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KNIGHT OF MY DREAMS the night before it releases!

Quick NaNoWriMo update: I hit 18,781 words yesterday! And I wrote the funniest scene I have in a long time. Ask me about it sometime—it has to do with a stripper and a set of pasties…

The sixth book in the series, Silver Bullet, released in March 2006 and introduces Max’s werewolf clan and his brother, Alec Weir. If you thought Max had a thing for vamps, just wait until you meet little brother. Be warned! This excerpt may make it seem like the sex isn’t truly consensual, but this couple has a history, and Alec understands her better than you may think, at first.

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From Fallen Angels Reviews: ”…You will be shocked, surprised, and crying before you get to the last page.”

From Romance Junkies: “…A paranormal experience reader’s won’t soon forget, with very sensual characters and a terrific plot…”

After the death of one of the members of the super-secret police unit aligned with the Vampire Council in southern Florida, werewolf Max Weir becomes the chief suspect. Sure a greater villain has used a were-clan’s hatred of vamps to strike against the unit, Max travels to the mountains of North Carolina to seek the truth and hopefully renew the centuries-old truce between the weres and vampires.

Alec Weir has a problem on his hands. The new sheriff on Dark Mountain must walk a fine line between upholding were-clan laws and saving his vamp-loving brother from certain death. Alec must find the traitor in the clan responsible for the attack on the vampires or watch his brother die. If that wasn’t enough, his chosen mate, Stasia McGwyre, seems to still hold a candle for Max.

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Note for Readers: You must be of legal age in your country of origin to read this excerpt.

With his hackles rising, Alec eyed his older brother, barely sparing a glance for the vampire at his side.

Is he so arrogant he thinks I won’t kill Garcia where he stands? Yeah, he knew who the vamp was—he’d shared a beer or two back in the days before Joe joined the fanged brotherhood. Before he’d become “the enemy”. But he could dust the bastard later. Instead, he narrowed his gaze at Max.

What was Max thinking, entering were territory when he’d aligned himself with the other camp? He’d fucked a vamp female and not by accident. He decided to cut him where it hurt. “Put the vamp in the pit,” he growled, looking over Max’s shoulder to his deputies.

“Back off!” Max glared behind him, halting the deputies, then shared a charged glance with his buddy.

That little look riled Alec even more. Max had chosen an enemy over family. “You aren’t in charge here,” he said, his voice low and lethal.

Max’s eyebrows lowered, and his shoulders bunched. “This isn’t about us. This isn’t about The Wars either. It’s bigger, little brother. We’ve come to ask your help.”

Alec’s lips lifted in a snarl. Max’s life was in his hands—and he knew it by his wary stance. The knowledge was gratifying after the way Max had turned on him in Vero when he’d taken the battle into his own hands. But curiosity about Max’s “problem” and the need to prolong the satisfaction had Alec raising a hand to stay the deputies surrounding the two interlopers. “Put them both in the pit.”

Max’s hands curled into fists. “We don’t have time for this shit.”

Alec snorted. “Sure you do.” He nodded to Todd and another deputy who clamped handcuffs to the men’s wrists.

He was disappointed when neither resisted. So rather than stay there and let Max’s frustrated glare undermine his authority, he swept past them and strode down the long aisle to the doors and out into the parking lot.

Darkness had fallen, and a hot breeze stirred the trees.

A pickup turned into the lot, lights arcing, and his body roused instantly—urgent and hard. Stasia.

The driver’s door opened and slammed, and Stasia’s light footsteps slapped the pavement. She drew around the end of the pickup and planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips. Her dark gaze pinned him and fevered color filled her cheeks. “Is it true? Did Max bring a vamp here?”

Alec smothered his irritation she hadn’t bothered to offer him a greeting first before launching a conversation about Max. The oversight only reminded him that once, a long time ago, Stasia had shared his brother’s bed, too. When he’d been top dog.

Alec ran a finger along her cheek, his gaze falling to her mouth and that full upper lip that formed a permanent pout. “Are you asking because you’re curious or because you’re worried about your old boyfriend’s safety?”

She slapped away his hand. “He’s fucking a vamp! What interest would I have in him now?”

Her vehemence sounded a little forced to his ears. Alec gripped her upper arms and dragged her close, bending to glide his lips along her cheek. “I don’t know. Why are you so hot about it?”

She stiffened. “I’m not. I just can’t believe he’d be so stupid.”

“Forget Max. Run with me tonight,” he whispered.

Her head jerked back and she glared. “Will you tell me what he’s doing here?”

Will Max always be between us? Alec let her go and raked a hand through his hair. “Stasi, must it always be a transaction?”

Her gaze faltered.

Another sin to lay at Max’s feet. When the warlairds had called for volunteers, Max had been so eager to infiltrate vamp territory he’d left Stasia without a backward glance. What remained of her heart was a hollow space she guarded like Fort Knox.

At least her hormones were still ruled by the moon. “Run with me,” he repeated, his hand slipping beneath her T-shirt to cup a heavy breast.

Her breath caught, and a hardening nipple poked against his palm. “Is our clan alpha asking?”

Frustration made him mean. He squeezed her breast hard. “Yes, damn you.”

She shrugged from his embrace and pulled her T-shirt over her head. “Can’t say no, can I?” she drawled, her gaze boring into his.

Alec trembled with rage. Does she think to shame me into rescinding my invitation? While he seethed deep inside, he reached for the button at the top of his uniform shirt and flicked it open. “Just strip,” he commanded.

The parking lot lights illuminated them, so that anyone looking out the station windows could see them both tearing away their clothes. Alec didn’t care. His body tightened, reacting to the rage his brother’s return and Stasia’s continuing rejection had built. Through the blood challenge a month ago, he’d won the right to choose his mate—choose as many as he wanted. He’d have her whether he was her first choice or the very last. Damn her!

Naked, he felt the breeze lift the hairs sprouting from under his skin. He watched hungrily as she pushed her jeans down her slim, muscular legs and flipped them into the bed of her pickup truck. Her long brown hair curved around her shoulders and her full breasts below. Her eyes, with their slight upward cast, glinted mysteriously in her oval face.

The start of her transformation shone in those eyes, light reflecting against the golden irises. “Think you’ll catch me?” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, not caring she’d just bared her breast to his view.

Alec growled and let his change flow rapidly. When he dropped to his paws, his intellect faded, replaced by a hunger that burned in the wolf’s loins.

The wolf raised its head and howled, and when the woman melted and shimmered into a lean, brown-furred bitch, it loped across the parking lot and into the forest beyond.

* * * * *

Alec rolled from his side to his knees, leaves sticking to his moist skin. Beside him, Stasia stirred and sat up. He cursed. His cock was limp and wet, and he had only fading memories of mounting her body.

“Well, that was quick,” she said, shaking out her hair, a trace of mockery in her voice.

He flushed, angry she’d prodded him into taking her in his wolf-skin, again. Frustration, sharp and fierce, rushed through him. He sprang on her, forcing her back against the carpet of leaves. When he stretched over her, pinning her limbs beneath his, he held his lips a fraction of an inch above hers. “Did I disappoint? I can remedy that,” he drawled, slipping a knee between her thighs.

“I wasn’t disappointed,” she blurted. Blood pulsed at her temple. Her nostrils flared.

Was she wary or aroused? “No?” he said, dipping his head to drag his lips across hers. “Then you came?” he asked, his tone silken.

She arched, trying to lift him. “I don’t remember,” she ground out.

“Can’t have you wondering.” He centered his hardening cock between her thighs and nudged between her slick folds.

“Alec! Enough!” Stasia tried to roll to the side.

He braced his legs, resisting. His gaze was unwavering—as was his intent. He had her attention now.

After several moments of futile writhing, she went still beneath him and glared. “Don’t you think we should get back? Max and that vamp—”

“Are being taken care of.”

She pushed at this chest. “You said you’d tell me why he’s here.”

“And I will—when I know,” he drawled.

Stasia gasped. “You don’t know?” Her voice rose. “You led me on!”

His gaze pierced hers. “You thought you could get what you wanted by giving me sex.”

Her brow creased as she scowled. “So what? I have to do it anyway.”

“It’s not enough, Stasia,” he said, his throat tight, fighting the overpowering need she inspired. But why her? He nuzzled under her jaw and growled, “I want you howling in my arms.”

“I already did,” she gritted out.

“I don’t think so.” He nipped her earlobe. “I would have awakened with the sound ringing in my ears, I’ve waited so long.”

She shoved him. “Let me up.”

Her scent was strong, ripe—arousal perfumed the cream seeping from her body. She could deny him until Christmas, but he knew her body wanted this.

He settled more heavily onto her. “Not yet. I’m still hungry.” He nudged her again, but when her legs pressed in at his sides, trying to close access, he pulled away. They both knew he was stronger and he could overcome her physically, but he wanted her participation this time. He rose up on his arms and quickly moved down her body, nipping her collarbone and the top of her breast as he went.

Frantic now, she slapped his shoulders and pulled hard on his hair, but he clamped his lips around a spiking nipple and bit.

Stasia cried out and clawed at his back. When he didn’t let go, she yanked harder on his hair…but her legs rubbed restlessly against his.

Alec growled again, this time in smug satisfaction. He’d finally found the key to her passion. The little wolf-bitch wants to play games. Releasing her nipple, he pried her hands from his hair and stretched them above her head. “So you like it rough, baby?”

“Bastard. I don’t like it any way with you,” she spat, her body shivering beneath his. Her expression was fierce and unrelenting, but her pungent arousal scented the air.

“Liar,” he whispered. “Was Max rough? Is that what you miss?”

Her mouth tightened. “I don’t miss Max! Get off me.”

He rasped his chin across her nipple. “Not until I have my due.” Then he opened his mouth wide and sucked as much of her plump breast into his mouth as he could hold. With one hand holding her wrists away, he dragged the other down her body, following the honed and rippling muscles of her abdomen and hips. Arching his middle over her, he made room to sink his fingers between her legs and into her silky, slick cunt.

Her body betrayed her instantly. Stasia’s hot pussy released a stream of molten excitement that coated the fingers shoving deep inside her.

Alec groaned, pleased beyond words at her response. His own body reacted to her quickening pulse with a hardening that threatened to release the wolf. He let go first of her breast, then her hands and scooted farther down her body. When his nose nudged her pussy, Stasia whimpered, but her thighs spread wide.

Pulling out his fingers, he parted her dripping flesh and tongued the edges of the thin quivering lips, while dipping between to lave the cream her body offered. His tongue lapped inside, sliding over the silken folds, stretching to caress her inner walls as her hips jerked and rolled beneath his mouth.

He spread her sex wider and pressed a thumb to pull up the delicate skin that shrouded her hard clit. Exposed and engorged, it ripened further as Alec rubbed his thumb in ever tightening circles. A sliver of moonlight revealed the swollen pink lips below were darkening as her passion increased.

“Too much. Alec, it’s too much!” she keened.

He tongued her clit and murmured, “Sensitive here, are you?”

“Please, Alec,” she sobbed. “Please stop.”

Regret thrust a shard of ice into his chest. “Can’t, baby.” Even if I could. “I’m hard as a rock—ready to explode if I don’t have you now.”

“I hate you,” she said, her voice hoarse.

“Do you?” Maybe she does. “I don’t give a damn. Long as you want me,” he lied, plucking her clit between his thumb and finger.

Her belly and legs vibrated, and she hiccoughed. “I don’t want you.”

“Liar.” Alec crawled up her slender body, sliding his skin over hers, eliciting shivers as his chest hair grazed her inner thighs, her belly and her breasts. “Little liar,” he whispered again, settling his hips between her widespread legs.

When his cock poised at her sucking entrance, he rose on his arms and stared down into her moist eyes.

“Just get it fucking over with,” she said, her voice and face tight.

With her pussy caressing the head of his cock, a flush of anger heated his skin. The little bitch would never give him an inch—but he could take—and she’d love it. To prove his point, he speared into her, hard and sharp.

Stasia gasped and convulsed around him, her cunt rippling, squeezing—her channel tightening along his shaft to pull him deeper.

He lunged his hips, tunneling deep, and then arched to withdraw and slam back inside. The tug and pull became relentless, instinctive motions—again, again, and again.

Her silken sheath caressed his shaft. Her hips tilted to take him deeper still. Her hands clutched his buttocks, her nails spearing his skin. All the while her head thrashed restlessly as she snarled her defiance.

Inflamed by her growling response, he pounded into her tight cunt with little rhythm or grace—just answering a need to mark her, stretch her—brand her as his with each deep, hard stroke. And yet, he wanted to be deeper still.

He pulled away and flipped her onto her stomach.

Stasia came to her knees and bolted forward to escape, but Alex understood now. He grasped her hips and steadied her for just a moment, and then slammed inside her again.

She screamed and clawed at the ground in front of her, cursing his name.

But Alec hammered at her, so sharp his belly and thighs slapped her skin, the sound joining the wet slurping of their sexes gliding together, and their moans as they raced to the finish.

“Alec—”

“Baby, I want your howls.”

“Never! Bastard, stop!” she sobbed.

Alec had a moment of doubt, so anguished was her cry—but then she howled, her pussy clasping his cock hard as she slammed back to meet his strokes. Her inner muscles dragged at his dick, sucking him into her body. Let her try to deny she wants me now!

His knees ground into the dirt, his thighs hardening to stone as he hammered faster.

Stasia’s cries grew choppy, breathless, and her shoulders slumped to the ground.

Alec reached around her belly, fingers plucking a breast and tapping her clit.

Her bottom lifted into his hips, giving him deeper access, and she squirmed to press as close to his groin she could get.

Christ! She was tight and hot as hell. Cream smeared her thighs and his.

Then his balls erupted, pushing cum through his cock to jet deep into her body. His howl joined hers, wrapping tight around her cry as his body hunched over hers—ending when his teeth gripped her shoulder.

He held her like that for long moments afterward, rocking his hips against her bottom, his arms encircling her belly so tight she gasped for breath.

When her arms shook with the effort to hold them both up, he relaxed his grip and disengaged his teeth. “Are you all right?” he asked, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder.

She nodded, her chest expanding with her deep breaths. “Now will you get off me?” she said, her voice shaking.

She’d done it again. Made him feel like a ravaging beast when he knew this was exactly what she wanted. His fingers bit into a breast, punishing her for rejecting him again. “Why, Stasia?”

“I’m going to be eating dirt if you don’t get your weight off my back.”

Still stuffed deep inside her, he lifted and sat back on his haunches, bringing her with him. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

She remained stiff and unyielding in his arms. “I should ask you the same thing. Why?” She drew in a deep, jagged breath. “I’m not what you’ve been searching for. I’m not really what you want.”

Alec gripped her chin and turned her so their gazes met. “What the fuck are you talking about? What do you think I’m doing here?”

She lifted an eyebrow, disdain curving her lips. “Getting a workout? Maybe, getting a little revenge on Max?”

“That’s not true,” he said, frustration roughening his voice.

“No?” Her gaze swept down to where his hands bracketed her chest and slowly back up again. When her glance met his, raw, painful anger shone in her eyes. “Then tell me you haven’t been looking for a way into the vamp headquarters to get at that breeder.”

It was an effort to keep his gaze level. “I haven’t been back,” he hedged.

“That doesn’t mean you haven’t been keeping tabs. You’re just waiting for her to drop her vampire cubs before you take her.”

“If I take her, that won’t mean I want her. I have to do it.”

“And what about me? When you have her in your bed, where will that leave me?”

Did she care, or was pride the source of the ragged note in her voice? “I won’t abandon you,” he said softly.

Pain, raw and honest shone in her dark eyes. “Then tell me you don’t need her.”

“I don’t want her,” he said, holding her gaze. “But the clan needs her womb.”

“Why does she have to bear your children?”

“Because I’m the alpha. And because I’m strongest, I’m the best hope for our clan’s existence.”

“And if I were a breeder, would you need her?”

The poignant note in her voice caused a tightening in his chest. “Well, you’re not. You’ll never bear children. Should I ignore our ways? I’m not my brother. I won’t turn my back on my clan.” He cupped her chin, not letting her turn from his gaze. “I won’t turn my back on you.”

“But you left before…with Max.” Her expression was defiant, but that sexy upper lip trembled.

He stroked her lip with his thumb. “I didn’t have anyone keeping me here.”

She drew back her head, ending the caress. “Did you love me then?”

His glance slipped away. “I cared. I didn’t like that he left you without ever looking back. It was harsh, but at the time we both had a mission.”

Her gaze narrowed. “You liked to watch us make love. Me and Max. And not just once.”

His arms tightened around her. “Didn’t look like love to me.”

“Does this look like love?” she said, pointing to the indentions in her shoulder.

His hands bit into her belly, but he didn’t answer.

“Tell me,” she said, her voice roughening, “do you love me now?”

Yesterday’s winner is…Fedora!