And yet here I am, having stepped out of the truth of what I am, having rejected where I came from, who I came from. I feel the same and yet different. Just a little older, wiser, world-weary and on edge. So on edge. As if I am still waiting for something to happen. Waiting for—
He steps out of the other side of the clearing. And comes to a standstill. So still. Alert. Those broad shoulders of his not moving a muscle. Long legs, powerful thighs clad in his favoured black leather. Hair longer since I last saw him. Luke stands there, arms folded over his chest. He is man. He is wolf. He is hybrid. And all three are mine. They belong to me just as I am his. He stands there waiting, and I know this time it is I who must go to him. And he watches me, still not moving, only his eyes tracking me as I take one step, then the second, third, the fourth ... I count as I walk towards him ... Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two. He's still. So still. Is he even breathing? Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two. I am close enough to see his face, his features still as the forest around us. Quiet as the wind which has stopped as if holding its breath. Waiting. Still waiting. Forty, forty-one, I'm just a few steps from him, and I don't stop. Keep going. And on. Forty-five. Forty-six, my skin brushes his, a muscle in his cheek jerks, the pulse at the base of his neck leaps to life, thudding against the skin which rises-falls-rises so fast that I cannot take my eyes off it. Forty-seven and we are thigh to thigh.
My waist brushes his groin as I rise to my feet and place my mouth on that pulsing-leaping-skin and feel the thunder of his heartbeat. Real, vital, there. I am here. In a single swoop, Luke hoists me up and I clamber onto him, holding him with my thighs, my hands, my legs wrapped tight around his waist. I pour myself over him, lick his salty skin and absorb the spicy-cinnamon smell of his essence, and crush my lips to his, till I don't know where I stop and where he begins. I am home.
The End
Read TAKEN, the next book in the Many Lives Series (and Jai's story) here
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Here is a sneak peek from TAKEN the next novel in this Many Lives series.
"Love, hate, betrayal AND Shifters, this book has it all"
"Edge of seat action and sizzling romance. Don't miss this"
Synopsis
Will you walk away from everything you know to save the love of your life?
Aria West: I was meant to kill him but just one look from him felled me instead.
Jai Iyeroy: I cannot lose her again. This time I will do anything to keep her safe.
Three years ago Jai let the only woman he ever loved, walk out of his life, but Aria’s back now. Except she is in danger. And this time Jai will do anything, even break his vow to protect his city, to keep her safe.
A paranormal action-romance, featuring shifters, Taken is set in a near future where successive economic downturns in the West have resulted in refugees seeking shelter in the East. A standalone story in the Many Lives Series.
Excerpt
Jai stands not four feet away, fists clenched at his side as if controlling himself.
His eyes rake over my skin, leaving little pinpricks of fire in their wake. The heat spools off him. It crashes over me, curling around me, playing over the tops of my breasts, flowing down my waist, lower still. Tugging at the base of my groin, pulling at me. My mouth goes dry, and the pulse thunders at my throat.
I can’t breathe.
Can’t move my eyes from his face either.
My fingers loosen and the towel slithers over my skin, sliding down my legs, falling around my feet.
Jai inhales sharply and the chords of his throat move as he swallows. Amber flames spark in his eyes. His jaw hardens as if he’s angry.
As if he’s made up his mind.
He takes a step towards me and another and a third, till he’s standing right in front of me.
Heat plumes off him again and I can smell him now. The bittersweet smell that makes my mouth water. Goosebumps erupt on my skin and I resist the temptation of winding my arms around my waist to cover myself.
He leans down, his head coming towards me and I lift my own. I close my eyes.
I want this. I want him. Want the sight of him to wipe away everything I’ve seen in the Jungle on the sea journey to get to Bombay, one which I’d been sure I wouldn’t survive. And before that. Before my father was killed, before we’d lost our home. I push that away too.
I am here.
Alive.
And I can feel him.
Can sense the life coursing through his veins. The desire coming off him in waves. He’s turned on. I know that. I can feel his arousal. And I want to surrender. I want to bury my nose in his chest and smell him, take him in, fill myself with him and…
He drapes the towel around me, over my arms, knotting it above my breasts. The tips of his fingers brush my skin and I shiver, not opening my eyes. I inhale sharply, my cheeks flushing.
He still doesn’t move.
His gaze burns a path over my skin, leaving flickers of fire in their wake. The heat from him is overpowering, swirling around me, a living connection. Dense. Heavy. So real I can reach out and touch it, sink into it.
And still he stays motionless.
He’s not going to kiss me or touch me again.
Heat drenches me and I want to die of mortification. I curse myself again, bite the inside of my cheeks, when…a soft touch as if he’s brushed his lips over mine. My eyes fly open but already he’s moving away, towards the bedroom door, shutting it softly behind him…
My knees tremble, almost giving way under me. Pulling my hands free I unwrap the towel and hobble to the bed. To where he’s laid out a fresh set of clothes. His clothes. Slipping into the too large shorts and T-shirt, I knot a belt around my waist, winding it around twice before cinching it in.
I hobble to the living room to find him standing by the window looking out.
‘Why?’ I ask.
The sound whispers over the rawness in my throat, every breath feeling as if it’s scraping against sandpaper.
He doesn’t turn, doesn’t acknowledge me. His back is ramrod straight and even without seeing his eyes I know the soldier in him is back. He’s put those barriers up between us and now I’ll never be able to get through to him again.
‘Why, Jai?’
Why did you kiss me?
Why did you walk away from me just now?
When he still doesn’t say anything, a flash of anger ignites. Without realizing it, I move forward and am halfway across the room when he turns and asks, ‘Why what?’ His voice is casual, his eyes shuttered. He leans back against the wall, his hip thrust out slightly, indolent, as if he doesn’t care that I’m here with him in this room.
I know he does care.
He must.
Ignoring the burn from my wounded leg, I take the few steps forward to bridge the space between us till I’m right in front of him. Almost touching. Close enough to see the amber sparks swirl in his eyes. I know then that he’s not as unaffected as he’d like to pretend.
To read more get your copy of TAKEN here : GET TAKEN
About the Many Lives Universe
Each book in the Many Lives universe is a stand alone in the series. A possible progression is as listed below,
Many Lives - Main Series
Feral (Maya's story)
Taken (Jai and Ariana's story)
UnTamed (Leana origin 's story. Leana is Maya's daughter)
Redemption (Leana and Mikhail's story)
More planned ….
Many Lives prequels
Awakened (Ruby and Vik's story)
Origins (Ruby's origin story)
Chosen (Vik's origin story)
Find my books and boxed sets here
Here's a sneak peek from Awakened (Book 1, Many Lives Prequel Series)
Synopsis
Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed with the worst degenerates, the city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to be. Ruby knows something must be done, but it isn't until her best friend is kidnapped that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best friend, save her soul from total destruction. Armed only with Vikram, a sexy cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from.
Excerpt
His tongue flicks out to touch his lips. Can he still taste blood?
His eyes fall on my lips, down to my throat, my breasts, lower, lower still.
I'm close enough to see the golden flecks in his eyes shine. Smell that hard man smell of his which tugs at me. Heat from him spools towards me hitting me squarely in my chest, pulling at my stomach, churning my guts and I shudder.
His eyes widen, and as if unable to help himself, he lowers his mouth brushing my lips once, twice, thrice. Teasing me, nibbling at me, caressing my lips till I feel the heat inside twist and glow, till the lighting tree on my back sizzles, sparking fire.
I moan and reaching up capture his mouth with mine, thrusting my tongue against his; and feel the shock run through him.
He's still just for a second, then he's leaning into me, on me till I am surrounded by him, his touch, his skin, that cinnamon smell of his, which is so Vik. Heat from his body pushes at me, begging to be let in, holding me captive and I feel a trickle of sweat running down between my breasts. Breath coming out in short bursts, I strain against him, trying to free my shackled arms, but he doesn't let go. He also doesn't stop there.
His mouth lowers to my throat, pushing aside the bathrobe till he bares the curve of my shoulder, then bites me, lightly.
My heart slams against my rib cage at that, my eyes flutter shut and I bite my lips to stop myself from crying out. At the pain trembling down to my belly.
He kisses the skin, licking his tongue over the exact same spot and this time I shiver, but he's already trailing his lips down to my breasts. His hand grips the flare of my lips and this time, I moan aloud as his fingers splay out over my belly.
And it's as if the sound gets through to him, for he's suddenly leaning back.
My eyes fly open and I look up at his face, want to trace his lips, run my fingers through his hair and once again I arch my back, push against him and this time he lets me go.
Even as I watch a shutter comes down over his eyes and they lose that bright glow I'd seen there just a second ago.
I know then, he's going to leave and walk away and I can't let him go.
Not now, not when I can tell he's feeling something for me.
When my insides are churning as if this is the only thing that matters. When the emotions overwhelming me wipe out all that has happened before this, making me feel clean. When I don't care who he is, or where he comes from or what his real relation is to Dr B. When something inside me senses that deep at his core, where it matters, he is honest at least as far as whatever 'this' between us is concerned.
I want him.
And I want to make him want me.
Make him show me how much he wants me.
What they say
"Laxmi is a storyteller who knows how to build worlds populated with endearingly down to earth bravehearts." - Inma Martinez, reader
"...A novel that presents so much more than a singular, easy path." - D. Donovan, (Midwest Book Reviews)
Awards
Finalist, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
2015 Readers' Favorite
Finalist, 2015 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, 9th Annual Indie Excellence Awards
Click here to get your copy of Awakened
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About Laxmi
I am a New York Times bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Married to a filmmaker and fellow author, I live in London.
Join my newsletter to get my best novelettes free
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Feral - Many Lives Book 1 Page 6
