideas down in an attempt for a full-length book. I ended up coming up with four stories that were all published this year. What other jobs have you held? I was the counselor at a college. All of the students who were receiving the grants from my department had to check in with me once a week. If they had a problem, I took on most tasks myself. I tutored them, helped them fill out financial aid forms, and typed them up resumes. They would sit at my desk and freely express details about their lives and relationships. Years later, I might recall one our sessions and add a fictional aspect to one of my storylines. Do you have pets? I have a cat that my sons named Charlene. In the spring of this year, my mom saw a bluebird attacking her, but she seemed to run and get away. She was lethargic one Saturday morning when we were leaving to take my youngest son to karate. After returning home, we couldn’t find her. She’s very spoiled and has a perch on our covered porch that she lays on during the day, like a queen. I call my mom “the cat whisperer.” She located Charlotte on Monday under a bush, and the poor cat couldn’t even walk. The bluebird had pecked her neck, and it had become infected. I had a really hard time getting the antibiotics down her, and she wouldn’t eat. I’d soak her cat food in water until it was basically mush and place it into her mouth. This went on for several weeks until she recovered. She killed numerous birds and placed them on our porch for nearly a month. We came home one evening, and she was posed on her perch. She reminded us all of Batman, leaning over top of a building, with her eyes glowing. I immediately mimicked words from the cartoon, “I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batcat.” My sons loved the comparison. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I’m self-published, because it gives me the freedom to make my own choices. I don’t care about the money. The books are my personal expression. I want to decide how they’re represented to the public. I’ve done research on authors who have been traditionally published for many years with little money to show for their efforts, and who are now switching over to self-publishing. Do you belong to any writer’s groups? Which ones and how have they helped you? I belong to several on Facebook. I’ve been chosen to be featured on Writer’s Rave for the group Write of Passage, which encompasses and encourages all art forms. I had the opportunity to showcase some of my artwork (which I normally would never do), shorts stories, poems, and even a joke. The poets encouraged me to starts writing poems again, and I now have a book of poetry on Chanillo.com. A friend of mine started Indie Author Support group. We have writers from several different genres, who are always available for sharing their experiences and answering questions. The members freely express their failures and successes in topics such as marketing and reviews. They’ve taught me so much. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why? Paranormal. I’ve loved vampire shows and movies since as far back as I can remember. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Charmed” are two shows on television that I watched every single episode. I have several ideas floating around in my brain for this genre. I want to write a book of short stories, so perhaps I can combine the two. Please join me in wishing Khristina great success with this book, its sequels, her poetry and any paranormal books she puts out in the future! And here's an excerpt from “Hopelessly, Completely, MADLY in Love," that she was kind enough to share with us, describing an interaction between Lexi and yet another admirer, Damon, who kidnaps her and forces her into marriage: Damon left early the next morning and informed Lexi that he would be gone most of the day. He’d made his expectations clear to her. She was going to be his wife, whether she wanted to or not, and responsible for the meals and care of their home. Lexi had taken to Bea after her mother died, and she had actually let the woman start teaching her how to prepare their meals. Being around another woman helped keep her mind off of her loss, but later she realized that she despised cooking. Lexi made Damon a list of items necessary for their meals during the week. Bea had a special recipe for a sauce that included mushrooms. She’d given Lexi detailed instructions on how to tell the poisonous variety from the ones she needed as an ingredient. Certain mushrooms could be deadly, and thanks to Bea she knew exactly what she required for her plan to work. She journeyed outside and began to search. The ground was damp from a recent rain, and she quickly found what she was looking for. She gathered the mushrooms she would eat, and also the kind that would take care of Damon. When she arrived back at the house, she went to work on the evening’s dinner. Damon returned early that afternoon with the supplies and a preacher. Lexi was afraid not to go along with him. The couple repeated their vows and were pronounced man and wife. While her new husband stepped out the front door to pay the good reverend, she was busy starting their meal. Damon came back inside the house and ordered her to postpone dinner until after she had performed her wifely duty. She sweetly reminded him that he was going to need his strength for the bedroom. She claimed to be starving and wouldn’t be pleasant company until she was properly fed. He gave in to her reasoning. Waiting an hour or so for his honeymoon night wouldn’t hurt his plans. Lexi made sure she gave Damon the plate that contained the poisonous mushrooms first. When he’d dug in, she sat down with her meal. He ate every bite and made a big deal about how the dish was delicious. Lexi ate slowly. She waited patiently for the mushrooms to take their effect. She prayed she would not end up having marital relations with the man. Lexi suggested they toast their new marriage. Damon concurred and opened a bottle of wine. She’d once vowed never to drink again, but was hoping alcohol would give her courage for what she concluded was going to be inevitable. The thought of being intimate with Damon was making her feel sick to her stomach. Two glasses of wine had gone down her throat by the time he finished his first drink. Damon had waited long enough and took Lexi’s hand to lead her into the bedroom. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes tightly when he entered her. As his body pressed against hers, she was revolting. She wanted to scream for him to stop. Her suffering didn’t last long. A groan escaped his throat, and he stopped his movements. When Damon fell asleep, Lexi got up from the bed and stared at him. She had a sudden pang of regret. She wanted so badly to be reunited with Lucas, but another way must have been possible. Tears began to form in her eyes as the thought of taking this man’s life overwhelmed her mind. Visions of his lifeless, cold body replaced his now breathing form. She did not want to be a murderer. Copyright 2016 Khristina Atkinson. Reprinted with permission. |
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