It's Release Day for my second novella, CHRISTMAS AT THORNCLIFF TOWERS!!!
I'm super excited for readers to re-enter the world of my first book in the Cursed Princes series, BEAUTY AND THE WOLF.
In this holiday novella, there are werewolves, a love-starved witch, children with the magic of Christmas in their eyes and much more!
To celebrate, I'm running a Rafflecopter Contest for 10 free iTunes downloads. You can enter by clicking here:
Read on for an excerpt!
Scooping up a few pieces of bread,
Karina slipped out the back door. With the aid of the cane, she made her way to
the stable house where the windows glowed a bright orange.
Hearing the crackle of a fire, she entered
uninvited. Constantin had his back to her. Shirtless from the waist up as he’d
been when she spied on him earlier, he was brushing a pewter-colored mare. The
chore set his tendons into a fluid stretch and his biceps into a rippling
bulge.
Karina shut the door with a loud
clatter. He whirled around—his foul expression softening as he perused her new
appearance.
“Karina. You look…nice.” Then he seemed
to remember that he was angry with her. Resuming his task, he spoke in an icy
tone. “I came here to be alone.”
She ignored his comment. “I brought you
some bread since you missed dinner.”
“Thank you,” he said curtly. “Leave it
on the workbench, please.”
She did and strode toward him. Gathering
her courage, she released the cane and touched his solid shoulder. “Do you like
my dress?”
He snatched a look at her but then
avoided her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
“You hardly saw it. Come. Take a long
look.”
Gulping, his stare swept over her tiny
waist, rounded cleavage, and elegant hairstyle. “You look very—different.”
She smiled seductively. “Is that a
compliment?”
“Yes.” His voice was a growl. “You’re
stunning.”
Motivated by the jealousy she felt over
his connection with Lydia Brentwood, Karina slid both hands up his chest and
laced her fingers behind his neck. “You’ve always been my friend, Constantin.
But I missed you in another way when you left our Gypsy camp.” She paused. “Did
you miss me?”
He untangled her fingers. “I’ve missed
your companionship. That’s all.”
“Is that all I’ll ever be?” Frustration
coated her voice. “A companion? A friend?’
He held her by the arm and she could
swear she saw agony in his forest-green eyes. “We lost our parents at a young
age,” he said. “That’s why we became friends, Karina. We had that in common.”
“You never thought I was pretty?”
“I’ve always thought you were beautiful,
but you scared me. I had to grow up and be a father figure to Viktor. I
couldn’t afford to let your rebellious ways distract me.”
“So that’s the reason…” her voice
trailed off.
He released her arm and anchored his
hands on his hips. “You were constantly defying authority and getting into
mischief. I was too straight-laced—too responsible—to join in.”
“Sometimes opposites attract,” she
suggested. “Besides, you’re a grown man. Are you still scared of me?”
His gaze dropped from her eyes to her
mouth. Attraction replaced the agony in his stare. He moved closer. “I’m not
afraid. But I am lonely.”
“I can see why,” she murmured. “The smug
people at this mansion lack the Gypsy fire you’re accustomed to.”
Their lips hovered inches apart. A
whisper of air slipped into Karina’s mouth as she parted her lips. Constantin
nearly kissed her. But then he stepped back.
She wasn’t giving up that easily. “I
liked the feel of your hand on my leg,” she purred. “If you let me touch you, I
can erase some of that loneliness.”
As slow as a ribbon flutters in a quiet
breeze, she feathered her fingertip up his arm. Under her touch, his skin
burned as hot as lava. She knew in that moment that he was going to kiss her.
With eyes blazing with desire, he craned
his neck forward and clamped his mouth to hers. Karina’s whole world changed in
that moment. Responding to his warm lips, she pressed herself to his chest. And
when he allowed his tongue to slip forward, her heart thrummed wildly.
“My God,” he said gruffly. “You smell
like summer rain.”
Their bodies stayed molded together by
pure lust. The feel of his muscles and his intoxicating scent reminded Karina
that she’d never want any man but him. Would Constantin make her his tonight?
