Blog Tour For Sarah Cass's The Raven

Blog Tour

Book: The Raven

Author: Sarah Cass

Series The Tribe, Book Four

Buy Links

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWLY89Q/

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LWLY89Q/

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01LWLY89Q/

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01LWLY89Q/

Synopsis

Time is running out for Velli’s former mentor, Dr. John Adams. Life caught in the middle of two Spirits is slowly driving both the man and the Lion crazy. Velli is determined to help him out of his bind.

Her plans to take care of the issue and return home quickly are ruined in short order. There’s a war brewing between the Lion and her old friend Derek over the love of Kai. One that has to be resolved just as fast as John needs saved.

Worse, the Raven has his sights set on Velli in hopes of her assistance. She doesn’t know what an ancient Spirit wants from her, but her mistrust of the bird means she wants to avoid him. Circumstance throws her right in his path, and she is intrigued by the mystery she finds.

Velli has to face too many battles that aren’t hers—until an attack on her children. As her world crumbles around her, she and Kane fight to save all the lives hanging in the balance.

Excerpt

The moment she emerged outside she heard Kimi and Kane’s laughter. She crossed the balcony to the railing. The sight below her made her smile grow even more. Down in the pool Kimi played, splashing Kane where he sat in a chair. Right next to him in a covered pumpkin seat was Aidan.

It didn’t surprise her that Kane wasn’t swimming—the man hated water. Actually, he was terrified of it. Whether the fear came from the man or the Wolf, she didn’t know, but she found it ironic that he’d ended up mated with a woman strong in water magic.

Of course, he also had a daughter strong in it as well, as she kept proving with directed splashes right at her father. Velli almost called out to them, but right before the words left her mouth she noticed the Raven perched in a tree across the yard.

Rather than call attention to herself, even if she suspected Kane knew she was near, Velli backed away from the railing. She took a seat by the table and waited. Last thing she’d do was let the Raven have the upper hand by asking him to join her. She’d never been the best with patience, but she’d gotten better the past few years.

In time her patience was rewarded when the large black bird launched into the air. It swooped up until it almost disappeared into the clouds. Instead, it simply disappeared. She wasn’t fooled for one second, so he didn’t get the pleasure of her startling at his arrival perched on the chair beside her.

This time when the Raven spoke it didn’t encompass every molecule. The voice he used was quiet, personal, directed for her ears only. “I knew you would come.”

“Of course you did.” Unwilling to give him too much leeway or any hint of an upper hand, she plowed forward. “I came for John. Not you.”

“I know. The doctor-man is a good human.”

“Yes he is.” A conversation with the air was uncomfortable, but she didn’t know if she dared to face the Raven. She’d always fought against weakness, so she turned to face the bird. “Therefore if you harmed him intentionally for the purpose of drawing me here, I will not make your eternity easy.”

“I have done much in my time. Not all good, but not all bad. Harming the doctor-man is not something I have done. My magic was sound.” The Raven lifted his head. His wings fluttered and his beak clicked in a clear display of indignance. “There are humans that deserve such treatment. He is not one.”

“Am I?” The question was made in half-jest. A test to see where the bird lay on the judgmental scale. Once the question hung in the air she realized some sick part of her was truly curious what he thought. She kept her features still to fight against the wince. Sometimes her old wounds exerted themselves at the most random of times.

His head twisted as only a bird’s could until one cold black beady eye stared her down. “Curious that you would think so.”

“I didn’t think so. I don’t. I was just wondering if you would.”

“Hmmm.” His head twisted the other way. Once again his beak clicked several times before he shook out his feathers. In the midst of the sea of black, Velli could have sworn she caught a glimpse of gray but the Raven turned when he caught her staring. “You need me. I need you.”

“I am not making any sort of bargain with you, Raven.” She met the bird’s gaze levelly. In their whole conversation, this felt the most crucial to stick to her guns. “You say John is a good man. If you mean that you help him without recourse.”

“I will help the doctor-man.” He hopped from the back of the chair to the seat and inched closer. “You are not the least bit curious as to why an ancient creature such as myself would say they need you?”

“If I were, you’d never know.” Truthfully she was flat out dying of curiosity. None of it made much sense to her. The last thing she’d dare to do is tip her hat this early in the game. First she needed to make sure he helped John.

“Will you come speak to me again?”

“As I need to for my work.”

“No. Creature to creature. Once a day. No tricks. If there are tricks, you have permission to pluck my tail feathers.”

“It’s no fun with permission.”

If birds could grin, the raven was. His eyes gleamed with amusement and a low chuckle carried between them. “I promise to fight and peck.”

So the damn thing had a sense of humor, a wicked one at that. Speaking to him more often could be dangerous. She ran the risk of liking him. “We’ll see. Will you tell me what you’ve done now?”

“I can show you.” He spread his wing out toward her. “It will not harm you, but I will give you a taste of the magic used. This will show you what was done to him.”

“Nice try. What if the magic was unintentionally faulty? You could harm me.”

“I hadn’t considered that. I am certain my magic is sound.” He turned his head to stare at the clouds. “Return here tomorrow at the same time. I will have another way to show you.”

“Agreed.”

The Raven tipped his head toward her before he took off into the sky. Before he’d cleared the roof he completely disappeared.

“Damn bird.”

“I heard that.”

About the Author

Sarah Cass' world is regularly turned upside down by her three special needs kids and loving mate, so she breaks genre barriers; dabbling in horror, straight fiction and urban fantasy.  She loves historicals and romance, and characters who are real and flawed, so she writes to understand what makes her fictional people tick.  And she lives for a happy ending - eventually. And enough twists to make it look like she enjoys her title of Queen of Trauma Drama a little too much.

An ADD tendency leaves her with a variety of interests that include singing, dancing, crafting, cooking, and being a photographer. She fights through the struggles of the day, knowing the battles are her crucible; she may emerge scarred, but always stronger.  The rhythms to her activities drive her words forward, pushing her through the labyrinths of the heart and the nightmares of the mind, driving her to find resolutions to her characters' problems.

While busy creating worlds and characters as real to her as her own family, she leads an active online life with her blog, Redefining Perfect, which gives a real and sometimes raw glimpse into her life and art.  You can most often find her popping out her 140 characters in Twitter speak, and on Facebook.

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Blog Tour For Jessica Prince's Coming Full Circle

Title: Coming Full Circle
Series: Pembrooke Series (Book 2)
Author: Jessica Prince
Genre: Contemporary Romance

She knew what it was like to feel unwanted.

At an early age Eliza Anderson learned a very hard lesson. Sometimes the people who are supposed to love you the most are the ones that cause you the most pain. She learned to guard herself, hesitating to let anyone close for fear of feeling that rejection all over again. Then Ethan came into her life, and what had started as a simple childhood crush morphed into a friendship she eventually came to cherish above all else. He was her safe place. Her rock. A shoulder she could lean on. Until he ripped it all away.

He knew what it was like to feel like an outsider.

Ethan Prewitt grew up learning that you couldn’t always trust the people you loved the most to be there. That sense of security he craved had always alluded him, leaving him to feel like an interloper in his own home. He dreamed of escaping the small town of Pembrooke and building a life where he didn’t have to depend on anyone but himself. What he never expected was for his friendship with Eliza to grow into something that meant everything to him.

Mistakes were made. Hearts were broken. But now Ethan’s home and he’s determined to make it right. It was time for their relationship to come full circle.

Because what they had was once in a lifetime.

***This is Book 2 in the Pembrooke series, a spin-off of Wildflower. They are interconnected standalones.***

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“If you’re done with your meal, please feel free to pay your tab, tip the waitress, and leave.” Her tone might have sounded polite, but the way she said it meant it wasn’t so much a suggestion as a demand.

“Shit, Eliza. I’m sorry,” I breathed, running a hand through my hair.

“You know, you’ve been saying that a lot lately.”

“Because I mean it!” I bit back.

“Then stop saying it and start showing it, Ethan. What have you actually done to prove to me or anybody in this town that you’re sorry for being a shitty friend or a shitty brother for the past six years?”

Jesus Christ, she hadn’t been kidding when she said she’d changed. The Eliza I knew was always headstrong, but she’d never been one to make a scene or give someone a verbal ass kicking, even when they deserved it. Clearly, with age came a sharp tongue where Eliza Anderson was concerned. And fuck if it wasn’t sexy as hell to see her reacting with so much passion.

Before I had a chance to apologize again, or maybe do something stupid like tell her just how gorgeous I found her in that very moment another presence interrupted our standoff. And, unlike Quinn’s appearance, that particular blast from the past was unwanted, and very unwelcomed.

“Hi, Ethan. I thought that was you.”

Even if the feminine voice wasn’t familiar to me — in that nails-on-a-chalkboard kind of way — the way Eliza’s entire body went rigid and her face blanked would have told me exactly who was standing behind her.

I knew good and well that Eliza couldn’t stand my on-again-off-again ex-girlfriend Shannon, and she had every right. I’d started dating her my freshman year of high school. She was a year ahead of me in school, sixteen years old, and more than willing to put out with one of the guys from the varsity football team. And seeing as I was a dumbass kid who was only thinking with his dick, I thought she’d walked on water, and throughout the next four years, we broke up and got back together more times than I could count on either hand. She cheated, had a nasty jealous streak, was a spoiled, entitled little brat, and my sister never liked her. Those red flags should have been enough for me to realize that not only wasn’t she a good girlfriend, but she pretty much sucked as a human being all together.

Over the years, one of Shannon’s hot buttons was my relationship with Eliza. Because she didn’t understand what our friendship was like back then, and she felt that she was the only person without a dick I should have been allowed to talk to, she took a distinct dislike to Eliza. And let it show.

She treated Eliza like shit whenever she thought I wouldn’t find out about it, bullying her and being as cruel and nasty as a bitch like her could possibly be, thinking her pussy was enough to keep me on a leash while she secretly treated my best friend like shit. We fought about it constantly, because if I wasn’t there to see it myself, someone else always managed to tell me what evil Shannon was up to when I wasn’t around. Because Eliza was so young and quiet, she most certainly wouldn’t have told me herself.

It wasn’t until I pulled my head out of my ass and finally noticed just how closed off Eliza became whenever Shannon was around that I finally pulled the cord, ending things for good.

But Shannon, being the worst kind of bitch, didn’t use our breakup as a reason to stop her torment of Eliza. She’d never been one to apply herself to much of anything, so while I was in college, she was still in Pembrooke, trying to hold on to her old glory days from high school. I could remember multiple occasions where I’d have to drive my ass all the way from Laramie just so I could hold Eliza while she cried after Shannon had done something particularly mean. I hated not being in the same town to stop my jealous ex, but Eliza swore up and down she didn’t need my protection.

That didn’t stop me from hauling my ass over to Shannon’s house on multiple occasions and ripping the woman a new asshole. Unfortunately it never helped.

Suddenly discovering that venomous woman was still living in the same town as my sweet, mild-mannered (or at least she used to be) best friend made every muscle in my body lock, ready to battle.

“Shannon,” I spoke through clenched teeth, refusing to take my eyes off Eliza as the other woman bumped against her shoulder in an effort to get closer to me.

“I heard you were back,” she said in a low voice that I was sure men who didn’t realize what a blood-sucking shrew she was would find seductive. I wasn’t one of them. Reaching across the table, she ran a painted nail along the back of my hands as she continued with that ridiculous fucking voice. “It’s been a long time. I was hoping we could catch up.”

“Hasn’t been long enough, and as far as I’m concerned there’s nothing to catch up on. I’m just here, catching up with an old friend and trying to enjoy my meal. So…” Anyone else would have taken the hint and taken off before they did something to embarrass themselves. But not her. Because heartless skanks had no shame.

“Well I’ll join you,” she said cheerfully, shoving Eliza out of the way in order to claim the bench across from me.

My mouth opened to object, but my girl got there first, shocking the hell out of me while filling my chest with pride all at the same time. “Sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” she said in a syrupy sweet voice.

Shannon looked at her with a hateful glare. “What? Why?”

“There’s a sign clearly posted outside that states ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’ and seeing as half your shirt looks like it was ripped off by a mountain lion or something before you walked in here, your clothing choices aren’t meeting the standards of this particular establishment.” And just to add insult to injury, she added, sweetly, “Maybe try the Denny’s on the other side of town? I just hope their no dogs allowed policy won’t count for you.”

“Who the hell do you think you are, you stupid, frumpy bitch?!” Shannon started to stand, but I shot from my seat and stood in front of Eliza faster. After that display I had no doubt she could do more than just hold her own, but she’d said her piece. If Shannon was stupid enough not to get that she wasn’t wanted, I was going to clear things up. There was no reason for Eliza to be forced to engage any further than she already had.

“No one invited you to sit here,” I told her, the tone of my voice causing her eyes to grow wide.

“But… Ethan—”

I cut her off, not feeling bad in the slightest. “I didn’t ask you to join me for lunch, and I sure as fuck don’t want you sitting across from me while I’m trying to keep my food down. So since Eliza doesn’t want you here, and I sure as shit don’t want you here, there’s no reason for you to stay.”

“Babe, just let me—”

“We have nothing to catch up on seeing as the last words I ever spoke to you were that if I ever found out you so much as looked at Eliza wrong, I’d make your life miserable. You clearly didn’t listen, so it looks like I’ll have to make good on my promise.”

I could hear the muffled voices and movement from the people straining to hear, but other than Shannon’s spiteful words, they hadn’t been able to hear the full exchange, which did nothing but make her look like an even bigger fool since most of the town had always thought Eliza to be the sweetest.

“You’re still standing here,” a sarcastic voice spoke up from behind me. I barely suppressed an eye roll when I turned to look over my shoulder to give Eliza a really? Could you not right now look.

She shrugged, but had the grace to look properly scolded.

It was the pure hate in Shannon’s voice that forced my head to turn back around as she spoke, “You always chose her over me.” She spit as her eyes shot fire in my direction. “That twisted, weird little relationship you guys had back them was creepy and it’s still fucking creepy today.”

I shrugged. “Rather be in a relationship only you would consider creepy than stuck with a heartless bitch like you.”

She moved to slap me, a motion I would have had no problem blocking had a particular little ball of fire not jumped in front of me and grabbed Shannon’s wrist before I could. “You slap him and, so help me God, I’ll rip your hair out at the roots. Now get the hell out of my building before I have someone call the cops and escort your ass out.”

We both watched in silence as a red-faced, clearly embarrassed Shannon spun on her hooker heels and stomped out of the café.

“Well…” I breathed, gaining Eliza’s attention. “That was fun.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she turned and headed back for the kitchen, but not before I saw the corners of her mouth twitching with a suppressed smile.

Progress.

FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

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FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That’s why God created central air, after all.

Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy–she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books–romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it’s a passion…there’s a difference. Not that she’d expect a boy to understand.

Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

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Blog Tour For L P Dover's High Sided

Title: High-Sided
Series: Armed and Dangerous (standalone)
Author: L.P. Dover
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 4th

Wild, reckless, and fast.

Wild, reckless, and fast.

That’s how I raced until a fatal accident on the track ruined my riding career. I had no choice but to leave that life behind; at least, until now. My name is Logan Chandler, one of the best FBI agents in the country. When an old friend calls for help and winds up dead, I take matters into my own hands. In order to do that, I have to go back to my past, back to the racetrack and to the one girl I never thought I’d see again . . . Kassidy Bennett.

She’s the key to solving it all, but bringing her in could put her in grave danger. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize she was already there. To save her, I have to put everything on the line. It’s a race against time, a race to the death, and only one will make it to the end.

** High-Sided is a Standalone Novel in the Armed & Dangerous Series**

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Audiobook

“Kassidy, I know you’re in there. Please open the door.” There was a sheer curtain over the glass panes and if I moved across the room he’d see me. All I could hear was the thumping of my heart. “Kassidy, please. I need to talk to you. I’m not leaving until I do. You know I won’t.”

“Shit,” I hissed low. He was right. If anyone had the patience to sit around for hours, it was him. He’d done the same thing to me years ago when I told him I wouldn’t go on a date with him. He stayed on my porch for hours and slept on the swing. At the time, I loved his persistence. I wanted to go on a date with him, but I was curious to see how far he’d go.

Knowing he wouldn’t leave unless I made him, I thrust the door open, embracing the anger I felt welling in my chest. I needed it to get rid of him. Logan stepped back and I held my breath, taking in the desperate look in his eyes. For a second, I could feel my resolve slip, but then I remembered the hurtful words he said to me in the hospital.

“There’s nothing to say, Logan. If you want to say you’re sorry, then say the words and get the hell out of here. Other than that, I have no desire to see or talk to you.”

He looked straight into my eyes. “Saying I’m sorry doesn’t even begin to cover it, but I am. I am so fucking sorry for what I did.”

“Great, you said it. We’re done here. Goodbye Logan.” I slammed the door on him and locked it.

“Dammit, Kassie.”

“Don’t call me that!” I shouted, slamming my hand against the door.

He moved closer to the door and I stepped back. “I know you’re pissed at me, but I need you to hear me out. I’ll stay out here the whole night if I have to.”

“Not if I call the police.”

“They’re not gonna be able to do anything to me. At least, not before I get in there myself.” The doorknob wiggled and I gasped.

“What are you doing? You can’t come in here,” I growled.

“Yes, I can, and I will. If it’s the only way to make you listen I don’t care what I have to do.” He fumbled with the doorknob again and I choked, stumbling back into one of my bar stools. I had no doubt he could get in my house, but I wasn’t going to be in it when he did. Grabbing my phone, I jammed it into my back pocket and raced to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. I had to get out of there fast.

I changed into a pair of jeans and fetched my black leather jacket out of my closet so I could put it on. My motorcycle and helmet were in my garage but all I had to do was climb out my window to get to them. “Kassie!” Logan called out. The front door slammed shut and I sucked in a breath; it was time.

Opening my window, I carefully slipped out. Logan knocked on my bedroom door and tried my handle. “Kassidy, please come out. I don’t want to do this.”

As soon as I was out the window, I raced to my garage. Slamming my helmet on my head, I jumped on my bike and turned the key. The engine roared to life as I revved it and I sped out of the garage as fast as I could. Logan had no idea I could ride, but I wished I could see the look on his face when he saw me. All I knew was that I had to get away from him, and fast.

Once out of the driveway, I took a left turn, clearly realizing the lapse in judgment. It was the road I’d avoided ever since Levi died on it. “Dammit,” I cried. My eyes started to water and there was no way I could wipe the tears away with my helmet on and going down the road. The sound of Logan’s bike drew close behind and I panicked. What was I going to do?

He gained up to me, clearly not stopping unless I did. More tears fell down my cheeks; especially when I arrived at the spot where Levi was ran off the road. I pulled over and shut off my bike, ripping off my jacket so I could breathe. Logan parked beside me, but I jumped off my bike and walked away from him to the dented guardrail. I took off my helmet and stared at the rubber markings on the metal. My fingers traced the tire marks and I broke down, falling to my knees. My heart felt as if it’d been ripped out my chest.

Logan’s hands closed over my shoulders, but I smacked them away. “Don’t touch me.”

His touch left my body, but I could feel his warmth as he sat beside. “I didn’t know you could ride.”

“Levi and Sean taught me after you left. It helped get my mind off of things.” I tried not to look down in the ravine where Levi was found, but I couldn’t help it. The amount of pain he must’ve felt had to be excruciating. I slammed my hand against the guardrail and sobbed.

“I’m gonna miss him too, Kassidy. Levi was a good friend.”

Angrily, I wiped my tears away and scoffed. “How would you know? You left eight years ago and never looked back.”

Don’t miss these Armed & Dangerous standalones

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over twenty novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

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Cover Reveal For Cora Kenborn's Fame & Obsession

Title: Fame & Obsession Author: Cora Kenborn Genre: Romantic Suspense Cover Designer: Deranged Doctor Design Publisher: Limitless Publishing Editor: Gillian Leonard of Lilypad Editing Expected Release Date: Oct. 25^th, 2016 Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb:

Struggling writer Phoebe Ryan abandons her southern roots and heads to New York, determined to leave her nightmarish past behind…

She was not expecting to meet a famous rock star, or to be coerced into ghostwriting his autobiography. But she tries to maintain focus on her dream of becoming an author, despite the attraction she feels for the sexy rocker, not to mention the baggage that comes with him.

Julian Bale’s world was shattered one drunken night, and it almost ruined him…

Weighed down by guilt, he blames himself for an accident he could’ve prevented. He will play the game, but swears his hot little ghostwriter will never get that story out of him. As much as he wants her, if he has to choose between his dream and hers, it’s no contest.

Phoebe and Julian give in to a forbidden attraction, and their public romance risks both their lives…

An obsessive fan is on the loose and now that the secret’s out, it’s made them both targets. The psychotic stalker is determined to have Julian for herself, even if she has to reveal their sordid pasts and eliminate Phoebe to do it.

He lives for fame. She lives to hide. Obsession lives to ruin them both.

Cora Kenborn writes romantic suspense novels with strong heroines, complex alphas, harrowing danger, and snappy banter. She is the author of the rock star stalker series, Lords of Lyre but refuses to be pigeon holed into one specific genre. She loves delving into the twisted mind of a dark villain as well as giggling while writing rom-com banter.

Cora lives in Eastern North Carolina and is a true Southern girl, growing up on sweet tea, front porches, and the simple life. She says “y’all,” “fixin’ to,” and should you deserve it, will “bless your heart.” She’s the proud mother three hyperactive and occasionally adorable children, and the wife of a husband who tolerates her chaotic writer’s cave.

Although reading is her passion, she can usually be found watching true crime shows and crafting inspiration for twisted new tales. Cora admits to being a horrible cook, an even worse baker, and believes she’s more dangerous with a hot glue gun than any weapon on earth. Oh, and she and autocorrect are mortal enemies.

Author Links:

Website https://www.corakenborn.com

Cora’s VIP Newsletter http://www.eepurl.com/b1xCtj

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Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15178303.Cora_Kenborn

The coiled body behind me tensed, ready to detonate. Whoever defended me could hold his own, but I could still take everybody out with one flick of the wrist. Chivalry felt warm and fuzzy but I learned a long time ago that one hundred and fifty volts felt electric and twitchy.

Turning my chin to the side, I whispered on an exhale, “It’s fine, I’ve got this.”

A low laugh against my neck curled my toes.

“You so don’t got this.” His chest rumbled as a strong hand ran skilled fingers around my hair. I tilted my chin, watching his eyes harden. “You’re up my ass, shit-for-brains. Don’t ever touch what’s mine.” He shifted his lips against my ear. “Right, baby?”

One suitor tested my patience, but two pushed my limit. I opened my mouth to tell him off when he stole the moment and pressed his lips against mine. Resisting, I murmured veiled threats as he pulled me toward him. The impromptu kiss dissolved into failed waves of aggression, and I inexplicably responded to him. Before I knew it, I’d wrapped my arms around his neck.

After a few heartbeats of kissing a complete stranger, I finally regained what dignity I had left, shoved his chest, and faced him with fire blazing in my eyes. He snickered and waved as my aggressor stalked off. Shooting him a death glare, I reached for my drink. After scanning for witnesses, I brought it to my lips and drained it.

“Thirsty?” He smirked.

“What the hell was that?”

He snatched the drink out of my hands, giving me a wink before tipping it back for the last drop. “You weren’t exactly pushing me away. Besides, I just saved your ass. Heath Vaughn was inches from having a hand up that thing you call a dress.”

“I didn’t ask for your help!” I bit back. “I don’t even know who the hell you—wait, who?”

“Somebody had to step in or you’d have spent the night in jail with that concealed, illegal shit in your purse. You’re telling me you didn’t know that was Vaughn? Maybe because we haven’t time-warped back to his 1995 five minutes of fame.” He walked past me with a smirk plastered across his face.

 Struggling to catch up with him, I grabbed his shoulder in disbelief. “That’s a joke, right?”

“Afraid not. Vaughn in the flesh, and apparently in the sauce too. Why do you care so much what he thinks?” He eyed me curiously, his jade-green eyes knocking me breathless.

Finally allowing myself a full look at him, I quickly averted my eyes before he could see my racing pulse reflected in them. Chaotic chocolate spiked hair pointed in every direction and hinted at a carefully constructed morning-after look. A small silver earring caught flashes of light in the darkness and tattoos decorated each uncovered arm.

Remembering to breathe became a chore.

“Because I’m screwed!” I shouted, frantically waving my phone. “My boss is already pissed at me, and I was supposed to meet Vaughn here for an interview, and—why am I telling you this?”

“Calm down.” He grinned, revealing a deep dimple in his left cheek. “Look, the dude’s so far tanked he won’t remember he was here, much less you were. Give me your phone.”

“I’m not giving you my phone. I don’t even know you.”

Rolling his eyes, he snatched my phone out of my hands. “Didn’t stop you from making out with me, did it?” He scanned the email I’d been checking all night. Typing furiously, his lips curved upward and he handed it back. “All fixed.”

“What did you do?” Thankfully, previous defense training taught me to never label emails with personal information. In the darkness, he’d never scroll back far enough to know my name.

“Why must you question brilliance?” he countered with a sigh. “You sent him an email concerned for his safety since he never showed for your interview. You waited but had to leave because you actually work for a living. You’d love to reschedule since you’re such a huge fan and were disappointed at the missed opportunity to hear all about his crap-ass reality show, since I assume that’s all he would’ve wanted to talk about.”