Merry Christmas, Paige (16 page)

Look for these titles by Mackenzie McKade

Now Available:

Beginnings Anthology

A Warrior’s Witch

Ties That Bind

Bound for the Holidays

Bound by the Past

Bound by Desire

Wild Oats

Take Me

Take Me Again

The Perfect Gift Anthology

Second Chance Christmas

Six Feet Under

Fallon’s Revenge

Lisa’s Gift

Lost But Not Forgotten

Black Widow

Love isn’t something she thinks she needs…until it lands right on her doorstep.

Cabin Fever

© 2009 Alisha Rai

Genevieve Boden is a witch and doesn’t care who knows. The townspeople’s fear of her keeps away those who have hurt her before—like the local men of authority. Besides, a life of exile deep in the woods of West Virginia is due punishment, she figures, for the part she played in her mother’s death. If she’s alone, no one need know that the trauma took away her powers.

Then she finds a bloody, fatally wounded man slumped on her porch. In an instant, her healing ability reawakens—and that’s not all. He stirs a hunger beyond her wildest dreams. But a relationship with the new chief of police? Not a chance.

Alex Rivera isn’t sure how he survived, but he’s certain his beautiful savior did more than just bandage his wounds. Captivated by this wary angel and stunned by the depth of emotion he feels for her, he vows to discover her secrets. After all, thanks to the raging snowstorm, they have nothing to do but share body heat.

Their sizzling attraction goes straight to their hearts. So could a killer’s bullet…once whoever shot Alex finds them.

Warning: Contains a convenient snowstorm that throws together two wounded characters who happen to be wildly attracted to each other, a drool-worthy hero, a shotgun-toting heroine, mattress sex, shower sex, couch sex, armchair sex, some light bondage, and a really good cup of hot cocoa.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Cabin Fever:

“‘He held her close’…Alex, stop.”

“What?”

“You’re gnawing on my ear.”

“I’m giving you love nibbles. Brock just did it.”

Genevieve snorted and leaned away from his amorous mouth. “If Brock jumped off a cliff…”

“Man, I wish he’d jump off a cliff. That is one obnoxious guy.”

“You’re just mad I wouldn’t let you pick the book with the anti-terrorist agent hero.”

“Hell yeah. Now that would be awesome. Better than this pussy.”

The other book had had a more erotic bent, which was why Genevieve had insisted on the sweeter historical. Though she had become at ease around Alex, narrating an erotic romance stretched outside her comfort bounds.

As Alex moved down her neck, she sighed and tilted her head to give him better access. Though he’d never admit it aloud, the sex yesterday afternoon had overexerted him; he’d been out cold for the better part of the night. They’d enjoyed some slumberous morning fun earlier today, but from the erection under her butt she knew he was ready to go again.

She sat on his lap in her large armchair, wrapped in a quilt. He’d remained naked after his shower this morning to give his washed boxers a chance to dry. Genevieve couldn’t complain, since the view was so very nice.

“I think it stopped snowing.”

Her heart seized a little, and she followed his gaze out the window. “That doesn’t mean much. It’s been going off and on for the past couple of days.”

“True.”

For a guy whose return to his normal life depended on the weather, Alex didn’t sound like he cared much. In fact, she’d lost some of her urgency as well. Instead of checking the phone compulsively, she had just picked it up this morning once. She noted with some surprise that it was already Friday. How could he have fallen on her doorstep only five days ago?

Alex shifted her a bit so he could pick up the chipped mug on the small table next to the chair. He drank deeply and smacked his lips. “How come your hot chocolate tastes so good?”

“Told you, it’s a secret ingredient.”

“Whiskey?”

“Kind of. A shot of Bailey’s and crème de menthe.”

He gave a rumble of appreciation. “Here, last sip. You drink it.”

“You can have it.”

“No, it’s so good. You barely had any.”

She drank when he tipped the mug to her mouth, warmed by the drink and the simple gesture. She had the feeling that he would have drank a vat of the hot cocoa if she had it, but instead he made sure she enjoyed the last lingering taste.

When every drop was drained, he placed the mug back on the table and kissed her gently, sharing the hint of chocolate and mint. Languor stole through her body. When their lips separated, she leaned against his chest, the book forgotten in her hands.

“You’re a con artist. That’s why you hate cops.”

She smiled, used to his teasing and so relaxed she couldn’t do anything but tease back. “Yes. I defrauded people of their millions and retired to a snowy cabin. Mexico is so passé.”

“You’re smart. You know no one will ever find you here.” He shifted her hair aside, left down at his request, pressing butterfly kisses against her neck.

“Alex,” she said, only half-protesting. “I have chores to do.”

“So pretend I’m a chore.” He massaged her belly. In an instant, her baseline of relaxed arousal flared into full-blown, gimme-gimme-want-it-bad lust. “I’m kind of getting a bit of a complex, babe.”

She hated being called a babe.
Got that, vagina? It’s not a turn-on.
“About what?”

“You’ve been in the driver’s seat when it comes to sex with us. I just want it clear, it’s not always going to be like that.”

“You make it sound like I dress up in black leather and carry a whip.” At his silence, she twisted around. “Um, does that turn you on?”

“Of course not.”

“Ooooh, yes it does,” she teased, and nuzzled his neck. “That sounds like a fun fantasy. Maybe we can try that one out?”

He tilted his head farther back in silent acquiescence. Genevieve nibbled her way up to his jaw line, loving the way he smelled like her homemade soap and tasted so earthy, like a man. Mostly loving his shortened breath when he spoke.

“You in leather sounds awesome. You kind of have that Xena thing going on. Have you ever had a lesbian experience?”

Genevieve shook her head. Sometimes following his train of thought took some doing. “What?”

“You know, everyone thinks Xena and Gabrielle got it on. Not that I’m into girl on girl.” He paused. “Much. Not obsessively at least.”

“I have not had a girl-on-girl experience.”

She kissed him and managed to shut him up for a second. When she came up for air, though, he spoke. “Would you want…?”

“I don’t know how this went from me being a dominatrix to a lesbian fetish.”

“It’s not a fetish. I don’t mind you being the bad dominatrix who I get to punish.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“I think that defeats the whole purpose of me being a dominatrix.”

“Well, I’m not into being tied down or anything.”

Genevieve nibbled his earlobe between her teeth. “Now you’re just giving me ideas.”

She jumped with surprise when large hands closed on her hips, easily picking her up to turn her around. Within seconds, she found herself straddling his lap. “Don’t strain your shoulder.”

He made a dismissive noise. “I’m fine. If you only knew some of my ideas, sweetheart, you’d run screaming.”

“Oh, yeah? Big, bad man. You forget how long I’ve had to fantasize.”

“So, what do you want? Tell me.”

She shouldn’t have teased him. By the hard glint in his eyes, she was about to see the full force of his dominant personality. She couldn’t wait.

The Oedipal Complex has never been so sexy…

Holiday Bound

© 2009 Beth Kery

Alex Carradine can’t believe his father wants to come and visit his ski resort. Could it be that after so many stormy years, “slick Mitch” Carradine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he’s bringing along.

Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father’s new conquest is none other than the woman of Alex’s sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.

Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late, she realizes she’s been led into a familial battle zone. Now it’s Christmas and she’s marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow.

There’s no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind…

Warning: This book contains scenes of sensual submission hot enough to make you sweat in a blizzard.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Holiday Bound:

Nothing about her interaction with Alex Carradine had been casual since he’d first barked at her while she sat in the SUV. Angeline knew all that, but she couldn’t stop herself from trying to make a connection with him, no matter how tenuous that connection was.

“My mom and dad put a real one up every year. They smell so good. I went with my dad every year to cut it down until I went to college,” she said in a hushed voice.

“What about your place in the city?”

“I put up a small one. Fake. I still like it, though. My mother gives me an ornament on Christmas Day. It’s a tradition. So I like to put them up every year. This will be the first year I’m not spending Christmas with my parents.”

“You were going to spend it with my dad, instead.”

The flames crackled in the taut silence that followed. If she’d let herself think about what she said next, she’d never have done it in a million years. But she wasn’t thinking. As she lay there in front of that fire with Alex, she was just feeling. And she was doing it more than she’d ever done in her thirty years of existence.

“Alex?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve never slept with your father.”

Sweat popped on her brow in the strained silence that followed. She felt a drop of it run between her breasts. How could she possibly have been nearly frozen less than an hour ago when her flesh now throbbed with heat? She closed her eyes when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

He rolled her onto her back. She opened her eyes. He’d scooted over in his sleeping bag and leaned down over her, bracing himself on his elbow. She stared, mesmerized, at flame-gilded muscle. His face looked rigid and stark as he stared down at her.

Something fell into place deep inside her, like the last tumbler turning to spring a lock.

“Angeline?”

“Yes.”

She groaned at the impact of his mouth taking possession of her own. She’d thought she was hot, but Alex was fire itself, his sleek tongue a fierce, demanding flame. A fever possessed her, burning away rational thought.

He cupped her jaw and drank from her thirstily…wildly. When his taste registered in her awareness, a primal wave of lust surged up from her belly. Her vagina contracted in painful need. She kissed him like she was deprived of air and he could supply her with his breath…with life itself. She hadn’t realized she was struggling to feel his long, hard body pressed next to her own until he roughly broke their kiss. She blinked her eyelids open, registering the small snarl twisting his handsome mouth. When she craned up for him, desperate for more of his taste, he hissed a curse and whipped back the cover of her sleeping bag.