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The Royal Mate (Space Wars #6) by April Zyon (@aprilzyon)

The Royal Mate Bannner

Blurb:

It all comes down to this. The truth about what started the war between the Imarian and Craegin is coming out, along with the fact that there is one true royal left. One man to rule them all.

Markus Rothschild wants to live a simple, quiet life but when faced with the truth of what’s happening in his world, he knows he has no choice but to take his rightful place.

Paisley Ralston is a woman who loves teaching small children. She’s never even held a weapon, let alone fired one. Playing bodyguard to the royal heir is the last thing she expected to do. But when Markus’s security team is sabotaged, she may be his only hope.

Paisley didn’t realize that meeting Markus meant finding her mate. Hidden in a special bunker, Paisley and Markus will test their limits and prepare for what’s coming. Together they will come out stronger, bonded, and ready to face both galaxies.

Buy links:

All Romance Ebooks | Amazon | Bookstrand | Evernight Publishing

*****

the-royal-mate-evernightpublishing-Jayaheer2016-finalimageExcerpt:

She looked at her mother and frowned. She couldn’t have heard the woman correctly. Paisley wasn’t a militant; she wasn’t a protector. For the love of all the saints, she was a teacher for young children.

The marshal looked at Paisley with a frown, then sighed. “Because you are about the one and only person that I will trust to be around him right now, and since you know where the safe house is I will leave you to take him. It’s too dangerous right now for him to remain on his ship with Fintan.”

“Wait, you mean, The General?” There was awe in Paisley’s voice and she knew it but she had seen what the man had gone through for his mate. He was the only reason that Paisley believed in love once more. It was the reason why, with her mother’s help, she’d broken the arranged marriage and begun to live for herself and not for what she should do.

“He’ll be arriving soon with several guards. You are all going to the bunker. The guards will take the outer shelter, and you and Markus will take the inner sanctuary.”

The inner sanctuary was a place that none could enter if they weren’t of the Ralston family. It literally took living blood and a tie to the blood and heartbeat of a Ralston to keep the air actually on in that sanctuary. It would be either a haven or a tomb depending on if people knew it or not.

“And what about you, Mother? You’ve kept a low profile while they sorted out the issues that were evidently in your offices.”

“This is very true and it’s past time for me to get back to what it is that I do. Besides, this way I know that you will be safe as will Markus.”

“You could always go into the shelter with him instead of me,” Paisley pointed out.

“No, because they would use you to get to me. You are my one weakness, Paisley.”

Paisley moved and gave her mother a hug. “There are not many that know of me, Mother. You’d probably be safe, you know, and so would I.”

“No, there is too much to be done.”

“But—”

“No buts, Paisley. This is an order. You are to keep him safe.”

Paisley bowed her head and nodded. “As you say. Just remember I don’t know how to fight.”

“You don’t, but he does.” Her mother gave her another hug, then pushed her toward where the family bunker was. It was something that no one and nothing could get into. Even if the world exploded, the bunker would eject into space and hook up with a waiting ship that would become their own private spaceship. It had been designed with the ultimate of protections in mind. Her great-grandfather had designed it and it had kept her mother safe when this war began to truly heat up as it had in the last several months.

“I trust you,” Paisley told her mother. She took a deep breath and smiled. “I’ll go pack.”

“Your things are already in the bunker. I had my assistant go to your home and empty your closets and drawers, and I personally put everything into the bunker. It’s fully stocked with food for the two of you for as long as you might need to be in there as well as the machines to recreate foods if you wanted or needed it. I doubt that much time will be needed, but just in case.”

“A career military man,” Paisley mused. “And how does he feel about having to hide?” she asked with a knowing grin. She knew the type.

“About like what you think he’s feeling,” the marshal stated with a laugh. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Fin had to tranquilize him to bring him in. Now, go.”

And just like that Paisley was summarily assigned a duty that she had no business taking care of. She wasn’t a fighter and never had been. She was soft, short, and more than a little pudgy. Paisley was not anything that anyone really would ever look a second time at.

*****

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Chevon’s Mate (Space Wars #5) by April Zyon (@AprilZyon)

Published by Evernight Publishing

Cover and Banners by Simply Defined Art by Jay Aheer

red prom dressesAbout Chevon’s Mate:

Laura Troxell was a Craegin woman who had everything in place for a long and loving life. She was engaged to the man of her dreams, had a brother that adored her and a position she absolutely loved. Well, that was until her world fell apart and the truth about her brother and fiancé came to light. Dumping her ex had her taking a nice long trip on a pleasure cruise around the Craegin universe, including traveling close to the neutral zone with Imarian space. It was thrilling and fun all in one. It was a non-stop party until someone decided to dump her like the proverbial trash, thankfully they, at least, dumped her in a life pod instead of just shoving her out of an airlock.

Chevon von Janus was a man who held his duty to train the next soldiers very seriously. He was a man that was a stickler for the rules, even when it came to an unknown life pod coming toward them from the neutral zone. Everything went by the letter in saving whoever was in the pod, he just never expected for the person to be a woman, a Craegin woman at that, but more than anything he hadn’t expected her to be his soul bonded mate. Talk about a surprise to the by the books commander.

The combustion between the two was felt immediately. However Laura had another secret to tell him, one that she was certain the Craegin’s wouldn’t want the Imarian’s to know about and when she did it certainly did heat up the war that was already sizzling between their peoples.

Chevon first has to keep Laura safe from his crew and then he has to work with old friends to figure out how to keep all of them safe. Life was going to get very interesting for these two very quickly. But no one ever said that love was easy, at least not when you were from two different cultures, cultures that happened to be at war.

Good thing that they had such amazing friends ready to go to the mat for them or their love would never know the light of day.

 ** read to the end for a link to the complete first and second chapter of the book **

General Purchase Links for my books:

All Romance EbooksAmazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookstrand | Evernight Publishing | Smashwords | iTunes

*****

About April: 

April is a lover of all things romance, and a writer with an imagination that goes on for miles and miles. Writing for Evernight Publishing is a dream come true for her and something she wants to continue for the rest of her life.

Living in the great state of Indiana I’m now 42, married with 2 children aged 20 and 18 as of 2016 so life is always going. I live with the husband, both kids, my mom and her (our) puppy as well. 🙂

I work third shift and work odd hours and days so generally when I am awake no one else is, so I write 🙂

That’s about it for me!

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*****

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The books of Space Wars…

Chevons-Mate-evernightpublishing-jayaheer2016-series-VistaPrint-Mugs_Panoramic-Wraparound

*** Coming sometime in 2016 The Royal Mate, the final book of the Space Wars series. ***

Read the complete first and second chapter of Chevon’s Mate by clicking here… (use password AprilZyon)

Protected (Warriors of the Light #3) by April Zyon (@aprilzyon)

ProtectedAbout the book

~Editor’s Pick~

For the first time in her life, Vivian Duffy is pushing herself to the limits of her abilities. With people dying in her city she seems to be the only one willing to dig for the answers when the evidence isn’t making any sense. But when her sister fits the profile of the killer’s victims, Viv knows she may need to make some hard choices.

Jason has walked the Earth for more years than he cares to remember. Always with the singular goal of ensuring the safety of all the humans around him. Meeting the woman who was meant to be his was never even a consideration for him, not until Vivian crosses paths with him at the scene of a murder.

The danger is growing around them, and with the fate of his woman on the line this Argonaut will do whatever is needed to keep her protected.

This is a previously published work. It has been revised and edited for Evernight Publishing

Purchase Links

Amazon     |     All Romance eBooks     |     Bookstrand     |     Evernight Publishing

*****

Excerpt:

Dropping his carry-on at his feet, Jason stretched his arms over his head. The flight into Seattle had been damn long. They’d had to make an impromptu landing when one of the passengers had gotten out of hand. Then there was a wait while the local police had pried him and his pissed off wife from the plane.

There’d been further delay when a storm had blown in, leaving them sitting on a runway for another three hours. Finally, they’d made it into the air during a break in the squall and were back on their way.

It had been a very long day in the air and on the ground. He was where he needed to be, though. Now all he had to do was find James so they could get their behinds moving. Which, knowing the cowboy as he did, the other man would likely be in the nearest bar. Grabbing his bag, he scoped out the area and spotted the one that would call to the Wild West gunman.

Too easy. Rolling his eyes, Jason slung the duffel over his shoulder and made his way to the tavern. Inside, he spotted James easily. The man was holding court with a gaggle of women, who were all drooling over his authentic accent. Why Mercury had thought putting the two of them together on a mission was a good idea, he’d never figure out.

Reaching the table, he dropped his luggage again. “James.”

“Jason!” James popped to his feet and came around to hug Jason, pounding his back. “Good of you to join us. Ladies, this is Jason. Jase, these are the ladies. They’ve been keeping me company while I waited for your flight. I heard ya’ll had a bit of trouble, got stuck through a bit of a storm. Bad luck, that.”

“Yeah, to say the least.” Jason gave a slight bow to the women. “Which means we really should get going, James. We have a job to do, and I’m sure you’ve had more than your fair share of drinking already today.”

“Right, true enough,” James said with a nod. “Sorry, ladies, but the man has a point. So, if ya’ll want to give me your numbers, I’ll call each and every one of ya’ll as soon as I can.” He leaned over and grinned at a blonde. “Especially you, sugar.” He handed off his phone and collected from all six.

When he had gotten his cell back, plus a few kisses, they paid his tab and went to collect the rental car. Passing James the folder from Mercury, Jason settled behind the wheel and got them moving.

“Shit, this here’s rather thin,” James said.

“I know. There’s not a lot to go on. A few really old cases that may or may not be related, and then the two newest ones. I don’t have a clue if this is anything more than a wild goose chase.”

“Damn,” James breathed. “Well, I guess all we can really do is check them out and see if it was human killings, or if it was more. Really wish these assholes would leave us calling cards. Be so much easier in the long run.”

“Yeah, just what we need. The evil ones leaving calling cards at their murders. Then we’d have the feds on each of the cases, looking for a serial killer that apparently hops from one end of the country to the other and back again. Somehow, I don’t see that as something that would work out well for us.”

“No, I guess not,” James muttered. “So, which one do we want to look at first?”

“Given where we are, we’ll look at the scene that was out north of Jefferson Park Golf Club. It’s the closest,” Jason answered. “After that, we’ll head to the one that happened in the Lower Queen Anne district. I doubt there will be much left after all this time, but you never know.” They could get lucky, though he didn’t hold out much hope for that. It hadn’t done him a lot of good over the years.

Twenty minutes later, they were studying the scene a block north and slightly east of the golf club. As he’d surmised, there wasn’t a lot left beyond some scraggly pieces of police tape and stains on the concrete.

But Jason wasn’t really interested in the scene itself. It was what was around that counted. Moving to where the body had been found, he turned his back. He wanted to know what the victim, a young woman by the name of Katy, had seen in her last moments.

It wasn’t a horrible area, not by a long shot. A little wear and tear, but nothing that jumped out and screamed “worst neighborhood on the planet.” There was some graffiti, but again, nothing that stated they were in gang territory, or a place most folks wouldn’t enter in the middle of the afternoon, let alone after dark.

For all intents and purposes, it was an average area, in an average American city, with nothing to make it stand out. Except for one thing. “We need to get Helen to pull the video feed from the night of the murder.”

“Wouldn’t the police have done that already?” James asked him.

“Possibly, likely even,” Jason said. “They’re not us, though, and they may not see what we will. Most humans don’t want to acknowledge the strange and unusual. Their minds automatically cover it up, and they play it off as a trick of the light, a shadow, or something else that allows them to sleep at night.”

“Good point.” His partner nodded. “Well, we might as well head to the next scene. Maybe there will be video around there, too.”

Jason was hoping so on the drive into Lower Queen Anne. They needed a break on the case, if there really was one. Reaching the corner of West Republican Street and Second Avenue, they found a parking spot. Jason climbed out of the SUV and looked around. Apparently, luck was on their side this time. “We have cameras,” he announced.

James nodded. “So I see. I’ll call Helen and get her to do her thing. Be nice to know if we’re just dealing with a regular old killer or a monster. Not that a regular killer is all that great, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the alternative.”

While James made the call back to the Mountain, Jason headed for the alley between buildings, where the murder had occurred. Ten feet in, he stopped. The police tape that remained was in slightly better condition than at the last spot. Turning, he gazed up at the buildings on each side.

A lot of windows, but given what was in each building and the time of night the young man, Vern, had been killed, there wouldn’t have been witnesses. Unfortunately, he didn’t think the video would be all that helpful, either, given where the cameras were located.

Walking back out to the street, he headed for the truck and James. The cowboy was off the phone and lounging back against the bumper, checking out women as they went past.

“Tell me you’re not checking out women on the street?”

“All right, I’ll tell you I’m not checking out women on the street,” James answered. “Even though they are damn fine.” He nodded to another one, receiving a smile in return.

“Anyone ever mention you are—what is that quaint saying? Ah yes … you are a dog,” Jason said.

“Woof.” James grinned at him. “We done here?”

“Yes, there’s nothing to see. We’ll need to hope we get some video. Did you contact Helen?”

“She’ll be pulling it as soon as she can. She said she had to find it first but will call as soon as she has something for us.”

“Good,” Jason said. “We might as well go to our hotel. I doubt we’ll get anything from her today, and I’m starving. They didn’t even have those little pouches of peanuts on the flight.”

“That’s because everyone’s all paranoid by the rise in allergies. They ditched the peanuts off flights, banned peanut butter from schools, and are coddling everyone. Too many people have turned into pansies. It’s deplorable,” James muttered with a sneer.

Jason wasn’t about to argue with him. Climbing into the truck, he put it in gear and got them moving toward their hotel. Food, a shower, and then sleep. In that order.

Protected-evernightpublishing-JayAheer2016-banner1

*****

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*****

GIVEAWAY! 

Double ?#?ReleaseDay ?#?Giveaway from April Zyon and Sydney Lea!

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AND

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Revealed (Warriors of Light #2) by April Zyon (@aprilzyon)

Published by Evernight Publishing

Cover art by Jay Aheer (Simply Defined Art)

RevealedBlurb:

Hector is a born warrior and protector. But in the war against evil, he cannot fight alone. While he has his brothers-in-arms by his side, a new element is necessary for this battle. That’s when he finds Riley, and he realizes dreams can come true—even for one cursed to walk forever throughout time.

Riley Jensen is sensitive to lies—the lies others tell, and any she has ever tried to tell. Seeking out sanctuary behind thick walls is her only escape from the pain. Except now it appears she might be the hunted. Not one to sit back and wait, she goes on the offensive with the help of a powerful warrior.

As the danger grows thicker, lies will blend with truth. Only Riley can discern fact from fiction with her gift to keep all the warriors walking the true path.

This is a previously published work. It has been revised and edited for Evernight Publishing.

Be Warned: BDSM, spanking

Purchase Links: 

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK  | All Romance eBooks  | Bookstrand | Evernight Publishing 

Excerpt:

He slid a finger down her cheek. “The bond is strong, especially when the woman you care for carries something so amazing and precious within. When she is your other, better half, you need to be close to her in the hope that some of that goodness will rub off on you and help to lighten the load we all carry.”

“And you’ve found her?” Damn him for making me ask. She leaned into his touch, all but purring when he stroked his finger down her cheek again. She was as close to him as she could possibly get, her hand resting lightly on his chest as she looked up at him. “Tell me,” she whispered. She had to know that she wasn’t alone in this feeling, that he was as attracted to her as she was to him.

“I did,” he answered. “She is an amazing beauty, a pure and kind soul, elegant, poised, and much too good for a warrior like me. She could have any man falling at her feet, yet she seems to have taken an interest in only one. For which I am grateful.”

“I have a feeling that she would move heaven and earth for you,” Riley admitted quietly, her face turned up to him as she spoke. Licking her lips, she all but shivered at the need that was in his eyes. “I really think you should kiss me again.”

“I think you may be right.” His arms came around her, pulling her up close to his chest, and his head lowered. But he didn’t kiss her immediately. Instead he brushed his nose over hers, then over her cheek. As the anticipation began to build to a nearly explosive point, he finally pressed his lips to hers in a hard, demanding kiss.

Riley gave in completely to his passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her hands fisted into his hair. She shuddered and opened to him, his tongue brushing over hers before he took full control. He was dominating her in that moment, and she was fully willing to allow it to happen.

Hector’s arms tightened around her as he bent her back over an arm. One hand was soon up in her hair, holding it tight. His mouth devoured hers, and he let out a low growl that shot through her entire body.

Then his lips were gone, but his heavy and hard breathing was still a hot brush over her skin. “We should talk first,” he said, his voice not entirely steady.

Riley nodded and moved so that she could hug him. Her feet were off the ground, and he was keeping her up, but she was fine with that. She pulled back and smiled teasingly. “You running from this?”

He huffed out a breath. “It’s called a strategic retreat, for your information. It’s either that or I have you naked, on the table, with my cock buried inside of you, without a care for the fact that there’s someone else in the house with us. We need to talk before we do anything like that. You need to know what’s going on, and I made you a promise.” Stepping back, he grabbed one of her hands and tugged her up the stairs and down the hall to the room they would be sharing.

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A Christmas Home by April Zyon (@aprilzyon)

ChristmasHomeBanner

A Christmas Home

www.shifters-match.com book 1

By April Zyon

Genre: Paranormal, Rubenesque, May-December, Shifters

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

 

Blurb:

Ophelia Lambros thought her life was in order, until she lost her fiance and job all in one day.

She couldn’t return the honeymoon trip she’d been given so she takes the opportunity to find herself on the slopes of Wyoming on the back of a snowmobile.

Jagger Morris was perfectly happy running his repair shop in Shifter Falls, his home for years. As the Kodiak Bear Alpha, he has a lot on his plate. When a new pack asks to join them, Jagger’s hackles rise, but he doesn’t know why.

When he meets his fated mate, Ophelia, she shares a piece of herself that confirms his suspicious nature was spot on. As a seer, she can see death coming their way. Can she make her new mate and his friends understand the risk before time runs out?


Purchase Links:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon CA |

Barnes & Noble | Bookstrand | AllRomance

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Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

 

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Excerpt:

Throwing the wrench down onto the tool pad, Jagger scrubbed a hand down his face. There were days he loved being a mechanic. Then there were days like today where he knew he should have listened to his mother and gotten into something else. Not that he’d ever tell the woman, even if he was still speaking to her. She already thought too highly of her own opinions. Gods only knew where the woman was today, at least she wasn’t in Shifter Falls giving him even more trouble so that was good.

He grabbed the bottle of water he’d been working on and took a long haul while staring at the engine in question. He was missing something, and it was really starting to piss him off that he couldn’t figure it out.

For the last ten years, he’d been head mechanic at the only automotive shop in Shifter Falls. They were the only one there because they only hired the best and did the best work. Competitors didn’t stand a hope in hell. There had been a few other places that had tried to start up in the Falls. But they’d all shut down within a year because they hadn’t had what it took to work in such a closely knit town. That and they’d been outsiders, something that didn’t go over well with the very private residents who ran the town.

Founded by a shifter pack more than two hundred years prior, the town was home to six different types of shifters. Only through harsh laws and firm hands at the helm of each pack did it work. Especially considering the mix the Falls had running around.

There were plenty of humans living and working there, too, but the majority of the population was other. Sometimes there were problems. Sometimes there were all-out fights, but in the end they all knew they had to live together so things had better damn well work out. Which they usually did, eventually.

Moving to the open door of the bay he was working in, he stared out at the falling snow. The weatherman had predicted another couple of inches throughout the day, and more overnight. Great for all the tourists currently running around Shifter Falls in search of as many wintertime activities as they could find. It also had its perks for the business. It was amazing how many out-of-state tourists had no idea how to handle driving in snow.

He spotted a friend and lifted a hand in greeting. Conroy Hayden was the owner of On The Plate, one of four restaurants in Shifter Falls. The guy was a damn connoisseur when it came to flavors. Likely why his restaurant had managed to get rave reviews in several travel and food magazines. Since then people had come to Shifter Falls not only for the events held but in the hopes to get a table in his restaurant.

“Con, good to see you. I have to admit I didn’t think you’d actually get out during the lunch rush.”

The large redhead shrugged and shot him a smirk. “Figured I should bring you something to eat or you’d forget. Again.”

Jagger spotted the bag then and felt his belly rumble. He’d only had a piece of toast and several cups of coffee for breakfast that morning. It was already one in the afternoon and he wasn’t exactly a small guy. Waving Conroy into the bay, he followed behind the man, shooting the troublesome engine a glare. He cleared off a spot on his work table before grabbing a couple stools to set in front. He took one while Conroy unloaded the bag, hitting Jagger with the scent of cooked meat and spices. His stomach let out a hungry snarl that earned him a knowing look from his friend. Jagger held his tongue, knowing anything he said would only provide Con with more ammo to use against him at a later date.

He accepted the plate from his friend and unwrapped it. A huge pile of roast beef he knew was slow cooked, mashed potatoes, and seasonal greens from the greenhouse at the end of town. Con handed him a little container which held gravy, utensils, and a napkin.

“Thanks,” he said. Cutting off a piece of the beef, Jagger slowly chewed the perfectly cooked meat. It practically melted on his tongue. “Damn this is good,” he practically moaned. Another bite he chewed slowly. He knew better than to shove Con’s food down his throat as fast as possible. The man would beat him silly. And Con was nearly as large as Jagger. They’d both taken boxing as kids, but Jagger had plain meanness on his side. Con was a good soul who wanted to help others, which was why he’d gotten into feeding folks. He said the food was good for the soul and part of why On The Plate did the soup kitchen for those who needed a helping hand.

After finishing the meal, Jagger wiped his mouth while Con packed up the dishes. The secondary dish caught his attention. “What’s that?”

“Dessert,” Con told him.

Accepting the dish, he pulled the top off and inhaled the scent from the hot dessert. It was a crumble of some sort. Rhubarb, for sure, definitely strawberries, but there was something else. He took a bite and let out a moan of pleasure.

“I’m going to assume you like it.”

“Dude, this is spectacular. What all’s in here?”

“The usual, but I threw in some cranberries this time for a more seasonal flavor. Gives it a different taste.”

He nodded, it did at that. Scraping out the last, he licked off the spoon under Con’s knowing watch and passed it back. Another wipe with his napkin before he tossed it into the garbage closest and leveled a look at his friend. “I guess this wasn’t just your need to feed me, since you usually dump and run. What’s going on?”

“Don’t know yet but figured I’d give you a heads-up. The sheriff and a couple deputies were in for lunch today and we got to talking. Apparently there are rumblings from the city council about another pack wanting to set up shop here. They’re calling an emergency meeting tomorrow night to discuss it with the alphas and their seconds. You’ll be getting the call soon, but I wanted to let you know before you got it. I know how much you hate surprises.”

That was an understatement. The last surprise Jagger had gotten was his parents divorcing, his father leaving the Falls, and his mother hooking up with the first of many younger males to keep her bed warm. Since then he’d managed to avoid being surprised with the help of those he called and considered to be true friends, like Conroy. Without them, he’d have been caught with his pants down more than once. But they looked out for him, and he helped look out for them in turn. They were more his family than his parents ever had been.

“I’ll be ready, thanks.” Standing, he gave his friend the quintessential man hug and walked him out of the bay. He stayed there a moment longer to watch the comings and goings of the locals and tourists before turning to face his current nemesis. One way or another he was damn well going to get this thing running. Then he could take it over to the hotel and return it to the tourist to which it belonged.

“All right, you giant hunk of metal, let’s get down to business.”

Capture

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Cecilia’s Mate by April Zyon (@AprilZyon)

Space wars cover - 1st image

The Space Wars are continuing with the next installment, Cecilia’s Mate!

To catch up you can start with Adira’s Mate which is the first book in the series. After that book is Sadie’s Mate.

The third book in the series is Cecilia’s Mate. I’m excited about this book because Cece is the baby brother of Bracken, the hero in Sadie’s Mate.

*****

Cecilia's MateBlurb:

Cecelia Kauller has always felt invisible. First with her family, and then with the man she knows is to one day be hers. But things are about to change, and not for the better in her mind. When Cecelia discovers she’s about to be sold off to a man her older sister plans to have as a lover it all becomes too much. She can’t take any more and runs to the only place she knows she will be safe, with her brother.

Lieutenant Colonel Draven Ackermann has always felt out of place in life. Being a part of the Craegin Armada gave him purpose, and a sense of being. Now that he’s reached a point in his life where he can focus on more than a career, he only wants one person to fill that void. Unfortunately she happens to be his commanding officers baby sister.

Although they can now finally admit who they are to one another there is still one important step both must take, telling Cecelia’s brother that they are bondmates. Not an easy conversation, but one that is necessary for the happiness of them both.

As they settle into their new lives, and prepare for the next step of marriage, the universe decides to shake life up a little more. Draven receives news that shatters all he’s ever known, and turns his life upside down.

Cecelia stands strong at his side, as a bondmate should, and helps Draven to regain his footing. She will always do whatever is necessary to help him as he has helped her through all the changes in her life. She can do now other, he is her love, her heart, and her every dream. He is Cecelia’s mate.

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*****

Excerpt: 

Her mouth went dry when he bared himself to her. She couldn’t speak when he asked her if he passed muster. She just looked up at him and nodded dumbly. “Yes.” She licked her suddenly dry lips and let out a breathy sound. He was glorious. His body was dark all over. He was built with thick ropes of muscles, and his cock, holy mother of life it was impressive. It was thick and long and pointed seemingly straight up and toward her. “Are you sure that this will work?” He looked bigger than he had felt against her the last night that they went to sleep together. It was intimidating.

“Cecilia, little one, of course it will work. Remember that we are made for one another. You can touch, you know,” he said quietly. Reaching out for a hand, he brought it up to his chest and pressed it flat so her palm rested fully on his skin. “Touch and learn me. It will help to alleviate some of your concerns. The rest you will need to trust me on.”

She allowed her hand to move over the broad expanse of his chest. She was chewing her lower lip as she touched him. Her nails lightly scraped over his chest and she smiled at the white lines that were left in their wake. It wasn’t enough to harm, just enough to tease. “You always feel so good. I know you would never hurt me and you do have my trust, Draven, completely.”

He slid his hand up her arm, then moved it to cup her cheek. “I’m honored that you trust in me.” Draven watched her as she scratched her nails a little lower. He sucked his stomach in when she dipped even lower.

She was looking down, watching her hand as she moved it down. Her fingers lightly brushed over his cock and she gasped. Then, before she could stop herself, she closed her hand around his shaft and let it slide down slowly. Her fingers wouldn’t meet around his thick shaft so she put her other hand on his dick as well. She began to stroke him.

A low growl from him had her peeking up. His eyes were narrowed on her, his features a little harsher, color riding his cheeks. Using his thumb, he tipped her face up as he leaned in. Draven caught her mouth in a kiss that was unmatched by anything prior.

Cece allowed herself to give in to the kiss. She squeezed him gently, then began to move her hands back up his body and wrapped them around his neck. She leaned into his embrace, swaying into his touch, and moaned as she kissed him back.

Draven’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her body tighter to his own. Then they were moving, and she had the sensation of tumbling before the softness of the bed met her back. His weight pressed her deeper into the bedding while he continued to kiss her like a man starved.

She lifted a leg slightly so that it could brace against his hip. She shifted under him and tugged at his hair. When they parted she was panting, breathless and desperate. “I love kissing you, Draven Ackermann. Just so you know, I’m never letting you go.”

“You’d better not, Cecilia Kauller, because I never intend to let you go, either. You are mine, now and for all of time.” He kissed her again, this time a little gentler as he stroked his hands over her torso, his thumbs brushing to the curve of her breasts.

She shivered when his thumbs brushed over her breasts and up to caress her nipples. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes as she arched into the touch. Draven was pressing light kisses to her throat. Slowly he worked his way down to her upper chest before shifting his body a little lower, giving him the room he needed to nuzzle at her breasts. The flick of his tongue to her nipple had her jolting under him.

“Do that again, please?” Cece asked as she shifted under him to take more of what he was offering.

Draven slid his lips over her skin to her other breast. His tongue slid slowly over her tight nipple. When she gave a shiver he sucked the tight bud into his mouth to pull hard on it, drawing it in deeper. She felt the smallest scrape of his teeth to her skin before he flicked her nipple with his tip of his tongue repeatedly.

“Oh God yes.” She put her hands to his head and held him there. “Again, please,” was all she could think to say.

Cecilia could feel his laugh against her body as he gave in to her demands. He looked up to her and held her gaze as he scraped his teeth over her flesh slowly. Her nipple slipped from between his teeth when he lifted his head. Leaning up, he pressed a kiss to her chin, then wiggled down her body more. With soft kisses to her sternum, her belly, then her hips, she could feel her body winding tighter with the sensations he was helping to create.

She moved her hands to his head and touched him. “That feels so good,” she moaned, enjoying his wandering mouth. “I think I could become addicted to you doing this to me.”

“I’ll do this every single night if I have anything to say about it, a couple times during the day as well if you’re feeling adventurous, and then whenever the mood strikes.” Pushing her legs further apart, Draven got her to raise her knees so she was fully bared to him. His warm breath brushed along her damp folds as he stared at her.

“Oh I love how that sounds. Do you think that you will be able to…” She trailed off when his breath moved across her silky wet folds. “Draven.” She moaned and shuddered.

He brushed his nose to her inner thigh. “Do I think I’ll be able to what, little one?” he asked with a smile.

“I forgot.” She whimpered, then shifted slightly.

Draven chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to the seam of her leg. He blew another breath over her pussy before leaning in to run his tongue lightly up her slit.

“Holy mother. That feels so good. I’ve never felt anyone do that to me before.” Of course she hadn’t. She had never felt anyone except him touching her intimately before. “I think I’ve just found my new favorite thing.”

“I’d reserve judgment a little longer,” he advised. Sliding his hands over her skin, he pulled her folds apart. Then he mouth was on her, his tongue stroking over her, his low growl vibrating against her most sensitive parts.

“Draven” She sobbed when his tongue stroked over her clit. When he growled she felt her hips jump. “Draven, more. Please. Fuck.” She never cussed but was right now.

His mouth latched onto her aching clitoris, and he sucked hard. All the while his fingers stroked over her pussy, one finger finally sliding into her sheath to gently stroke her in time to his sucking actions.

“Ohhhhhh…” she said in a long and low moan of a sound. The finger inside of her pussy while his tongue worked her clitoris had her seeing stars, literally. She shuddered and shifted her hips slightly to take more of him into her body.

The slight bite of his teeth on her sensitive nub sent a shiver through her. But then her mind became focused on the fuller feeling of her pussy when he added another finger. His free hand stroked up her belly to her breasts, where he began to pluck at first one nipple, then the other.

She covered his hand with hers and squeezed her nipple tightly with his hands. “I love the way that feels.” She shifted to accommodate more of his body between her legs and to give him room to play more with her as he wanted to.

Draven slid his hand free from under hers. “Play with your nipples,” he ordered in a husky tone. He moved his hand down to hold her folds open and proceeded to flick the tip of his tongue to her clit rapidly while thrusting his fingers in and out of her pussy.

She moved her hand from his head and placed both of them on her nipples. She began to tug and pull at them. She twisted them and gasped just as his fingers thrust deeply into her pussy.

“That’s it, Cecilia,” he praised. Curling his fingers inside of her, he seemed to find some spot that had her toes digging frantically into the bedding. Then he put his mouth back over her clit to suck at the throbbing nub, adding in a little bite now and again.

Cece arched up against him and sobbed. She braced her feet on the bedding and lifted her pussy up closer to him. She loved the way this felt, the fabulous feeling of his hands on her body and his mouth on her pussy.

Draven cupped her ass when she lifted up, a digit moving to rub the tight bud between her buttocks. He pressed firmly while sucking harder at her clit and curling his fingers up inside of her.

With his fingers in her pussy and the one touching her anus she saw stars. It took her breath away, the sensations making her gasp. She then screamed and lifted her body up, taking his fingers deeper. The one near her anus slipped inside and she came, hard.

The next thing she knew Draven was stroking her leg gently, pressing kisses to her face, and her arms were wrapped around his neck. “Shh, I have you, little one. Slow your breathing down for me, Cecilia,” he said gently as he continued to soothe her.

Doing as he instructed, she nodded and sighed. “That was amazing. I never dreamed that an orgasm would be so good.”

“That was only the first part of it all,” he told her. “There is so much more that is to come your way.” Slipping an arm around her, he squeezed her close while pressing a kiss to her lips. “The real question is, are you ready for more, Cecilia?” She took a deep breath and licked her lips after his kiss. “I want more. I want everything.”

He gave her another leisurely kiss, curling his tongue around hers and teasing her gently. He settled his body over hers and she could feel his cock rubbing against her pussy and over her clit. His one hand didn’t stop moving but continued to stroke her leg, over her hip, and up her ribs before going back down her side.

“So good.” She lifted again and moaned. “I love the feel of you touching me.” The head of his cock rubbing against her slit had her whimpering and clutching at him.

“Easy, little one.” He cupped her face in a hand, his thumb brushing over her skin while he stared down into her eyes. “You need to relax for me and take slow, deep breaths.” His cock pressed to her opening. Moving his hand, he touched her pussy, spreading her lips as he pushed his cock to start filling her slowly.

He filled her to capacity, and beyond. She had to stop him once and shift slightly but then he pushed into her more. “Draven.” She whispered his name. This was making love. This wasn’t about the domination and submission, but this was their first time making love.

“Breathe, Cecilia,” he said in a deeper, rougher tone. “You need to remember to breathe.” His hands guided her legs up and around his hips until she could hook her ankles together over his ass. Very slowly he pulled his cock almost all the way out of her pussy, then pressed back in just as slowly.

She breathed, recalling that he had said she could control her body with her breathing, with focusing. She tried to do just that. She forced herself to breathe in and out and to watch him as he made love with her. “I’m so glad I waited for you,” she confessed, reaching up to put her hand on his cheek and pull him closer. Catching her lips in a kiss, he cupped her head between his hands. He was still moving his hips, thrusting his cock in and sliding out of her body slowly. As they kissed he began to pick up his pace a little at a time.

She moved with him, her body naturally finding its rhythm with him and causing her to brush against his chest with her breasts from time to time. Each time her rock hard nipples brushed against his muscular chest she gasped aloud, the pleasure moving between nipples and clit and back again.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, his gaze roaming over her face. “So open, so giving, and all mine. Forever, Cecilia. Nothing else will be nearly enough for me.” Putting his hands on the bed, he pressed up a little and began to thrust faster and harder into her eager body.

“Good.” She moved along with him, her body naturally finding that right rhythm with him, her legs around his hips. She dug her heels into his ass, pulling him tighter to her body as she did so.

“Touch your clit, Cecilia.” Rolling his hips slightly gave her a new sensation. “Rub that tight little nub for me.” Draven was adjusting himself over her, each movement changing how his cock slid into her.

Reaching between them, she touched her fingertips to her clit and began to rub, sobbing his name as the feelings that were coming from him pumping in and out of her body had her flying higher and higher.

“Please, Sir.” She shivered, the force of her pleasure doubling at those two small words.

The look on his face when she said those words nearly had her coming apart. But something held her back. Leaning in, Draven pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “Come for me, Cecilia,” he said in a demanding tone.

It was his demand far more than anything that had her screaming as she climaxed. She came hard, her body shaking, and felt her nails biting into Draven’s back. She whimpered and needed him to come with her.

A few more hard thrusts and she felt it. The shudder rippled through his body before his cock pulsated in her sheath. Draven collapsed over her, wrapping his arms around her to hold her tight as his seed filled her.

She felt each pulse of his seed into her waiting womb and closed her eyes. “Gracious,” she whispered softly, then yawned. “Will you hold me, please? Just keep me close?”

“You don’t even have to ask.” Pressing his lips to her cheek, he rolled them so she was lying on top. Then he covered her up, tucking the blankets around her gently before once more wrapping her in his arms. “Sleep for a little while, Cecilia. Then we need to get up for the official welcome back meal.”

“Okay.” She rubbed her cheek to his chest and drifted off into sleep.

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*****

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