Tag: science fiction romance

STRING OF PEARLS by E.D. Parr @evernightpub @parr_books

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog today with new release MM romance,

String of Pearls

The story is set in the same SciFi fantasy city as last year’s release, The Dreamboat.

Indigo Vaughn, the warlock head of security, features in the story along with a new cast of characters. When I wrote The Dreamboat, I already had the new characters in my head along with their story. Tobias Mars and Dante Pepper, the elite space pilots for the royal court, very nearly made an appearance in The Dreamboat, but because that story is about Indigo at last finding love, I decided they needed their own story.

Once upon a time Dante and Tobias were close to becoming lovers, but Dante met Viridian and fell in love. Tobias has yet to meet his love when String of Pearls, opens. He’s a man of high integrity, handsome, caring, but also longing for love and sex. String of Pearls is his love story.

 

 

Blurb

Handsome, elite space pilot, Tobias Mars is completing a special mission, when on a water planet, recently ravaged by space pirates, he discovers Dreft Hann hiding and injured in the sand dunes.

There’s instant attraction between the two men, but honorable Tobias believes the fact Dreft is in his care precludes him from showing his growing love for the young man. What’s worse is his shocking discovery of Dreft’s real identity. Even so, Tobias can’t deny his feelings for Dreft.

When head of royal security, powerful warlock, Indigo Vaughn discovers Dreft’s secret, he anticipates trouble.

As beautiful Dreft falls in love with Tobias and dreams of joining the elite pilot squad, trouble is brewing from someone in Dreft’s past.

Will love finally win with so many obstacles in Tobias and Dreft’s path?

Warning, the book contains MM sex, MMM sex, gay anal sex, MM oral sex

BUY the book!

On special new release discount price only on the Evernight Publishing website

https://www.evernightpublishing.com/string-of-pearls-by-e-d-parr/

https://www.bookstrand.com/string-of-pearls-mm

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/string-of-pearls-e-d-parr/1129854008

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/906343

https://www.amazon.com/String-Pearls-D-Parr-ebook/dp/B07KFM3YFG

Amazon http://mybook.to/StringofPearls

 

Read an excerpt:

Tobias Mars gazed at Dreft lying on top of the bed in room ten of the infirmary. Hari’s treatment had worked wonders and not only on Dreft’s wounds. Hari had cleaned Dreft up. His hair, now a dirt-free glossy hazelnut brown was brushed back to show off the handsome planes of his face. Hari had replaced Dreft’s strange boy-like clothes with the infirmary’s grey cotton pants and t-shirt. The man was, as his colleague, Dante, put it, deliciously pretty. For a fleeting moment, Tobias wondered what it would be like to kiss those perfect lips and hold that muscular body to his own. He shook the thought away.

Dreft opened his eyes and a shy smile spread on his mouth. As Tobias neared him, he shuffled up the bed to sit. “Thank you so much for helping me, sir.”

Tobias pulled a chair beside the bed and sat. “My name’s Tobias, Tobias Mars—no need to call me sir. How are you feeling?”

The handsome man’s eyes held gratitude. “I’m so much better. Thank you. I noticed the insignia on your jacket, sir.”

Tobias grinned as his fingers went to trace the gold and blue embroidered crest. “I’m one of the queen’s pilot explorers. I guess you could call us the elite unit. All the same, call me Tobias. I’d like that.”

“I’ve heard that you have to be aristocracy to be chosen for the unit. Is that true?”

A little frown creased between Tobias’s eyes. “Have you? Where’d you hear that?” A spike of worry prevented him from answering with the truth. His intense security training from the warlock, Indigo Vaughn, threw a question into his mind. Could Dreft be a rival court’s spy or even assassin?

“Sorry. I mean no harm. I heard a lot of things during my years as a slave.” Dreft’s voice held anxiety. His blue eyes clouded.

Witnessing Dreft’s unease, a wave of kindness softened Tobias’s look and tone. “How long were you a slave?” He remembered Hari’s description of the scars on Dreft’s back.

Sadness passed in Dreft’s eyes. “Five years—I’ve been a slave since I was stolen from my home when I was eighteen. I, I’d become desperate, hence the leap from the ship when we cruised reasonably low to take water from the lake on the planet where you rescued me.” His voice cracked a little.

Tobias watched fear replace the sadness in the young man’s eyes. He wanted to lighten the mood. “Hey, are you hungry? I bet Hari hasn’t given you breakfast and I’ve not eaten yet. Do you feel up to a little walk? My home isn’t far. I have loads of food—fruit, pancakes, savory pastries, and coffee. What do you say?”

Dreft gave him the most endearing look. “I’m very hungry.”

Tobias stood and pushed the chair away from the bed. He held out his arm for Dreft to take and helped him stand. “Hang on. You have no shoes.” Tobias left Dreft perched on the side of the bed. He went to the closet inset at the end of the wall and brought back a pair of felt slip-ons for Dreft.

Dreft pushed his feet into them. “Thank you. I think the medicA threw away what I was wearing.”

“Hari is the best medicA available. I trust him implicitly, but he’s a hygiene fanatic. He probably burned what you were dressed in.” Tobias laughed. “Can you manage or will you take my arm. It’s a gesture of support.”

Dreft’s gaze raked Tobias’s face and he smiled softly. “I know the clothes you found me in probably gave you the impression I’m a pirate’s plaything. I’d like to explain—”

“You don’t need to—” Tobias hurried to assure Dreft.

“I want to.” He held Tobias’s arm.

“After you’ve eaten, then.” Tobias led the way from the room, along the corridor and out of the infirmary door. His villa was two doors down from Dante’s and he walked slowly favoring Dreft’s halting steps.

“I’m limping but Hari said my legs were only bruised under the abrasions. Sorry. I didn’t expect them to hurt so much. My ribs don’t and they were broken.”

“Hari fixed your ribs and administered slow release pain reliever at the site. He fixed your abrasions somewhat, but it’s good to heal naturally where possible. He wants you to rest.” A smile sprang to Tobias’s lips. “If he sees us, he’ll probably say to me, ‘Sir, you got Dreft Hann up too soon.’”

©E.D. Parr, Evernight Publishing, 2018

Find E.D. Parr

Evernight Publishing  Twitter  Amazon page  Blog  G+  Facebook @parrbooks

 

*NEW RELEASE* HIDDEN CARGO, Alien Captors series book 2 by Sarah Marsh @evernightpub

.Reading time 10 minutes.

 

Hidden Cargo

Alien Captors, Book 2

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

 

No good deed goes unpunished—or at least it doesn’t for Cassie Decker. Stopping to help someone on the side of the road was the decision that changed the rest of her life, and the one that found her stranded on an alien planet. Lucky for her, she was discovered by two very large, and very green rescuers that offered her a second chance at a new life. All she has to do is find the courage to reach out and grab it.
Deryc and Gage have a comfortable life on the island of Ilya, it may not be perfect, but they enjoy their work and they have each other. When fate reveals an unauthorized female has been hiding right under their noses for over a year, they know they must do their duty to bring her to their government—but can they hand her over to an unknown future when she just might be the perfect female for their clan?
The Goddess works in mysterious ways, but will Cassie and her officers realize what they have found before someone tries to alter their paths forever?

 

Purchase Links:

Evernight Publishing 

Amazon

Bookstrand

B&N

Kobo

Smashwords

Itunes

 

 

 

Adult Excerpt:

Cassie washed up and changed into a nightgown as Dax settled comfortably at the foot of her bed. She turned out the light and walked over to open a window, letting the fresh air in. She’d always loved falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. Two deep voices entered on the breeze along with the sounds of the surf, causing a shiver to run up her spine, and she realized that Deryc and Gage must still be on the patio enjoying the evening. Cassie sat on the window ledge and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness outside. When they did, the sight before her was nothing short of decadent.

Both men were lounging on one of the large patio chairs. Deryc’s arm was around Gage’s shoulder, and his other hand cupped the other man’s cheek as he took his mouth in a slow and sensual kiss. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Gage’s hand move leisurely up his partner’s thigh until he rubbed along the thick, hard ridge of Deryc’s arousal.

I shouldn’t be watching this, like some kind of pervert… I’m invading their privacy, but holy hell, I think this is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

Knowing it was wrong and willing her eyes to close were two very different things, and Cassie had to bite her lip as Deryc’s deep voice came to her on the night breeze.

“I believe you owe me a proper show of gratitude, my mate.” Deryc growled as Gage’s fingers freed the thick cock from the confines of his partner’s pants. “Or did you forget you promised me that this morning?”

“Hmm.” Gage lazily kissed along Deryc’s jaw, his hand now slowly stroking up and down his lover’s cock. “Did I say that? I can’t remember now…”

Deryc’s response was immediate, and it made Cassie gasp as he pulled away and moved to cover the other man until Gage’s wrists were held above his head in each of his strong hands, and Deryc was now straddling his mate’s hips. In the moonlight, Cassie could see his cock jutting straight from his body, the thick length an even darker shade of grey than the rest of him. He towered over Gage like an avenging god.

“Keep your arms above your head, boy.” Deryc’s tone was unforgiving now, and by the look of the large bulge in Gage’s own pants, he enjoyed this game of dominance as much as his mate did. Cassie had never experimented with any BDSM play with Peter, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t thought or fantasized about it before, and now that she had a front-row seat, her body flooded with heat at the idea of being on the submissive end of Deryc’s firm authority just like Gage was now.

Deryc’s hands released Gage and began to undress, revealing his muscular body, the dark skin seeming to almost sparkle in the moonlight. Then he began the same process of removing Gage’s clothing, and the other man bit his lip, but left his arms where they were.

“Cassie could still be awake.” Gage’s words turned into a groan as Deryc’s hand now closed around his shaft, rubbing a glistening bead of moisture over the plump head. “What if she sees?”

“Mmm, think about that, my love.” Deryc’s hand moved faster on his lover’s flesh. “Just imagine those stunning blue eyes, her gaze roving over your hard and aching flesh like a caress. Perhaps she would like to join us even? I see now why you were so enamored with her when you first spotted her. She is quite remarkable.”

Gage only moaned louder at Deryc’s words, his hips pushing harder into the other man’s grip, causing a warm chuckle to escape his mate’s lips. “I see how much you like that idea, love. I can feel your cock buck in my grip as if it were trying to get inside of her even now.”

Holy fuck! Were they fantasizing about her? This time Cassie couldn’t stifle the groan as her pussy flooded at the idea of being out there on that couch with them, and it was so loud she startled herself, jumping back from the window in case her hosts heard it as well.

She needed that shock back to reality. “Jesus, Cassie, what is wrong with you?”

She didn’t want to think she was the kind of person who couldn’t control her own urges, but the fact that she hadn’t been able to help herself from watching Gage and Deryc’s intimate display meant they had much more power over her than she’d thought. Good grief, all she could hope for at this point is that they hadn’t heard her at all.

Pervy, sex-starved human … table for one, please.

 

 

Want to read book one first? Check out Precious Cargo here!

 

Author Bio:

Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia, she’s only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five job. She’s a science fiction and romance junkie and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.

Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind…she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish. When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.

Connect with me!

Blog: https://sarahmarshfiction.com/
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Scifi Fantasy Week at The TBR Pile! #scifiromance #scififantasy #contest

.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Looking for a book boyfriend who is out of this world?

Scifi Fantasy week over at the TBR Pile is coming up in just a few days, so don’t forget to pop on over and check it out. There are a ton of fantastic books to discover and prizes to be won!

Here is the link: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/scifi-fantasy-week

OFFERED TO THE CYBORG by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 17 minutes.

CyCon_BannerSMALL

Offered to the Cyborg

Series: Cy-Con #2
Publisher: Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Karen Fox
Genres: Science Fiction Romance, Alien Encounters, Cyber Punk

One look in her eyes and he wanted her. One taste and he knew he was never letting her go.

 

CyCon2Cover

 

When the Zelranian cyborg’s ship The Sphinx is attacked by a reptilian race called the Meori, Wrylack is the only cyborg left standing. Forced onto the Meori vessel, his skills as a medic are demanded in exchange for his life. But any plans Wrylack may have had to escape died the moment he laid eyes on Shaylee, the human female slave in the Meori med bay. Even injured, she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. And when the Meori realize they can use her to control Wrylack, they are only too pleased to give her to him.

Shaylee has only known pain and suffering all her life. First on Earth, passed around the foster care system, and later as a slave to one alien after another. No one has ever touched her with kindness, has ever cared what happened to her. When the sexy purple cyborg with the strange eyes and gentle touch says she’s his, Shaylee is almost scared to hope that her life is changing. But the big male isn’t interested in owning her as a slave. He wants a mate!

Releasing March 2nd at Changeling Press

Releasing March 9th at:
Amazon / BN / iTunes / Kobo

Excerpt

The ship grew quiet and Wrylack tried to communicate with his fellow cyborgs, but no one was responding. He feared they’d all been killed, which meant the Meori would come for him next, once they realized he was on board. He could hear the clang of boots coming down the corridor and braced himself. When the doors to the med bay slid open, he stared at the green and gold aliens, with their serpent-like eyes and tongues.

They looked him over, laughing when they saw the scalpel clutched in his hand. Two held ion blasters pointed at him, and he knew there was no way he was taking them out. Not on his own and only armed with the scalpel.

The three Meori in front hardly had a scratch on them, but the ones in back were pooling blood on the floor. Wrylack tried not to smile at the sight. It seemed his brothers had fought hard, even if they hadn’t been victorious. Would they kill him now too?

“The healer thinks to fight us,” the larger one up front said.

Little did they know he could kick their asses, if it weren’t for the unfair advantage of the blasters in their hands. He might be enhanced, but he wasn’t indestructible. Going into a blaster fight with nothing more than a scalpel would get him killed.

“Where’s my crew?” Wrylack asked.

The alien shrugged. “Alive, but incapacitated.”

Why hadn’t they killed everyone? What was it they wanted?

“And your plan for us?” Wrylack asked.

The alien smiled, his pointed teeth showing. “The others will be dropped at Alpha9, for a fee of course, and we’re commandeering this ship. You, however…” The alien looked him over again. “We need a medic. Ours died and since your cyborg brothers did some damage, my crew will need to be tended. Serve us well and you will be rewarded.”

Wrylack could read between the lines. Service would be required regardless, if he wanted to live. He would imagine the reward would be his freedom. What they didn’t know was that the moment he’d laid eyes on them, he’d hacked into the telecommunications system and had the computer send a message to the commanders on Xpashta, with their present location and who had taken command of the ship. It wouldn’t be long before the cyborgs’ other ships were on their way to lend aid. He only hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

One of the Meori gripped his arm tight, making the nerves in his arm go numb and the scalpel fell from his hand, clattering to the floor. Wrylack allowed himself to be dragged through the ship and taken aboard the Meori vessel. He wasn’t stupid enough to think he could take on two ships himself, which meant he had to follow orders and stay alive until backup arrived. The ship was much larger than The Sphinx and had probably once been a luxury liner, judging by the artwork on the walls and the dense carpet under his feet. Slave females of all races shuffled down the hallways and gathered in open rooms. Some were dressed in transparent tunics and he knew they were breeding stock. The thought made him ill.

When they reached medical, Wrylack was shoved inside and he froze at the sight before him. Two human females lay dead, the sheets covering them stained with blood, with a third huddled in the corner, her eyes wide in fright. Blood dripped down her arm and her clothes were torn. Anger welled inside of him and he turned to snarl at the Meori who had dragged him on board.

“You attacked innocent females?”

The Meori shrugged. “When we purchased them, we didn’t realize they wouldn’t be sexually compatible. Their master was raving about how good it felt to fuck them. We stopped a male from mounting the third when the first two died.”

Wrylack was horrified and sickened. Moving slowly, he approached the female in the corner. He knelt in front of her and used his cybernetic eyes to scan her. Aside from some bruising and the bite mark on her shoulder, she seemed to be healthy. All of her organs were in good working order, and he was thankful to note she wasn’t pregnant. Judging by the scarring in her womb, even if the Meori hadn’t been able to breed with her, someone had been successful at some point. The haunted look in her eyes spoke of someone who had lived this life for a while. His heart ached for her, imagining the horrors she’d probably faced as a slave.

Wrylack pulled aside her slave tunic and studied the bite. It was deep and the tissue around it was badly bruised. The Meori who had tried to mount her had likely bitten her to hold her in place. Wrylack hoped she’d fought like hell. No one deserved the fate of being a breeder, especially to the Meori. He stood quickly and rummaged through the cabinets until he found what he needed. With a tube of livron gel in his hand, he sank to his haunches in front of her again. Wrylack squeezed the gel onto his fingers and spread it over her wound. She flinched at his touch, but didn’t lash out at him. He knew the gel would cool the angry wound first, then numb it within minutes. If applied regularly, the wound would seal in a few days.

“My name’s Wrylack and I’m a medic,” he told her. “I’m going to help you.”

“She’s useless,” the Meori said. “No sense in treating her. We’re just going to toss her out an airlock. I can’t take the chance that she would sell right away when we reach Alpha9 and I don’t intend to stay there long. She’s a waste of space.”

Wrylack growled and glared at the Meori. “You’re not tossing her out an airlock.”

The Meori rocked back on his heels. “You seem rather fond of her.”

“She’s a helpless female.” Wrylack wasn’t about to admit that he thought she was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen. Looking into her eyes, he wanted to be her hero. But he was just as much a captive right as she was. But then, if they’d met under other circumstances, how likely was it that she’d have let a cyborg get anywhere near her? Especially him with his strange-looking eyes.

“And females are precious to your people, aren’t they?” the Meori asked slyly. Wrylack wasn’t certain he liked the look on the Meori’s face. “Do what we say, and you can keep her. Consider her your reward for good behavior.”

Keep her? Wrylack hesitated and glanced down at the female. Her hair was black as pitch and hung in long curls down to her ass. The elfin face that peered up at him had eyes a beautiful lavender, a color he’d never seen on a human before. The female’s skin was pale as ivory and had felt soft when he’d administered the gel to her wound. He lowered himself in front of her again, bracing his fist on the floor, and leaning in close. She didn’t shrink away or seem scared of him.

Her gaze met his, steady. When he reached for her, smoothing her hair back from her face, she didn’t so much as flinch.

“Do you know what I am?” he asked.

“No,” she said softly.

“I’m a Zelranian cyborg.”

“Is that why your eyes are so different?” she asked. “They’re beautiful when they glow. Why do they only glow sometimes?”

Her voice was soft and mesmerizing, much like her.

“My eyes are cybernetic, along with my lungs and heart. My eyes glow when I’m doing a scan to check for injuries. I’m different, even from my people. Does that frighten you?” he asked.

Her gaze strayed to the Meori in the doorway before returning to him. There was a question in her eyes that she didn’t seem to want to voice. The Meori had mentioned her previous owner had used for her sex, and the Meori had intended the same. It stood to reason she would wonder if he would hurt her if they were intimate.

“I won’t harm you,” Wrylack assured her. “Unlike the Meori, Zelranians are compatible with humans.”

Her cheeks flushed but she held his gaze.

“If they throw you out of the airlock, you’ll die,” Wrylack said. “Space is cold and your organs will begin to freeze, assuming you don’t die from asphyxiation first. I won’t force you to be mine, but it’s the only way I can save you.”

It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that maybe she would prefer death. It saddened him to think she might feel that way, but there was something in her eyes that said she was a fighter.

“I’m Shaylee.” She smiled softly, seeming to accept that she was his now.

“Shaylee.” Wrylack reached for her again, smoothing his fingers down her cheek. “I will treat you well, this I promise.”

If you missed book one, Rescued by the Cyborg, you can get it here!

About the Author

Jess Feb 2018

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words /Marry me!’ pop out of his mouth – and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it.

Jessica loves to hear from her readers! You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website at jessicacoultersmith.com.

Want to be notified of new releases or special discounts? Sign up for her newsletter!

HEIDI AND THE ALIEN COP by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms

.Reading time 13 minutes.

JCS_IGB12Heidi_XL

 

Heidi’s life hasn’t been easy since she dropped out of school at sixteen to have a baby. The worst mistake she ever made was moving in with her boyfriend Brent, who turned out to be an abusive bastard, but with no education and no job, there’s nowhere for her to go. Her life for the last five years has disillusioned her that happily-ever-after could possibly exist… Then he comes into her life.

When Raylic rushes to Heidi’s aid, the last thing he expects is to end up with house guests, but she and her small son, Shane, are just what he needs. They bring life to his monstrous home and make him want things better left alone. But the more time he spends with the little family, the more he wants to keep them with him forever. Even knowing Heidi is pregnant with another man’s child doesn’t stop him from wanting to claim her.

Heidi knows Raylic is one of the good guys, but can she dare trust her heart to someone again? He’s everything she’s ever wanted, but she knows wanting and having aren’t the same thing.

Available August 4th at Changeling Press

Pre-order for August 11th at Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Heidi hoped like hell that Shane had gotten out of the house. She hadn’t heard the door open or shut but prayed her little boy had run to safety and not stayed to help her. Despite his young age, he acted like her protector when his dad got mad, which was far too often.

She placed a protective hand over her stomach as she cowered in the corner of the room. Brent towered over her, his face flush from too much alcohol and the rage that was burning in his veins. It wasn’t the first time he’d struck her, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last, unless she finally managed to escape. But where would she go? Without a job, or friends, or family, only the streets waited for her and their small son.

“Everyone was talking tonight about how you’ve been whoring around behind my back,” Brent said, spit flying from his lips.

“Brent, please. You know how rumors are around here.” She swallowed the knot of fear in her throat. She’d learned the hard way that fighting back only made it worse. When she fought back, it pushed him to the point of nearly killing her, and she had to keep living to take care of their son. She couldn’t leave him in Brent’s hands. Either her boyfriend would kill him, or he’d turn her sweet boy into a monster.

“Stupid, lying bitch. Did you think I wouldn’t hear about it? I bet that brat in your belly isn’t even mine. Who’s to say the other little snot is mine either? You just saw a meal ticket and latched on.”

“Of course, it’s yours, Brent. They both are. You know I haven’t been with anyone else.”

He backhanded her across the face again, an explosion of pain ricocheting through her cheek and rattling her brain. Another blow landing in almost the same spot nearly knocked her off her feet. She had just braced herself on the wall when another fist pummeled her stomach. Heidi cried out, her hands clutching her belly, hoping he hadn’t harmed their child. She’d tried damn hard not to get pregnant a second time by him, but the condom had broken two months ago.

She saw his hand wind back for another blow and cowered down, but it never came.

“I know humans play by different rules, but where I come from, we don’t beat females,” a deep voice said with a hint of a growl.

Heidi’s eyes went wide as she looked around Brent at the purple alien with the badge clipped to his belt. Was he a real cop or one of those Terran guards? He knocked Brent’s legs out from under him, then pressed him face first onto the floor, wrenching Brent’s hands behind his back. Her drunken boyfriend was no match for the rather brawny guy manhandling him. The alien slapped cuffs on Brent, then pulled out a cell phone.

“Dispatch, this is Officer Raylic. Can you send a car around to pick up some trash I found beating a female?”

She didn’t hear what else was said as the room spun around her. Heidi sank to her knees and tried to process what was happening. Had someone really come to her rescue? How had he known where to find her? A small hand slipped into hers, and she looked into the terrified eyes of her son.

“Shane?”

“I found a police officer, Mama. He’ll take care of us, won’t he?” Shane asked, looking more troubled than a five-year-old had any right to.

“Are you all right?” the officer asked her.

“I don’t know. He hit me in the stomach and the face.”

Shane’s face scrunched up. “What about the baby?”

“You have a baby?” the officer asked.

“In her tummy,” Shane told him.

The officer cursed. Brent took his moment of distraction to rear up and lunge at Heidi, a murderous glint in his eyes. She jumped to her feet and lashed out at him, kicking him in the shin and hitting him in the eye. The officer made a grab for him and shoved him back down. Brent fell face first onto the floor, getting a mouthful of nasty carpet. Heidi had to admit that it had felt damn good to fight back for once.

Heidi approached her boyfriend. With a well-placed kick between his splayed legs, she had him howling and cursing her all at the same time. She felt a bit of satisfaction, knowing she’d caused him pain, but it wasn’t enough. She looked at the officer who regarded her with a bit of mirth for attacking her abuser.

“Want to have another go at him?” the officer asked.

“What I’d like to do is beat him over the head, with a cast-iron skillet, until he can’t ever hurt anyone again.”

He nodded. “I probably would get into a bit of trouble if I let you do that. But feel free to kick him again. It’s just his word against mine.”

She looked at her bare feet. “It might contaminate my foot if I kick him there again. I’ve always heard if someone accuses you of cheating, they’re probably the one with the guilty conscience. No telling where he’s put that thing.”

The officer chuckled a bit. “As soon as backup arrives to take care of him, I’m going to take you somewhere safe. We’ll stop by the Terran Station first though. I want our healer to look at you. As small as you are, he could have easily broken bones or caused internal damage.”

“Thank you for helping us,” she said. “No one’s ever helped us before.”

He frowned. “Have you called the police before now?”

She nodded. “The officer who answered the call said I was overly emotional and it was just a domestic dispute. He said if he got another call, he would haul both of us to jail. It was the first and last time I asked for help.”

“Asshole,” the officer muttered. “Do you remember who it was? I’ll make sure he’s written up.”

“Officer Clarke.”

He nodded. “I can see him saying something like that. Don’t worry. Your husband is getting locked up this time.”

“We’re not married,” she said.

“Good. Then you can make a clean break when he’s taken out of here today. Do you plan to stay in this apartment?” he asked, looking around.

She knew what he’d see. Cracked walls, stained carpets, and the ugliest furniture imaginable. The place reeked of mildew and piss, and unfortunately for her, the rent was past due. It might not have been much, but it had been home for the last year. As often as they’d been late, no way the landlord would renew the lease. Not that she could pay it anyway.

“Where are we gonna go, Mama?” Shane asked.

“I don’t know, baby.”

The officer tilted his head. “Go pack your things. I was going to take you to a hotel for the night to give you some time to think things through, but it sounds like you need a more permanent solution.”

“The rent is past due here,” she said. “I don’t have a job to pay for a hotel room. Could you take us to a shelter?”

“Don’t worry about the cost,” he said in a soothing tone. “Just pack your things and be ready to go as soon as possible. Don’t leave anything behind that you want to keep.”

About the Author

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “marry me” pop out of his mouth–and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

You can follow Jessica at:

Her website: http://www.jessicacoultersmith.com
Her blog: https://jessicacoultersmith.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacoultersmithauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kitcatjms

Sign up for her newsletter to find out about new releases, sales, and the occasional free book! http://eepurl.com/bwPvbT

DEGREE OF RESISTANCE by Nicola M. Cameron @YesItsNicolaC

.Reading time 7 minutes.

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Degree of Resistance

by Nicola M. Cameron

 

A perfect society hiding a terrible secret. An innocent man condemned to cyborg slavery. A brilliant woman determined to set him free.

Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her fiancé Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him.

Saving Ben is the first step in a deadly game between Pacifica and a shadowy resistance group known as Rubicon. In return for Rubicon’s help, Evie must retrieve a hidden artificial intelligence that may hold the key to protecting Earth from a deadly new disaster.

Assuming the protectorate doesn’t find Evie first…

Excerpt available here.

Science Fiction, Erotic Romance, MF

Word Count: 80,000

Heat Level 4

Published By: Belaurient Press

Reviews

“Beautiful, fluid with whipsmart technology, and good to the core. Nicola M. Cameron has given us a fast-paced, heart-tugging cyber-romance that I couldn’t stop reading. A deeply satisfying book for fans of cyberpunk, science fiction, and romance alike.”
– Cecilia Tan, RT Award-winning author of Slow Surrender

Where to Buy

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | Print

Excerpt

 

“Let me see you, Ben.”

Without a word he loosened the knot in the towel and let it fall.

He reminded her of a da Vinci nude she’d once seen, every muscle developed without unnecessary bulk and giving the impression of restrained power. His chest was the same from her memories at the pool, beautifully shaped pads of pectoral muscle and shoulders ending in curved deltoids that she wanted to grip. The same light scattering of blond chest hair narrowed to a trail that led down over trim abs to his navel and beyond.

His legs were those of a runner, lean muscle and tendon rising in powerful mounds at the backs of his calves, along the length of his thighs. The hair covering them was sparser, only slightly darker than the hair on his chest, and curled against his indoor-pale skin.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at his groin. The hair darkened here, turning sandy brown and curling in a springy nest around a well-shaped cock, neatly circumcised. It had thickened a little, judging from the way it stood out from his body, but wasn’t anywhere near full erection yet.

He laughed softly. “You should see your face. You look like all your birthdays and Christmases came at once.”

“I think they just did.” There were no scars, no signs that any part of his body was artificial. “You’re perfect.”

He glanced down at himself. “I think you may be a little biased, but thank you.” His pupils expanded, compressing all the light blue into a thin ring around each black pool. “Besides, you’re the one who’s perfect.”

He came to her and knelt, gently urging her knees apart so that he could move closer. Her heart raced as he loosened the belt on her robe, letting it fall to each side. The terrycloth gaped open, putting her on display the same way he’d done for her.

He didn’t say anything for a minute as he drank her in. The nervousness she’d felt earlier was gone, banished by the naked worship in his eyes. “You’re everything I ever wanted.” His voice was husky. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”

She fought back the sudden urge to cry from sheer relief. “Kiss me. Please.”

He did, his chest pressing against her breasts as he slid the robe down her arms, his mouth devouring hers. She surrendered to the delicious sensation, every brush and teasing press lighting up her nerve endings like wildfire. When his tongue trailed along the soft inner flesh of her lips she opened them, welcoming him in. Between her thighs an echoing heat began to build.

It was the night in the front seat of the GoCar all over again, but this time they didn’t have to stop. And it was much better than the evening in the park hotel because now he knew who she was, who he was.

His tongue danced around hers before breaking away to lick at the roof of her mouth. A shocking pulse of pure sensation ran through her body and she moaned into his mouth.

She broke away for a necessary breath and heard him chuckle. “Okay, so I like that,” she muttered, amused by his smugness.

“Good. I like making you moan, baby. Plan on doing a lot of it, to be honest.”

 

About Nicola Cameron

 

Nicola Cameron is a married woman of a certain age who really likes writing about science fiction, fantasy, and sex. When not writing about those things, she likes to make Stuff™. And she may be rather fond of absinthe.

While possessing a healthy interest in sex since puberty, it wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to write about it. The skills picked up during her SF writing career transferred quite nicely to speculative romance. Her To Be Written work queue currently stands at around nineteen books, and her mojito-sodden Muse swans in from Bali every so often to add to the list, cackling to herself all the while.

Nicola plans to continue writing until she drops dead over her keyboard or makes enough money to buy a private island and hire Rory McCann as her personal trainer/masseur, whichever comes first.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Facebook Reader Group | Twitter | Goodreads

RORY AND THE ALIEN GROOM by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 11 minutes.

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AMAZON / B&N / iTUNES / KOBO / CHANGELING PRESS

Humiliation burns through Zwyk as he comes to the realization his bride has left him standing alone at the altar. When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. He should have known someone as vivacious as his bride-to-be would never settle for a paper pushing, XBox playing geek like him. While his heart isn’t exactly broken, his pride is wounded, and his confidence has taken a hit.

Rory hates that she had to tell Zwyk her sister has run away instead of marrying him. Well, she hates the pain her sister caused. She can’t exactly say she’s sorry the wedding is off. Maybe now she can make Zwyk see what’s been right under his nose this entire time — her.

ABOUT THE STORY

We’ve all read jilted groom or jilted bride stories before. Usually the maid of honor, a bridesmaid, best friend, or best friend’s sister ends up making it all better and they ride off into the sunset. So what makes this story different from any of those? Besides the purple aliens…

Zwyk has always wanted one thing. To have his own family. A mate, children. Maybe a family pet. And he thinks he’s well on his way to achieving his dreams when he proposes to Brittany, only to be left stranded at the altar without so much as a goodbye. He decides love is too painful and gives up on his dream, determined to keep his heart from ever breaking. Enter Rory…

She’s spunky, quirky, and just what Zwyk needs. He’s always felt like he had to hide who he is when he’s with a woman. None of them have ever been impressed with his paper-pushing job, nor his love of Xbox. But Rory isn’t like the others. She’s a hardcore gamer with a degree in finance, every bit as geeky as he is, and she may be just the cure that Zwyk needs. And Rory is determined to get what she wants…

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EXCERPT

His poor game system was hidden away in the hall closet, banished there by Brittany along with two boxes of his games. He hauled everything out and started hooking it back up, petting the console and whispering words of contrition to it for his poor treatment the past few months. When it booted right up, he took that to mean he was forgiven for his transgression. Looking in the boxes of games was akin to opening presents on Christmas — a human tradition he’d embraced wholeheartedly — and he had trouble deciding what to play first.

There wasn’t a better way to dive back into things than to play Gears of War 4. His Xbox Live membership had lapsed and his account had been deleted, so he’d have to enjoy one-player mode for now. Hell, he didn’t even know if his gaming buddies were still around, assuming he could find them online after he made a new account. He’d just up and vanished on them three months ago. It was an asshole move, but Brittany had grabbed him by the balls. Well, figuratively, because she’d never gotten close enough to actually touch his balls. They’d kissed, but she’d always shied away when he tried to take things further, saying she wanted to wait for their wedding night. Now he had to wonder how much of that was bullshit. Had she detested him so much that she couldn’t stand to be touched by him?

The game had just finished loading when there was a knock at his front door. Zwyk set his controller aside and went to answer, almost dreading who might be on the other side. If word had already spread about his failed wedding, any number of his friends could be on the other side with an “I told you so” ready on their lips, or worse, a pitying look in their eyes. He almost didn’t answer, but something made him pull open the door.

His eyebrows rose when he saw who stood on the other side.

“Rory?”

She grinned and held up two pizza boxes while she pushed her glasses further up her nose. “I thought you might need sustenance after your trying day. It’s your favorite. Sausage and onion.”

His stomach rumbled and he stepped back to let her in. It wasn’t the first time she’d been to his house, but it was the first time they’d been alone. Was she feeling sorry for him? He’d have thought she’d be with her parents, trying to figure out where Brittany went. But then Rory had always seemed to follow her own rhythm. What was that Earth saying? Marching to the beat of her own drum?

He shut the door and followed her into the living room, where she set the boxes on the coffee table. He grinned a little, thinking about Brittany’s head exploding if she saw such a travesty. It gave him the sudden urge to leave rings and scuff marks on the pristine surface. Juvenile perhaps, but refreshing. It was like he’d been freed from a prison sentence, and if that wasn’t a sobering thought, he didn’t know what was.

“Whatever you just thought, stop thinking it,” Rory said as she opened the first box. “I figure we can just eat out of the box, but we probably should grab some drinks before I kick your ass on the Xbox.”

He blinked at her. Did she just say…

“Drinks?” she prompted then shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll get them.”

He watched, bemused, as she helped herself to his kitchen. She returned a moment later with a disgusted look on her face and two soda cans in her hands.

“Please tell me this is another Brittany travesty and you don’t actually drink diet.”

He coughed to cover his laugh, but he couldn’t deny that she amused him. “I’ll go to the store later and pick up some regular soda.”

“You should get grape too. It’s my favorite.”

He scratched his neck and wondered if that meant she planned to hang out for a while. Zwyk wasn’t quite sure what to make of Rory, but he was just going to go with it for the time being. He couldn’t really think of anything else to do. Retaking his seat on the couch, he grabbed a slice of pizza and took a huge bite before downing half the can she’d placed in front of him. The intro to the game blared from the TV speakers and Rory wiggled her fingers at him, snatching the controller from his hand.

“You eat. I’m going to play.” She grinned at him before turning her focus to the game on the screen.

Zwyk devoured almost an entire pizza by himself as he alternated between watching the comical expressions on Rory’s face and her annihilation of everything in her path on the screen. Her skill was rather impressive and her maniacal laugh as she took out the opposing force was amusing. Who knew such a pint-sized female could be so bloodthirsty?

“All right, killer. It’s my turn,” he said holding out his hand for the controller. “You’re pretty good, but it’s time to show you how the pros do it.”

AUTHOR LINKS

Website
Facebook
Sci-fi Facebook Page
Twitter
Instagram
Amazon Author Page
Changeling Author Page

jess-feb-2017

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went out on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “marry me” pop out of his mouth — and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

RECKLESS, Planet Alpha Series by Lily Harlem @lily_harlem @evernightpub

.Reading time 13 minutes.

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Reckless

by Lily Harlem

A Standalone Novel in the Planet Alpha Series

 

Thank you for inviting my sexy aliens, Ciro and Luc over to your site. These guys are big tough Alphan males with golden skin, horns and a primitive desire to keep the woman in their life safe and satisfied at all times. However, they’ve been enjoying keeping each other content in the needs of the flesh as they’ve waited for Aurora to arrive into their lives – not that they could ever have imagined how she’d get there!

 

I hope you’ll check out RECKLESS which is just one of several ménage a trois Planet Alpha erotic romances available. It’s perfectly fine as a standalone read so go ahead, immerse yourself in a sexy new world where giving into love and lust is the order of the day, after you’ve fought off the bad guys of the Universe that is!

 

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Blurb:

Aurora Zenith is battling to survive in poisonous London. Working at a docking station to Planet Alpha is not helping. Why? Because each day she witnesses lucky humans rocketing to a better life in the stars. With a surname last on the list to escape and a lung condition making her first on the list for death she’s getting desperate … and reckless.

Seeing an opportunity to stow away on sexy Captain Ciro’s shuttle to Alpha, Aurora acts first and thinks later. Trouble is, without a plan she’s flailing in space and lost on an alien world.

A string of rash decisions and a hasty retreat make for a perfect storm of danger, deceit, and lust. Will Aurora escape the evil Xyran who has her in his sights? Will Captain Ciro ever tear his attention from his gorgeous copilot and notice her? And what do the Alphans mean when they say a woman will complete them? 

The only thing to do is fly with them and see where she lands.

 

**BUY LINKS**

 

Excerpt

 

Tentatively, Aurora approached the club. The smell of food grew stronger, as did the sound of voices. Before her was a set of steps leading downward. A polished wooden handrail was attached to the wall.

She took hold of it and allowed her palm to slide down as she descended. Warmth wrapped around her, and the sound of voices competed with the music. Passing several doorways, some closed, some ajar, she arrived at a large wooden double doorway. It was only open a few inches so she paused and looked inside.

Her heart sank. There didn’t appear to be any females. She’d stand out way too much if she just wandered in.

Several small animals were on spits being roasted over a fire, and she guessed they were the source of the heavenly smell. Alphans stood and sat around the fire, drinking from stout glasses and apparently immersed in conversation. It was clearly a place to eat and drink, and discuss the events of their planet.

The music came from a large speaker at the far end of the room. Manned by an Alphan, he sat with a surly expression next to a control deck, his eyebrows low and his mouth in a tight straight line.

Looking around, Aurora saw that most of the Alphans wore serious expressions. Unlike when humans got together with food and music and friends, Alphans weren’t jovial. The ambiance was solemn, though not threatening.

She licked her lips, saliva pooling in her mouth. When had she last eaten freshly roasted meat? She couldn’t remember. But there was no point getting her hopes up. There was no way she’d get any of the food being prepared.

A sound behind her startled Aurora. Turning, she realized it was coming from one of the rooms she’d walked past. She heard it again. A low rumble of an Alphan’s voice, then the scrape of metal on the hard floor, a chair perhaps.

Being sure to keep her footsteps silent, she walked up to the doorway. She didn’t know why. Something was drawing her to it— curiosity, fascination, a need for connection.

Peering through the inch wide crack between door and frame, Aurora could hardly believe what she saw. Captain Ciro and his copilot, Luc, were in the room.

Luc was sitting on a low chair with his hands flat on his thighs, fingers spread. He had his eyes closed and his head tipped back, his hair was tousled around his shiny horns and hung down his back. It was much longer than she’d thought it was. His throat was extended and vulnerable and his golden chest exposed as his pilot’s jacket was undone to his navel.

Beside him stood Captain Ciro. He was looking down with an expression of affection and lust.

Lust?

Aurora pressed her lips together and clenched her fists. Were Ciro and Luc an item? It certainly seemed as if they were.

Ciro stroked the tip of his index finger over Luc’s mouth.

Luc dragged in a deep breath, his chest rising and his jacket slipping a little wider.

“Shh … be patient,” Ciro whispered. “I need it as much as you do.” He ran his finger over Luc’s chin, then the protrusion of his throat and down to his chest.

“It’s been a long day,” Luc said, tipping his head back further as a tremble attacked him. “That was a close call with those Xyrans.”

“It’s always a risk when we pass that close to the Partin System.”

“I know, but—”

“Shh, there’s no buts.” Ciro stooped and placed his lips a whisper from Luc’s. “The ucrium radiation deflected their attention.”

“I know.”

Ciro slanted his head kissed Luc. A hard, sure kiss that spoke of passion and support, love and a shared history.

Aurora pressed her fingers to her lips. She should leave. This was clearly a private moment in one of the club’s private rooms. No place for a human female to be hanging out.

But she couldn’t. The scene held her captivated. It was as if a magnet was holding her feet to the ground.

Praying no one would find her, she continued to watch as the kiss deepened.

Ciro was busy with his hands, stroking Luc’s chest and belly, but Luc remained still. Almost as if he’d been ordered to sit that way.

By who?
Ciro?
But Luc was a mighty Alphan warrior. He could refuse to do anything he didn’t want to.

He wants this.

Ciro rested his hand over Luc’s groin and squeezed.

Luc groaned, a vibrating rumble that mixed with the music.

Ciro broke the kiss. “You’re hard.”

“I need to mate,” Luc said, “with you … now.”

Ciro straightened and began to undo the golden buckle on his belt, his movements swift and efficient. He stared down at Luc as he did so, and it was evident, due to the large bulge in his groin area, that he was erect.

Aurora’s head spun. She had to go. She had to stay.

Ciro and Luc were homosexual. Seeing them together, doing the deed, would be a fantasy come true—a fantasy she hadn’t known she’d had until moments ago.

But why were they here? In a room in a club?

Clearly they weren’t too worried about being seen by other Alphans. But what would they make of her watching?

They wouldn’t find out. She’d stay just another minute and…

 

To continue reading Luc, Ciro and Aurora’s sexy story please purchase Reckless.

 

lily-harlem

 

About Lily Harlem

 

Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning author of sexy romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Pride, Evernight, and Stormy Night Publications. Her work regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Silk Tie, The Glass Knot, Cold Nights, Hot Bodies, Bite Mark and Shared have been blessed with many 5* reviews.

If you love sporty romance don’t miss Hot Ice a seven novel series about those sexy bad boys of the ice – first novel is only 99c/99p and the second novel is FREE! And also check out Formula One themed novel Accelerated Passion!

Lily writes MF, MM and ménage a trois, her books regularly hit the #1 spot on Amazon Bestseller lists and Breathe You In was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2014. Her latest MM novel is Dark Warrior and you can grab Part One of her MM series Caught on Camera  for FREE!

Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes darker plot lines and suspense under the name Harlem Dae – check out That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel ‘every woman should read’ and is available in book stores nationwide. The Sexy as Hell Trilogy, a critically acclaimed boxed set, and their latest novel Paladin are available on Amazon.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and deliciously sexy. Enjoy!

Visit Lily’s website for more details of her other books or her Amazon Author Page. Subscribe to her newsletter to get a FREE ebook and be the first to hear of new releases, and if you enjoy Facebook, hop on over there and say hi!

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CELESTE AND THE ALIEN BARTENDER by Jessica Coulter Smith @kitcatjms @changelingpress

.Reading time 15 minutes.

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Celeste and the Alien Bartender

Publisher: Changeling Press
Genres: Sci-fi Romance
Themes: Alien Encounter
Series: Intergalactic Brides (#8)
Length: 100 pages
Cover Artist: Karen Fox

BLURB

A desperate mother. A determined alien. And a romance neither expected.

Zanar has made himself a home on Earth, where he owns Stardust Bar, popular with both aliens and humans. There’s only one thing missing from Zanar’s life. Despite his best efforts to impress the human females he meets, he’s still without a mate. At the age of twenty-six, it isn’t imperative for him to pair off and start a family just yet, but he’s lonely and ready to settle down. The last thing he expects is for Celeste to come into his life and turn it upside down.

After having been abducted by an alien race five years ago, Celeste is back on Earth. She’s spent those years as a slave on the planet Vaaden, where she had a precious daughter with her owner, Pynder. But when Pynder dies suddenly, his parents swoop in and snatch Sophie from Celeste’s arms before banishing her from their world. Celeste will do anything to get her daughter back, but falling in love with a bartender — or anyone else — was never part of the plan.

 

PRE-ORDER LINKS (for January 27th release)

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com//dp/B01MUBRADS

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celeste-and-the-alien-bartender-jessica-coulter-smith/1125495115

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/celeste-and-the-alien-bartender

 

EXCERPT

“I didn’t know how fancy the hotel restaurant was,” Celeste said, smoothing a hand over her dress from earlier that morning. “Is this okay, or should I change?”

“You’re perfect,” he said softly, and she could tell he meant it.

Her cheeks warmed, and she took his outstretched hand, letting him lead her to the restaurant. Her mother trailed behind them, giving them some time alone. Celeste tightened her grip on Zanar’s hand as they entered the restaurant, which to her looked pretty swanky. The tables were draped with white tablecloths, and a single rose was in a vase in the middle of every table. The strains of a quartet could be heard even from the entryway.

“Zanar, I really think I should change.”

“Relax, Celeste. I think you look beautiful, and I’m sure every man in the room will agree with me. Stop worrying about what other people think.” He stared down at her. “Do you feel pretty in your dress?”

She hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

“Then that’s all that matters.” He smiled. “Never let someone else’s opinion dictate how you feel about yourself or others. Always be true to yourself and everything else will fall into place.”

“You truly believe that?” she asked.

“I do. But if makes you feel better, I would never lie to you. When I tell you that you’re beautiful, I mean it.”

She warmed at his praise and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her lips. She glanced at her mother and saw that Zanar was quickly winning both of their hearts. He really was almost too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere, but she hadn’t found it just yet.

They were seated and given menus. A waiter appeared almost instantly to take their drink order and then vanished as silently as he’d arrived. Celeste was a little overwhelmed with the menu choices, and worried when she didn’t see prices listed. It might have been a long time since she’d been on Earth, but even she knew that meant the place was expensive. She didn’t know how much a bartender made, but this seemed like an unneeded extravagance.

“Zanar, maybe we should go somewhere else.”

His eyebrows rose. “You don’t see anything you like?”

“It’s not that.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth.

“I think what my daughter is trying to say is that this place is too expensive,” her mother said. “After being off world for so long, she’d be just as content with fast food as she would shrimp and lobster.”

“I see.” He smiled a little. “If you’re worried I can’t afford this place, don’t be. I may not be as rich as some of my friends, but I’m not hurting for money. The Stardust does good business and I own my house, so I don’t have to pay rent or a mortgage every month. I also own the bar, so aside from the usual monthly expenses it doesn’t cost much to keep the place going.”

Her mother nudged her. “In other words, he’s a good provider should you decide to give him a chance.”

Zanar cleared his throat, and his cheeks flushed a darker purple. She found it charming that her mother could unnerve him. Even when she’d lived on Earth, it hadn’t been often that she’d seen a man blush. She’d figured someone in his line of work had seen and heard everything and wouldn’t be flustered by much. Somehow, it made him a little more human to her, even though she knew there wasn’t a drop of human blood in him.

“What brought you to Earth?” Celeste asked.

“My brother is a rather revered warrior on my world, and so is my father. I do well enough in combat, but my talents lie elsewhere. I can take a failing business and make it thrive in a short amount of time, but there’s not much use for that skill on my world. When I saw that some of my people were settling on Earth, I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than being at home.”

“So, you left your family behind?” her mother asked.

“I still speak with my parents on the Vid-comm rather frequently. What do you humans say? I was the black sheep of the family. While I miss my family, I know that my time is better spent here. At least on Earth, I have a chance at finding a mate.”

“I’ve read articles about the Terrans,” her mother said. “There’s a shortage of females on your world, right?”

He nodded. “My generation has been all male. We don’t understand exactly what happened, but it’s been necessary to find females outside of our race to ensure our survival. Humans are the most compatible.” He smiled. “And the most beautiful.”

“How exactly did the Terran stations come about?” Celeste asked. “So much has happened since I’ve been gone. When I was captured, I didn’t even know aliens existed, and now you’re walking among us, running businesses, getting married. It’s almost too much to take in.”

“My planet made an agreement with Earth’s government. In exchange for our protection should Earth be attacked, we were allowed to open a bride exchange in different locations around your world. Women would take a series of tests, were paid a fee, and then were shipped to my world where they would find a match.”

“And the stations were where those tests are administered?”

“Yes, and they were also where the shuttles would land and take off. Things evolved quickly, and our stations grew, with more and more of our males coming here. Now it’s common to find my kind on your world, and it keeps the monsters at bay. A few friendly alien races have reached out to us and Earth to share in the bride exchange and negotiations are still ongoing. Some races have already been accepted, and you may see them from time to time at the different stations, but they don’t roam the cities as much.”

It seemed so surreal to Celeste. When the Vaadens had taken her and she’d woken as a captive on another world, it had been a complete nightmare. It was hard to imagine living side by side with other alien races, and living in harmony. She supposed it only made sense that not all aliens were alike, just like all humans weren’t. Thinking that Terrans and whatever other races were out there were the same as Vaadens wasn’t fair. Zanar was proving that some aliens could be trusted.

“So, you only have one brother?” her mother asked.

“Yes, and we’re very different. Ryx is a few years older than I am, and he’s very serious about his position on my world. He claimed one of the first humans to be part of the bride program, and they seem happy enough. Unfortunately, they haven’t had children as of yet, which I think frustrates him.” Zanar shrugged. “I think my parents are now relying on me to make them grandparents. It’s the one thing my mother wants most.”

“Are you actively seeking a mate?” her mother asked.

“Not exactly. I’ve been on dates since coming here, but I just never clicked with anyone. We’d share a meal and then go our separate ways.”

Her mother smirked. “Handsome guy like you, I’m sure there was a bit more to it than that.”

He flushed again. “Yes, well… it’s been quite a while since I’ve been with a woman. I decided I was finished with casual sex and would wait for my mate, however long it took to find her.”

“And are you getting any closer to finding her?” her mother asked.

His gaze zeroed in on Celeste. “I think I may be.”

 

PLAYLIST

1.       Snakes on a Plane by Cobra Starship

2.       I’m Gonna Be by The Proclaimers

3.       Blank Space by Taylor Swift

4.       Marines’ Hymn by Madison Rising

5.       Give Me Novacaine by Green Day

6.       Picture to Burn by Taylor Swift

7.       Cool Kids by Echosmith

8.       Applause by Lady GaGa

9.       Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

10.   Timber by Pitbull & Kesha

11.   Lips are Movin’ by Meghan Trainor

12.   The Monster by Eminem

13.   Whistle by Flo Rida

14.   Wild Thing by Tone Loc

15.   Love the Way You Lie by Eminem

16.   Scream & Shout by Will.I.Am

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “Marry me!” pop out of his mouth – and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it.

You can find Jessica on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.

DRAGON TRAP, Coalition Mates Book 5 release day! #scifiromance #menageromance #newrelease

.Reading time 21 minutes.

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Dragon Trap, Coalition Mates Book 5.

**AVAILABLE NOW!**

http://www.bookstrand.com/book/dragon-trap

(Will be available on Amazon/Kobo/B&N etc approx. Feb 19)

 

Blurb:

All Marisol Lewis had ever wanted was a family, but her ex-husband back on Earth made sure that would never happen while they were together. Now? After waking up on an alien planet, she has a plan and she’s more determined than ever to see it through on her own.

When the contract comes up that will give her exactly what she’s always dreamed of, she’s eager to sign on the dotted line and begin the journey to her new home planet of Dolovia. But when things go horribly wrong, she ends up surrounded by mad doctors and Frankenstein space pirates.

Luca and Baelion are dragon shifters with a troubled past, shunned by their own people, they now work for the Coalition Council taking rescue jobs that no one else can do. They manage to find Marisol—but their rescue plans take a wrong turn and they all end up stranded on a dangerous quarantined planet.

Mari finds out the hard way that life often gets in the way of best-laid plans…and dragon shifters most definitely do get in the way of hers.

Good thing for her that dragons are naturally quite stubborn once they decide they want something—and they’ve decided she’s theirs.

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Story Excerpt:

Mari stared at the sheer beauty of the male in front of her. His chest was a sculpture of rippling golden muscles. Fine beads of sweat made their way down his toned stomach, drawing her gaze ever lower. She watched as his hips swayed back and forth to the seductive music, his low, loose pants barely clinging to his lean body. She wasn’t sure if she’d even seen a more beautiful man before; it had certainly been long enough since she’d had her hands on any man at all. The sighs of the woman next to her finally broke the trance of his delectable gyrations and allowed her to turn her eyes away. No point in torturing herself any further with things that she couldn’t have.

“God, Mari, how can you even look away from a sight that divine?” Devyn fanned herself with both hands. “I mean, I love Benic like a brother, but when that boy dances, even I can’t keep my thoughts platonic.”

“Well, I’m almost old enough to be his mother, so I shouldn’t be gawking at him at all,” Marisol answered as she stood up from the stone bench where they’d been watching the dance performance. The gardens of the Courtesan Guild building were created for showcasing and practicing all sorts of exotic performance arts, and most of those who attended the classes or worked in the building loved to enjoy the shows.

“You’re leaving right in the middle of his routine?” Devyn asked, looking back at her as if she were crazy.

“I’ve got an appointment with the Guild Matron in twenty minutes. Sally says she’s found the perfect contract for me.”

“Oh,” Devyn answered with a frown. “This soon? I thought it would take longer, that we’d have at least until I’m done with classes before you shipped off to planets unknown.”

Mari reached over and gave her friend a tight hug. For some reason, little Devyn’s perky, outrageous personality had meshed perfectly with her own—surprisingly, since she’d been told on more than one occasion that she was too serious, too much of a control freak. So the tiny tornado of happiness had become her best friend here, and if she was sent off world, she would miss her something fierce.

“Don’t worry, Devyn. It might not even be one that I want,” Mari said with a shrug. “No point in worrying over nothing. I’ll see you after.”

As Marisol walked back through the education center and into the Courtesan admin wing, she had to admire the sensuous beauty of the building. If she had been ten years younger and perhaps a little bit braver, she would have loved to apply to the Courtesan Guild. It sounded so glamorous and fascinating, and Sally certainly couldn’t look any happier than she was in her new role as Guild Matron. Of course, it didn’t hurt that it was a role that just happened to come with a smoking-hot husband, Guild Master Arkenon Quinn. A more devastating alpha male Mari had never met, and she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of her friend.

She walked into Sally’s new office and was not surprised to see the intimidating Kalista Dax standing at the secretary’s desk, going over some paperwork. When the former Tokka assassin turned her unsettling solid blue eyes toward Mari, it was all she could do not to book it back out the damned door. Kali had always been very nice to the rest of the rescued Earthers and actively went out of her way to make friends, but the rumors of the kind of violence she was capable of left Mari just a bit freaked out.

“Hello, Marisol. Are you here for your appointment with the Guild Matron?” Kali asked, an almost smile trying to form on her beautiful, pale white face.

Mari knew that Kali liked to spend so much time with the Earth females because they were so expressive emotionally. She was only half Tokka and had been forced to suppress her physical expressions at an early age. Since Kali had defected from a society where it was unacceptable to show emotions of any kind, she was trying to learn by observing them, and sometimes the results could be…unsettling.

“Yes, Sally said that she may have found a placement for me,” Mari answered, trying to maintain eye contact with the much taller woman.

“Mari, come on in!” Sally bellowed from her desk, which made both Mari and Kali smile at how outrageous their new Guild Matron could be.

Sally was up to her elbows in material swatches when Marisol sat down in front of the large desk. The office was beautiful, with an incredible view of the mountains through the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side. The furniture was all made in a black wood that looked exotic and expensive. But then again, Sally’s new position as Guild Matron was one of the most important on the entire planet of Sirus. It was just strange because Sally really didn’t seem to care about the prestige at all. She had really grown into herself since that day they had all walked out of their rooms for the first time and realized they were now on an alien planet, but she was still just Sally to the rest of her friends.

“Argh, I’m supposed to decide on material for new dresses for the council meetings, and I seriously couldn’t care less. I wonder if I can hire someone to do all of this clothing crap for me?” the Guild Matron said, shoving the material to the other side of the desk with a look of disgust. “So how are you, Mari? How are the classes going?”

“Good, Sal. I’m almost done with the EMT equivalent, so I’m sure that will be handy to have on top of my nursing experience. You said you had a possible match for me for placement?” She squirmed in her chair, trying not to look too excited.

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Adult Excerpt:

“You’re so wet for us already,” the low sexy timbre of Luca’s voice only made her want him more. “I need to taste you.”

“Later, Luca. I need you right now.” She moaned as Baelion took one of her aching nipples deep into his mouth. “I can’t wait. Please.”

She boldly moved her legs farther apart, planting her feet flat on the mats. It was an unmistakable invitation—one Luca didn’t disappoint her on. He quickly rid himself of his shorts and then moved between her thighs, rubbing the swollen, thick head of his cock along her wet folds.

“Luca, stop teasing me.”

His only answer was a low growl as he slowly pushed his length inside of her, his eyes locked on hers. It was extremely intense. His gaze never left hers as he filled her up.

“Watching you take him is so fucking hot, Mari.” Bae’s voice from beside her snagged her attention. His own blue eyes were locked to where their bodies joined. He ran one finger down her stomach until it lightly made a slow path around her swollen clit, causing her to moan and tighten around the hard shaft buried deep within her.

“She’s so warm and wet, Bae. Feel for yourself.” Luca grabbed Baelion’s hand and guided it lower to where the root of him met her body.

Mari’s hips bucked up when Bae continued to rub a trail along her folds and then back up to her clit. Meanwhile Luca set a leisurely pace, thrusting in slowly and then retreating. She could feel the pressure building inside of her, and she sighed when Baelionmoved to capture her lips in a slow kiss.

The two of them continued their sensual torment, never letting her set the pace or tempt them to lose control. Bae had her arms gently pinned above her head with one hand. The thrill of being completely under their control seemed to electrify all of her senses. They were true to their word, completely tender in their care for her—but there was an intensity to their actions that was different than before. They were loving her so intently that it was her undoing.

“Oh God.” She whimpered into his mouth as Luca’s firm but steady pace lit her up until she was just on the cusp of orgasm. “Please, I need to come.”

“Come for us, little one,” Bae murmured as he finally pinched down on her swollen button, causing her to spasm all around Luca’s shaft.

“Yeeeessss.” She moaned as she came. All of the tension in her body finally broke and swept her away in a warm rush of pleasure.  Luca pushed deep one last time before he joined her, groaning her name.

Baelion still slowly stroked her as she came down from the high, Luca still buried deep inside of her. There was certainly something to be said for slow and steady. It was a different type of pleasure than the passionate coupling from their previous encounter, but no less impactful. It was more intimate. There was more tenderness in their touch, and it melted her.

“How are you feeling, Mari?” Luca leaned forward to slowly sip at her lips. She opened her eyes when he stopped, only to see that he had moved to kiss Baelion as well.

“Much more relaxed,” she murmured, hypnotized at the sight of their lips and tongues moving together. Her satiated libido suddenly roared to life once again as Luca withdrew his spent shaft from her and settled himself this time behind Baelion.

“And what shall we do with you, love?” Luca reached over the other man’s hip, moving lower until he grasped Bae’s turgid length and stroked it slowly. “Let us take care of you now.”

“I don’t want to make Mari sore.” Bae’s voice was quiet and strained with desire as she joined her hand with Luca’s on the other man’s cock.

“I’m fine, Bae,” she whispered, leaning in to lick at his neck. “I promise.”

“Move closer and give me your leg, Marisol.” Luca released Bae’s cock and pulled her thigh up to rest over both of their hips, opening her up to them.

She moaned when the wet tip of Baelion’s cock rubbed up against her sensitive clit, loving how hard he was for them. When he slowly slid into her, they both let out a long breath. He was slightly thicker than Luca but felt oh so good as he stretched her.

“Neither of you move.” Luca’s voice was thick with desire once again as he reached for the remainder of the julla leaves and collected the thick gel on his fingers before returning to his position behind his mate.

Baelion tightened his arms around Mari’s waist as he groaned low in her ear, his hips bucking slightly against her. She had a pretty good idea what Luca had done, and when he was once again tight against Bae’s back, she leaned over and kissed him, moving her hips slowly, working the thick length inside of her.

“Ahh, Goddess, this feels amazing.” Bae panted as Luca began to thrust into him and Mari continued to move along his shaft. “It’s too much. I can’t last long.”

She had a feeling that was Luca’s intention as he bit down on Bae’s shoulder, making the other man cry out as his hips bucked furiously, taking her breath away every time he slammed against her swollen clit. Mari could feel the force of Luca’s thrusts as he took Bae’s ass.

“Do you like being fucked by both of us at the same time, love?” Luca whispered into Bae’s ear, the dirty words only increasing her desire.

“Yes, I love it,” was Bae’s breathless response, sweat beading at his temple and then slowly making its way down the side of his face.

“Mari, come on his cock.” Luca locked eyes with her. “Make him come inside of you.”

She nodded and bit her lip as she reached down between their straining bodies. Her fingers slipped in the wetness before finding purchase, and all it took was two passes over her clit before her orgasm hit. She tightened around Bae’s shaft, urging him to find his own release.

“Mari!” he bellowed before sinking deep inside of her one last time. She could feel the tremors flow through him as he came hard, his peak, in turn, bringing Luca as well. His roar of completion rang out into the quiet night.

 

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About the author:

Sarah Marsh was born in British Columbia where she still lives, she has only recently began her writing career finding it the perfect outlet for taking the edge off a nine to five office job. She’s been a science fiction and romance junkie for years and when her imagination started to take the characters she’d read about even further in their adventures she decided to try writing something of her own.

Sarah’s also a former pastry chef and spends a lot of time cooking and baking for friends and family as well as painting and knitting. Her biggest weaknesses are animals of any kind…she even loves the ones that wake you up at four in the morning because they can almost see the bottom of their food dish.

When it comes to life in general she’s a big believer that laughter is the best medicine and that there’s no such thing as too much love, which is why she’s such a sucker for a happy ending.

Connect with me!

 

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