The Automatic Reboot

Welcome to another Tasty Tuesday...

There are days when your brain just needs a reboot.

Maybe you've had a sleepless night. Maybe you've had a busy day. Maybe your eighty-five-year-old mother-in-law who insists on wearing her reading glasses for non-reading-related activities is convinced there's a flock of sheep grazing on your deck...

Please note the picture at left. These are not sheep.

Maybe it's all of the above and you'd been so preoccupied dealing with everything--plus a couple of dozen other things that didn't even make the list--that you forgot about the promo-spot you had scheduled on blogtalk radio until hours after the fact. Awesome!


Days like that, all you really want to do is go to bed and worry about it tomorrow. But those sheep won't feed themselves, you know! And with a wound-up, elderly in-law wandering about the house... Well, to mis-quote a famous apron I once read in a Tacky Souvenir Shoppe, "If Mama can't sleep, can't nobody else sleep neither." Or use proper grammar. Obviously.

When the words of that bedtime classic, Go the Fuck to Sleep, are muddled up in your brain with the final lines of Robert Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, and it all begins to seem Just Too Much, take heart because I have just the cure for what ails you.





The Automatic Reboot.

Step #1. Take your largest coffee mug.
Step #2. Combine 1 shot cinnamon schnapps, 1 shot Kahlua and 1 shot Irish whiskey in said mug.
Step #3. Fill mug to the brim with very, very, very strong coffee. I like Wake the Fuck Up! for this.
Step #4. Dust with cinnamon. Or nutmeg. Or cinnamon and nutmeg. Whipped cream is also nice.
Step #5. Drink.
Step #6. Immediately begin to feel better.

May also be chilled overnight and enjoyed cold the next day...although, in retrospect, 8 a.m.might have been a little early to indulge.

For more coffee-related cocktails, check out Starbucks' coffee-ice cream martini or these favorites from Starbucks' Secret Menu.

And please stop by the following blogs to check out these other tasty treats:

Recipes from my Erotic Garden by Selena Robins 

"The Quickie" by A. Catherine Noon

Check back later this week for the Love's a Beach blog hop!

Chocolate Cherry Dream Pie

Welcome to another Tasty Tuesday. The inspiration for this week's recipe comes from a few sources, including the chocolate-amarena gelato my daughter enjoyed in Venice last week (that's it over there on the left) and Nick Greco, one of the heroes of my Oberon series, who has an abiding love of all things chocolate-and-cherry, especially as they pertain to his wife...

            [Nick] kissed her until he felt her knees weaken.  Until the sun had begun to heat the back of his neck.  Until Cole, half forgotten in his arm, began to squirm and whimper fretfully.  And still, he could not quite identify that flavor.  “Okay, I give up,” he broke off the kiss to ask.  “What the heck have you been eating?”
            “Huh?”  She frowned at him uncomprehendingly, automatically taking the baby from him.  A curious smile played over her lips.  “What are you talking about?”

            Man, he loved that smile.  He kissed her several times again just because of it.  “What.  Have you.  Been eating?  It’s driving me crazy.”

            “Oh.”  Eyes darkening, she kissed him again.  “You like that, huh?  I stopped on the way out here and got a milkshake.”

            Ahh.  A milkshake.  Of course.  “Chocolate?” 

            “Well, of course chocolate.”

            “With a cherry?”

            “And whipped cream, yes.  Is there any other way?”

            Not as far as he was concerned.  Chocolate and cherry.  He hadn’t tasted that combination on her lips in twenty years.  He kissed her once more.  “Mm.  Come on, let’s go home.”

That snippet came from book five in the series, Touch of a Vanished Hand, by the way, but it's not the first time Nick's preoccupation with this had been mentioned. The first time was in book three, Sound of a Voice That is Still (yes, there's a pattern there *g*) and that excerpt is currently posted on This Week's Excerpt. 

Nick happens to be Italian. In fact, his last name, Greco, was my grandmother's maiden name. I'm only half Italian myself, being Irish on my mother's side. Why do I feel the need to mention this here? Simply because the Irish eat more chocolate (per capita, I believe) than any other country in the EU. So, this recipe is also a nod to my family heritage because while I'm using Italian cherries, I'm also adapting an Irish recipe for chocolate mousse. Oh, and I'm also specifying Irish butter because it's the best and what's the point of using anything else? 

Just as a side note, this recipe is gluten free because I couldn't resist adding a hint of almond to the mix.

Super Simple Almond Pie Crust

Ready? It's got just three ingredients 1 1/2 cups almond flour, 3 Tbs sugar and 3 Tbs Irish butter. If you can't find Irish butter, I'd suggest substituting coconut oil and 1/2 a tsp of Celtic sea salt. I also like to add a splash of Amaretto, but that's just me. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and hand mix until crumbly. Then press into a greased, nine-inch pie plate and bake empty at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. 

Pie Filling

4 1/2 ounces extra dark chocolate, chopped into pieces 
2 tablespoons kirsch 
2 tablespoons Irish butter 
1 tablespoon sugar 
1 1/2 cups Amarena cherries in syrup (Fabbri) 
3 large eggs 
1 cup heavy cream

 Combine chocolate, kirsch, sugar and butter in saucepan. Melt over very low heat, then scrape into a bowl and allow to cool a little. 

 Separate eggs. Whisk whites until they reach soft peak stage. 

Whip cream. 

Beat yolks into slightly cooled chocolate mixture. 

Next, fold in 1 cup of the cherries and syrup (reserve remaining 1/2 cup for garnish). 

Finally, fold the egg whites and cream gently into chocolate mixture, alternating, 1/3 at a time, until it's all incorporated. 

 Spoon mixture into cooled crust and chill for several hours. Serve with more whipped cream if desired (or with grated white chocolate, dark chocolate or a combination of the two) and drizzle with the reserved cherries. 

As a variation,  this may also be made with white chocolate in place of the dark chocolate and with an addition of 1/3 cup of grated dark chocolate folded into the mixture. 

Ready for another short excerpt? This one is from book eight, Dream Under the Hill. Yeah, that's where the 'dream' in the recipe came from. So now you know. ;)

             [Nick] set the tray on the table, along with a plate of chocolate dipped biscotti, Lucy’s predictably perfect Tiramisu, a large bowl of very early strawberries from one of Dan’s 
greenhouses, and the cherry tart Sinead had baked specially for him.

           “I used Amarena cherries to make it,” she’d said, smiling wickedly as she handed him the 

pie plate. “Imported from Bologna.  I don’t know what those Italians do to them, but the flavor 

is...exquisite.  Out of this world. Enjoy.”

           Nick had nodded, feeling almost dazed by the sweet cherry scent that was rising from the pastry

 shell. Cherries had always been his favorite fruit, and just the smell of these—dark, intense, almost 

sinful––was enough to make him drool.  “Thank you,” he murmured, as he gave her a hug.  “I’m 

sure I’ll love it.”

            “Oh, I know you will,” Sinead had replied, laughing softly as she whispered, “it’ll make 

a great bedtime snack.”

           “Good to know,” he’d said, returning her smile. The woman certainly knew his tastes––

Please stop by the following blogs and load up on their tasty treats:

Devilishly Decadent Dip by Moira Keith 

Stress-Free Layered Salad by Nancy Lauzon 

Decadent Angel by Sloan McBride

Sexy Sassy Saucy by Selena Robins

Sweet & Sassy (Oriental) Chicken Wings – Fab For Any Gathering! by Renee Wildes 

Aunt Noony's After Glow by A. Catherine Noon

Sweet Summer Lovin'

It's Tasty Tuesday and a few of my fellow authors and I have gotten together to share some sexy, fun recipes for you to try out.

For me, nothing says summer quite like lavender, so today I'm going to share a couple of my favorite lavender themed recipes, lavender shortbread and lavender lemonade. Together they make up a perfect snack to enjoy while sitting outside, enjoying the summer sunshine and, of course, a good book!



Lavender Shortbread


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the lavender, mint and lemon zest. Combine the flour, cornstarch and salt; mix into the batter until well blended. Divide dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and flatten to about 1inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 1hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cookie stamps will work well on these too. Place on cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, just until cookies begin to brown at the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Amy's Lavender Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 tray ice cubes
• 1/4 cup dried lavender
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 8 lemons
• 5 cups cold water, or as needed

Directions

1. Place ice cubes into a 2 quart pitcher. Place the lavender into a bowl, and pour boiling water over it. Allow to steep for about 10 minutes, then strain out the lavender and discard. Mix the sugar into the hot lavender water, then pour into the pitcher with the ice.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pitcher, getting as much juice as you can. Top off the pitcher with cold water, and stir. Taste, and adjust lemon juice or sugar if desired. Pour into tall glasses, pull up a lawn chair and a good book, and relax!

Both recipes courtesy of allrecipes.com  

Please stop by the following blogs and load up on their tasty treats:

Sweet & Spicy Menage-a-Trois, by Selena Robins 

Bewitching Bailey's Cupcakes by Moira Keith

ROGUE REFORMATION (CHEESY POTATOES) - The Ultimate Comfort Food For Heating Up A Cold WI Winter Night!
 and WHO YOU CALLING A TART? (CRANBERRY MUFFINS w/BUTTER SAUCE - sweet & tart with a decadent buttery finish...) by Renee Wildes

Ambrosia by A Catherine Noon

Happy Trails Trail Mix by Nancy Lauzon

Salacious Salad and Naughty Nachos by Denise A Agnew

Sassy Sangria by Sloan McBride

And speaking of summer reads, tomorrow kicks off the start of the Orangeberry Summer Splash, a month-long mini book tour marathon, which is sure to be chock full of great books to make your summer better! 


Check it out at: 


http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2012/07/orangeberry-summer-splash-event.html

Season's Greetings and G'Day

Last December, authors JK Coi, Stacy Gail, Jenny Schwartz and I celebrated the release of A Clockwork Christmas, our steampunk-themed Christmas anthology from Carina Press.
  

For three of us, that happy glow warmed up our winters very nicely. But for Jenny, who makes her home in Australia, December is the middle of summer.

It's winter there now, however, and she's celebrating with a contest and giveaway sure to warm the heart of one lucky winner--a rare print copy of the anthology. To enter is simple; just visit her blog located here:

http://authorjennyschwartz.com/2012/07/01/an-antipodean-steampunk-christmas/

I love this anthology. I love the stories and the way they work together, but even more, I loved being associated with these immensely talented authors. If you're not already familiar with them, please click on their names above to check them out!  And for more about the anthology just go HERE.

Thanks and good luck!

http://ebooks.carinapress.com/C8E25291-66CD-40AD-9915-DA23C7DE17EE/10/134/en/SearchResults.htm?SearchID=10592411&SortBy=Date

Earth Day Blog Hop

Happy Earth Day everyone! And welcome to our Blog Hop. That scene over there on the right  is the view from my deck this morning, but the photo might as well have been taken in Oberon, the fictional California coast town that was the setting for my first series.

Fellow  Naughty Novelist Kelly Jamieson wrote a blog post recently about her trip to Chicago and how much fun she had re-visiting places where several of her stories are set. I get that pleasure every day.

For today's post I'm sharing an excerpt from the most environmentally-focused of the Oberon books, A Taste of Honey. This is Lucy and Dan's story and, in a lot of ways, it's still my favorite. I'll be giving away a free download of the book as a prize today AND, I'm also giving away a free novella to anyone who'd like to see what Oberon is all about. Just email me at pgforte@pgforte.com with Oberon Novella in the subject line.

Before we get started, I just want to remind everyone if you get lost somewhere along the blog-hop trail, just go to www.justromance.me and pick up where you left off.  Now, on to the post...

There's something magical about the tiny California coast town of Oberon.  Something that transcends explanation and defies description.  Things happen here that could happen nowhere else. 

But living in 'Psychic Central' is not all white light and fairy dust.  Danger lurks beneath the bright surface, and the all too human emotions of jealousy, hatred and greed occasionally rage out of control...

 A Taste of Honey: 


Lucy Cavanaugh has it all - the perfect family, the perfect husband, the perfect marriage. What more could she wish for? Other than the chance to do it all again. To experience once more the agony and ecstasy of falling in love with the man of her dreams.

When the Cavanaugh's near perfect marriage goes off the rails, it takes a band of angels to get them back on track.  

Excerpt (This scene takes place shortly after Lucy and Dan met, when they were still just "getting acquainted with one another): 


Dan was a big guy, and Lucy expected him to have a big appetite.  The Lord knew she was feeling absolutely famished after the afternoon’s exertion.  So when she followed him into his kitchen, the very last things she expected to see him pulling out of his refrigerator were what appeared to be the makings of a salad. 

He was wearing nothing but a pair of blue plaid boxers, and although it wasn’t the first time she was seeing his broad, bronzed chest, or the powerful muscles in his shoulders and arms, the sight gave her an odd, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.  Probably just hunger, she told herself, determinedly pushing the dangerous idea that it could be due to anything else to the backof her mind.

He looked up as she entered the room, and when his glance took in the fact that she was wearing his shirt, he smiled--with entirely too much smug satisfaction, she thought as she frowned in response. Even despite what they’d just gotten finished doing, she didn’t exactly feel comfortable with the intimacy that borrowing his clothing implied.  But she hadn’t been able see the point of getting dressed again, either--not when she was only going to take her clothes back off a short while later.  Nor had she liked the idea of parading around his apartment in her underwear, as he was doing.  So it had seemed, at the time she made her choice, like the least evil of her options. 

Until she’d put the damn thing on and the scent of him clinging to the fabric made her go weak in the knees. She’d had to sit right back down on the edge of his bed while she buttoned it. Her heart thundering in her ears, her mind dizzy with thoughts of all the things his hands and mouth had done to her.

 Still scowling, she gestured at the cluttered countertop.  “What’s all this?”  

“Dinner.”  He motioned her towards one of the stools pushed beneath the breakfast bar.  “Here.  Sit down.” 

She surveyed the platter he’d arranged on the counter. “Are you a vegetarian or something?”  It wasn’t like she had anything against it, but he sure didn’t seem like the type.

Dan grimaced.  “No, I’m not.  But I wasn’t exactly planning on entertaining anyone here tonight, either.  So we’re just gonna have to make do with what I’ve got on hand.  Okay?”  He’d picked up a slice of avocado as he spoke, and now he held it out to her.

 “Yeah, sure.  Whatever,” she said as she reached for it, but he pulled it away from her hand.                   

 “Uh-uh.”  He shook his head, a tiny smile just teasing the corners of his mouth.  “Not like that.  Open up.” 

Lucy felt her stomach tense.  He had to be kidding?  He wanted to feed it to her?  She frowned at him again, but his smile didn’t waver and his eyes held a challenge she couldn’t back away from.  Reluctantly, she opened her mouth and he gently slid the slippery green-gold chunk inside.  It was perfectly ripened, soft and buttery, with just a hint of balsamic vinegar.  Her taste buds—traitorous little beasts who couldn’t care less how the food got to them, it seemed—immediately went into ecstasy.

 “Good?” he asked popping a piece into his own mouth.

 “Mm,” she murmured, non-comittally.  She helped herself to another piece.

“Here, try the tomatoes next.”  He picked up a tiny orange cherry tomato, and once again held it inches from her mouth.  Lucy sighed, and rolled her eyes, but this time she opened her mouth for him just a little more willingly.  The tomato was also delicious, and just slightly warm, as if it still retained some trace of sunshine.  She bit down on it and it burst inside her mouth with a rush of flavor.

The second tomato was as good as the first, but this time, instead of popping it into her mouth he brushed it back and forth across her lower lip teasingly, until she grew impatient and took it between her teeth and tugged it free of his fingers.  She smiled at him, triumphant at having beaten him at his own game.  But  Dan was smiling too, as if she’d done exactly as he’d wanted her to.  His blue eyes gleamed wickedly, and she felt her breath go as she caught sight of the heat that smoldered there.  She was no longer certain she understood the rules they were playing by.

“My turn,” she announced recklessly, picking up a tomato and dangling it in front of his face.  He leaned forward and took it into his mouth.  His lips and tongue briefly caressed her fingertips.  A tiny tremor ran through her at the touch and she felt a flush of heat spread across her face.

 When he turned to remove something from the oven, Lucy took the opportunity to gather her wits; slipping another piece of avocado into her mouth with trembling fingers.  

The rest of the meal went much the same way.  They fed each other from the wheel of melted Brie that Dan had heated in the oven.  The soft cheese stuck to their fingers and had to be scraped away with their teeth,  as well as their tongues.  A surprisingly time consuming process, Lucy discovered, and one which left her fingers tingling from his touch.  Next, he’d produced artichokes dripping with melted butter and firm, briny, black olives; sweet peppered pecans, and last of all, a whole can of smoked oysters.  All of it washed down with several glasses of a locally produced Cabernet that was deeply dark, almost earthy in flavor, with an elusive cedar scent.  It tasted like a summer night in a pine forest, Lucy thought, feeling dizzy after a couple of glasses.

For dessert, Dan brought out fresh strawberries.  When those were almost finished, he suddenly remembered the can of whipped cream that was supposed to have accompanied them.

“Well, no sense in letting it go to waste, huh?” he said, after the berries had all been eaten, “Let’s just take it back to bed with us.”

Lucy frowned.  “You don’t really want to eat that in bed, do you?” she protested, trying to free her mind from the warm drowsiness the food and wine had produced.  “It sounds awfully messy,”

 “Well, we’ll just have to be sure we clean up after ourselves then, won’t we?”  Dan answered with a sly smile, tugging at her hand and leading the way back to his bedroom.

*

They stretched out together on the bed and in between kisses Dan amused himself by squirting  whipped cream first into his mouth and then into hers.

“All right, Cavanaugh,” Lucy sighed, after this had gone on for awhile, “Don’t you think we’ve had about enough to eat now?”

 “Nope.”  He grinned at her, and then threaded his fingers through her hair, using it to turn her head just slightly to the side, holding her there while he leaned in to kiss her again, lightly.  “As a matter of fact, we’re just getting started.” 

 And then, before she had any clue what he was planning, he’d sprayed whipped cream all the way down the side of her neck.  She gasped as the cool cream hit her skin.  Her heart began beating so quick and hard it was almost painful, and her eyes drifted shut as he lowered his mouth to her throat and slowly licked and kissed his way down her neck, leaving a trail of cool, damp, shivering skin in his wake.  

For my charity, I've chosen Garden Harvest to honor Lucy's love of chickens. Click on the link to read more about it. 

For more information on the Oberon series, please check out the Oberon website: www.OberonCalifornia.US  or email me at pgforte@pgforte.com to receive a free novella (offer good for this weekend only).  

On the Radio

If you missed listening to me last night on Linda Mooney's Other Worlds of Romance, discussing Old Sins, Long Shadows--never fear!

I know you were soooo very frightened of that, weren't you?

You can simply click here to hear a re-broadcast of the program, giggles and all:

Listen to internet radio with Linda Mooney
on Blog Talk Radio

Six Sentence Sunday

Today's six sentences are from Old Sins, Long Shadows book 2 in the Children of Night series.

Regaining what he could of his control, Armand banded more tightly around Julie's body. He backed her deeper into the now-deserted doorway, using his own body to shield her from the night, from prying eyes, from any harm that might threaten her. When he came up for air, just long enough to drag one ragged breath into his lungs, she bit softly on his lip. Venom spread swiftly through his system, a warm tide of want that left him reeling with desire.


Worth the risk, he decided as he fell back into her kiss; their hearts beat rapidly in tandem and now it was his own blood he tasted on her tongue. How was it, he wondered, that his thoughts could be this hazy yet still crystal clear, or that what once seemed uncertain, should now feel so sure? Definitely worth the risk.

And please join me tomorrow night, February 27, at 11 p.m. EST on Other Worlds of Romance with Linda Mooney on BlogTalkRadio where I'll be sharing more from Old Sins, Long Shadows  and discussing the Children of Night series. Hope to see you there!

Living forever is hard. Loving forever? Damn near impossible. 


1856, New York City. Moments after Conrad Quintano drives his life-mate away, heartache and guilt descend around his heart like a pall. Convinced that Damian’s hatred is as permanent as the scars Conrad has inflicted on him, Conrad steels himself for an eternity of emotional torture.

Present day, San Francisco. For the sake of vampire twins Marc and Julie Fischer, Conrad and Damian present a united parental front. In reality, their truce is a sham. Conrad, weakened by his recent ordeal, struggles against the urge to bring his mate back to his bed. And Damian misinterprets Conrad’s explosive temper as proof their relationship is irreparably broken.

When an old enemy’s quest to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens the twins’ lives—and the precarious state of vampire peace—it’s imperative the estranged lovers put the past behind them. Or the shadows of the past will tear apart everything they hold dear.

Warning: This book may not be suitable for readers with an aversion to emotionally damaged vampire heroes. Caution is advised if you have experienced prior sensitivity to any of the following: costume parties, fencing lessons, interspecies, inter-generational or intra-gender dating, occasional mild violence, and/or recreational blood-drinking.

Cupid's Choice

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another fabulous blog-hop and Happy Valentine's Day! As usual, if you get lost and need to hop back on the blog-bus, just go to www.justromance.me and pick it up again. 

I've been buried in packing boxes these past few weeks thanks to the-move-that-will-not-end, so instead of writing a special short story for this hop, I thought I'd go with a Valentine's excerpt from Sound of a Voice That is Still, the book I'm giving away as part of this weekend's very cool prize package. Then I got a look at this very cool and very sexy banner. It reminded me a lot of the picture I used for the back of one of my Romance Trading Cards. 

See what I mean? Okay, I know he doesn't have wings here, but he's an angel just the same. Also, in both pics he looks like he can use a kiss. And who doesn't love a "first kiss" scene? So that decided me.  Here's a blurb and excerpt from Edge of Heaven...

Welcome to the afterlife, where men are men and the angels are fallen.

It was a reckless act of passion that ended Edge’s life and left him in Limbo -- literally. Now, he’s stuck here. While most of the other angels-in-training move quickly up the celestial ladder, Edge knows it can never be that simple for him. He’s dealing with issues that are a lot more complicated than a simple lack of closure.

While Edge doesn’t know for sure what it will take to get him into Heaven, there is one thing he’s certain won’t help -- his latest assignment guiding angel-baby Matteo Matinucci while the newbie find his wings.

But twenty-something Mattie -- sexy, beautiful, recently departed, and openly gay -- could turn out to be the answer to all of Edge’s prayers, as well as the fulfillment of all his fantasies, even the hot, sweaty, secret ones he’s never confided to anyone. And by helping to send Mattie to Heaven, Edge just might end up saving both their souls.

Excerpt:

There’s a wicked look in his eyes as he twists round to face me. It’s exactly the kind of look that makes you remember the devil’s an angel too. “Ridiculous or not, there’s something that’s been driving me nuts ever since we met.” 

Before I can come up with a response—before I even have a clue what he’s planning—damned if he doesn’t kiss me. His hand latches on to my shoulder, keeping me still when I would have drawn back. He leans in, slanting his head at the last minute, angling in just right until our lips and noses are so perfectly aligned it’s as though we’ve been doing this all our lives.

Surprise has short-circuited my reasoning. I know this to be true because before I’m even aware of it, I’m kissing him back. It’s shock; that’s all. A reflex. And maybe a little curiosity. I’ve been wondering for so long what something like this would be like. I’ve been wanting it for so long. Craving it, really. And his lips—so warm and gentle at first, so insistent an instant later—how can I resist his lips or the scratchy stubble that surrounds them, so different from anything I’ve known before? But it’s purely shock. Or mostly shock…partially…

Okay, look, the shock’s there, all right? It’s definitely somewhere in the mix; that’s all I’m gonna say.

My body seems to have switched to automatic pilot. Without any encouragement from my brain, my lips part for his tongue. My eyes are closed tight in bliss and denial. The taste and the smell and the feel of him—it’s enough to overload my senses, so sweet, so tangy and male. So good. So right.

So…fucking perfect, actually. And who could ever have predicted that would be the case?

I suck on his tongue, pulling it deeper into my mouth. I’m startled by how much I want that, how much I crave the feel of that agile muscle filling my mouth, taking possession of every inch. My hands grope blindly, searching for some way to anchor us together, clutching at his shoulder, his waist, anywhere my fingers can find a purchase.

Matteo sighs against my lips. He shifts a little—is he moving away? Is he breaking this off? I can’t be certain, but I’m taking no chances. I tug him closer, canting my head to the side to tempt him with greater access. I shudder in pleasure at the way our bodies fit together. I can’t let this end. I won’t let it end. Not yet.

Why should I, anyway? It’s just a kiss, after all. Innocent. Harmless. Nothing to get too excited about. Just a kiss and yet…my cock swells and throbs, demanding more. Demanding pressure and friction. Movement. Heat. I’m giving serious thought to the idea of tumbling backward into the sand, pulling him down with me, on top of me. My head spins with the thought of how it will feel to be pinned to the ground, helpless beneath his weight. I want that. Oh, how I want that.

I’m breathless and fevered, and suddenly, in the midst of it all, my conscience makes a belated and completely unwelcome appearance.

Oh, holy crap. What the fuck do you think you’re doing? This is a mistake. Stop it.

Right. A mistake. I knew that.

I start to pull away, only to find that—somehow—Matteo’s hand is cupping the back of my neck. How it got there, when it got there, I have no idea. His fingers are tangled up in my hair; they tense as I try to move, tightening their grip. Then his other hand joins the party, caressing my neck, my shoulder. Obviously, he intends to gentle me into staying right where I am.

You might think knowing what he’s up to would be enough to cool my blood, to clear my head, to stop my body from responding just like he wants it to, but it’s not. Not even close. I exhale on a shudder, let my tongue curl with his, and I’m lost again. This is too good, too right, too fucking sexy. I’m not going anywhere.

And you know what? I’m really kind of okay with that.

 

Join me on February 27 at 11 p.m. EST on Other Worlds of Romance with Linda Mooney on BlogTalkRadio

I'll be talking about Old Sins, Long Shadows (Children of Night, book 2). Hope to see you there!

Living forever is hard. Loving forever? Damn near impossible. 


1856, New York City. Moments after Conrad Quintano drives his life-mate away, heartache and guilt descend around his heart like a pall. Convinced that Damian’s hatred is as permanent as the scars Conrad has inflicted on him, Conrad steels himself for an eternity of emotional torture.

Present day, San Francisco. For the sake of vampire twins Marc and Julie Fischer, Conrad and Damian present a united parental front. In reality, their truce is a sham. Conrad, weakened by his recent ordeal, struggles against the urge to bring his mate back to his bed. And Damian misinterprets Conrad’s explosive temper as proof their relationship is irreparably broken.

When an old enemy’s quest to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens the twins’ lives—and the precarious state of vampire peace—it’s imperative the estranged lovers put the past behind them. Or the shadows of the past will tear apart everything they hold dear.

Warning: This book may not be suitable for readers with an aversion to emotionally damaged vampire heroes. Caution is advised if you have experienced prior sensitivity to any of the following: costume parties, fencing lessons, interspecies, inter-generational or intra-gender dating, occasional mild violence, and/or recreational blood-drinking.