SUMMARY Eric was my nemesis. The school bully who had laser focus on me as his target. As if highschool wasn't hard enough. Even worse, he was quite possibly the one person that seemed to know me best. All I wanted was to avoid Eric but he had a knack for showing up whenever I wanted to avoid him most. Then we made that bet... I believed that the only girl dirt biker in the contest, Tomboy, would win this year. But Eric thought otherwise...And he was willing to bet me a week of slavery on it. We'll see who is obeying who by week's end... TEASER: I had visions of the house empty, bereft of my mom's absence, except for Eric's taunting voice and the scent of him after a shower wafting through the hall and him tormenting me everywhere I went. Being unable to find solace even at home because no one was there as a buffer. He'll be a nightmare! "Far nicer." He mouthed. My gut sunk as understanding began to dawn. My hand fell dully to the rail, and I turned fully to stare back down at Eric. Oh, no... I pointed at him. Giving him the blackest look I could gather. I crooked a finger. With an intrigued tilt of his head, he set his bag down next to mine and skipped up the steps. I gave him my back. Doing my damnedest to control my fury. I walked to his room because I didn't want him anywhere near mine. I stepped in and he followed. I rounded and shut the door. Turning a furious glare on him. "I know what you've done." "Do you?" He hadn't stopped grinning. "I knew you were conniving...But this..." "What exactly are you accusing me of, Allie Kat?" He gave me a wink as he used the dreaded nickname. My palm itched to slap his smug face. I was staring at him shaking. He strolled over to his bed. I was on his heels. So mad I could barely muster the words to articulate every move he'd made just today. He absentmindedly picked up his acoustic guitar and his nimble fingers strummed the wires while he looked at me patiently. What I have to say matters so little, he's only willing to give me half his attention. I reached down and swatted his hand off the strings. "Ooh." His lips pursed and his eyes flew to mine. "Feisty." But there was a light in his eyes that indicated he was very interested in the fact that I'd just slapped his hand. Why? "You-you..." He yawned balefully. "I what?" "You dragged me to that race because you knew I had to go." His head dropped and he watched his fingers go back to lightly plucking the strings. "I knew Tomboy had to be there." He paused and lifted his head to level that blue gaze on me. "If she wanted to have a chance at beating me...Unfortunately...She didn't anyway." "Grrrrr!" I growled. His lips quirked and his brows lifted flirtatiously. "Now that's a fun sound." "Eric! Can you be serious for once?" "I am being serious." He set the guitar aside and stood. Towering over me as he dropped his face to mine. "Deadly serious." "You took me there because you knew I was her." "Yes." "Then made a bet with me that she'd lose because you were so sure you'd beat me." "Yes." "Then you challenged me, knowing you'd win." "Yes." He tilted his head in a grudging nod. "And you refused to cash in on your wins of the bet to have me be your slave this week." "Yes." "Because you want it to be next week." He blinked slowly but didn't deny it. "When we're alone in this house..." "Yes."

SUMMARY: He came into our village like a shadow. A Dark Dread filled with powerful magic. The King merely called him Warlord. And he owned the name. Leaving wreckage in his wake. But for me he had other plans. His cutting blue eyes seeing straight through my disguise. As his slave, his mere plaything, I'll learn the true darkness of magic without conscience. Anything he wants if me, he takes. Anything he wants me to do. I am willed to do with the flick of his hand. His power is an all consuming whirlwind. And I'm just the pretty butterfly caught in it. TEASER: "Well done, Jade." His blue eyes were keen on me. "Get up." I did but it was on unsteady legs. I gave him a wary look. He watched me impassively. I realized that his eyes were the clearest blue I'd ever seen. Like a sky on a cloudless summer day. But when he turned feral they glowed like the inside of a flame. I tried to give him a look which would seem unafraid but knew that my eyes flitted like a scared doe. He jumped into motion and I nearly screamed. He twisted and caught behind my knees and my shoulders. Lifting me and compressing me until I was in his arms in a bridal carry. Leaving behind him the smoky black tendrils that indicated he'd moved inhumanly fast again. I need to remember what he is at all times. Stay on my guard. I reminded myself. My arm automatically slung over his muscled shoulders. The high bones of his shoulders moving as he carried me toward his bed.

51 No Detail Missed

40 Dreaded

TEASER: "Disseus..." She pleaded. As though I'd stop. He snorted. Becoming only more determined at the prospect. He shook his head warningly. "Don't do that. You'll only be wasting your time." He entered her, hard. She gasped and her eyes snapped closed. He pinched her jaw to get her attention. "Open your eyes." She obeyed. Despite every fiber of her being demanding she not. He smirked at her. "That's right. Good girl." He began stroking her. Slowly. Feeling her sex saturating his cock. Her muscles clenching tightly around him. "Oh, I missed this." She hissed through her teeth. Forcing her body to stay despite that her fingers flexed, and she clearly wanted to fight. He leaned forward until he could brush his nose along her cheekbone. "You'll be giving me this every eve at sunset." "I won't." "Oh, My Dear." He gave her a lopsided grin. "You already gave me your word and if at any point you renege, I'm turning around and leaving you to it."

18 A Utilitarian Man

95 What He Does

SUMMARY: Kane Porter was as boring as his name implied. Of all the financial coordinators under me, he was the one least likely to be interesting on an intoxicated evening. Kane was quiet, well-mannered and nobody was friends with him. I was his boss and I got along well with everyone until I came across a problem. The account I'd been skimming from had a good hunk of change missing now. Not good. How could I have it investigated without flagging myself for the ten thousand dollars I'd 'borrowed'? There was only one thing I could do. Porter was a nice guy. He'd help me out. No one could be safer to ask... TEASER: Enjoy what? Watching me beg? That made my brown eyes snap with fury. "Do you know who you're talking to?" I hissed. "Careful pup, don't bite." He closed in on me to tower over me. "Hounds in heat shouldn't antagonize the big dog." I glared up at him. Catching that woodsy cologne again. And for some reason it was disorienting me now, combined with the rest of him. My eyes roved down over his frame, knowing now that he was wound with muscle and coated in sexy tattoos. "So, which am I?" I challenged. "A pup or the bitch in heat?" He dropped his face to me. "You tell me." I reared back. That'd sounded perilously close to a come on. From Porter? Okay, clearly, he's not at all who I thought he was. "I'm your boss!" "Not here you're not." He took another predatory step toward me, forcing me to retreat before he stepped on my foot. He chased my movements. "Here you're a small woman alone in the apartment of a man you hardly know. Asking him for favors when you never know what you're going to get." What am I going to get? I almost wanted to ask the question. Nearly dying with curiosity now. "What are you going to do?" I eyed that holster. "Shoot me?" He snorted. "Why would I do that?" He reached into his side pocket and lifted his fold handcuffs to tap them pointedly toward me. "When this could be sooo much more fun." "Porter!" "My name is Kane. Only people at Clark & Walker call me that." "But I-" "Kane." He cut me off. Walking past me. "If you want to keep talking to me, you're going to have to go with me. I have to get to work."

SUMMARY: We are immortals. The Forever Knights. I am a shapeshifter. Collared with a special pendant to be summoned by our alpha. She tried to steal it. But the last thing she expected was for me to turn the tables as soon as we were out of view of my party guests. But she was a thief, a liar, and an imposter. The only thing I wanted to steal from her was what remained of her dignity. And perhaps teach her that I'm not a simple man to steal from. With me there's always a consequence. And she'll pay this one with me between her pretty thighs. We'll see who's the thief then, Little Valkyrie... TEASER: Reaching down, Elsabet yanked the pendant loose from his hands. Sebastian's torn shoulders and arms offered little resistance. It was as the sun was cresting the ridge that she released her grip on him. Watching him fall. For just a moment, she wished she could take it back. He was courageous. Admirable in his fearlessness. A shame. Even in his shredded shirt with gold hair tousled, he'd been wildly handsome. She watched his strange expression as he looked up at her, dropping limply in a deadfall toward the trees far below. Totally calm...He was... peaceful. Bafflement marked her face. Making him fight the smile pulling at his lips. He gave her a chiding look. Angry at her choice. Or perhaps disappointed. Elsabet started to turn in flight, reluctant to see his human body crushed in the trees. Turning back from the body of water, she headed back toward LandingTown. As she turned something scintillating caught her eye. She glanced down and watched flashes of vibrant gold erupting from where he'd been falling. Only seconds passed but it seemed an eternity as something rising within the pink and purple hues of the morning sun, stole her breath. The rising sun shimmered like fire on the gold scales pouring over him in a layer of armor which clacked as it laid into place. Snapping together they interlaced over his shape as he lengthened and distorted. His body tore apart. Until finally the giant creature blew out of the mist. Massive and graceful in flight. Giant wings longer than hers, and more proportioned, were beautiful rather than terrifying. Its long neck unfolded. She looked down on a head covered in horns. Watching her attentively, it moved its wings twice and rose to where she hovered. Her wings stilling in shock, she nearly plummeted as she watched his shape shifting before her. Her body quaked as the rival rose to her height in only a few sweeping beats of his wings. His sharp teeth gritted in rage. And now the tables were turned.