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RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. :: * * * PAPERBACK :: SECRETS VOLUME 18 DARK PASSIONS Cynthia Eden, Larissa Ione, Linda Gayle, Rae Monet (Paperback)
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SECRETS VOLUME 18 DARK PASSIONS Trade Paperback Copyright © Rae Monet, Larissa Ione, Cynthia Eden, Linda Gayle, 2006 All Rights Reserved, RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. REVIEWS  The SECRETS anthologies have established a high standard of quality in the field of erotica and romantica. SECRETS VOLUME 18 continues this tradition of high quality sensual stories that both excite the senses while stimulating the mind. Fans of the series will rejoice with the four new spectacular stories while readers new to the anthology series will wonder why they haven’t sampled the delights of SECRETS before! -Reviewed by Anne, CKs Kwips & Kriciques Red Sage keeps cranking out incredible tales of explosive passion and intense desire that keeps the readers coming back for more. -Angel - Romance Junkies.com "Edgy, erotic, exciting, Secrets is always a fantastic read!" –Susan Kearney, USA Today Best Selling Author Red Sage keeps cranking out incredible tales of explosive passion and intense desire that keeps the readers coming back for more. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com SECRETS VOLUME 18 Rae Monet, Larissa Ione, Linda Gayle, & Cynthia Eden 4 1/2 STARS Not to be outdone by previous Secrets tales, number 18 releases inner beasts—paramedic hunks, a singer in distress and one hot and desperate werewolf—to make the latest Secrets one that will stay in readers’ hearts and minds for a long time. Fantastic love scenes make this a book to be enjoyed more than once. SUMMARY: In their quest to negotiate peace, Lakota and Taban spark a sexual awareness that singes both in Monet’s “Lone Wolf Three.” In Ione’s “Flesh To Fantasy,” Virtual Diva Kelsa’s sexy paramedic neighbor comes calling with more than friendship on his mind and she finds that reality can be better than fantasy. When a man from her past refuses to take no for an answer, futuristic singer Fanta welcomes the protection security guard Decker offers in Gayle’s “Heart Full of Stars.” Werewolf Michael has found his mate. Before he can make her his, however, he has to save Kat from a hit man in Eden’s “The Wolf’s Mate.” (Red Sage ~~~Faith V. Smith - ROMANTIC TIMES THE WOLF'S MATE BY CYNTHIA EDEN REVIEWS 5 klovers “The Wolf’s Mate” by Cynthia Eden is the story of how pack protector Michael Morlet finds his mate, Kat Harding. Michael is a werewolf but there are special humans who can mate with a werewolf and Michael believes Kat is one of these humans. Kat is hiding a deadly secret, however. Will Michael be able to protect Kat from her past when it tries to kill her? “The Wolf’s Mate” is the sequel to “Bite the Wolf”, published in SECRETS VOLUME 15. The story has a stand alone plot, however, and provides readers with a glimpse into the lives of some very sexy French werewolves. Readers will appreciate Cynthia Eden’s steamy sex scenes while enjoying a plotline laced with spectacular action scenes. Ms. Eden has managed to spice up the werewolf theme and create an enjoyable approach to the genre. ~~~Anne - ck2skwipsandkritiques.com THE WOLF’S MATE by Cynthia Eden - Rating: 4.5 Kat Hardy has a serious problem; someone is trying to kill her. Out of nowhere her knight and shinning armor shows up and saves her. Michael Morlet is unlike any man she has met before and has quite a few secrets of his own. He wants to make Kat his mate, but first he has to find out who is stalking her and why. THE WOLF’S MATE is a sizzling werewolf tale that transports the reader to another place. Kat is a terrific heroine with plenty of spunk to stand up to Michael and be his perfect mate. Michael is the ultimate alpha male and has his controlling attitude that makes him a leader. He and Kat make an explosive team and the love scenes will blow you away with the heat they give off. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER I published my first werewolf story, Bite of the Wolf, with Red Sage in December of 2005, and I was thrilled to be able to follow-up that tale with an additional story about my French wolves. The Wolf’s Mate is Michael Morlet’s story. Michael is the pack protector. He is a strong, fierce hunter, a guardian, and right now, he has set his sights on guarding his soon-to-be mate, Kat Hardy. I had a wonderful time writing Michael’s story! I hope you enjoy the tale, and my take on the werewolf legend. Please feel free to visit my website at www.cynthiaeden.com or you may email me at info@cynthiaeden.com. EXCERPT FROM THE WOLF'S MATE She stepped forward, into the glowing light of the moon. And he got his first good look at her face. Such a sweet, lovely face. She had big eyes, eyes that swam with emotion, a small, slightly upturned nose, high cheekbones, and full, pouting lips. “Well, I’d better be going.” She flashed him a smile, showing perfectly white, even teeth. “Th-thanks again.” He blinked. Surely she didn’t think that she was just going to walk away from him now? Oh, no. He lifted his hand, catching a strand of her red hair. Little red riding hood had stumbled onto a wolf. A very hungry wolf. She stilled at his touch, her eyes widening even more. “Mademoiselle, I’m afraid that I cannot let you leave yet…” No, not yet. Not ever. She licked her lips, a quick, nervous move that caused his cock to swell with arousal. “Wh-why not?” He stepped toward her, and she scrambled back, hitting the rough wall of the alley. He stared down at her, drinking in the sight of her beautiful form, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled her sweet scent. It was a scent that called to him, a scent that marked her…marked her as the woman he’d been searching for his entire life. A human. His mate was a human, like Gareth’s. He would have to use care with her, try not to frighten her too much. “I saved you,” he whispered, bending toward her. His arms were on either side of her body, caging her in place. “Those men…they were planning to hurt you tonight.” Her chin lifted. “And I thanked you for that. Now…now I want to go. I should probably go call the police and—” He shook his head. “I told you, I cannot let you leave yet. After all, you owe me.” Her lips thinned. “I don’t know what you want but—” “Oh, it’s quite simple, really.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. Such a sexy mouth. “I want you. And when I see something I want, I take it.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR CYNTHIA EDEN I have long been a fan of the paranormal genre. I just can’t ever seem to get my fill of ghosts, werewolves, or vampires! The Wolf’s Mate is the second werewolf tale that I’ve written for Red Sage. After the publication of Bite of the Wolf (Secrets, Volume 15), I couldn’t wait to write another story about my French wolves! I would love to hear from my readers. Please visit my website at www.cynthiaeden.com or you may send an email to info@cynthiaeden.com. LONE WOLF THREE BY RAE MONET REVIEWS 5 klovers Rae Monet opens up the SECRETS VOLUME 18 anthology with “Lone Wolf Three”. Mediator and Solarian Wolf Warrior, Lakota Blackson, is summoned to the assistance of Elnar planetary leader, Taban Zias, by Taban’s second-in-command, Reack. Wolves are invading the Class A suburbs and the council wants to amend the treaty to allow a capture and reassignment program. Taban is furious as he sees it as an excuse to kill the wolves who live on Elnar. His anger turns to desire when he meets Lakota, but will the flames of their desire be smothered by the prospect of the treaty negotiations? “Lone Wolf Three” is actually the fifth installment in The Solarian Wolf Warrior series but Rae Monet does a fantastic job of making this book enjoyable and understandable for readers new to the series. The relationship between Lakota and Taban is very sensuous and Ms. Monet skillfully uses water to enhance the reader’s sensory enjoyment of the scenes. The vivid and lush descriptions make this futuristic world spring to life. Perhaps the cleverest part of the story, however, is the integration of the wolves into the society. Lakota’s companion is a wolf named Striker and it is very easy for the reader to envision the beauty of these fabulous creatures. Ms. Monet’s very obvious love for wolves is definitely shared and should be appreciated by all of her readers. ~~~Anne - ck2skwipsandkritiques.com LONE WOLF THREE by Rae Monet - Rating: 4 Taban needs to straighten out the territory issue that is happening and he needs a middleman to help and it seems that one has been found. Of course the last thing he is expecting is a woman like Lakota. She seems to be a perfect match for Taban, but she isn’t interested in a relationship. Can Lakota convince her that she is meant to be his? This plot is one that is well-known and familiar to readers. Rae Monet is known for her wolf warriors and this interesting tale gives us even more insight. LONE WOLF THREE brings together Lakota who is a warrior in every sense of the word, you won’t find her cowering behind any man when there is a fight to be fought. Taban is the leader of his people and has a major responsibility to do what’s right for them. You can feel the weight of the troubles that he has to carry. Sensual love scenes round out this story of excitement. Rae Monet has penned yet another winner that reader’s will love. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER Planetary politics and squabbling over wolf occupied territory drain former rebel leader Taban Zias. When Taban’s second-in-charge sends him a mediator to help negotiate the Elnar land treaty, he’s pissed. But his anger quickly turns to desire when he meets, Lakota Blackson. Focused, calm and honorable, the female Wolf Warrior is Taban’s perfect mate—now if he can just convince her. EXCERPT FROM LONE WOLF THREE “Who are you, pretty lady?” The man picked up his staff from the ground and leaned against it, a smile lurked at the corner of his mouth and a mischievous glint shined in his eyes; being so close to him wove a surprising warm haze around her. As her eyes wandered over his hard body, taking in his skin glowing with a healthy wet gleam from his exertions, she felt an answering heat rise on her face. Could I be feeling desire? Shock danced through her. She steadied herself. “Lakota Blackson, sir. Solarian Wolf Warrior and UG Mediator.” His smile dropped. He turned and made his way to the river, his expression closed. “Who told you I was here?” He dropped his staff in a primitive campsite: a homemade fire pit, and a shiny new hover cycle sitting next to a modern tent. “It was your aide, sir. Taban Zias, I assume?” Not answering her, he leaned forward and splashed his face. Water cascaded down his arms and chest. Lakota tried to not watch the drops roll down his bronzed muscles, but couldn’t stop wanting to lick the same path as that water. She was close enough she could smell him; man mixed with sweat, spicy, a heady combination that went straight to her heart, sending it pounding. She pressed a finger to her temple. What am I doing, fantasizing about this man? He is my assignment. “Now that you found me, you can go back to the city and await my return.” Lakota bristled. “I’m afraid, sir, where you go, I go. I am here to assist you, and I can not do this when not in your presence.” He tipped his head up then, his vivid blue eyes crinkled at the corner as he chuckled. “So, if I tell you I’m not leaving these woods for a least two weeks, you will, in fact, stay here with me?” He grabbed a towel. Watching her, he eased the cloth over his face and chest. “That is correct, sir. I have much to teach you that I think will assist with the upcoming treaty negotiations.” He threw the towel into the tent and stood, scowling. He towered over her, and stepping forward, he crowded in. She raised her chin and braced her feet. She had dealt with men before who tried to scare her off with caveman techniques. Her mediator training, as well as the teaching of her Blackfoot ancestors, allowed her to remain calm. She held her ground. “Do you have much to teach me, Lakota?” Her name was a slow drawl on his lips. He took another pace closer, stopping only a few inches away. The heat of his nearly unclothed body reached out and touched her. Lakota gulped. She wore her typical warrior traveling gear: suede beeches and soft leather halter-top covered with a hand-made vest. Crafted for Solarian Warriors and fashioned after the leather armor of old, the outfit allowed her to move freely. His gaze raked over her, and her nipples pushed against the soft leather. Leaning toward her, his face came closer. Tilting his head, he aligned their lips. Surely, he’s not going to kiss me? “I’m here, Lakota, for only one reason, pleasure. Pure, unadulterated, pleasure. If you feel you can help me with this, then by all means, stay.” Lakota opened her mouth to address him...but before she could finish, his lips captured hers. She gasped, which only seemed to encourage him further. His tongue delved into her open mouth. Soft...his lips were so soft. She tried to protest, her hands lifting to his shoulders to push him away. But the kiss deepened, and her will to push disappeared. All she could think of was this man, the smooth yet rough feel of his shoulders under her fingers, the alluring, sweet taste of him, and his clean, outdoor scent sneaking into her senses. Without understanding what she was doing, she kissed him back, her lips moving under his, her hands crawling into his hair, sifting through the silk of it. His arms came around her, crushing her body against his. The hardness of his erection touched her belly. Heat spiked ever inch of her as sweat beaded her brow. He ran his hands into her hair and held her head tight. Just when it felt as if she were going to explode, his lips released hers, and she inhaled a shaky breath. He laughed softly, then his mouth meandered down her throat to the sensitive skin where the slope of her shoulder dipped. Nudging her neck, he moved her head to the side and attacked the area, his tongue lapping. Then he latched on and sucked. Head falling back, she heard herself groan, her body arched against his, her breasts pearling in arousal. His hands dropped to her halter, pushing the strings to the side. The gruff glide of worn leather on her skin forced awareness back into her brain. What am I doing? ABOUT THE AUTHOR RAE MONET Rae is a multi-published, award winning, sensual romance author and speaker. She is former Air Force, FBI Agent and now is a licensed Private Investigator as well has having Bachelor and Master Degrees in business. Rae loves to write strong female characters, lots of action, and hot romance. Please come explore her other books on her website, RaeMonet.com. FLESH TO FANTASY BY LARISSA IONE REVIEWS 5 klovers Larissa Ione’s “Flesh to Fantasy” surrounds the awakening of computer game tester, Kelsa Bradshaw, when she meets her sexy neighbor, paramedic Trent Jordan. Kelsa’s entire life focuses on virtual reality. Even her best and only friend is unaware of the reasons behind her isolation. Trent is determined to reach into Kelsa’s world and show her a glimpse of reality. Will his love be strong enough to break through those barriers? “Flesh to Fantasy” is a gut-wrenching tale that uses humor to expose and soothe Kelsa’s deep emotional scars. Larissa Ione’s fantastic grasp of the RPG gaming world is evident in the myriad of details she cleverly intersperses in the storyline. Kelsa is a very fragile, sheltered character and her total immersion in the gaming world is her way of hiding out. Trent ventures into that world with some very hilarious and sensual results, but he is more interested in reality than some fantasy world. Larissa Ione’s ability to weave together such vastly different worlds is nothing short of spectacular. “Flesh to Fantasy” is the sort of story that warms your heart and remains in your thoughts long after the last page is turned. ~~~Anne - ck2skwipsandkritiques.com FLESH TO FANTASY by Larissa Ione - Rating: 4.5 Kelsa Bradshaw spends most of her time in the world of virtual reality and she likes it just fine. The last thing she needs is reality intruding, but that’s just what she gets when Trent Jordan comes into her life. Trent’s job as a paramedic keeps him steeped in real life, so when he comes across Kelsa he gets pulled into her fantasy world. Now his passion is turning into so much more and reality is about to collide with the real world. FLESH TO FANTASY is a special story in that the two main characters meet in a very different way. This adds an exciting aspect to their relationship and the question of what will happen next. Kelsa is a woman who prefers fantasy to reality, an aspect that many women can relate to. Trent deals with life and death on a regular basis, so a little fantasy is just what he needs in his life. The sparks that fly between Kelsa and Trent are explosive. Larissa Ione has created a wonderful tale that readers are sure to love. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com "Larissa Ione's FLESH TO FANTASY sizzles. What a debut!" – Alison Kent TO MY READER Have you ever been so overwhelmed by life that you wanted to withdraw, to barricade yourself behind closed doors and never have to deal with life’s complications again? I know I have, and Kelsa Bradshaw, the heroine in Flesh to Fantasy, has done exactly that. She lives in a safe, carefully-crafted world where nothing bad can happen -- except to her computer-generated game characters. But, like anything, too much of a good thing isn’t always best. It takes a hot paramedic who is as lonely as she is to pull her out of her fantasy world and into his very real one… where they can both live out their wildest dreams. I hope you enjoy Kelsa and Trent’s story. EXCERPT FROM FLESH TO FANTASY The damn fan was broken. As if finally meeting Kelsa hadn’t made Trent hot enough, working out without a fan had nearly sent him into heat stroke. Time for a dip in the pool. Hopefully, he’d catch a glimpse of Kelsa sunning herself on her balcony above the deep end. He loved how she chewed her lip while she worked, how she sometimes threw her head back and smiled at the sun, loved how different she was from the slinky blondes of his past. He’d been determined to make changes in his life, and as far as he was concerned, lusting after a short brunette with a little meat on her bones and breasts that weren’t altered by a surgeon’s scalpel was a damn good start. Correction, end. He’d made the biggest changes already. Now he just needed a woman with whom to share them. Not that Kelsa seemed inclined to want to be that woman. She’d been polite—at least, until she’d run off like a scared rabbit—but she hadn’t been flirtatious or even overly friendly. Still, he’d been around the block, and he recognized the signs of attraction: flushed skin, rapid pulse and respirations, dilated pupils… Oh, yeah, she’d had ‘em all, and then some. Quickly, he changed into swim trunks, grabbed his towel, opened the front door, and came face to… crotch with the very woman he’d hoped to see as she bent to place a box on his doorstep. She froze, the widening of her brown eyes her only movement. He didn’t think she even breathed. “Hi,” he said, fighting a smile as she gulped, glanced at his crotch—she did that a lot, to his amusement—and then straightened, still clutching the box. She’d changed into khaki shorts and a black tank top that outlined the distinct curves of her free-range braless breasts, and judging by the damp strands of her dark shoulder-length hair, she’d showered as well. “The mailman delivered this to my door by accident.” She held the package out to him, but he didn’t reach for it. She’d taken off so quickly earlier that he wanted to drag this meeting out. “I opened it. I’m sorry. I thought it was mine. It wasn’t. I wouldn’t order… not that you would…” She snapped her mouth shut and rolled her eyes. “Just, here.” Her nervousness was as adorable now as it had been on the walk-way, but this time, he wouldn’t let her get away so easily. She was far too fascinating, this woman who rarely emerged from her apart-ment and who nobody in the complex knew as anything other than “Hermit Chick.” He stepped aside with a gesture. “Come on in. I don’t remember ordering anything, but you can put the box on the coffee table.” “You can’t just take it?” “My hands are full.” “You’re holding a towel.” He shrugged. “It’s a big towel.” With a dramatic huff, she stalked inside. “You must have ordered this. It’s got your name and address on it. Not mine.” She placed the box on the table, giving him a mouthwatering view of her luscious ass as she bent over. She straightened and turned, and her knee struck the box, knocking it to the floor. Small colorful pack-ages spilled out onto the carpet. She let out a strangled squeak, her exotically almond-shaped eyes flared wide. “It’s okay,” he said, walking toward the mess. “It’s just a box of—” he picked up a small package of ben-wa balls. Holy shit. “—sex toys.” He must look like a sex fiend. He held the silver balls out to her. “These aren’t mine.” Her skeptical gaze bounced from his face to the package and back. “I’m sure they aren’t.” He chuckled. “Seriously. What would I do with ben-wa balls?” “I don’t want to know,” she said, shaking her head but squatting down to help him pick up the dozens of items that had scattered around his living room. “What did you plan to do with these?” she asked, holding up some jeweled items that looked like medieval torture devices. “I don’t even know what they are.” She flipped the package over, making the little gold dangly things jiggle. A harsh intake of breath whistled through her teeth. “Clit clamps. Ow.” Her eyes narrowed to slits as she aimed a glare at him. “Perv.” “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He shot her a wink and inserted a couple of batteries into a vibra-tor-shaped thing with a tongue on the end. The tongue came to life and lapped at the air. Holding her gaze, he slowly reached out and rested the device against her ankle, just above the leather strap of her sandal. She went rigid, her lips pressed into a tight bow and her eyes glued to the vibrating tongue as he moved it slowly up the gentle curve of her calf. It tasted her smooth, tan skin, and he gnashed his teeth in jealousy that a damn toy was tonguing her there and not him. A small squeaky noise escaped her mouth, which no doubt could make a man beg, and then she let out a ragged breath that seemed to release the tension in her body. Tilting her face up at him, she gave him a deceptively sweet smile. “Two can play that game,” she said, sounding as breathless as she did teasing. “Shall we see what we can do with this?” She lunged at him with a butt plug. A freaking butt plug. He rocked back, feeling instantly foolish since it wasn’t as though she was ac-tually going to do anything with the thing—no way in hell—but he flinched nevertheless, losing his balance and landing flat on his back next to his beat-up recliner. “Oof.” She laughed, and the rich, throaty sound shot straight to his groin. Then his entire body clenched when she leaned over him, her laugh-ter vibrating her body and his thigh where their bodies touched. He gently grasped her wrist to keep the black rubber toy out of his face where she dangled it. Her smart-ass smirk told him she didn’t realize exactly how precarious a position she was in, so he showed her with a light tug that pulled her on top of him. Her small breasts crushed against his chest and her thigh rested between his, cradling his hardening erection. He hadn’t been in this kind of position in a very long time, and if her reaction—smile fading and throat working as though swallowing a large, stubborn lump—was any indication, neither had she. Damn, but he wanted to kiss that slender neck, right there where her pulse drummed beneath delicate, smooth skin. Her clean, co-conut scent drifted to him, making his own pulse leap and brought to mind images of tropical beaches and fruity drinks and hot sex in the sand. “Now this,” he said softly, “is what I’ve wanted since the first time I saw you on your balcony above the pool.” “You wanted to lick me with a sex toy?” “Yeah, I—what?” “My thigh.” He realized he still held the battery-operated tongue, which was doing obscene things to her leg. It’d be funny if it weren’t so sad that a toy was getting more action than he was. “Oh, I want to lick you,” he breathed, shocked at just how intensely he desired to do that very thing, “but with my own tongue.” Beneath her shirt, her nipples pebbled, burning his bare skin. Her breathing became unsteady. Her lips parted for her tongue that flicked over them, nearly wringing a groan from him. She was as hot for him as he was for her. Her eyes, however, flickering with hesitation behind the lust, told another story. Physically, she was there. Mentally, though… Not will-ing to lose her, he dropped the tongue-toy and drew his hand up her back to the nape of her neck. She closed her eyes, digging into his biceps with tense fingers. Her other hand, the one he held firmly in his grip, dropped the butt plug. Slowly, he wound his fingers through her damp, silky hair and held her head while he arched his neck and brought his lips to rest against hers. Her firm, unyielding mouth struck a helluva blow to his ego. She hadn’t run away screaming yet, but neither had flung herself into the kiss. He flicked his tongue along the seam of her lips, wondering if she’d react more favorably to that stupid tongue toy, but then she relaxed against him, her lips softening, opening up. With a groan, he sank deeply into her mouth, driving his tongue against hers. She tasted sweet, like watermelon and wine, and he wanted to drink her in until he was intoxicated. Her free hand moved up his side, over bare skin that quivered with each stroke. She caressed his ribs, tracing the intercostal spaces between that he’d never thought were sensitive, but now tingled and contracted even as his heart banged almost painfully against them. She shifted the leg that pinned down his hard cock, and he stifled a moan. No way could she miss the bump under her thigh, not when the only barrier between them was a paper-thin layer of swimsuit fabric. He trailed kisses along the edge of her jaw and down, to the soft skin in the hollow of her neck. “You feel good, Kelsa. Finally, after all the daydreaming, you’re right here in my hands.” “Daydreaming,” she echoed, her throat humming against his lips. Then her hand stopped its glorious exploration of his chest. “You daydreamed about me?” Releasing her wrist, he brushed her hair away from her face so he could look into her eyes as he pressed his erection into the soft flesh of her inner thigh, where he found both relief and an intense ache as he pulsed against her. “Every waking hour. The real woman is better. Scorching. Wicked sexy.” He smoothed his fingers down a chestnut strand of hair and toyed with the end, but she shook her head and pushed to her hands and knees. “No.” “Yes.” He sat up and reached for her, but she scrambled to her feet. “I don’t do real.” She spun toward the door. “I have to go.” Why did she keep doing that? Frowning, he jumped to his feet and grabbed her elbow as she reached for the door knob. “I want to see you again.” Her expression softened, her eyes conveying regret. “It’ll ruin the fantasy.” “The fantasy of what? How sex between us would be? You’ve fantasized about that too?” A tinge of red streaked along her softly sculpted cheekbones, and she nodded. He pulled her closer and traced her lips with his thumb, and his gut did a slow, pleasant roll when she closed her eyes and moaned. “The reality will be better than the fantasy,” he promised, his voice sounding rough and strange to his own ears, and he realized how long it had been since he’d been with a woman, how rusty he was at this. Thick, dark lashes flew up, revealing eyes that glittered with panic. “That’s the problem.” She jerked away and darted outside, slamming the door behind her. The noise echoed through his apartment, an audible reminder that he was alone, mentally and physically. He jammed his fingers through his hair and wondered how to bring himself down from the high he was on after the steamy encounter with Kelsa. His body still hummed with unquenched desire, his muscles still pulled taut with lust, and the toys scattered about the room only made it worse. Turning, he stepped on the butt plug and swore. Only one person could possibly have ordered the toys. He dug his cell phone out of his work pants’ pocket and dialed. Adrienne answered her hotel room phone on the first ring. “Yo, sis.” “Trent! Are you coming tonight? You never RSVP’d.” “That’s because I don’t want to attend a rehearsal dinner with people I don’t even know.” “You know both me and the bride.” Yeah, he knew the bride. Becky had been his sister’s best friend all through high school and college, and now that Becky was getting married to some accountant she’d met in Portland, Adrienne had come to town as the maid of honor. “Fine. I’ll be there.” He ran a hand over his face, wondering if his five o’clock shadow had scratched Kelsa’s supple skin. “By chance, did you order enough sex toys to supply a brothel and have them shipped to my apartment?” “You got the package! Thank God! I was just getting ready to call you. I was getting desperate.” He glanced at the dozens of packages dotting his living room carpet. “Apparently.” “They aren’t for me, silly. They’re for the bachelorette party. I’ll drop by and pick them up in a few minutes.” “Hurry. Some of them scare me.” He hung up and returned the toys to the box. Some really were disconcerting—a Deep and Dirty Invader?—but others looked like they could be a lot of fun with someone like Kelsa. Now he needed to devise a way to convince her of the same. He had to figure out what made her tick. The first time she’d run, when they’d been out on the walkway, she’d gotten squirrelly after he said he’d noticed her. Just a few minutes ago, things had been going well until they’d started talking about fantasies. So she apparently liked fantasies, but not the real thing. Why? There was only one way to find out. He’d have to get to know her better, something he’d wanted since he’d moved in eight months ago and had seen her on her balcony wearing a skimpy swimsuit while smoothing suntan lotion on her skin. Unfortunately, he’d never had a chance to meet her because his crazy rotating shifts and her reclusive nature had kept them from coming face-to-face. Until today. And he’d never been one to shy away from an opportunity that presented itself. Not when he’d spent the last few months alone in a new city and on a new job. He was sick of being alone. How screwed up was that, given that he’d left Los Angeles in order to be alone? At twenty-eight, he’d grown tired of the partying and hangovers and one-night stands that rendered him unable to perform his job properly. One huge scare, one huge near-tragedy, had been enough to make him see the need for a life-altering change. So he’d moved away from the bad influence of the friends he’d grown up with, away from the wealthy family who had coddled and protected him from the consequences of his own actions for far too long, and he’d put down roots in a town where no one knew him and where working as a paramedic instead of a lawyer like his father was a real job and not a rebellious statement. Thing was, he was happy, crazy as that seemed. Happy, except for the gaping hole in his life; a relationship. For once, he wanted something real, something tangible, something challenging. He wanted Kelsa. ABOUT THE AUTHOR LARISSA IONE Larissa Ione is the author of spicy paranormal romance and sexy contemporary romance with a medical slant. An Air Force veteran, she has lived all over the United States and Europe, and she now lives wherever her Coast Guard husband’s assignments take her, their 9 year-old son, two cats, and two mice. You can contact her and learn more about her writing at www.LarissaIone.com HEART FULL OF STARS BY LINDA GAYLE REVIEWS HEART FULL OF STARS by Linda Gayle - Rating: 4.5 Fanta Rae is on Mars after a long sentence of imprisonment by aliens. Now she just wants to let loose. When she sees Alex, she is ready to unleash her passions. Alex has put himself into exile after the loss of his family, when he sees Fanta, he can’t control the desire that plagues him. Trouble ensues when the aliens come to capture Fanta again. Can Alex protect her or will she be taken away? Adventure is the name of the game with HEART FULL OF STARS and it takes you on a journey to the future that you won’t soon forget. Alex is a man tortured by his past and must move past it before he can have a future with Fanta. Fanta just wants to be free and live her life with the man of her dreams, which turns out to be Alex. They team up in a courageous effort to fight for her freedom and in the midst find love. Sexual tension turns into intense passion that will mesmerize the reader. ~~~ ANNE - ck2skwipsandkritiques.com HEART FULL OF STARS by Linda Gayle - Rating: 4.5 Fanta Rae is on Mars after a long sentence of imprisonment by aliens. Now she just wants to let loose. When she sees Alex, she is ready to unleash her passions. Alex has put himself into exile after the loss of his family, when he sees Fanta, he can’t control the desire that plagues him. Trouble ensues when the aliens come to capture Fanta again. Can Alex protect her or will she be taken away? Adventure is the name of the game with HEART FULL OF STARS and it takes you on a journey to the future that you won’t soon forget. Alex is a man tortured by his past and must move past it before he can have a future with Fanta. Fanta just wants to be free and live her life with the man of her dreams, which turns out to be Alex. They team up in a courageous effort to fight for her freedom and in the midst find love. Sexual tension turns into intense passion that will mesmerize the reader. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER Three emotions have united people throughout time: love, hope and passion. Heart Full of Stars is set far in the future, but these emotions still resonate as two lovers race against danger and rediscover desire. EXCERPT FROM HEART FULL OF STARS “Get this thing off me!” Fanta slung an angry glare at the bartender as she plucked at the slimy, segmented tongue lapping around her forearm. The bartender tossed his shaggy black mane and laughed. The sound chimed through the air like a chorus of crystal bells. Only pretty thing about Vuilites, Fanta thought glumly. Beside her, the mammoth Triclops unfurled a second tongue around her shoulders, and she almost leapt out of her skin. “I said I’m not interested, you troglodyte!” The frantic waving of her hands toppled her glass, splashing liquor into the Trike’s mucousy eyes. All three blinked furiously. The Trike growled, a basso complaint more felt than heard. Pinned to her barstool by the creature’s bulk, Fanta pressed back against the counter. “Look, buddy, you asked for it.” “Back off, Quask.” The Trike swiveled his elephantine head toward the source of the command. A dark-haired man stared down her suitor. He stood with his legs slightly apart, his stance relaxed. The fingers of his right hand casually stroked the duct tape-wrapped butt of a blaster protruding from a holster slung low on his hips. Quask hesitated, snarled, then, to Fanta’s unending relief, backed away. “Thank you,” she sighed. The man eased up next to her. She scootched her chair over to make room. He raised two fingers to the bartender, who brought him a shotglass of dark liquor. “Figures Quask would be the first one to sniff you out,” he said, then downed his drink in one gulp. He waved over another, ordered one for her as well. “He did more than sniff.” She dabbed slime from her sleeve with a cocktail napkin. “Do you know him?” “Wouldn’t be the first time I’d toasted his tentacles.” He turned to her, eyes inscrutable, and held out his hand. “Decker, security. What’s your business here, Miss...?” “Rae. Fanta Rae.” Clasping his fingers, she offered her best smile. He seemed immune. The drinks came and he appraised her solemnly. Whatever he’d ordered stung her lips and dove down her throat like a swarm of hornets. Gagging, Fanta dropped the glass. That, at least, elicited a fleeting smile from Decker. She gazed at him over a napkin pressed to her lips. True, he was the first man she’d seen in years, but even back then, before she’d left Earth, she would have found him wickedly hot. Eyes the intense blue of a clear winter sky just before dusk, black hair razored in a buzz cut, dusted with silver at the temples, a strong, shadowed jaw that jutted when he clenched his teeth. The hand he curled around the shotglass was large and callused. With an unexpected tremble, Fanta imagined the delicious, rough feel of those hands dragging over her naked skin. Then she shook her head. God, it had been a long time. He waited while she cleared her burning throat. “I’m here by accident, actually,” she rasped. “My hopper broke down. It’s in the shop, you can check it out yourself.” He nodded. “I saw it.” “Then you know I’m on my way home.” That iron jaw tightened. “Recolonizing?” “Yes. I should have landed at New Ellis, of course.” She rolled her eyes. “Would have, if my generator hadn’t given out." He produced a palm-sized gray instrument from under his jacket. “I’ll still need to run a proof.” “Sure, of course.” Fanta waited while he made adjustments to the Identicom, then pressed her thumb on the pad. When the minute needle broke her flesh, drawing a drop of blood, she flinched. A light blinked green. Decker put the scanner back. “It’ll take a few minutes. Where’ve you been since?” Since. She knew what he meant. Since the Aggressions, the series of wars that had wiped out three-quarters of Earth’s population and driven the survivors into the cold and empty arms of space. “All over. Star cruising. I’m a singer. I got some great gigs cross-galaxy. In some parts of the universe, I’ve sold more recordings than Elvis and the Beatles combined.” She smiled, and he grunted. “Sing something,” he said. Glad for the distraction, she slipped off her stool. “Okay. Let’s see. Oh, this was a big hit on Pegasus Nine.” Tapping a complex rhythm against her hips, she sprang into a peppy tune, showing off with twisting trills up and down a scale that would daunt most vocalists. The language, of course, added to the difficulty of the performance, but Fanta prided herself on her mastery of Guifpegn. Decker, watching with a look of bemusement, nursed his drink while a few offworlders paused to listen. One, a blue skinned Pegian, her aural tubes vibrating, burbled in admiration. With a modest grin, Fanta bowed. The Pegian snapped her appendages appreciatively and moved on. Decker finished his drink. “No, something from home. From before.” She searched her memory, thrust her fingers through the short fuchsia hair that stood at odd angles all over her scalp. “I, uh, I’m sorry, I don’t remember...” A corner of his mouth quirked. “S’okay. Don’t worry about it.” Regret nudged her, and a little shame. “Hold on, I do, I think.” She cast a glance ceilingward, blurred the gleaming silver ductwork in her vision, let her lids droop. Started singing, “With a heart full of stars, I wait for you...” Her head rolled down. She kept her eyes closed, kept her voice low and sultry. “In a world without hope, I reach for you...” Then, feeling her tenuous hold on the lyrics slip, she hummed a few broken bars through a rueful smile. She shook her head, shrugged. “That’s all I... Decker?” He looked shot. Shocked. Stunned. Eyes wide, he stared at her. Then he blinked and passed his hand over his mouth, down the coarse stubble of his chin. “Jesus,” he said, his voice edgy and harsh. Something out past the fabriglass dome seemed to catch his attention and he turned away from her, toward the flat, featureless Martian landscape. He drew a cigarette from his pocket, clamped one end in his mouth. His hand shook a little as he lit it and took a heavy drag. Fanta caught her lower lip between her teeth. “Sorry, guess I’m rusty.” A veil of smoke fogged the view as he exhaled. The eyes he turned on her were glossy, blue as despair. “After all these years. After all these years, it still hurts.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR LINDA GAYLE Linda Gayle is an award-winning author who lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children and many, many pets. This is her first foray into erotica, and she would like to thank her wonderful critique partners who were faithful friends on the journey. ___________________________________________________________ RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. © 2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
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