Shades of Desire: 10 Sweet & Spicy Romances

by J. A. Coffey

  "I could not take a chance that it would work. It wasn't that I didn't believe in you. I didn't want to gamble with your life." He kissed her. Deep, passionate and tender. When he broke away, they were both breathless. "I love you and I want you to be mine for eternity."

  She gasped. "Armand, what are you saying?"

  "Become my queen, querida. Marry me."

  She wiggled beneath him and tried to free her arms. "Armand, let me loose. I need to touch you."

  He obliged and she put her arms around his neck and pulled him into her. "I love you and I'd like nothing more than to be yours. Forever."

  Their lips fused and tongues tangled in a slow exotic dance. Armand tasted of sex and spice and she couldn't get enough.

  He broke off, suckled her neck then moved to her breast and ran his tongue around the edge of her nipple, making her dig her nails into his back. A strange sensation of floating came over her and she spotted the sun high in the sky.

  Her heart sped up. "Armand, what the hell?" They floated on a large raft in the middle of a deep blue sea.

  "Have you ever made love in the middle of the ocean before?" he whispered.

  "No, I haven't."

  "Relax and enjoy the ride." He lifted his gaze. "We are capable of many things. Trust me to care for you."

  She relaxed. She trusted him with every fiber of her being and would enjoy everything he had to offer.

  He sucked her nipple, swirled and nipped before moving to the other. His fingers slid between her apex and pressed inside.

  She arched to meet him. "So good, but I don't want to wait. I need you in me. Now." A little voice in the back of her mind said she had to tell him the truth. Later.

  Armand wrapped his arms under her thighs, spread her legs and entered her in one thrust.

  She moaned.

  He stayed buried and brought his lips to her ear. "Are you all right?

  "More than all right, but sex in the middle of the ocean will take some getting used to." She had the feeling there would be a lot of things she'd have to get used to. The biggest would be waking up next to this man everyday for eternity. She couldn't wait to start their new life.

  Armand slid his cock out, then back in. His pace increased causing her muscles to clench and heat flooded her core. Kayla rode a tidal wave of pleasure so intense she wasn't sure she'd survive. She thought her last orgasm with Armand had been earthshattering. She floated to another plane of existence and back again. Aftershocks of mini-orgasms rolled through her until Armand roared, his own release causing another tidal wave of intense pleasure to wash over her.

  When her breathing finally returned to normal, she realized they were back in bed. "Dear god that was ... I have no words to even describe it."

  "Everything is better as a Jinn. You will get used to it," he replied.

  "I'm not sure I want to. I mean, I've never had sex this great. I have to admit even the way you travel is pretty freaking awesome."

  Armand pulled free and rolled to his back, pulling her to sit on top of him. "I will make sure you never want or need for anything, querida. You deserve only the best." He opened his hand. "And I will start with this." He placed a brilliant ruby on her left ring finger.

  "Where were you hiding this? It's absolutely beautiful." She bent down and brushed a kiss on his lips. "I love you, Armand."

  He chuckled. "I called it forth from my home in Reviana. It's been in safe keeping waiting for someone special." He cupped her face. "I can't wait to take you to see my world ... our new home."

  She pulled in a breath. "There is something you should know." She relayed the entire story about Cyndel's family and how her nana had come to have the amulet. His eyes grew wide.

  "Why did you not tell me this before?"

  "Please don't be angry with me." She licked her lips. "I needed to know you loved me and wanted me and not my kingdom." She waited, holding her breath.

  He burst out in laughter. "I understand and I don't care if you have a thousand kingdoms or a condo in Chicago. I love you."

  She let her breath escape. "What happens now?"

  He pulled her closer. Kissed the tip of her nose. "I won't lie, there will be war. Cyndel's remaining family is strong, but you have the backing of the House of Reviana and I'm certain others will follow once they learn the truth."

  "I understand. As long as I have you, I can get through anything."

  "I will always walk beside you."

  "I need to talk to Nikki, she'll be frantic if I vanish from the face of the planet." She cocked her head. "What about your village and the people there? They rely on you."

  He brushed a kiss across her lips eliciting a moan. "You do what you think is best with your friend. If you feel you can trust her to keep our secrets, then I don't see why you have to sever your relationship completely. She'll always be welcome in our home. As far as the village, we'll be back and my people will always be taken care of."

  Tears ran down her cheeks. She was closing one chapter of her life and opening another. She couldn't have written a happier ending herself.

  The End

  About The Author

  As a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother's favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying, "It will give you nightmares." She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.

  Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian's, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.

  Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.

  Sign up for Valerie's newsletter and be the first to hear about new releases, receive special excerpts and exclusive contests. Website http://www.valerietwombly.com

  Connect with Valerie:

  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FangedFantasy

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  Website http://www.valerietwombly.com

  Email valerietwombly@gmail.com

  Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/vtwombly

  Other titles by this author:

  Eternal Flame, Guardians book 1

  A woman he cannot have, a man who is only a dream...

  When guardian Marcus Dagotto, discovers the gods have gifted him with a mate, he is pissed. He has no room for love and even less for a human who has no idea he exists.

  Cassandra Jensen, has a shattered heart and has given up on men. Only one man can set her body on fire, but he is a fantasy that haunts her sleep.

  Two worlds, one desire. When the two collide, fate will rip them apart and test their resolve. Will darkness and evil prevail? Or, will love conquer all?

  "The Guardians made me laugh, cry and fall in love." Dark Side of Romance

  "Valerie Twombly has one hell of a formula to create a great series." Book Reads and Reviews

  Read Excerpt: http://www.valerietwombly.com/eternal%20flame

  Fatal Desire, Guardians book 2

  Caleb is dark, hot, and commanding in human form. As a dragon, he's a force to be reckoned with. When he witnesses the slave Lileta being beaten by his Overlord Odage, he nearly comes unglued. Without understanding why, he asks to take the slave as his own, but soon realizes his longing is more than an attraction to a beautiful woman. In a sick twist of fate, the gods have given him a demon as his mate-one he can never touch unless he wishes his own death. His only choice is to grant her freedom.

  Lileta wanted to kill Caleb, but when she is freed by this tempting male, her anger turns to a desire that can only prove fatal. Even if she could claim him as her own, her dark past makes her unworthy of his love.

  When their paths
continue to intertwine, spiraling them to the brink of passion, can they resist the yearnings burning within them, or will they submit to their fatal desire?

  "This series is addictive." Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears

  "Ms. Twombly has me hooked. I was glued to my chair until the very end." Angel's Guilty Pleasures

  Read Excerpt: http://www.valerietwombly.com/fatal%20desire

  Amazon Heat, Demon Heat book 1

  When Katrina faces the death of her father, she is left with only one choice. Hire a local demon to help her retrieve a mythical healing stone from deep in the Amazon. However, when the two finally meet, sparks fly. The man is a walking sex god and when he offers to pleasure her in exchange for his services, she finds it hard to refuse.

  Damis only intended to have a good time with the beautiful blond who entered his office. Little did he know, the vixen was not only half demon, but his mate to as well. Can he resist the urge to bond with her? Or will his desire be his downfall.

  Read Excerpt: http://www.valerietwombly.com/amazon-heat

  Emerald Fire, Demon Heat book 2

  Ever since Brock lost his mate and son in a tragic murder, he's been unable to move on. When urged to go back home and bury his past, he never expected to meet Sarah. The demon is strong, sexy, and kind-hearted. Everything a man could want in a woman.

  Sarah has longed to discover the mate who completes her and finds herself wondering about the demon who left the house next door shrouded in magic. After he appears in her camera lens, it's an instant attraction and doesn't take long to realize he belongs to her.

  When Elias steps into the picture, Sarah must fight the urges he stirs inside her. She can't believe fate has given her two mates. Now she is faced with a decision. Choose the one who promises nights of passion and undying love, or the other who can only offer her his broken heart.

  Read Excerpt: http://www.valerietwombly.com/emerald-fire

  Sign up for Valerie's newsletter and be the first to hear about new releases, receive special excerpts and exclusive contests. Website http://www.valerietwombly.com

  MR. RIGHT NOW

  By

  Kristina Knight

  Dedication

  For anyone who has ever gone on vacation with the intention of totally vacating their life at home. Salut!

  To the people of the Caribbean, thank you for your warmth, graciousness and hospitality.

  For the other pre-school moms ~ thanks for reminding me that we all need a vacation. Sometimes without the kiddos in tow.

  Acknowledgments

  Big, smoochey kisses and hugs to RadioMan and bebe, without whom I would never have known my own happily ever after.

  For D'Ann, Liz, Shawn and Margie who have loved these characters (nearly) as long as I have...and kicked my butt to get this story right.

  Chapter One

  Miss Romance Dumped For Gay Lover.

  Cassandra Cash read the headline staring at her from the newspaper machine and groaned. So the story was out. Crap. And she wasn’t even on board ship yet.

  She was Miss Romance. Queen of fixing a love life in 300 pages or less. Her first four books had skyrocketed to the top of the best-seller list, unheard of for a relative newbie, even a newbie who had notoriously dated the king of shock radio, turning their fling and her PhD into a new career. Her first nonlove- life book was due on her editor’s desk in a little less than eight weeks, not that she would want the book now. Not when Casey had been outed as no good at romances and as a total turn-off to men.

  Casey didn’t have a clue how tobegin the next book, a twenty-something take on having it all. Didn’t have a clue how her private life kept making headlines. She couldn’t think about

  anything with reporters hounding her every step and photographers jumpingfrom behind shrubbery.

  Damn Nate, anyway.

  How she could have fallen for such a loser?

  He’d barely slithered out her door after declaring he couldn’t live with the lies any longer, before the press started calling, asking if he had dumped her for his latest on-screen partner. His male partner. After his show went national, a new reality-based television network called on Nate, making him the star of his own radio-on-television drama. Since the tabloid calls had started, she couldn’t concentrate long enough to order Thai take-out, much less figure how other women were supposed to have it all.

  What woman in her right mind would buy a book about having it all from a dumped woman who had turned her man off women for life?

  “Lightning only strikes so many times.” Her agent’s hollow-sounding words brought Casey back to Earth. Jane Brunner wasn’t happy with Casey’s progress, or lack thereof, and as always she got right to the point. A click sounded over the line and then, “I’m serious, Case.” Great. She was on speakerphone. “Forget that headline. You and I both know that all press is good press. What you need is some relaxation and romance, so get on the ship, Chip. Nate's a bastard. He wanted to break up, fine. But he shouldn’t have gone to the papers with that made-up story just to get more press for his stupid show. Did you see the last ratings book? Less than half a percentage of viewers are watching. He’s trying anything he can to keep that contract.”

  “How do you know it isn’t true?Maybe he finally did face the truth about himself because of me.” Casey whispered, afraid the crowd waiting to board would call the tabloids as soon as they had a free second. Was that a teeny bit paranoid?

  The cell phone at her ear slipped a bit. Wonderful. Even her ears were sweating. Casey huffed out a breath. She didn’t so much care that she’d been dumped. That had happened before. Men liked the idea of dating a writer, not an actual relationship with one, especially when the deadlines called and she didn’t sleep, want sex or keep her legs waxed.

  But Nate had dumped her for a man. That was a new twist on the It’s- Not-You-It’s-Me excuse. Not to mention a bit unsettling. Still, if Nate had found love, more power to him. But did he have to go to the papers for a few headlines? She slapped her forehead against her palm. What she wanted was to wrap her hands around Nate’s neck and squeeze until his face turned as purple as an eggplant.

  Instead, Casey clutched the cell phone tighter. The line for people boarding had stopped moving. Several passengers looked from the newspaper box to her and back. She should leave now before they made the connection. If she did it quickly, no one would even notice.

  Jane cleared her throat. “Kiddo, a man doesn’t just up and decide he’s gay one morning over Corn Flakes. The story doesn’t wash. So don’t worry about it. Once the suits at that network figure out what the general public already knows--that the show is worse than sucking pond water through a straw--he’ll be out with some Hollywood starlet to get his name back in the papers and on the minds of teenage girls the world over. You’re better off without him.”

  Like she didn’t know that already. But it Nate killing her reputation to build his own just didn’t make sense. Sure the tabs loved him for the moment, but the backlash, assuming this was all a lie, would ruin him. The gay community did not like stars putting on and taking off the homosexual cloak as they saw fit, Anne Heche be damned.

  Jane kept talking. “So you don’t believe you’ll find a forever kind of guy. At least find a for-right-now guy because, sweetie, you need to relax.”

  “A battery-operated man is cheaper. And way more effective.” Casey sighed into her cellular phone at Jane’s tut-tut. Nate was always interested in his own pleasure first, leaving her sitting at first base while he celebrated a home run.

  The older man standing in frontof Casey moved forward a few scant inches and she entered the gangway doors. Once inside, Casey sighed as the blasting air conditioning cooled her face. Unfortunately, since the doors were wedged open, her back was still sweating.

  She had dressed for the hot weather: a mini-skirt, fitted tee and wedge-heeled Roman sandals. She looked good, but the clothes were wilting in the hot Florida sun. Sweat pooled at the small of her back. She should hav
e cruised to Alaska instead of the Caribbean.

  “Live a little, Case,” Jane said. “This is a cruise, not the fifth circle of hell. Put on one of those skimpy bikinis you bought and lay by the pool. If you smile enough, you might even meet Mr. Right Now when you board.”

  “I don’t plan on being bored,” she said, intentionally misunderstanding Jane’s words as the cell phone crackled. “Now that the story is out, I’ll hole up in my room, lock the door and work on the new book.”

  A disjointed ring sounded over the phone, and then Jane sighed heavily. “Don’t hang up. I’ll be right back.”

  Okay, maybe Jane was right. Eight-plus months of battery-powered stimulation and two weeks of ditching the press were more than enough. Her skin was sallow, her appetite nil. Casey shook her head.

  That didn’t mean she needed to go looking for a man on a week-long love cruise. She picked at one perfect nail until the corner flaked free. Besides, all the semi-non-wretched men seemed to be taken. Or over sixty.

  Jane came back on the line, sounding flustered. “Sweetie, I’ve got to go. Forget that you’ve been living out of your suitcase. Forget that you have another book due in a few weeks.”

  Yeah. That would happen.

  “Just relax. And, don’t be mad.” Jane was silent for several moments, sending Casey’s nerves into alert. What had Jane done? “I knew you’d try to work instead of relax so I, um, hired someone for you.” The last four words rushed breathlessly from Jane’s mouth, and Casey wasn’t sure she understood at first. “He comes highly recommended, a real hunk and manwich, from what I understand. I can’t find his name, but he’ll introduce himself this afternoon. Just go with it. Have a little fun for the next week and when you get back, get to work on the next book.” Jane clicked off, leaving Casey listening to the buzz of the disconnected line.