Embrace the Magic—Cupid's Curse

Welcome to the weekly blog hop hosted by the Paranormal LoveWednesdays blog.

Readers: Embrace the magic, the mystical, the totally out there. Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, magicians, wizards—the dearly twisted begins we all know and love. Authors are sharing short excerpts or blurbs from their books or works in progress.

Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

Today I'm featuring a brief look at Arch's dilemma and how Bree is (or is not) handling making a quick match.

"You know what happens to me when I go too long without making a match. You don't have time for taking breaks."

She shrugged. "There's no one out there that appeals to me."

Arch made a garbled, choking sound. "They're not supposed to appeal to you, Bree. You just have to find someone who needs a mate." He took two steps forward, ready to strangle her.

Bree held up a finger, knowing his intent. "I wouldn't. You'd just have to wait for someone to be called in to take my place." She went back to smoothing off non-existent hangnails.

Series Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

Insert Series Banner

~*~

Please stop by my website

Embrace more great reads! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Various Reasons

Ugh. I've hit the nasty cold wall and did not bounce back. Bleh. I can happily say it's the first really icky cold I've had this winter.

Anyway, on to fun stuff. The third episode of Bitten rocked. I'm looking forward to seeing how different the elements play out from the books. So far, I love the changes. The Flash and Arrow each turned in solid episodes. Have to wait until mid-March for a new episode of The Flash, which is probably a good thing. I'm probably in the minority, but I actually want a lot less Iris. She's not my favorite character.

Tonight's post is from Various Reasons, a novella where my established couple decides whether to take their relationship to the next step.

Here's the tagline:

Paloma and Cedric keep putting off thinking or talking about the future—they've got a fae war on their hands, but after a particularly ugly skirmish, Paloma decides it's time to open the topic for discussion. Cedric is so shocked, he's not quite sure he believes her, but once Paloma gets through the list of various reasons, he's close to getting on board.

And the preview snippet…

Paloma crashed back against the wall and slid downward, crouching behind the dumpster. Cedric stumbled over and sank to his knees beside her. The stench from the hellhounds emanated from each and they wrinkled their noses.

Cedric heaved a sigh. "You okay? Injured?" He angled around, propping his back against the brick wall.

Paloma nodded. "I'm fine, just winded. Never fought a whole pack before." The number of hounds had nothing to do with her earlier distraction, but she wouldn't share her reason.

Not yet. She wanted to get her head around the revelation first.

Cedric shrugged out of his jacket, covered in noxious and foul hell hound saliva.

He tossed it up into the open dumpster, which smelled better than either of them.

He shuddered. "We need a shower." He wiped his hands on his jeans, but they were probably worse than the jacket.

Paloma snorted. "Ugh. We need a decon chamber." She slowly got up and threw her jacket into the trash bin, too. "I'd strip down right here if we didn't have to cross the boulevard to go back under."

Cedric cracked a smile. "Would be fun to watch you streak across the road, though." He chuckled and started for the street."

Paloma grabbed his arm. "Hey, once we're all shiny and clean, let's find a quiet spot." Her hand slid down his arm to grasp his fingers. "I don't feel like the usual celebratory bash at the Crescent Moon tonight." Too loud for the serious conversation she needed to have with Cedric.

His brows knit, but only for a moment. "Sure. Sounds great." He tugged her forward, heading across the road. "Rooftop in about an hour?"

Paloma grinned. Leave it to Cedric to pick the perfect spot.

She darted around him, trotting down the steps to the underground first. "Yeah… if it doesn't take longer than sixty minutes to get the stink of the hounds off." She glanced back over her shoulder. "I swear my pores are oozing the putrid smell."

Cedric laughed. "Look, if it takes longer, it does. I'll be there."

She kicked the loose tile and pushed the door open when the mechanism unlocked it. She dragged the Henley shirt over her head and jammed it into the trash can beside the door.

Clad in her sports bra and jeans, she started for the shower area. "I'm burning the rest of my clothes. Bring a lighter, will you?"

Cedric shook his head, but answered. "Yeah, yeah. I'll bring one."

She gave him a waggle-fingered wave and ducked into the huge bathroom lined with showers. Stripping off the rest of her clothes, she hurried and turned the spray on, relishing the hot water hitting her skin, feeling more steady and certain with each passing moment.

She wanted forever with Cedric, even if their version might get cut short.

So, Paloma knows what she wants, now she has to convince Cedric. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot Encounter: An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a hot encounter, whether it's the first time or one of many others between the characters. Awesome! As mentioned in last week's post, I'm in Ohio and the subzero temps make reading the hot and steamy even more of a treat. :D

For my feature, I'm sharing a steamy moment from my current release, An Idyllic Affair, co-written with my alter ego, ML Skye, for the Ellipses Press branded anthology Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island.

For a little background, here are the series and book taglines:

Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

Bring on the hot stuff…

~*~

His hands cupped her face. "Linn." Whisper soft, his voice sent a shudder through her.

She opened her eyes.

"Stop thinking." His hand trailed down, gliding over her stomach, the curve of her hip and drifted over to undo the buttons of her fatigues. "Feel." His fingers slipped under the fabric and cupped her mound. "Just for tonight." Geoff pressed a line of kisses along her jaw. "Don't worry about tomorrow."

Her resistance melted away. "Okay. Until the weather breaks, I won't." She leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.

Geoff made a low, growling sound and pushed her pants past her hips. She kicked her legs free and worked her hands under his shirt. Inching it upward, she gasped when Geoff pushed two fingers inside her. Her head fell back, but she tugged his shirt further up, leaning forward to finally taste his skin. Her tongue made a wet trail, before she stopped and crisscrossed her arms to drag her shirt up and over her head. Geoff used his free hand to yank his offensive garment off then wrapped his arm around Linnea, jockeying his position to lift his hips. Linn took the hint and flipped the buttons of his fatigues open, one by one, teasing him by going slowly.

Geoff's voice rumbled in her ear. "I'll make you pay for that later." His tongue flicked against her lobe.

Linnea chuckled and shoved his fatigues down then leaned forward, taking the length of his shaft inside her mouth. Geoff hissed out a harsh breath and twisted his fingers in the sleeping bag he'd rolled out earlier.

"God's bones, Linnea. You should warn a guy before going down on him."

She smiled around his girth, pulling back to speak. "Where's the fun in that, Geoff?" She wrapped her lips around the tip and sucked hard.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

Thank you for dropping by.

Please feel free to stop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday samples!

Embrace the Magic—Cupid's Curse

Welcome to the weekly blog hop hosted by the Paranormal Love Wednesdays blog.

Readers: Embrace the magic, the mystical, the totally out there. Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, magicians, wizards—the dearly twisted begins we all know and love. Authors are sharing short excerpts or blurbs from their books or works in progress.

Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

Today I'm featuring a brief look at Arch and Bree's interaction. These crazy cupids can't seem to get their act together.

Arch didn't hold back. "Bree, you're not standard fare anywhere." He got up and gave Merry a hand. "You're more like an overused trend… not worth the price."

Bree flinched. That one hurt. But she couldn't blame him for lashing out.

Arch's voice went flat. "You're also late."

Bree recovered quickly. "For which I'll happily apologize." She remembered her conversation with Aphrodite and grinned. "It really couldn't be helped."

Arch shook his head. "Let me guess… you were tied to a bedpost and lost track of time?"

Series Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Embrace more great reads! Visit the other participating authors.

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—A Magical Affair #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm revisiting a current release, A Magical Affair, a fantasy ménage with lots of fun role-playing scenarios. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Heath, Remy, and Stacie.

This week, we meet Remy and Stacie who are planning their magical weekend.

Book Tagline: A mansion atop a wellspring of magic lets Romy, Heath, and Stacie live out their fantasies.

~*~

"You're sure about this?" Stacie Williams plopped down beside Romy Bludd. "Our friendship is more important than me having a weekend of super-hot sex with an awesome guy like Heath."

Romy smiled. "Stace, I'm okay because you're my best friend. Heath and I've had this fantasy for two years, and I had issues with bringing someone else in and not being able to control everything." She paused. "But I know you almost better than I know myself. You won't go over-the-top stalker, and you're not harboring any deep, unrequited love for Heath. You just appreciate his hard body and screaming good looks." Kicking her feet up onto the table, she shrugged. "You're not in a relationship at the moment, so no awkward trying to explain why you're traipsing off to a magical mansion for a Halloween weekend tryst—and don't want company."

Stacie grinned. "You're lucky I'm at loose ends and haven't had time to do more than look for a hookup." She propped her feet beside Romy's.

Romy frowned. "I can't believe you were gone for ten months. I missed you." She nudged Stacie's shoulder. "You're never allowed to take off for training abroad again."

Stacie laughed. "Think of it this way, you and Heath had plenty of time to work the kinks out and look at you now." She turned and faced Romy. "Rock solid and happier than I've ever seen you."

Romy shrugged. "He's everything I've ever wanted. It's scary good between us."

"Hence the crazy-ass weekend you have planned." Stacie tilted her head to the side. "Where did you find this place anyway?"

Romy's lips curved. "I got an invite from the owners when I went to inspect the place for their ad layout. We'll be their first trial run."

Stacie leaned in close. "And the magic? Do you think they can really create everything you want?"

Romy nodded. "Oh, yes. I really do."

Stacie shuddered. "God, I can't wait."

"Me either. How perfect, right? Halloween. Costumes, role-playing, and an entire wing all to ourselves." Romy grabbed a notebook from the table. "So help me come up with the best and kinkiest ideas to make this weekend a mind-blowing one for Heath."

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Romy Bludd and Heath Graystone are very adventurous and happily explore the wilder side of sex. Romy meets Jarvin and Vivica, who give her an opportunity to spend Halloween weekend at Magic Meadows, a mansion sitting atop an ancient wellspring of magic. Romy accepts the offer because she and Heath want to add someone else to the mix and Romy's best friend, Stacie, is back from a ten month stay abroad. The timing couldn't be better for the trio to live out their lustful fantasies.

The mansion and its owners are capable of wondrous transformations, giving Romy and Stacie a wealth of choices to rock Heath's world. A character from his favorite urban thriller, a cougar on the prowl, the plain librarian who wants to hook up with her boss, a roller derby diva with aggression issues, and a reporting duo with blackmail on their minds are on the agenda for the romp-filled weekend.

Heath is thrilled, but he really wants one thing—for Romy to give up control and let him call the shots.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Variations on Violence

Once again, Bitten turned in a great episode. I'm loving the subtle shift to more dark and scary this season. Arrow and The Flash both had great episodes, too. I'm really looking forward to watching Oliver and Thea train together. I'm also thrilled Laurel finally told Lance about Sara. That particular storyline dragged on a lot longer than it should have.

A few new teasers have been airing for Orphan Black and my interest is growing by the day. Here's hoping be get some backstory for Paul. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of him this season.

Tonight's post is from Variations on Violence, a novella in the First Breed Nation universe.

Here's the tagline:

Nichol Gothe and Brewster Walters, two detectives in the major crimes unit, go undercover to bust up rebel alliance in the under city. But when Nichol has to use her meta-human ability, Brewster can't decide whether to trust she's working for justice or turn her in to the task force commander. Nichol sends him reeling when she reveals how deeply the secret society of freaks and geeks has infiltrated the regular human world.

And a preview snippet…

"Gothe, I need you to stick around a minute." Captain Daniels shut the door behind Brewster.

Nichol crossed her arms over her chest. "I hope it's to explain what the hell you're thinking by assigning me to work with Walters." Her blood pressure shot up. "He's got no clue what we're really up against."

Daniels sighed. "Look, Nic, I wouldn't do this to you if I didn't have orders from above, er, I mean below." He loosened his tie and ran a hand through his already mussed hair. "Raven specifically requested you and she's waiting at the coffee shop across the street for additional briefing."

Her curiosity piqued, Nichol relaxed a little. "Is there anything you can tell me? I don't want to go in completely cold when I meet her." A personal meet up with Raven meant something big.

Possibly huge.

Daniels shot her a sideways glance. "Walters. And that's all I'm going to say." His head jerked toward the door. "Get moving. Raven will fill you in."

Nichol exhaled slowly, willing her mind to stay calm. "Yeah, okay. Going to meet the HBIC." She started forward but paused. "She really asked for me?" Daniels opened his mouth, but Nichol held up a hand. "Never mind. You said she did, so she did. I'm done asking stupid questions." She twisted the knob and pulled the door open. "Thanks, Captain." She exited the office and made a beeline for the stairs.

Get a grip, Nic. Raven gets up and puts a bra on every day, just like you.

Or did she? Nichol had no idea how Raven's days unfolded. The one and only time Nichol had met the woman she'd been on the trail of a freak who preyed on normals. Raven tracked the guy down and, as far as Nichol knew, had him locked away underground.

Leaving the station house, Nichol dashed across the street and entered the coffee shop, glancing around and spotting Raven in a corner booth. Taking another deep breath, Nichol headed over, dying to find out why she'd been chosen.

I have no idea exactly where this one is going, but I'm fun finding out.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot and Bothered: A Magical Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

This week we're tasked with sharing a scene with sexual tension to leave us hot and bothered. Nice! Especially if you live in a cold climate… like Ohio in February. LOL

For my feature, I'm posting a scene from my current release Busted in Bubbles.

For a little background, here's the tagline:

A mansion atop a wellspring of magic lets Romy, Heath, and Stacie live out their fantasies

Bring on the tension…

God, yes, she liked it—and wanted more. The potion Vivica concocted worked like a wonder. The experience of kissing Heath, something she'd done a million times, felt new and wondrous.

Flicking her tongue over her bottom lip, she said, "Yes, very much. Can we do it again?"

Heath smiled. "Absolutely."

He angled his head and used long, deep, slow kisses that let her explore what an unhurried buildup to passion could be like. Sliding his fingers through her hair, he mentioned she could do the same—then groaned when she used hers to massage his scalp.

He mumbled against her mouth. "That feels wonderful."

Romy grinned, thrilled she'd made him respond.

Heath moved her slowly through the disrobing process, giving Romy plenty of time to ask questions. His patient and honest answers gave her an insight she hadn't expected. He encouraged her to tell him when he did something she liked, and while shy at first, she got the hang of it quickly. She loved it when he ran his fingers down the front of her top after getting it unbuttoned. And when he kissed her shoulder when the blouse fluttered softly to the floor.

He slowed her down when she frantically tried to undo his shirt. "If you hold my gaze when you work on the buttons, I'll really like it."

She tried his suggestion and found the connection sensual. Reaching up, she slipped her fingers under his collar and pushed the fabric away from his shoulders. The contact with his warm skin had her pulse racing, and she tried to hurry getting his pants undone. Heath pulled back, stoking her with soothing words and plying her with ideas of how to slow things down on her own. She took his advice, loosening his belt slowly and removing it completely before starting on the button and zipper.

When she reached for his waistband, Heath stopped her again.

"Are you still certain you want to know everything?" His hand cupped her face.

Romy repeated her earlier request. "Yes. Everything."

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Romy Bludd and Heath Graystone are very adventurous and happily explore the wilder side of sex. Romy meets Jarvin and Vivica, who give her an opportunity to spend Halloween weekend at Magic Meadows, a mansion sitting atop an ancient wellspring of magic. Romy accepts the offer because she and Heath want to add someone else to the mix and Romy's best friend, Stacie, is back from a ten month stay abroad. The timing couldn't be better for the trio to live out their lustful fantasies.

The mansion and its owners are capable of wondrous transformations, giving Romy and Stacie a wealth of choices to rock Heath's world. A character from his favorite urban thriller, a cougar on the prowl, the plain librarian who wants to hook up with her boss, a roller derby diva with aggression issues, and a reporting duo with blackmail on their minds are on the agenda for the romp-filled weekend.

Heath is thrilled, but he really wants one thing—for Romy to give up control and let him call the shots.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Cupid's Curse #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

While Cupid's Curse isn't set around Valentine's Day, it is about cupids and making perfect matches.

This week, we see a little of how the curse affects Arch.

Series Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

~*~

Arch laid on the bed in agony. He'd passed the skull-splitting migraine stage and had entered into the hellish zone of the next phase—a non-stop hard-on. The headache receded into a continuous dull throb, but remained constant reminder of his curse.

How could it possibly be a week since Bree had arrived? What in Aphrodite's name was taking the woman so long? Arch's cock felt like it would break in two at any moment.

He sat up slowly, willing the stiffness between his legs to subside long enough so he could stand. The pound of the headache settled in with a thrum along his hairline and at the base of his neck. He had to find out what the hell Bree planned to do about finding a match.

Slowly, trying not to stimulate his hard length too much, he made his way to the grotto. Bree sat on the chaise, filing her nails, looking rather fetching in a red micro mini and form fitting, white T-shirt. Her feet were bare and the racy candy apple-colored polish on her toes drew attention to her well defined legs.

Arch had a thing for those legs. Especially when she wrapped them around him, urging him to pound her harder.

Not a good place for his thoughts to go right now. He'd rather live with the pulsating, radiating throb of his dick than get tangled up with Bree again.

Clearing his throat, he got her attention. "Filing your nails? I thought you were working hard to find someone."

Bree continued scraping the edge of the emery board across the blunt tips. "Oh, I haven't found anyone yet. Just taking a break."

Arch saw more red—the bold hue of his anger. "You're what?"

Bree narrowed her eyes. "You heard me. I know you're not deaf." She switched hands, her right foot tapping up and down in rhythm with the file.

"You know what happens to me when I go too long without making a match. You don't have time for taking breaks."

She shrugged. "There's no one out there that appeals to me."

Arch made a garbled, choking sound. "They're not supposed to appeal to you, Bree. You just have to find someone who needs a mate." He took two steps forward, ready to strangle her.

Bree held up a finger, knowing his intent. "I wouldn't. You'd just have to wait for someone to be called in to take my place." She went back to smoothing off non-existent hangnails.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Urban Grit

February 8, 2015

WooHoo! Bitten is back and Elena is pissed off. All I'll say for now since it's not airing the US yet. Season two opened with a great episode. Looking forward to seeing how everything plays out. And The Walking Dead returned. I’m watching as I type. Interesting episode so far, very different, which I like.

Over on The Flash and Arrow, good efforts by both shows. I'm happy to see Oliver back in Starling City and the angst factor cranking up to a zillion. Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were okay, especially that ending on SH.

Now I just need Orphan Black to return and make my brain explode. LOL

Tonight's post is from Urban Grit, a fun novella where the characters unleash something they don't quite believe even exists.

Here's the tagline:

Keeley Fitz and Holt Matterworth produce and star in the reality docu-style web drama, Urban Grit. They shamelessly drag their friends along on their adventures where they try to bust and debunk urban myths… except they quickly learn most legends all have a basis in truth.

And a preview snippet…

Keeley pushed up and angled around to straddle Holt's torso. "Ready for round two?" His erection bobbed against her ass and she chuckled. "Never mind, I already have the answer." Leaning down, she meshed her lips with his, sliding her tongue past his teeth.

Holt's fingers dug into her buttocks, stilling the movement of her hips. He wanted to be inside her as much as she needed him there. Keeley smiled against his mouth, lifted up a little, and sank down over his long shaft.

Holt tore his mouth away from hers, letting a low groan. "Mmm, Keels. You're so damned hot." His lips latched onto her nipple, dragging the tip between his teeth.

Keeley shuddered and gasped out a breath. "More, Holt. Use your tongue." She rocked back and forth.

Holt complied, flicking and swirling around the pebbled peak. Keeley threw her head back, a zing of heat scorching straight to her core. She loved the magic Holt created with his wicked tongue.

A loud pounding on their door intruded on the moment. Holt broke away from her breast, his head twisting sideways on the pillow, a growl of frustration rumbling in his chest.

"Come on you guys, open up." Dean thumped on the hard wood again.

Keeley exhaled harshly. "Yeah, yeah. Just a minute." She eased up and off Holt's cock and drew the sheet over his hips.

Grabbing the quilt from the foot of the bed, she cracked the door open.

Dean shoved his way into the room, got a good look at each of them and rolled his eyes. "Geez, do you two ever take a night off?" He whirled around and snagged their jackets from the coat tree. "Throw some clothes on and grab your gear. We set something loose at that old manor house and it's chasing Joanie." He turned away, facing the exit.

Holt jumped up and stuffed his legs into his jeans, jerking them up past his hips. "Do you know what's after her?"

Keeley dropped the quilt and pulled her shirt on then fished around for her beat up cargo pants. Yanking them on, she buttoned the fly and glanced up to find Holt holding her boots.

Dean kept his back turned, but answered. "The best I can figure from her description? A hellhound."

Keeley paused from lacing up her shoes. "Wait, from her description? You didn't see it?" Crap, definitely something new. They'd never gone after an invisible foe before.

Dean cast a quick look over his shoulder. "No. She came tearing out of the ladies' room after we finished dessert and said a dark, mangy animal with huge fucking teeth crashed in through the window." He threw the coats in their direction. "Two seconds later, the rankest stench I've ever smelled and a chewed through table cleared out the diner. I can't see the damned beast, but I sure as hell can hear its teeth snapping and its vicious howling." He threw his arms out. "Can we go now?"

Holt shrugged into his jacket and grabbed the weapon bag. "Yeah, let's roll." He made his way to the door. "Where is Joanie now?"

Keeley hauled the equipment duffel over her shoulder, moving to stand beside Holt.

Dean brought up the rear. "Right now? Standing in a freezer at the restaurant."

Keeley shot him a sideways glance. "A freezer?" For what flaming reason would he pick that particular location?

Dean shrugged. "It's the only place I could think of that might keep her safe."

Holt opened the door and beat Keeley to the next obvious question. "How the hell does a freezer keep her safe?"

Dean pushed Keeley forward and dashed around her to the SUV. "Because she's covered head to toe in that monstrosity of a coat she wears and the door is six inches of stainless steel." He dragged the door open and jammed the truck into gear.

Holt slid into the passenger seat. "Right."

Keeley hopped in the back. "Yeah, okay."

Dean tore out of the parking lot and Holt shot her a quick look. Keeley responded with a shrug. Holt didn't need her to tell him the sit rep.

They were so fucking screwed.

So far, the sages are whispering about more stories from this universe. Here's hoping they'll keep talking. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot and Swoon-Worthy: Cupid's Curse (A Meddlesome Gods novella)

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

After a forced hiatus where I descended into deadline hell, I finally get to rejoin my fellow authors with a new Hot for Friday blog post. YAY!

This week we're tasked with posting a piece of dialog where our hero gets to take center stage and deliver a swoon-worthy line to the heroine. I can't wait to read some smooth moves from our heroes.

For my feature, I'm posting one of my favorite exchanges from my current Ellipses Press release, Cupid's Curse, a Meddlesome Gods novella.

For a little background, here are the series and book taglines:

When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

And the swoon-worthy dialog…(from Arch's point of view)

Bree rolled her eyes. "I don't flit." She backed away from the console. "I make an entrance." He snorted rudely, but she ignored it. "Look, I'm not chained to this location the way you are." She glanced back at the pool. "I get bored and need to go explore." She shot him a wry look. "You should try it sometime. Oh… wait. That's what landed you here on a permanent basis." Her bubbly giggles made his head throb harder. "Can I help it if I enjoy having fun?"

Arch steamed. "Apparently not." He almost shook with the pain. "Are you going to help me out here or not, Bree?" His glance dropped down, the rigid hardness unmistakable.

~*~

Trust me when I say these are words Bree has been waiting to hear. :D

Available on Amazon

Ellipses Press, Ltd.

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Embrace the Magic—Cupid's Curse

Welcome to the weekly blog hop hosted by the Paranormal Love Wednesdays blog.

Readers: Embrace the magic, the mystical, the totally out there. Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, magicians, wizards—the dearly twisted begins we all know and love. Authors are sharing short excerpts or blurbs from their books or works in progress.

Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

~*~

My current release Cupid's Curse, a Meddlesome Gods novella, features Cupids of the First Order Archer Stewart and Bree Daniels. They're about to face a complicated work situation when Bree has to take a turn at finding a perfect match, something she's avoided for a very good reason. She can't put the task off any longer or she'll lose her immortal status, a designation she covets above all other things. Almost.

Cursed by the god of love, Archer can't leave the matching grotto until Eros exhausts his anger. His many gaffs after a spectacular break up with Bree backfired in such a way he may never be released. Arch can live with being stuck in one place, but if he and he fellow cupids don't make a perfect match quickly, the nastier side effects of his curse kick in. Thinking Bree will ever settle down and share her long life with him proves to have been his biggest mistake of all.

Bree has no doubt Arch blames her and their ill-timed split for his current predicament. Having no choice but to complete her duties—meaning she'll have to see him again—she seeks assistance from Aphrodite to help get Arch's curse lifted. Even if he hates Bree, she can make one thing right—because she hasn't found anyone else in the realm of cupid who holds her interest the way Arch does. And she's tried. A lot.

Arch is beyond shocked when Bree shows up, ready to make a perfect match. But when the days roll by, and the terrible effects kick in, he begins to suspect she's only toying with him. In a way, she is, but she's bound by the goddess of love to follow a strict plan if Bree wants to get Arch released from his Cupid's Curse.

Series Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Embrace more great reads! Visit the other participating authors.

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Cupid's Curse #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

While Cupid's Curse isn't set around Valentine's Day, it is about cupids and making perfect matches.

This week, we meet Archer Stewart.

Series Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

~*~

Flora got up and walked around to the back of the couch. Her cool hands massaged his temples and he groaned at the additional relief they provided.

Stupid damn curse.

"Hey, at least the more unpleasant aspect of your predicament didn't kick in." Her hands stilled on his head. "But I would've been happy to help you out if it had taken any longer." She reached down and gave his shoulders a squeeze.

Flora's reference to the worst part of the curse almost made the headache come back.

Arch glanced up. "I appreciate the sentiment, Flo." He grasped her hand in thanks. "But something tells me Martin might come after my head if you ever provided assistance in that area."

She came back around and dropped down beside him.

"Being on the god of love's bad side is quite enough, thanks." He sighed.

Flora nodded. "Eros certainly holds a grudge. And Martin would be more understanding than you think, especially when you pretty much have no choice—once things progress that far."

Arch grimaced. He hated that aspect more than anything.

"Has it ever…? Got to that point for you?"

Twice. In the eighteen months since Eros had cursed him, Archer had been near out of his mind two times. If two days passed without a match being made, the headaches started. At five days, the pounding in his brain took on epic proportions. Seven days without a perfect hook-up and the nastier side-effects kicked in. Arch got a raging hard-on that wouldn't go away, unless he masturbated for relief. By day ten, hand-jobs no longer worked—only sex with penetration would provide a solution. The two times he'd reached that point, he'd been lucky enough to have willing participants within an easy call. The couplings lacked finesse—he'd been near out of his mind in pain—and word spread quickly, rallying the other cupids and encouraging them to make their matches in a timely manner.

Arch shuddered. "Flo, I'd rather not talk about it."

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Book Blurb: Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.