Stone of Ascension (39 page)

In that second, he made his decision. One that could cost him everything.

With the choice made, he teleported out, his captive in tow. His life permanently changed. Forever.

If a tree falls in the forest, duck…

Silver Mine

© 2012 Vivian Arend

Takhini Wolves, Book 2

Life in isolation is the safest place for Chase Johnson, a crossbreed who doesn’t know which form he’ll assume next—cougar or wolf. Once a year, his unelected position as spokesman for the Yukon outcasts forces him to visit civilization. This time he runs across someone unexpected. She’s not his mate, but she pushes all the right buttons.

It’s taken years for Shelley Bradley to gather the courage to return to her home pack. In spite of being the lowest of the low—a shifter who can’t shift—she’s determined to make a place for herself as the Whitehorse locals’ new vet-slash-doctor.
 

There’s definite electricity between her and Chase, but sex with fellow shifters and the inherent mind games got old a long time ago. Ignoring him seems best. When he shows up at her office with a wound that won’t heal, she’s stuck—yet drawn to solve this medical mystery.

As they journey deep into outcast territory in search of answers, their powerful sexual attraction crumbles her resistance. But time is of the essence. If a cure can’t be found before his human and cougar succumb to his injury, he—and others like him—will die.

Warning: Contains a silver-tongued, hairy-chested, lean-muscled Alpha who’s got what it takes to lead in the wilderness and in the bedroom. Yeah, I know…not really much of a deterrent, is it? Throw in continuing territorial wars and a domestic cat. Stir and enjoy the chaos.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Silver Mine:

Oh boy. The zap of sexual lust was instant and bad. Real bad. “Why are you doing this?”

His gaze dropped over her like a caress. “Doing what?”

Shelley hid behind the kitchen island and crossed her arms. “Doing that. That look. Your comments. I said no sex.”

“You said no sex in the office. We’re not in the office anymore. Besides, I’m not even touching you.”

Growling with frustration would just show how much he was getting to her. “Chase. Stop it.”

He shrugged. “If you’re positive you don’t want to have sex, I’ll stop.”

“Really?” And why did she feel more disappointed in that comment than she should?

“Really. But if you wanted to fool around a little, I’m game for that.”

Sheesh
. “You are persistent.”

He rose smoothly, and again all the images in her brain were of exotic hunters taking sight of their prey and never letting up the hunt. “I’m not some kind of asshole who will hound you until I get what I want.”

Laughing seemed inappropriate, but she did it anyway. “You’re not hounding me? Definitions are different where you come from.”

“I’m reacting to what your body is telling me. That’s why I’m now suggesting alternatives.” Chase slid his fingers along her cheek, his thumb stroking her lower lip. “You like me. You’re attracted to me.”

She couldn’t speak. Not without drooling, his touch was so addictive. Shelley nodded.

“But for some reason you don’t want to let out the side of us that enjoys sex.” He shrugged. “I’m not going to push you to find out why, but damn if I won’t suggest we can do other things without sex. If it’s only the big bad deed making you hesitate.”

“You sure you’re not a politician?”

“Hell, no. They eat politicians where I’m from.”

Shelley discovered her hands stroking him. Bad hands, to take control like that. “You’re very reasonable. Far more reasonable than most men. Or shifters.”

“I’m not typical.”

He said it so dryly Shelley lost control and snorted in amusement. “No. No, you certainly aren’t.”

Chase brought them closer. His fingers in her hair, smoothing the strands away from her face. “So does that option interest you at all?”

“The no-sex sex?”

“Fooling around. As far as you want to go. I’ll follow your lead, but I want to touch you. Make you feel good.”

A shiver of temptation struck. And when he brought their mouths together again, part of the decision was made.

Damn, the man could kiss. He was so sneaky she didn’t even register when he picked her up and carried her across the room. He must have, though, because suddenly she was sitting on his lap on her couch, straddling him in fact. That wicked tongue of his brushed along the rim of her ear before he dipped inside, and she shivered.

Goose bumps, check. Body aching for a touch, check. He kissed the hollow of her throat, and she was lost.

No-sex sex was awesome. This? This she could totally do.

She grabbed her T-shirt and stripped it off, pleased to see his eyes widen.

“Sweet mercy, woman.”

Being small enough to go braless had its moments. “You too. I promise not to scratch your injury.”

“I like nails. Don’t worry about it.” He tore off his shirt, and a second later she was crushed against that oh-so-warm and furry chest. Fingers irresistibly drawn to stroke and weave through the thick tangle.

Then their lips were back together, giving her time to explore his mouth with her tongue. To trace his teeth, to nibble on his lips.

She clutched his forearms to make sure she stayed away from the cuts on his back. He grabbed her hips and tugged her in tighter, her open legs making her ride along the thick seam of his jeans. The thick ridge of him under that seam.

He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and licked his way to her nipple.

Shelley arched against his mouth. “Yes. Perfect.”

Stone of Ascension

Lynda Aicher

When light and dark collide, the sparks of destiny ignite.

Energen, Book 2

Amber Morningstar ventures to New York City to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon, but the night ends in devastation, leaving her the unwilling owner of a mysterious stone. Now, much as she’d like to forget that night ever happened, there’s no going back to her quiet life.
 

Her mystical heritage has put her on a collision course with a new reality: shape-shifting dragons, energy-wielding Races, and a sexy protector who seems to think she possesses untapped abilities.

Exiled among the humans for a crime he didn’t commit, Damianos Aeros has waited a thousand years for his chance to return to his people. Amber is that chance. She is the Marked One, his one opportunity for redemption—if he can find it within himself to sacrifice the woman whose beauty he has resisted for three long years.

As the battle over Earth’s energy intensifies, Amber and Damian struggle to resist the power drawing them together. The flashpoint of desire casts a glaring light on the critical choice. Trust the energy—and each other—or let the world plummet into ruin.

Warning: Contains energy-wielding Races, shape-shifting dragons, an ultra-hot Chosen One and a young woman who doesn’t realize she’s been Marked to determine the fate of the world.
 

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

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Stone of Ascension

Copyright © 2012 by Lynda Aicher

ISBN: 978-1-60928-876-1

Edited by Christa Desir

Cover by Angela Waters

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: September 2012

www.samhainpublishing.com