Random Teaser from Blood Instincts!

If you follow my work, then you know I published a paranormal romance/urban fantasy book called Second Nature in December of 2014. Well, the sequel is not done yet, but I randomly find myself working on book two of the Blood at First Sight Series. It is titled Blood Instincts. Here is a brief teaser to keep fans in the loop:

subbotina, 123RF Limited.

Again, the conviction that this “date” was a bad idea didn’t leave. It was too late to cancel, and what was more, he actually wanted to see her. She had a lovely face, somewhat exotic, with dark, shiny hair he wanted to touch. He’d bet her long waves were soft. Her skin too, he thought idly. And those eyes…she had dark brown eyes, almost black but not quite…eyes he wanted to gaze into as she climaxed under his hands.

Oliver shook himself with a reminder that he didn’t have to get involved with her to watch her. He’d go out with her tonight, but following her might be a better idea after all. Oliver finished dressing and went to the car he’d rented for the evening. He wanted to celebrate this woman in style, to really treat her right. When he realized how that sounded, he cursed. It was too late to change his plans now.

By six-thirty on the dot, he was standing at the door to her apartment. Clearly being a practical woman, he knew she’d appreciate punctuality. Absently, he ran a hand through his short hair, then looked down, saw the single rose in his hand and scowled. He couldn’t have made his intentions clearer if he’d tried. Myah was going to think he was interested, and not just for the short-term. Of course, it was possible that she didn’t know the meaning of flowers as he did, for a single red rose meant ‘life-long devotion and love’. His chest began to ache, and he attributed it to guilt. He didn’t want to use her, he realized, not for blood and not for her body. She deserved…more.

He took a deep breath, and then knocked. A few seconds later, the door swung open. He was still looking down at the bloom in his hand when he caught her scent. His nostrils flared, aware of the heady combination of jasmine and the sweet fluid in her veins.

“Oliver, is everything all right?”

“Yes, it’s…” His gaze swung back up to hers, but didn’t stop there. Oliver took her in like a man long deprived of water. Tonight, her hair had a fine sheen and was straight as if she’d ironed it. It fell straight down her back and she’d gone to a little more trouble with her makeup, yet she still appeared natural. She’d done something amazing around her eyes, however, and they really stood out. He wanted to drown in that gaze. How silly, he thought, but then got a look at the rest of her. Her silver earrings dangled down in a marquis pattern. Her neck and the top of her chest were somewhat exposed as she’d squeezed herself into a mid-thigh length black dress with thin straps. The dress was made of soft black lace, causing him to wonder if she wore matching panties as well. Her legs were athletic, but smooth, and he had to stifle the urge to drop to his knees and kiss all the way up her perfect thighs. Her small feet were strapped into shining black heels.

“Oliver, did you hear me? Are you okay?”

He cleared his throat, forcing his eyes back to her face. “Ah…I’m fine. My God, you look amazing.” His throat was incredibly dry, and he was aware of a thirst that not only had to do with her appearance but her life essence. He worked on suppressing the bloodlust.

The blush that moved across her cheekbones was charming. “Oh, thank you. You clean up well too, Mr. King.”

He smiled, then handed her the rose. “This pales in comparison to your beauty, but I wanted to give you something.”

“Oh, it’s lovely! How sweet.” She leaned down, inhaling, and as her nose got closer to the red rose, he thought she made quite the picture. Again, he wished to paint her; he would use the brush strokes to really capture who this woman was. When she looked back at him, there was a teasing light in her eyes.

“What?”

She shook her head. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Tell me,” he urged her.

“I wasn’t sure you were interested the other night or if you just felt bad for me and did it to appease your guilt.”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t interested. I thought the diner was the way to try to make up for it, of course, but the more I saw you, the more I wanted to know.” He didn’t add that his foolish, impulsive side didn’t seem to want to listen to anything he told it. ‘No’ clearly wasn’t in its vocabulary.

That pretty blush returned to her face. “Ah…let me put this rose in a vase.”

“Sure.”

When she came back, she’d put on a black coat, closing the two buttons in the front as she got to the door.

“Do you have everything you need?”

She nodded.

“Great. Shall we?”

“Of course.” Myah locked up, and soon they’d left the apartment building. He led her to the sleek black car at the curb. “This is yours?”

He shook his head. “A rental. It is nice, but I don’t usually drive cars.”

“May I ask why?”

Oliver shrugged. “I just prefer walking, that’s all.”

She stared at him with a strange look on her face for a moment when he opened her door.

“Is there a problem?”

She shook her head and smiled. “Not at all. I am partial to walking as well. But, this car…it is very fine and appropriate for the evening.”

“That’s what I was going for.” Her cheek dimpled and he couldn’t resist leaning forward and pressing his lips against it. Her face was warm, incredibly soft beneath his mouth, and he had to move away before he did something really stupid. The surprised glance she sent him sealed the deal.

He had to go slowly with Myah. He sensed an unusual innocence about her, which only made his protective instincts fire even more. “My lady,” he murmured, gesturing to the open car door. He reached out and grasped her hand to give her some leverage as she climbed into the leather seat in those insane heels. Her quiet thank you was natural, and yet it made him feel like he could climb a mountain. He shook off the sensation, closed her door then rounded the car and got in.