I have been so busy between revisions on my newest Hearts of Metal book and wrapping up The Highwayman's Bite that I've been slacking at blogging. So I'm going to offer a free copy of my Heavy Metal Romance, Kissing Vicious, and also provide an exclusive excerpt of The Highwayman's Bite!
Get the Freebie HERE!
And if Rock Stars aren't your thing, my regency paranormal romance, The Highwayman's Bite is up for Pre-Order!
Check out the excerpt!
Excerpt of The Highwayman's Bite
Rhys awoke to the sound of coughing. Not
the gentle clearing of a throat, or the embellished affectation Madame Renarde
had employed when trying to make a point, but a deep, racking explosion that
echoed through the cave walls.
“Are you quite all right, Madame Renarde?”
he inquired softly.
The ladies’ companion lit the lantern beside
her bunk and blew her nose with a honk. “It’s the damp,” she explained. “I’ve
never been able to abide it long.”
Rhys peered at her closely. With her first
coughs and sneezes, he’d suspected she was attempting to feign illness so he
may release her, but from the look of the woman’s pale visage and watery eyes,
that was not the case. Fine stubble also sprouted over her face, betraying the
body in which she was born.
“Lord Thornton ought to have received my
letter today,” he said in reassurance. But that didn’t feel like sufficient
comfort. “I have a jar of honey that should ease the cough. And I can prepare a
hot bath and give you use of my razor if you care to shave.”
Madame Renarde gave him a look that made
his throat tighten. “You’re a good man, Rhys…” she trailed off, hoping he would
slip and give his surname, then shrugged when he did not. “Too good to be a
criminal. Why did you not engage in honest employment rather than theft and
kidnapping?”
“Aside from the fact that theft is more
profitable, and thus more effective in helping my family, it is a complicated
situation.” Rhys shrugged and took a large cauldron from its place. He could
have taken the whole bathing tub, which he did when he was alone, but that
would look suspicious. “I’ll fill this with seawater for your bath.”
“May I accompany you?” a voice asked.
He glanced at Vivian’s cot. She was awake
and buttoning her boots. A surge of pleasure flickered through him at the
prospect of her company. “Of course.”
Madame Renarde began to object, but another
coughing fit took over. Selfishly, Rhys took Vivian’s hand and led her out of
the cave.
“I’m
worried about that cough,” she said, bending to pick up a seashell.
Rhys nodded. “I’m going to put honey in her
tea and encourage her to rest. I’ll see about finding some soup for supper as
well.”
“And if she doesn’t get better?” she looked
up at him imploringly.
He stopped and watched the waves crash
against the shore. “Then I shall take her back to your uncle.”
“But not me?” Her hand touched his sleeve,
a pleading whisper.
He shook his head, refusing to weaken. “Not
you. I need that money, Vivian.”
“I know.” She sighed. “You may not believe
me, but I do sympathize for your family, I truly do.”
“Thank you.” It seemed no one did these
days, so her words meant more than he’d anticipated. “I will know on Saturday
if your uncle agrees to pay the ransom.” He bent at a curve of shale that
formed a shallow pool and dipped the cauldron in the water. “I hope he does.”
“As do I.” Vivian followed as he carried
the cauldron back into the cave. “I wonder what Uncle has made of my absence?”
“He likely fabricated a tale to preserve
your reputation.” Rhys wanted to reassure her further, but the words stuck in
his throat as they were once more back in the presence of her chaperone.
Instead, he shrugged and set the cauldron on the grate and added more wood to
the fire. “I know enough about Viscount Thornton to be confident that he will
ensure that you are beyond approach when this is over.”
Madame Renarde regarded him with narrowed
eyes. “And how are you certain of that? Ladies have been disowned for less.”
Rhys crossed his arms over his chest. “You
had best pray to the heavens that you never learn what I know of Lord
Thornton.” But as he issued the threat, he realized that perhaps it was Lord
Thornton who should be praying.
He could use that as leverage, but he
wouldn’t, not unless he needed to. Revealing the existence of vampires to a
mortal was punishable by death.
Then again, Rhys was already a rogue
vampire, who invaded other territories and had abducted a Lord Vampire’s kin.
He already had a death sentence hanging over his head and had for some time, what
was another?
While Madame Renarde bathed, Vivian and
Rhys walked along the beach once more. He observed her pensive frown as she
sifted through shells buried in the sand. “How did you come to learn secrets
about my uncle? Do you know each other?”
He noticed that she did not bother asking
what the secrets were. Clever woman. He answered carefully. “I have not made
his acquaintance, but he is well known in certain circles I frequent.”
Vivian’s eyes widened. “Is he a criminal
then?”
“Forcing a woman and her two children from
their home should be a crime,” Rhys said. “But no, he hasn’t broken any…
English laws that I know of.” This conversation was veering toward dangerous
territory. He changed the subject. “Why are you afraid of marriage?”
A seashell dropped from her fingers as she
froze. “I beg your pardon?”
“I heard you speaking with Madame Renarde
about it the night before I took you.”
Her fists clenched at her sides and her
chin jerked up as she looked at him with blazing fury. “You were spying on me?”
He took a step back and held up his hands
in mock surrender. “I needed to gather information about your comings and
goings so I could execute my plan.”
“Ah, so you spied and eavesdropped to best know
when to kidnap me.” Vivian faced him with her hands on her hips and a derisive
curl of her lips. “You know, that does not redeem you in the slightest.”
Rhys shrugged off the guilt that threatened
to engulf him. “What can I say? I am the villain in this situation.” He circled
around her in a way that he hoped looked menacing. He needed to remind her who
was in charge. “Answer my question. I thought all blue-blooded maids dreamed of
nothing but landing a man with a lofty title and running a noble household. Why
not you? You’re certainly beautiful enough to take your pick.”
Roses
bloomed in her cheeks at his acknowledgement of her beauty. “I do not see how
it is any business of yours what I want or don’t want for my future.”
“It is my business because if you are
planning on being a spinster, the matter of your chastity holds less weight as
a bargaining chip.”
She flinched as if he’d struck her and
crossed her arms over her chest as if to shield herself from his advances.
Rhys cursed and backed away. “No, I am not
plotting to ravage you. I only seek to find the most expedient manner of making
your uncle pay my ransom.”
Her face reddened further. “I am not about
to aid you in making myself a tool for your benefit.” She paused and added
through clenched teeth, “Or my uncle’s.”
She was hurt, he realized. He’d done that
to her and so had Blackpool. Her words that he’d overheard twisted in his heart
like a blade. “…I am filled with such
terror that I almost feel ill with it…. Consigned to a lifetime of thinghood.”
Thinghood. Rhys was beginning to grasp what Vivian
meant by that. He and Blackpool were indeed using her as a pawn in a game,
giving no consideration for her thoughts or feelings.
The realization made him feel terrible.
Alas, it was not to be helped. Not if he wanted to keep Emily and her children
out of the poorhouse.
Perhaps there was a way to atone for his
callousness. “What if I allowed you a chance at gaining your freedom?”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What do
you mean?”
“I suggest we duel. If you draw first
blood, I’ll release you.”
She frowned, but there was a glint of
hopeful joy in her eyes. “Is this some sort of trick?”
He shook his head. “No. I just think we
spar better with swords than words.”
“And you’re confident that you’ll win.” Her
lips curved in a reluctant smile.
“I am.” Skilled as she was, Vivian was
still a mortal and could not match his speed.
“Then why bother giving me the chance?” Oh,
but despite her argument, naked longing emanated from her, with those sparking
eyes and her fingers curling in readiness to hold a sword.
Rhys gestured for her to follow him back to
the cave. “Because then at least you’ll have some agency in the matter. Despite
the circumstances and my intentions with you, I do regard you as more than a
game piece.”
“You’re allowing me, your prisoner to fight
you with a sword just to prove you regard me as a human being?” Vivian shook
her head and chuckled. “I think you may be the worst villain ever.”
Though he was gratified to see her spirits
raised, his pride stung. Without thinking, he seized her shoulders and pulled
her against him.
Her mockery could not stand. He needed to
remind her who was in control.
He lowered his face until their lips almost
met. “Would you prefer me to be more villainous? I could always dispense with
the blades and ravage you after all.”
She sucked in a breath, her large brown
eyes searching his to see if he was serious. He’d meant to frighten her, but
from the way she leaned into him and her tongue wet her lower lip, he may have
failed in that goal.
Her hands moved up and splayed against his
chest. A low growl rumbled in his throat as his lips almost claimed hers.
Then Vivian shoved him away with such
sudden force that he nearly fell on his arse. “I’ll happily duel with you,” she
bit out and strode into the cave.
I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! The Highwayman's Bite releases December 5th. You can PreOrder it now!
For more information on Brooklyn Ann's Books and more freebies, visit www.BrooklynAnnAuthor.com
Brooklyn, it looks like you've done it again. I'm going to pre-order The Highwayman's Bite!
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