Morning Loverlies,

It’s a beautiful Monday morning and Emma has a 2 for 1 special for you. Music Monday AND EXCERPT Monday. You get a glimpse of a never before seen scene (hehe) from Reign of Pleasure. And you can only see it here. WOOT! WOOT! I don’t have a release day yet for ROP but keep a look out. Today’s Music Monday pick is Lithium by Evanescence. It totally fits this scene.

Ooooh! Almost forgot! The winner of our Dick Mr. Right in a Box is our very own Rob Thurman! Woot! Woot! Email me with your snail mail addy and I’ll get it right out to you.

Deposed queen Rhiannon’s sexual proclivities have finally gotten her into trouble. After taking a pleasure slave that didn’t belong to her, the courtesan’s master is asking the ultimate price for the trespass:

Rhiannon and her complete submission for five days.

Rhiannon is determined to submit only her body, but Lord Ignius Sebastian, her new master, will settle for nothing less than her soul.

Reign of Pleasure – Excerpt from Chapter Five

A howl ripped through the night and I shuddered. There weren’t supposed to be wolves in the Ether realm. It had long been thought they were extinct from over hunting. Rumors of shape-shifting wolves surviving the extermination had been spread for years but most laughed them off and used them as fairytales to keep wayward children in line.

As one howling cry met another and another until they all melded into one, I prayed I wouldn’t find out first hand the stories were based on fact. The mournful sounds of the beasts got closer and closer until I imagined I could feel their breath on the back of my neck. I looked into the dark copse of trees trying to make out their shapes when I spotted a pair of glowing green eyes.

Great, maybe I wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting Soren. If the wolf ripped out my throat and ate me, I’d be able to see my late husband in person.

I swallowed a cry as the first beast stepped into the moonlight. It wasn’t hideous as the fairytales described. He was so black I was surprised I was able to make out more than the shape of his huge body. He didn’t growl, didn’t act aggressively, just stepped forward, silently followed by two white wolves and one which color could only be described as auburn.

The other three stood back as the first ventured toward me. I didn’t move, terrified doing so would make it attack. As I stayed statue still, the wolf’s gaze met mine.

His eyes were almost…human and if that wasn’t crazy enough there was something about them that looked familiar.

Huddling against the tree, I didn’t know how long we sat there staring at each other when another shape parted itself from the shadows.

Heart thumping, I prayed I wasn’t imagining the man walking toward me. He came up behind the wolves, close enough to touch them. He did touch them. Running his fingers lightly over one wolf’s back, he spoke softly to them as they turned to look at him.

The black wolf, made a movement that could have passed as a nod as Ignius said something to him I couldn’t hear. The beast looked at me one last time before melding back into the darkness, the three close on its heels.

Ignius stood in the moon’s glow and I fought the need to throw myself in his arms. I should be mad at him, not glad to see him. It was entirely his fault. He was the reason I was here, had almost became a meal for wolves and why I felt like a traitor to Soren’s memory.

Tears pricked my eyes and I turned my face away from him. I was cold, tired and hungry. And, the joy upon first seeing Ignius told me there was a good possibility the feelings I had for him went way beyond sexual.

A sob ripped through me as I told myself I couldn’t love this man, could never love anyone the way I had Soren. Another sob tore through me as I fought the truth and lost.

I was in love with Ignius.

Hope you enjoyed my contribution to Excerpt Monday. The first of many, I hope. You can find more excerpts by following the links below:

Your hosts for Excerpt Monday

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13) and Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

This week’s participants:

Danie Ford, Young Adult (PG 13)
Babette James, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Nadia Lee, Futuristic Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary romantic elements (PG 13)
Caitlynn Lowe, Fantasy (PG 13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Debbie Mumford, Science Fiction/Fantasy (PG 13)
Erica Ridley, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Dara Sorensen, Historical Romance (PG 13)

Kendal Corbitt, Erotic Romance (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Danielle Yockman, Steampunk (R)

Sara Brookes, Fantasy (NC 17)
Stephanie Draven, Fantasy with Strong Romantic Elements (NC 17)
Angeleque Ford, Contemporary, Interracial, Erotic Romance (NC 17)
Elise Logan, Sci-Fi/Contemporary (NC 17)