Blurb:
Title: Consuming the Darkness: bk 7 in the Darkness series. Release Date: October 16th
He needs your heart to live.
In Jacob’s Cove, where death is as common as apple pie, a serial murderer is a first. Lieutenant Sienna Storm, the town’s newly minted homicide detective, is eager to prove she’s up to the job of tracking down the demon who rips out his victims’ still-beating hearts. Even if it means using her innate ability to connect with him through his blood.
Detective Nathan Powers lost his partner to the aptly named Heartless Killer, and the trail of bodies leads him straight to Jacob’s Cove. However, this is no typical small town. It’s a strange world populated with bloodthirsty demons and run by a vampire. Still, the leggy blonde Sienna is a pleasant distraction. Until he discovers she’s after the same killer—and she’s not sharing.
Minds clash as the hunt intensifies, but the more they run into each other, the harder it is to stay apart. Together they discover not only clues, but a searing need that rises higher by the day.
That need may be their downfall when Nathan becomes the killer’s next target, and Sienna must risk everything to get him back.
Excerpt:
“Behind you! Get down.”
The gun came up in his hand, aimed at her head. She felt the presence of the vampire as he jumped out from behind the dumpster. As she spun around to take him down, the gun fired, hitting the vamp in the right shoulder. He jerked back, screeching like a banshee.
“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled at the man with the gun as she ran to the vamp. “Daisy, stay!” Daisy sat as she’d been instructed while Sienna knelt down beside the screaming vamp. She pressed her knee to the vamp’s bleeding shoulder to ensure that he wouldn’t move. “You are under arrest for breaking the laws of human and vampire and will be detained in the local jail while awaiting trial.”
“You’re a cop?” the guy behind her responded.
“Yeah, I’m a cop. Oh, stop your screaming already,” she yelled at the vamp, then flipped him onto his belly and pulled his arms to his back, pinning them in one hand while she searched for her handcuffs. “Damn it, why don’t I have my cuffs on me. Wanna tell me why you were about to attack me?”
“I wasn’t…honest…I was only…out for a walk. Yeah, I was walking. I’m going to sue the cops for harassment. I was minding my own. Fuck, my shoulder is killing me. Police brutality!”
“Shut the hell up. No one gives a damn.”
“Here.”
Sienna glanced up to see a set of shiny silver handcuffs dangling down before her. Glancing up, she took a moment to survey the gentleman and noticed he wasn’t bad on the eyes. His dark brown hair was messed up but somehow looked natural. And wow! The guy had a hell of a body. Broad shoulders, wide chest, and narrow waist. His face was pretty decent to look at, even with that thin line of hair over his upper lip that ran down the sides of his mouth to cover his chin. He had nice eyes, dark, round, with long lashes. “I’d prefer a regulation set rather than your bondage toys.”
“These are regulation. I’m a detective. Nathan Powers,” he introduced in a deep, throaty voice that sounded as if he’d had one too many cigarettes.
The vamp squirming beneath her, she took the cuffs. Before slapping them on the vamp’s wrists she made sure they were regulation. Flipping him onto his back, Sienna pinned him with her knee as she had before. “Don’t try anything stupid.”
“Bitch!” the vamp spat.
“What the hell’s with the yellow contacts and fake fangs?”
Sienna glanced over her shoulder as she responded to the detective. “What? You’ve never seen a vampire before?”
“A what?”
“A vampire.”
“I heard you. I thought I’d seen it all, but I guess not. Now we’ve got junkies playing vampire,” The detective chuckled with a shake of his head.
One look at the guy told her he was serious. “Oh jeez, he’s a virgin.” She rolled her eyes. “I told you to shut up.” She yanked the screaming vamp to his feet. “This is a vampire, not a fake, the real deal and if you plan on being in Jacob’s Cove for any amount of time you might want to be on the lookout for them. Some of them refuse to abide by the new laws. Isn’t that right, screamer?”
“Seriously though, he’s a vampire like the blood-sucking kind?”
“Don’t know any other kind.”
“Shouldn’t you like…you know, jam a wooden stake through his heart? I can’t believe I just said that.” He laughed boldly.
Was he for real?
She didn’t care for the sarcasm in his voice. “Neither can I. We prefer to rehabilitate them rather than turning them to dust.” Holding the vamp in one hand, she pulled her cell phone out with the other and dialed the station. “Lieutenant Storm here. I have a rogue vamp I need brought in.”
“I wasn’t doing anything, you stupid bitch.”
She clamped onto the squirming vamp a little tighter as she gave her location. She slipped her phone back into her shirt pocket when she was through and gave the vamp a hard shove against the dumpster. “Right, you were only skulking in the dark because you needed a smoke, right?”
“It’s a free world last time I looked.”
“Sure, except when you’re attempting to drink someone dry. Save it for the judge; I’m done listening.”
“You can’t prove anything. I’m innocent.”
“Do you know what I am?” she asked as she leaned in real close. “I’m a Tejakkan which means I have precog abilities. I saw you moments before you jumped out and I saw just what you’d planned to do so save your ‘I’m innocent’ act for someone who gives a damn.”
“Bitch!”
“That’s right and remember it.” She shoved him good and hard against the dumpster.
“You’ve got a cute dog there, and obedient,” Detective Powers remarked as he crouched down to pet Daisy.
“Thanks.” And because Daisy was sitting so obediently and waiting for her, Sienna decided she deserved a treat later. “You in town for a job, Detective?”
“No. I’m on vacation.”
She laughed, keeping the vamp pinned to the dumpster with no effort whatsoever as she turned to the detective. “Why the hell would you want to vacation in Jacob’s Cove?”
“Actually, I’m passing through. What happened to this place?” He scratched Daisy between the ears which of course, the dog was loving.
“A war between the good and the bad, and if you knew nothing of vampires beforehand, me telling you what really went down will blow your mind. But I don’t have time to go into it right now.” With her free hand, she waved at the patrol car as it inched into the alley.
“You’re serious about this vampire thing?”
Still holding the vamp against the dumpster, doing her best to ignore his whining about police brutality, Sienna responded as calmly as possible. “No, I’m pulling your leg.”
“I thought so. I mean, shit, vampires,” he laughed with a deep hardiness, running a hand across his stubble-lined face. “I knew he had to be some druggy who decided to play vampire or something with the teeth.”
If he was a real detective she would eat her badge. “Let me see some ID.”
“What for?”
“You’re too stupid to be a cop.” This time his eyes narrowed. He slid his hand into his jean jacket and she whipped out her stunner. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”
“I thought you wanted to see my ID?” he remarked snidely.
Her jaw tightened. “Nice and slow, and trust me, I’ll know before you pull something stupid. You’ll be lying on the ground writhing in agony before you have a chance to blink. Take him off my hands, Officer,” she added to the cop who stepped up, then passed the vamp on to him. She eyeballed the supposed detective while he slid his hand under his jacket. When she didn’t get a flash forward of the situation, she deduced he wasn’t going to do her harm.
The detective pulled out his wallet and flipped it open to reveal his badge.
“Huh, I’ll be damned!” He really was a detective. “You’re a long way from home, Detective.” In the background she could hear the vamp still screaming about his rights and about police brutality. He could scream all he liked; it would do him no good.
“Like I said, I’m on vacation.” He tucked the badge back into his jacket.
“I’d suggest you get yourself on the road and away from here before you get hurt. Come on, Daisy, I’ve gotta take you back home, then head into the cop shop.” She walked off, Daisy on her heels looking back at the detective as they headed home.
He must have passed the detective’s exam because of his looks.
Title: Surviving the Darkness: Bk 8 in the Darkness series: Release date: October 30th
buylink or link to more info if you have it: www.breathlesspress.com
Blurb:
When death is on your trail, the only thing you can do is run.
Heading home to Jacob’s Cove after her abductor is released from jail, concert pianist, Deborah Carmichael just wants to find some peace. What she finds is a town run by monsters, and a kind night club owner willing to help her get her self-confidence back. Problem is, he’s a shape shifter and his bar is frequented by demons.
Owner of the Demon’s Lair, Zachary Adams has had to deal with all sorts of evil. Hearing about Deborah’s horrifying ordeal, breaks his heart and he is determined to help her overcome it as best he can. But as the two grow closer, someone is lurking in the shadows. When Deborah is abducted again, Zach is willing to do anything to get her back.
Will he be able to save her before it’s too late?
Excerpt
She was shivering. It wasn’t cold, yet her body was acting as if she were chilled. Even her teeth were chattering. She could hear him moving around in her apartment and wished to God he would leave. But that would be too easy.
Her body went to stone the instant he stepped into the room.
“I’ve locked the door and the balcony, closed up the curtains and now we’re ready to go.” He walked to her bedroom window and pulling the shades, turned back to her with a sly grin on his face. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Debbie.”
The whimper that escaped her taped mouth didn’t seem to have come from her. The fear was lodged so tightly in her chest that she couldn’t muster anything more than a whimper.
“How is it you don’t own a pair of scissors? I searched the entire apartment but came up empty. I guess this will have to do.”
Her heart sped up as he held one of the butcher block knives in the air. The overhead light glinted off the steel blade as he turned it over.
“I should have undressed you before tying you up but I didn’t want to take the chance of having you escape.” He sat on the edge of the bed and her body began to shake even more.
Her body quivered, her teeth chattered. She tried tugging her hands free but the ropes cut into her wrists, scorching her skin. The cloth in her mouth was wet with saliva and the tape over her lips was beginning to irritate her skin. Dear God, wouldn’t someone save her?
“Now, let’s get you out of those clothes.”
She whimpered and when he lifted the large steel knife she felt her blood drain.
“Now now, this doesn’t have to be unpleasant.” Sliding the blade under her pant leg, he began to slice along the seam. “As long as you stay still.”
As the cold steel touched her skin, she flinched. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would bruise her ribs. And as he slid the blade up her leg the tears drenched her face.
“Brown isn’t your color. I think I’ve told you that before. You should wear yellows and reds. You have the complexion for those colors. Brown makes you looked washed out.”
She cringed when the blade slid along her other leg and when he angled the blade over her crotch and sliced the fabric up her belly, her whimpers turned to sobs.
“Now now, no need for hysterics.”
Her body shook as he slid the blade along her blouse, tearing open the fabric. He parted the center and sat back staring down at her. The bile stung her chest but she swallowed it back. Then his fingers slipped beneath the center of her bra. She whimpered again but he kept going. He slipped the blade of the knife beneath the fabric and as he tipped it up to cut the fabric, it clipped the inside of her breast, scorching the flesh.
She began to sob.
“Oops, sorry about that.” Parting the cups, his fingers skimmed her breasts making the bile rise a little higher. Then to her horror, he bent over and slid his tongue out and over the cut. “You’re very tasty. I can’t wait to have more. And I just knew you would have great breasts.”
Placing the blade between his teeth, leaving both hands free, he cupped each breast firmly. With a hiss between his teeth, he fondled her.
Why was this happening to her? She tried not to think about his hands on her breasts but she couldn’t. She felt everything, the scrape of his callused palms, how his fingers gripped on and squeezed tightly.
God, just let this be over.
He took he knife from between his teeth and sucked in a breath. “Yes indeed. You are mighty fine. Let’s see what the rest of you looks like.”
She could feel her body shaking and could do nothing as he slid her pants away. When the tip of the blade touched her hip she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and prayed. She heard the fabric tearing, then felt the cloth parting.
She was completely bare now.
“Oh my…you are sweet. I love a woman who keeps her feminine area bare.”
She jumped when his fingers touched her and began to sob.
“Jesus, you are nice. Yes indeed.” His fingers slid over her, tugging the dry flesh. When his finger penetrated her she began to sob so hard, her body shook the bed.
“Stop crying!”
But she just couldn’t stop the tears or the way her body shook with them. He was going to rape her and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“I said stop crying,” he demanded, holding the scissors to her chin.
She yelped when the blade came down between her breasts.
“Stop crying or I’ll give you a reason to cry.”
She couldn’t help herself and let her fear show. She balled like a baby, flipping her head back and forth, bucking to get him off of her. When the tip of the blade sliced into her chest, she screamed through the cloth.
“I said stop crying!” The fire erupted as the blade slid between her breasts and down to her belly.
