Hi All!  I’m so excited to announce that WICKED RIDE released today and thought I’d share chapter 1 with you.  Here it is!

 WICKED RIDE

Chapter 1

Kellach Dunne held his fire and turned the corner, keeping his prey in sight. Rain smattered the concrete sidewalk in a weary Seattle fashion, while garish lights from bars and massage parlors marred the comforting darkness of the midnight hour. He stepped over the legs of a bum and ignored the stench of piss, absently wishing for his bed and a good night’s sleep.

He’d left his Harley parked in a side alley to follow the bastard who stalked a woman through the city’s underbelly.

The woman scurried ahead, glancing over her shoulder, her instincts obviously kicking in. Her tight neon blue mini-dress hampered her movements, but he could appreciate the outfit—the kind that curved in just under the ass. The woman had a hell of an ass. Too bad she tottered in five-inch heels and from what smelled like Fireball whiskey.

He opened his senses to the night and the universe, scenting what humans couldn’t even imagine. Yep. Fireball and tequila. Dangerous combination. Although a lingering smell, just under the surface, sped up his blood.

Woman. Fresh and clean . . . all woman.

The man ahead of him stank of body odor, dime store cologne, and cigarette smoke. And something else, something that made Kellach’s temples pound.

Damn it, hells fire, and motherfucker. The bastard had taken the drug. The human had somehow ingested the drug right under Kell’s nose.

Kell had hung out in the Seattle underground bar for nearly a week, and somehow, the dealer had gotten past him. No wonder the foul smelling human was hunting the woman. He wouldn’t be able to help himself.

She broke into a run, surprisingly agile on the heels. As she reacted to the imminent danger, she leaped over a mud puddle and turned down a barely lit alley.

Why the fuck did they always run down an alley? Shaking his head, Kellach increased his strides while the human male in front of him did the same. Idiot didn’t even know Kellach tracked him.

Dim light from the upper apartments filtered down through the fog to light barely light the way, although Kell could see fine in the dark.

The woman ran by two overflowing dumpsters, a couple garbage cans, a cardboard box housing a vagrant smelling like marijuana, and an odd arrangement of yellow flower pots perched on the back stoop of a porn shop. She reached the end of the alley blocked by a brick building and whirled around.

Gorgeous. Meager light shone down, highlighting a stunning face. Even with a ridiculous amount of blue eye shadow, pink blush, and bright red lipstick, she was a looker. Deep blue eyes, the color of the witching hour, stared out from a fine-boned face.

A woman like that not only didn’t belong in a fucking alley . . . she didn’t belong in the bar she’d just left.

The human male slowed and let out a low chuckle that sounded slightly manic. He towered over the woman, even in her heels, and before Kell’s eyes, his shoulders seem to broaden in his flannel shirt. “Looks like you’re at a dead end,” the guy said.

The woman sucked in air, her chest moving nicely with the effort. “W-what is wrong with your eyes?”

The human shrugged.

Kell gave a slight nod. Yep. His eyes should be all sorts of crazy at this point.

The skin down Kell’s arm sprang to life and the hair rose in warning. The atmosphere changed.

Flames, an unhealthy dark blue and morphing, danced down the human male’s right arm. He gasped and shook out his wrist. Then he threw back his head and laughed. “Did you see that?”

The woman gaped and then slowly shook her head. “Did you just set your arm on fire?”

“No. I am fire.” He held out his arm again, and flames licked down.

The woman inched to the side of the alley and stumbled over a loose brick. “What drug are you on?” Her focus narrowed as she regained her footing.

“Who cares? I’m invincible. I can create fire.” More flames danced. The guy formed a ball in one hand. “Take off the dress, or I’ll burn it off.”

“That’s not garing ta happen,” Kell said, moving to the side, opposite of the woman.

The guy whirled around, fire whipping. “What the hell?”

“Been following you.” Kell kept his hands loosely at his sides while fighting back the urge to alter matter with quantum physics and create his own fire. Just being in the same vicinity of another fire starter, one who didn’t have a clue what to do, made him itchy. “Get lost, lady. I have business with the gent here.”

The guy squinted. “You Australian?”

“No.” Kell drew himself up. Australian? Fucking moron. “Move. Now,” he ordered the woman, who’d frozen in place.

The guy shook his head. “If she moves, I’ll burn her. Even through the rain, I’m all powerful.”

“W-what’s your business?” asked the woman as she took a tentative step along the building. Water sloshed up her shapely leg, and she had to shove short wet hair away from her face.

“Doesn’t concern you.” Kell angled deeper into the alley so the guy would have to partially turn to keep him in sight, thus giving the woman a chance for freedom. Rain splattered into his eyes. “Just get moving, would you?”

“No.” The guy shook out both hands, and fire flickered. Blue and yellow stripes cut paths through his brown eyes, and red bloomed in the white parts. “I’ll kill you both.”

Kellach sighed. “How much of the drug did you take?” If the guy had only taken half a dose, he might live.

“The whole damn thing.” The guy spun around, and plasma fire sailed into a dumpster, ripping a hole in the metal. “They said I’d be a god. I’m a fucking god.”

The woman cringed against the brick building. “I don’t understand. What kind of a weapon throws fire?”

Kell shot forward and slid an arm around the guy’s neck, spinning him into a headlock, their backs to the woman. Fire burst along the guy’s arms, burning Kell. Pain dug under his skin. With a low growl, Kell allowed his own fire free. Deep and green, it crackled along his body, shielding him from harm. With a puff of smoke, Kell’s fire quelled the human’s.

The human convulsed. Hard and fast, he shook against Kell, who held him upright. It was too late to help the guy—he had taken too much. Way too much. A wretched scream spilled from the human’s throat.

Kell released him and stepped back.

The guy fell to the wet ground, still convulsing. Red poured from his ears, his eyes, and then his nose. The rancid stench of burned flesh filled the alley. He hit hard, shook, and then went still. His eyes retained the bizarre colors, and he looked sightlessly up at the cloudy night. The rain mingled with blood across his face.

Kell sighed and pushed wet hair out of his eyes. Another dead end, and he’d wasted more time, which he absolutely did not have right now. He needed to get rid of the body and then somehow convince the woman she hadn’t just seen what she’d just seen. Plastering on his most charming smile, he turned around and froze.

“Seattle PD. Freeze, asshole,” she whispered, her stance set, a Sig Subcompact in her hands and pointed at his head.

*******

Detective Alexandra Monzelle kept her balance on the ridiculous heels and her gun pointed at the definite threat.

Well over six feet tall, muscled, graceful as hell . . . the guy facing her showed no fear. No emotion, really. Black hair fell to his broad shoulders, the darkness a perfect match for his eyes. Chiseled face, huge-ass hands, and feet big enough to waterski on. Yet he moved with the smoothness of a trained soldier.

He lifted one dark eyebrow. “Seattle Police Department?”

She nodded and tried to stop shaking from the chill in the air on her bare skin. Way too much bare skin, but she’d been undercover. “Get on your knees.”

Intrigue leaped into his glittering eyes. “Not garing ta happen.”

Was that a true Irish brogue? It fit him somehow. “I will shoot you.”

He shrugged a massive shoulder beneath a leather duster. “That’s your choice, lass.”

Did he just fucking call her lass like some lady from a century ago? “Oh no, Irish boy. Get on your knees. Now.” She put every ounce of command she possessed into her voice.

“Well now. At least you knew I was from Ireland.” He glanced down at the dead man and his foot slid forward as if to kick. Then, apparently changing his mind, he focused on her again and smiled. “As opposed to Australia.”

Okay. She really didn’t want another body on her hands, but in the dress and heels, she was at a physical disadvantage. The last thing she needed was to spend all night filling out more paperwork than had already been created. “Down. Now.”

He cocked his head to one side. “I can’t help but ask where you were keeping your weapon.” His gaze, dark and intense, roved over her entire body.

Tingles. Damn weird and very unwelcome, tingles cascaded wherever his gaze landed. She might just have to shoot the bastard and fill out the paperwork anyway. “I don’t want to shoot you, but I can live with the decision. Get on your knees or say a quick prayer to your maker.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t suppose you have backup coming?”

No. Her backup had followed the dealer. She shook her head to provide warning and lowered her aim to his right leg. “I guess losing one leg won’t kill you.”

His focus returned to her. “You shoot me, and we’re going to have a problem.” He spoke slowly and clearly, without a hint of distress.

A chill wandered down her back. The man was damn serious . . . and damn scary. Yet she couldn’t let any fear show. She sighed and tightened her arms to shoot. “If you’d just get on your knees, this night would go so much more smoothly.”

“Say please.”

She blinked. Seriously? Hell, if it got him to cooperate, she’d chirp a Haiku. “Please.”

“As you wish.” Graceful as any dancer, he dropped to his knees. Water splashed up.

Funny, but the guy didn’t seem any less dangerous. She cleared her throat. “Cross your ankles.”

He sighed and crossed huge boots behind him. “Why were you trying to entrap this guy?”

Her handcuffs were in her purse in the bar, and she hadn’t had a chance to grab it before rushing out so the junkie would take the bait and follow her. Her gun, on the other hand, had been strapped to her inner thigh. “Clasp your hands together on the back of your head.”

He kept her gaze and clasped his hands on that thick black hair. His shirt pulled tight over defined muscles in his chest, and he seemed more in control of the situation than ever. “You don’t have cuffs.”

Yep. Might just have to shoot him. “My partner will be here soon.” She hoped Bernie would be there soon.

“Aye, I’m sure.” The man glanced at the body. “Do you know how he died?”

Duh. “Overdose. What’s your name?”

“Kellach.” He lifted both eyebrows. “What’s yours?”

“Detective Alexandra Monzelle.” Everyone called her Lex. Between the disappearance of her adrenaline rush, the chilly rain, and her aching arms, the gun became heavy. Yet she didn’t twitch. “What do you know about the drug?”

“What drug?” The man’s eyelids half-closed as if she were boring him to sleep.

Heck, she’d like to plug him one in the leg just to get his attention. “You asked about the drug. It’s too late to play dumb.”

He shrugged.

“Okay, then how about explaining all that fire. Did you douse yourself with some weird accelerant?” She couldn’t quite come up with a reasonable explanation for the strange glow over his skin and the corpse’s, so he’d better damn well explain, because she hadn’t gotten a good look with their backs turned to her. “Where’s the weapon?”

“No weapon. It’s a chemical that looks like fire but obviously isn’t.”

True—no burn marks marred his skin or the dead guy. Who was Kellach? Was he a rival dealer or something else? He wore a leather duster, flack boots, and faded jeans. Motorcycle gang member?

His head lifted, and his nostrils flared just like a German Shepherd she’d seen scouting for drugs once.

Long shadows mingled on the alley floor, and two men drew nearer. Deep blue flames morphed along the arm of one of them. More of the damn weapons?

“Ballocks,” Kellach muttered before launching himself off the asphalt and right at her. He cleared the dead body, wrapped himself around her, and tackled her to the ground. One hand cushioned her head, while a rock-hard arm banded around her waist and kept her from injuring, well, anything. He rolled, released her, and jumped to his feet in front of her.

The scent of salt, ocean, and pine surrounded her.

No way. No way should he have been able to move so quickly when she’d had him contained on his knees. Shock made her hands tremble. She shoved herself up and kicked off the heels. Shit. She still held her gun in her hand but was acting like a rookie.

“Gentlemen?” Kell asked, his stance casual. “Can I help you?”

The guy with the blue arm glanced down at the corpse and hissed. “We came to help Chuck.” His face contorted and turned an ugly red. “You killed him.”

“No. The drug he took killed him.” Kellach’s stance widened. “How much of it did you take?”

Lex peered around the solid brick of the man toward the two guys. The light illuminated them from behind, so she couldn’t see their eyes. What was Kell seeing?

“Enough to be a god.” The first guy lifted his hand and threw what looked like a ball of fire at Kellach.

A massive fireball instantly crackled from Kellach, and he threw it toward the other ball. They smashed into each other with an unholy bellow of steam, fire, and energy. Kellach’s ball encircled the other ball and snuffed it out before disappearing.

What the holy fuck? The damn criminals did have some new weapon that threw fire. She hadn’t had a chance to frisk anybody to see what her assailants might be carrying.

Lex slid to the side to keep every man in sight while lifting her weapon. “Everyone get down on your knees.”

Kellach shook his head. “Not again. Just stay out of the way, darlin.”

Oh. He. Did. Not. She focused the gun on him.

The first guy raised his arm again, and fire slammed her way. She pivoted, turning and catching her foot in a pothole. As she started to go down, another ball flew toward her head.

“Enough.” Kellach jumped in front of her, his right shoulder slamming into her cheekbone.

Stars exploded behind her eyes, and she hit the ground.

He groaned, and the scent of burning flesh filled the rainy evening.

She blinked, her brain fuzzing and her body going numb. He’d saved her. Unconsciousness tried to claim her, and she fought against the darkness with her remaining strength.

Kellach straightened to his full height, and balls of what truly looked like green fire shot out, but with his back to her, she couldn’t see the weapon. The fire hit each of the men dead center. They both flew back about three yards and crashed to the ground.

Lex groaned as rain continued to beat down on her face. She couldn’t pass out. If she passed out, she’d be dead. Her hand trembled on the asphalt. Where was her gun?

Kellach turned and started toward her—a massive hunter in a darkened alley.

“No,” she whispered just as the darkness won. Drugs had nearly ruined her childhood, and now, the search to destroy the new drug on the street was going to end her. The last thought she had as she succumbed to oblivion was that she was about to be killed by a predator with the face of a fallen angel.

Hi all!  Welcome to the very exciting Love’s a Beach Blog Hop.  I’m in the midst of copy edits for Provoked, which is Kane’s story that will be released on November 1st.  For a short time, it looks like the book is at a hugely discounted price…and since I’m never in the loop about these things, I truly don’t know how long my publisher will keep it there.  So, how about a quick glimpse at a scene in Provoked?  And I’m giving away a signed copy of my back list to a commenter on my blog here, as well as a copy on the main page of the blog hop.  Here’s the excerpt:

Kane peered down at her. “Amber?”

“Yes?”

“If you’re going to attack with whatever’s in your right hand, could you hurry it up? We need to get going.”

She started, her gaze slashing up to him. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “What kind of a knife do you have?”

Her cheeks pinkened, and she drew her hand forward. “I have a pen.”

A blue ballpoint pen. He blinked twice, his gaze on the harmless tool.

Maybe it was the ridiculousness of the pen. Maybe it was the woman’s courage in planning to use it on him. Or maybe it was the sheepish half-smile she gave.

Either way, his heart rolled over.

Warmth flushed through him, so hot, so fast, his ears rang. His mind blanked. For the first time in centuries, his brain shut off. The woman was crazy. Stepping in, he grasped her chin, tilting her head back.

Her eyes widened, and then her gaze lowered to his lips. A soft sound of surprise emerged with her breath.

He dove in, allowing the animal within to awaken. For the first time in three centuries, there was no thought. All instinct ruled as his mouth took hers…no finesse, no calculation, just pure, raw need. He shoved her against the truck, his other hand clutching her hip as he went deeper.

Honeysuckle exploded along his taste buds as his tongue swept inside her mouth. Not gentle, not persuasive, just taking. Claiming.

And it wasn’t enough. Not even close to enough.

Pressing into her, body to body, heat to heat, something clicked. Beyond his brain, beyond his body…somewhere deeper.

Finally, he found home.

To purchase Provoked:

 

So, did you have a nice summer?  Was it summer where you live?  Any fun plans for fall?  To jump back on the hop, click on the picture below:

Hi all!  Well, I hit 2000 likes on my FaceBook page yesterday, and had to celebrate!  We celebrated by revealing the cover for CONSUMED (Book 4 of the Dark Protectors) about a month earlier than planned. 

Consumed is Katie and Jordan’s story–those western cougars are wild and fun!  I believe the release date is July and hope to have a confirmation of that very soon. 

For now, enjoy the cover.  It’s a bit different than the other covers–Kensington is shaking things up a little bit!

Hi all!  I put up a surprise excerpt of Consumed – enjoy:  CONSUMED EXCERPT

 

My name is Izzy and I interview book characters.  Many people say I’m a character, myself.  *Snort*.  That’s nice of them.  I’m hoping Rebecca lets me interview a bunch of her characters–I can’t wait to be in the same room with all of the Kayrs brothers.  MEOW.

So, I had so much fun interviewing Talen last week, I thought I’d try to get Cara to sit down with me.  Cara is a plant biologist, single mother, and wife of vampire Talen.  We met at a new coffee shop in town…as I’ve been banned from the one where I met Talen.  TOTALLY his fault.  Cara was five minutes early, and is quite pretty.  For some reason, I expected her to be scientifically nerdy, but she has curly brown hair and huge blue eyes.

ME:  So.  Congratulations on your recent marriage.

CARA:  Thank you.  It was quite the whirlwind…but I think things have calmed down a bit.  I mean, we’re still searching for a cure to the virus that attacks vampire mates, and I’m still sick…but the treatments are going well so far.

Okay.  I was happy to have an interviewee who actually talks.  Talen was difficult, to say the least.

ME:  I interviewed your husband a week ago—

CARA:  Yeah, sorry about that.  I heard Talen attacked some guy going for a cell phone.  (She snorted.)  Being the head of Realm security makes him twitchy, to say the least.

ME:  I was a bit surprised you agreed to meet for an interview. 

Okay…I was surprised Talen agreed.  But there didn’t seem to be a smooth way to say that.  Well, until Cara threw back her head and laughed.

Cara:  I didn’t tell Talen I was coming.

Oh crap.  Something told me to get a move on there.

ME:  I’d like to discuss the virus created by Kurjans to attack vampire mates and bring them back to human genetics.

Cara:  Yes, it’s quite interesting, genetically speaking.  What the virus does is—

At this point, the door slammed open.  I knew.  I knew without turning around who stood in the doorway.  But you know what I did anyway?  Yep.  I turned my head.  In fact, the entire coffee shop turned in unison to see a six and a half feet, packed hard, pissed-off vampire staring at Cara with golden eyes shot through with metallic green.

ME:  Ug.

A portly gentleman near the doorway dropped his coffee, splashing up his khaki pants.  He shoved his glasses up his nose, backing carefully away.  For the first time I noticed two hulking men on either side of the door.  Vampires?  Ah.  Cara had brought some protection.  Smart woman.

Cara:  Well, isn’t this sweet.  Talen showed up for the interview.

Holy freaking crap.  Sweet???  My heart pretty much stopped beating as he stalked toward us and stopped next to Cara.

Talen:  Hello, mate.  Forget to tell me something?

I should mention here that Cara rolled her eyes. 

Cara:  Now Talen, come on.  Didn’t you read that goodreads review of FATED by that twenty-year old living across the world?  She was quite upset you don’t use my name more…that you call me ‘mate’.   Like you can’t remember my name.

Talen:  I don’t give a holy fu—, er heck, what that woman thinks, mate.  For the record, not only do I know your name, I usually know exactly where you are.  Unlike today.

Cara:  I brought backup.  Your brother, Jase, is by the door.

We all looked.  Jase is hot.  I know, how unprofessional.  But hey, he’s seriously hot—thick brown hair, copper colored eyes—body tight and ripped.  And when Talen sent him a deadly look, I swear Jase flipped him the bird.  It was vampire quick, but I caught it. 

Then things got interesting.  Talen sighed and dropped into the chair next to Cara, his hand reaching for hers.  No wonder Cara wasn’t afraid of the soldier.  He was kinda…sweet.

TALEN:  Okay – let’s get this over with so I can beat the crap out of my younger brother.

CARA:  Leave Jase alone.  He’s going off by himself to fight the demons soon…and something tells me things are going to get tough.  Really tough.

ME:  Uh, well…about Jase.  Does he have a mate?

TALEN:  No.

CARA:  Maybe.  Rebecca has someone in mind for him…I think the woman may make an appearance in HUNTED.  Well, if Rebecca’s critique partner, Sayde Grace, has her way.  Sayde is convinced this woman would be perfect for Jase.

Then, well…remember the guy with the spilled coffee?  Turned out he was a shifter…a bad one…and he made a move on Jase. Jase took him down rather easily, and the guy’s three companions jumped in.  As did Talen.

Tables went flying, coffee drenched the floor, and let’s just say that the windows shattered from bodies flying through.  There’s another darn coffee shop I won’t get to visit again.

Talk to you soon!