And you will like it!

TENDER DISTRACTION - Coming soon

A near collision sidetracks two lives.

Cristophe Kingston hasn't dated since... Okay, it's been months. Hands in his pockets, he watches an endless line of revelers enter a club he frequents. Something, an odd chill, forces Crist to hurry away and he carelessly lurches into traffic.

Already late for a deadly assignation, Lex Torcher figures what the hell--a perfect diversion. Too many years on earth has Torch craving human touch. The stranger who steps in front of his bike will surely have gentle, soft hands, hands capable of performing what others never do.

Torch's momentary distraction, his brief interlude, pits him against his boss culminating in an all-out battle for Crist as Torch's employer is none other than the Grim Reaper, an unpredictable and greedy monster!

MM Paranormal Romance/ReligErotica

EXCERPT:

He’d only been given two assignments all week and as the best in Reaper’s stables, it meant someone else got the call. Fuck him. Saturday evening rolled around again and Torch returned to Swanks. Unreasonable desire remained for the human but should he scent him, he vowed not to make himself known. Right!

After securing a beer from a bartender who wouldn’t remember seeing Torch since he touched his hand and gained brief control of the man’s mind, he grabbed a seat in a corner and remained hidden in dark shadows. He gave a cursory glance to three men taking seats two tables away before training his eyes on the door. Torch overheard one newcomer rib another about not being able to hang on to his lover.

A very controlled response followed. “I could have if I wanted. A month of dating then four of jerking off and finger fucking with Cristophe was quite enough. He’d never be what I require for happiness.”

The name got his attention. Showing himself, Torch snatched a chair out from their table and sat down. “Fellas mind company.” Cristophe was an odd name and curiosity got the better of him. Times like this, he wished he had Reaper’s ability to delve into human minds without physical contact. “Can I buy the next round?”

“Of course.” A guy with brown hair who could have played linebacker for any pro team grinned. “How’d you get past the bouncers in that outfit.”

He wasn’t the owner of the voice Torch sought to know better. “Name’s Lex Torcher.” Should have paid more attention to his surroundings instead of watching the front entrance. Reaching to give a quick handshake, he sorted out all he needed to know. Nothing complicated or important in his mind so Torch sifted quickly through useless garbage. Narrow minded, full of discrimination. Robert flashed into Torch’s mind. Yeah, he looked like a Bob. How the hell could a gay man be rife with prejudices.

Giving this bias jackass his last kiss ever would be a pleasure but taking someone out whose number wasn’t called happened to be the biggest no-no in his line of work. Death would be welcomed compared to what would befall Torch should he instigate a step like that without Reaper’s blessing. Eyeing the man, Torch replied, “Money boasts a big voice.”

Slight, young man with close cropped blond hair joined the conversation. “Can you afford it? I mean…” Not the voice. But the type he’d have gone for any other night had he presented strength. A flunky of the others, he didn’t even rate a handshake as his words were quickly cut off.

“Really?”

There he is. Torch twisted in his seat to scrutinize the only man left. “Call me Torch.” Hands touched for seconds. A much more complicated mind. Cold, hard, and nasty fucker with dark, almost black, professionally styled hair and icy blue eyes. Buried deep in the stranger’s mind Torch filtered out an encounter showing him naked beneath his large friend. Interesting because he wasn’t the type to bottom. Damn. He let go too soon to catch a fleeting vision of Crist and something involving the two older men.

“Tad Whitman.” Disdain twisted his face as eyes raked Torch’s body. “We’re supposed to believe you have it like that?”

Brief contact showed both older men were sons of bitches who would eventually chew the smaller, younger guy up and spit him out without another thought. Tad and Bob wore designer suits. Old money. Not theirs. What had Crist seen in Tad? “What do you all do for a living? Wait, let me guess.” He perused the linebacker. “Bob’s legal counsel for daddy’s law firm.”

“Wait, I never told you… It’s Robert.”

Ignoring the piece of shit, Torch switched attention to the insignificant blond and grinned. “You work for Bob, or rather, his father.” Returning to observing the one who garnered interest, he remarked with nonchalance, “Your father’s north Jersey dealership sold me my car.”

“Impossible. Whitman’s NJ only sells European luxury and sports cars.”

Before Torch countered, the fragrance assaulted him. Cristophe.

Bob, in shallow glory, forgot Torch didn’t call him Robert. He chuckled and said, “Ex heading your way.”

“Hmm, my night might get better.”

They all watched as the gorgeous man sashayed across the room.

Fuck’s sake, the way Crist’s hips swayed, the grace with which he took each step. It pulled Torch further into his web.

“Bullshit if you think you can still pull him.” Bob’s laughter grated on Torch’s nerves and he noted jealousy laced the big man’s voice. “I do get it though. He is one pretty fucker.”

“I can have him.” Tad twisted and flashed a fake smile in Crist’s direction.

Torch, after a quick glance at Crist, thought of knocking Tad, an entitled piece of shit, from his seat. He made a quick decision. “You mean Crist? He’s joining me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Seeing the look of surprise on Tad’s face made Torch’s year.

What the fuck am I doing?

Grow and roar-it's okay to let the beast out. - J. Hali Steele

A Hard Return

I've still got a couple books that I received rights back for that have yet to role out. HARD CASE returns this month!

It was one of my favorite big cat with vampyre bite books. Not sure if every author falls for one of their MCs but I fell for Case Tangara. I liked his snark and I laughed as he found himself confused and mind boggled by a snow leopard shifter with green hair! Tres Moran takes my cat on a merry chase toward love.

If you missed it the first time around don't miss it this time. I'll keep you posted with date.

HARD CASE

Case Tangara can't believe his security expert hired Tres Moran, a snow leopard shifter, to manage his newest club and he sets out to prove she's unworthy. When he finds her, hand in her pants, in a voyeur's room... He comes undone. A white lion from the Kind species, big cats with vampyre blood, Case has honed his blood sucking ancestor's magic to a fine art. Using these skills, he samples her sexual delights.

Tres has her own plan, use the cat to forget her mysterious vampyre lover. She's drawn to both creatures for different reasons. The vampyre enjoys watching while the lion brings out a new side of her - performing for watchers.

Excerpt:

“I don’t know who your girl is, but when she comes home, keep her under the porch. Don’t let her come back here. You probably shouldn’t come back either. It wouldn’t be good for your health.” She didn’t see the chair sticking out as she backed up. Tres tripped over the leg and went down and the wolf shifter landed heavily on top of her with a thud.

Oh hell, this is it, I’m dead.

Before Tres could budge, she felt the weight of the man pulled from her. She stood quickly and watched as Alek’s Kind friend held the beast in the air with his shoes dangling two feet off the floor. The smell of lion was so thick in the room she could taste it. His red swirling vamp’s eyes told the wolf all he should need to know. At least she hoped the dog read his eyes like she did. “Get out or die” was written all over his face. A shock wave of pleasure dived right between Tres’ thighs. What the hell?

“I don’t think the lady made herself clear. You are leaving, friend. And don’t come back. You got that?” He dropped the shifter to his feet hard.

The wolf nodded and Tres watched as he scurried to the door. If his tail was out, it would be between his legs. She turned to Alek’s friend.

“Thanks, I didn’t see the chair. Could’ve been a nasty situation. My name’s Tres, I manage The Looking Glass.”

She dusted her backside as she stared in the cat’s red eyes. Yeah, these dudes were real bastards. And in both forms they were vicious sons of bitches. Except for Alek, she steered clear of them. The one who stood in front of her should be banned from public places. Along with the smell of lion was the look of death. But he didn’t have the vile, putrid stench of a transgressor, cats addicted to human blood and emotions. The blood of their victims would be drained while transgressors remained in their vamp forms. They then became trapped in their beast gorging on blood and flesh until someone or something put them out of their misery.

Kind eyes were always variations of emerald green, and his were now back to the normal color of raw emerald, not too dark. They went well with ashy-colored hair which, punctuated by the much darker brows, looked even lighter close up. The chiseled planes of his face bordered on being gaunt, his straight nose complemented by high, hard cheekbones.

All of this came together to give him the look of one of those mysterious male models who graced the cover of romance books around the world. The ones you never really did see walking down the street. And his full lips—I got a place for them. This cat could be real trouble. He was definitely a lion, and if he lived there, he’d be king of the jungle.

She got wet and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure why. She reminded herself of all the reasons she shouldn’t be. Even now, she smelled the lion in him. As he stood this close, she saw she’d been right about the ripped body too, all sinewy muscle. Damn, his cock was hard and it bulged at the front of his pants, beckoning to her. She had to fight not to reach out and touch it. Being an animal could be a bitch at the worst of times.

“I’m Case. Glad I could help.”

“Looking for a job?” You can help me anytime with that hard-on. Shit, what was she thinking? “One of my guards left suddenly, leaving me in a spot.” She figured his answer would be no. But maybe she’d get lucky. He might have hit bad times or something. Tres doubted this as she considered the suit. If he was friends with Alek, most likely he was part of the Reign, and they took care of their own.

“Sure. I’m new in town. Alek can vouch I’m okay. We go way back.”

“Like I said, I’m in a spot right now. I’ll take your word for it.”

Tres was soaked. If her pants weren’t already wet from the vamp, they would be now. What the hell’s wrong with me? She was usually so composed. The night was young and she’d spent the better part of it drenched in her own carnal juices.

“When do I start?”

“Now. You can use my office to…uhh…whisk on proper clothes. Black shirt and slacks are all you require. No leather.”

“You wear leather.”

“I’m the boss. You’re not the cocky type are you?”

“No,” Case said. “I only wondered. I prefer slacks, no problem.”

“Good. The guard at the door can fill you in on how we operate around here. Mainly, keep your eyes and ears open for trouble. Stop it before it starts if you can and keep your hands to yourself. No use of the private rooms unless you’re on break, and you pay. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And don’t be a smart ass. You can call me Tres.”

“Okay, Tres.”

* * * * *

Oh baby. Yes, I’m cocky and hard. And I’ll be inside of you the very next chance I get.

He was right about the opportunity. It had fallen in his lap. Enforcement everywhere had become a lot harder because creatures humans believed only existed in dreams were on the rise. Shifters in every form, cats, wolves and even angels and demons all vied for a place in the world.

The humans who sat in his club didn’t know they rubbed shoulders with the boogeyman or that they were under Kind protection. In fact, their hunters probably killed more of his people than anyone else. Whether lion, tiger or panther, many cats preferred their natural state and it made them an easy target. Killing a cat was only a matter of a bullet placed in any vital organ and death followed quickly.

And Alek was right. If he’d named the club Lion’s Cave, the wolf would have never pulled any shit. He’d have known he would be on his back in no time flat with the red glare of a big vampyre cat beating down on his ass.

He watched his manager head toward the office.

She exuded sex and her desire assailed Case’s nostrils. The fangs he kept hidden threatened to show themselves. His mouth remembered how good she tasted. His hands itched to get in her pants again. He couldn’t have planned this better himself.

Case already loved his new job.

A change into the proper uniform took him no time at all. He went in search of the guard to receive instructions on how to handle his new position. The security here did need to be beefed up. The incident with the wolf might have been worse.

Unlike his other clubs, this one was located in the remote high desert. Because of the very nature of the place, it would attract Kind from the compound in the area and a variety of normal shifters. Normal shifters. An oxymoron if ever there was one. Case understood clientele here would be a harder bunch to handle. The animal side of them made their primitive needs stronger.

Vamps were such deviant creatures, they pretty much saw to their own entertainment. They would consider The Looking Glass tame. But some would wander in after dark. That wasn’t a problem. They’d lived among humans for a long time now and blending in was second nature.

Protection of his business was paramount. For this reason, he had corporate stress Kind be hired. They could handle the shifters because they were animals too. The undead posed no threat to creatures just like them.

He believed his initial concern of a shifter managing his club was valid. No one would patronize a place they didn’t feel safe in. He didn’t think his new manager had a handle on all of this. He made a mental note to discuss it again with Alek.

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out. - J. Hali Steele

The Journey Begins-I'll buy YOU book 1

The Journeyer - Book 1 - Amazon.   

Jamie MacDonald, a young Scot, begins his dangerous and uncertain journey to the New World…

Jamie MacDonald, a young Scot mourning the deaths of his father and brothers in the ill-fated battle of Culloden, decides to take his mother to the New World. But tragedy and unforeseen circumstance dog Jamie’s journey and he is pressed into service aboard a pirate ship commanded by a ruthless Spaniard.

Antonio Rodriguez is a man with a dark past, but also with an allure Jamie cannot resist.

The two men embark on a stormy relationship—but can their feelings for each other survive the danger that surrounds them, threatening not only their love, but their very lives?

Let me start by saying I loved this book!!

For whatever reason I didn't realize it was book one. Certainly my fault because Mr. Bowie made it plain in everything I've since read that there was another installment.

And DAMN IT - I'm dying here to read it. I love a good Historical.

I've pre-ordered and cannot wait for The New World, Journeyer Book 2. Amazon pre-order.

The connection between Jamie and Antonio happened over time and I felt each tether as it wriggled around their hearts.

Well written, it drew me in in the first few pages and held me until the last page! I'm afraid to say more without giving anything away.

Jamie MacDonald. - I fell in love. Antonio Rodriquez - Sigh and Sigh and Sigh!

Read this book!!!

Whatever comes next--I can't wait!

I'm so enthralled, I'll buy a copy of book 1 for a lucky commenter who leaves their Kindle addy. Ends midnight 11/2/18.

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out. - J. Hali Steele