It’s time for Snippet Sunday and I have two new releases coming. The first is in an anthology where the proceeds go to Planned Parenthood and NARAL in an effort to help keep women’s medical decisions between them and their doctors. There are 36 stories in this anthology by authors like Jackie Lau, Megan Frampton, Cecilia London, Elizabeth Cole, Zoe York, Alison Packard, and of course, me.
My story is SEDUCING THE DRAGON, a historical paranormal romance that asks the question, what if you were selected to be the next virgin sacrifice? What would you do? The book is my response.
In this snippet, Jonarrion meets Isabelle for the first time and has instant attraction. He’s ordering a bath and is trying not to get too turned on by her after seeing her on the moors.
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Jonarrion scented Isabelle’s agitation, her woodsy perfume changing with an acrid tang of sorrow. She’d seemed excited when she first led him to his room, and he’d been hard-pressed to keep his lust in check. Even now, each sway of her hips tightened his groin, but her body carried melancholy like a banner, and he again wished he could take it away.
“Your bath, Master Swift.” She gestured to the tub as she moved to the small table set next to it. “Towels are here, as well as Elizabeth’s soap cakes. I knew not which scent you would choose, so there are two. All of them are good, but you may take your pick.”
To his surprise, he heard himself ask, “Which do you prefer?”
“My favorite is her rosemary mint.”
“I’ll have that one, then.”
“Very well, master.” She set a mottled brown-and-green cake down beside the towels. “Will that be all?”
Jonarrion almost told her he wished her to stay and talk with him while he bathed, but he clamped his lips together over his words. Human communities didn’t allow a young, pretty, unmarried woman tend to a strange man where his genitals could be seen. Hellwinds, they wouldn’t even allow a married woman to stay and speak with a strange naked man.
“Aye, mistress, that will be all.”
She hesitated as if she wanted to say something more, and Jonarrion scented desperation. Her green-blue eyes searched him for a few moments, her expression anxious, but in the end, she closed her mouth and nodded.
“Good night, then, Master Swift.”
“Good night, Mistress Andersen.”
Her scent shifted into defeat and embarrassment as she retreated from the room, and Jonarrion damn near reached to enclose her in his arms.
~~~~~~~
Looks like he’ll have to guard himself pretty strongly. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel.
Here’s the blurb for SEDUCING THE DRAGON in the OUR CHOICE: ROMANCE FOR ROE Anthology:
Unless Isabelle finds a man to take her innocence, she may be the next virgin sacrifice.
For Isabelle Andersen, being a virgin in a dragon-plagued Scottish village is a dangerous position. Potentially the next dragon sacrifice, Isabelle’s only way out is to lose her innocence, and fast. All she needs is one handsome stranger she can coax into bed, but Lochmore Cott doesn’t get much in the way of visitors.
Jonarrion Swiftwind has sworn off virgins. The last time he took one to his bed, his family paid the price for his lust at the hands of her demon-possessed father. Since that night, he’s made it his mission to destroy demons and keep his bed virgin-free. Nothing distracts him from killing the demon-in-dragon’s-clothing until lovely Isabelle offers him a mug of tea. And her virginity.
It takes just one night of passion for Jon to realize he doesn’t want to let the independent beauty go. Isabelle may have accepted her choices, but will she accept Jon when she discovers the only real dragon in her village… is him?
Previously published as ‘Not a Dragon’s Standard Virgin’ through Siren Publishing.
Intriguing snippet! The soap sounds wonderful…