“But—” Her protest was cut short when Xavier claimed her lips. He fitted his mouth over hers in a way that was both tender and possessive. His tongue fenced with hers, charging and retreating in a primal dance that left her breath ragged. She bumped her hips against his, smiling to feel his very ready erection drilling into her stomach. “Mmm, I think somebody’s happy to see me.”
“Will you two please get a room? No one wants to watch you get it on.”
What the hell? Sophia jerked away from him and peeked over his shoulder.
Mona stood nearby with an extremely annoyed and undeniably human Braeden Hollister in tow. Xaiver stiffened. She squeezed his forearm. “Let it go, werewolf. He’s not worth it.”
He ignored her warning. “Don’t you have somewhere, anywhere else to be, Mona?” He struggled to his feet, pulling Sophia beside him in one fluid motion.
“Damn it, Xavier—”
Once again, he cut her off. Leaning close to her, he put his lips to her ear. “At dawn, you will pack your belongings and move into my home. I cannot deal with the constant interruptions from your drama club.”
“No argument from me.” She licked a sensitive spot on his jaw, knowing it would bring him to his knees. A deep shudder gripped him. “Besides, right now I’d give anything to be in your big, empty house. Imagine the rooms a person could get lost in and all that soft furniture just waiting to be used.” She cocked an eyebrow in challenge.
“Aw hell.” He visibly swallowed then glared at Mona, only acknowledging Braeden with a nod. “What are you doing out here? This isn’t the most ideal time.”
Sophia laughed as she caught the slightly crazed look in his eye. A quick glance to the urgent bulge at the front his pants quickened her heartbeat and sent molten heat through her body. Get him out of here and alone. Now. The mantra galloped through her mind to the frantic beat of her heart. “Mona, why are you with the dragon? Wasn’t he trying to kill you?” She moved forward then snatched up her friend’s left hand. “What’s this?” She tapped the wide, gold band that decorated the other woman’s ring finger.
“Well, Braeden was chasing me, and sometime during that whole thing he caught me. I sorta picked his pocket and found a ring. I thought it was pretty and slipped it on.” Mona’s eyes were big and overly bright in the paleness of her face. “It fits, and just look at the shine.”
“Of course it fits, you idiot! They’re dragon bands, equipped with a powerful brand of magic unique to dragons.” Sophia dropped the younger woman’s arm as if burned. “You’re in deep crap, babe.”
“What does that mean?” Mona looked from Sophia to Braeden and back again. “Am I in trouble?”
Xavier grimaced and rubbed a hand over his face. “Yes. My best guess is you are. Dragon bands are how dragons and bounty hunters keep track of prisoners. Once the jewelry is in place, only a dragon can remove it.”
Sophia smirked. Mona had really done it this time. “If they are true dragon bands you and Braeden can only be separated for lengths of twenty feet. Any farther than that will result in physical illness and even death on each part.” She sighed as Xavier slipped an arm around her waist. Skitters of need danced over her skin. “I hope you and Braeden have made up your differences.”
“Oh, then we’re fine because Braeden hasn’t put his ring on yet.”
The dragon cleared his throat. “Yet, being the operative word.” With a grin full of malice, full-blown charisma and more than a little anticipation, the attorney slowly slipped a gold band on his ring finger. “Why don’t we take a trip to visit your family, Miss Moussai? I have a list of questions I’d like to ask them.”
Sophia took a step forward, suddenly afraid for her friend. “You have no right to force to her. Mona, let me—”
“No. This is our time.” Xavier pulled her to his side, keeping her in place with a strong arm. “It’s her problem. She got herself into it. Let her find her way out.” His golden gaze kept her as immobile as his grip. “I’d advise you not to meddle in things you may not understand. Who knows what destiny has in store for her. Don’t sabotage her life’s journey like Hannah almost did to ours.”
With a tiny sigh, Sophia nodded. “I really hate it when men are right.”
“Get used to it. I have many opinions.”
She rolled her eyes. “Mona, I wish you luck. Braeden, I wish you even more. Don’t keep breakable things around her, and no sharp knives. I’ve got much better things to do with my time than babysit.”
“But Sophia, I need you.” Mona’s whine cut through the crisp, clear air.
Urgency compelled her to quit the ironic scene. She didn’t want to rip Xavier’s suit off in front of God and everyone, but if things didn’t move quickly… “Sorry. You’re Braeden’s problem now.” She gripped her mate’s hand and led him toward the park entrance. “Xavier, I want you hot, naked, and in bed. First I have one stop.”
“What for?” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close for a hard kiss that turned her blood to fire and her brain to puddles of goo.
“I’m in desperate need of a few beers and a couple of hamburgers.”
“What?” His jaw dropped with no less shock than she felt at the announcement. “Aren’t you a vegetarian? You’ve spent a good portion of our time together denouncing the consumption of meat.”
She sent him a grin. His gorgeous golden eyes darkened to tawny brown. “Yes, but it’s been a very stressful day.”
The End
About the Author
Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction. In the past couple of years she’s concentrated on funny contemporary romance as well as Regency-era romance, but she will, on occasion, write paranormal or sci-fi. Whether you like sweet or erotic heat levels, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with. She’s also a hybrid author, choosing to publish both with small presses and doing the indie thing.
Offered representation in February 2014 by Scott Eagan at Greyhaus Literary Agency for Victorian-era historical romances, Sandra’s been hard at work researching, planning and writing a new series. When not immersed in creating new worlds and engaging characters, Sandra likes to read, bake, taste new teas, watch The Big Bang Theory and Psych as well as Finding Bigfoot, and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World: it’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. When she’s not writing or inventing new recipes, she spends time with her husband—goofing off and making moments count. Life’s too short to be serious all the time.
Sandra loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at [email protected], visit her website at www.sandrasookoo.com, or look her up on Facebook and Twitter.
Captured by the Dragon
(an Eight Realms novel)
Coming August 19th, 2014
Extinction, fear and prejudice? Bring it on. Fighting for what’s right is always the answer.
Mona Moussai is on the run—from her family, from a dragon and from herself. She wants nothing more than to stay in the Mortal Realm and live a normal life, yet when she tangles with a shape-shifting attorney bent on her capture, instinct demands she hide. However, the secrets buried deep inside could have deadly consequences.
Braeden Hollister has long ago made peace with his dragon heritage, but he refuses to live it. He’s a man with many vices, always putting himself first—the ultimate anti-hero—and when the opportunity to drag Mona to the Moussai Realm for a bounty presents itself, he can’t resist the glitter of gold.
What happens next is a foray into a backward realm ala the Regency-era where dragons not only exist, but they’re intent on ruling the realm and restoring power. Personal agendas are forgotten, battle lines are drawn in a world where familial ties strangle and old foes resurface. Political angst explodes all around them. In the end, only the strong will survive to live, and love, another day.
Note: this title was previously published in 2011 as Dragons at Dawn but has since been re-edited.
Also available from San
dra Sookoo
Hollywood Dreams and Buttercream
Sometimes the sweetest things in life don’t have anything to do with dessert.
Gwynn Flannigan wants respect from her father and freedom from her big, loud family. The icing on her cake would be to win a decorating competition hosted by her favorite food magazine writer. Cole Marshall's one outlet from the stress of business life is writing his Cooking in the Buff feature. Who cares if he never has time for fun?
The answer for them both lies in the deep freeze at Sweet Endings, the struggling ice cream shop Gwynn manages and the one property Cole needs to secure a big promotion. He’s stuck in Madrigal, Indiana to unravel a knot of family drama that drives him crazy.
Things heat between Gwynn and Cole on the competition floor when Cole’s alter ego is revealed. Cake and accusations fly while dreams and goals are left crumbling. In order to balance family, business, and love, Gwynn and Cole will need to work together and become partners—in more ways than one.
You can purchase this book at any digital retailer.
Operation Wedding Crash
Until death—or a secret—make them part.
Nora “Can’t Say No” Lenhart’s life is way past complicated. To add stress to everything, she’s just been appointed maid of honor for the upcoming wedding of the World’s Worst Boss and her ex is the best man. Looks like she’ll need to buy stock in an antacid company and try her best to ditch the green-eyed monster of wedding envy.
Camden Webber is an FBI agent with a massive chip on his shoulder—namely not being able to forget the woman whose usual inability to say no didn’t keep her from shooting down his proposal five years before. Though he has jaded views on weddings and marriage, Cam agrees to stand at his best friend’s side.
When Nora and Camden are thrown together at an engagement dinner, despite their tumultuous romantic history, they devise a plan to break up the ill-suited bride and groom. As the big day nears, emotions hit a breaking point, proving that wedding planning is more suited to a reality show and while happy endings are optional, they exist amidst the rubble, if the couple looks hard enough.
You can purchase this book at any digital retailer.
Adrift (a Destiny novel)
Do you feel as if you’ve existed without direction? Have circumstances left you scattered and without purpose? Do your unique gifts suffer from your dissatisfaction of daily living? Come to Destiny, Indiana. It just may change your life.
When an Undine (water sprite) who’s afraid of water meets a water dragon who’s been shunned by his clan for his inability to shift and terrorize, sparks fly despite the wetness around them.
As heavy spring rain floods the small town of Destiny, putting Neadra’s life in danger, Caelan fights his way to her, pulling out the hero he never thought he could be, while she faces her fears to locate him. Only through acceptance of each other will they find the life they’ve always wanted.
You can purchase this book at any digital retailer.
Angels, Demons and Designer Shoes
Can wearing sexy stilettos win the heart of a demon, or cause Heaven to protest?
Anne Jenkins never bought into the concept of a heaven or hell, but when she’s rescued from a runaway horse hurtling toward a steep ravine by a guy who claims he’s a demon, her freak detector goes off. When she demands proof, the leather-clad biker sets some local wildlife on fire. She starts to believe in a hurry.
Gregg Carter, bound to the Devil for all eternity because of an audit gone wrong, seizes the opportunity to take possession of Anne’s soul as a way to please his boss. What he didn’t count on was the fact his libido would take the one-way bus to crazy town as he gets to know her better. When dreams of a future come calling, he knows he’s in big trouble.
Trouble is, Anne and Gregg spend so much time trying to hide their true selves from each other, they can’t escape their mutual attraction. But everyone knows demons and humans don’t mix, and neither can two people destined for two different eternities. In the matter of heaven or hell, maybe the answer is somewhere in between.
Available at all digital retail outlets.
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