they’re close. Erotic desires thrust
her into a world of danger and
seduction. When the renegade
vampires attempt to destroy a
hundred years of peace, Larissa is
caught in the crossfire. Eternal love
and carnal nights can be her future
if she survives.
EXCERPT:
Larissa donned her coat, grabbed a
shopping sack and headed onto the
crowded streets. It was dark, early
evening, and the sidewalks were
still packed. She couldn’t help but
think about Garrick’s warning
about the towpath and ghost. It was
a short cut to the store and she
didn’t want to leave Jordan alone
for long. Not that she didn’t trust
Jordan, but she was new and might
not be able to answer a customer’s
question. As she stood by the
entrance of the path, two joggers
ran across the parking lot and onto
the towpath. See? If it was safe
enough for them, why not her?
Deciding to ignore Garrick’s
warning, she followed the joggers
and speed–walked toward the
bridge. The trail was peaceful, a
great place to jog and not so
isolated that she felt unsafe. The
sounds of traffic and Christmas
music in the distance comforted
her. The joggers passed the bridge
and were out of sight. Stuffing her
hands in her coat pocket, she
hurried along the grassy path.
Under the bridge, she rushed up
the steps leading to the street. Her
hands shook when she entered the
small grocery store. She refused to
get spooked by superstitions. She
picked up coffee, milk, yogurt and
fresh berries. The fruit was way
over priced for this time of year
but she needed a taste of summer.
Then she stopped at the wine store
for a bottle of merlot. She hoped
by inviting Jordan for dinner, she
might find out what she knew
about the town and its mysterious
people like Garrick, Ramon and
Kashia. On the way home, she took
the canal towpath again, refusing
to allow a legend to spook her.
Something tugged on her hair and
she jumped, almost dropping her
shopping sack. Laughing, she
gripped onto her bag and marched
under the bridge. She was scaring
herself for no reason.
This time a shadow crossed her
path.
“You will be my crimson slave,” a
man’s voice whispered close to her
ear. She felt his breath, felt the
touch of his hand on her shoulder.
Crying out, Larissa spun around
but no one was there.
She glanced up and down the path
and saw no one running away. To
one side was a wall leading up to
the bridge. Even a tall person
couldn’t leap to the top. The only
other way off the path was to jump
into the canal. She would’ve heard
a splash if the man was crazy
enough to do that in this weather.
Was it the ghost, or something
else?
Her body chilled then flashed with
heat. A shiver raised goose bumps
over her skin. If it was a ghost then
she had nothing to fear. A ghost
couldn’t harm her, only frighten
her if she let it.
The shadow and a breeze sped
passed her and Larissa was
slammed against the cold stone
wall. All the air rushed out of her
lungs and she gasped for a breath
to scream.
The weight of a muscular body
pressed her against the wall as
hands moved up her hips and
waist. Oh God, she was going to be
raped or murdered or both. With
all her strength she tried to kick,
tried to swing her arms to fight, but
she was paralyzed.
Her pulse thundered in her head.
Finally she found the courage to
open her eyes and face her
attacker. The Goth guy who was
on her balcony. “You.”
“Yes, little one. I’m claiming you.
Taking what’s rightfully mine.”
His scorching gaze moved down
her length, kicking up her heartbeat
and heating her skin. Despite the
violence, she felt woozy, sensually
achy, his touch tempting. Her head
leaned back and rested against the
stone, the fight and fear being
replaced by erotic desire.
What was wrong with her? “What
are you doing?” she murmured.
“Wait and see.” His booted foot
shoved her feet apart. A muscular
thigh eased between her legs. The
buttons of her coat opened and
cold air chilled her body. Fear rose
to the surface again. She shuddered
as his mouth glided over her neck,
teeth scraping her skin. “This
might hurt a little. It’ll be over
quick,” he said.
Kathy Kulig is a New York Times
& USA Today Bestselling author
of erotic romance whose works
i