“I’ll call you,” Kellsie promised. “I think we should discuss buying a large piece of land somewhere for all of us to build homes so we can be together.”
“There’s a couple of houses in a row in the French Quarter for sale,” Tilly told them. “I think both of them have several apartments in them. Enough for everyone.”
Sabrina laughed again as a rush of happiness filled her. “We’ll make an appointment to look at them tomorrow. If no one else wants in, Arand and I could buy them so everyone would have a place to stay when they come to visit.” She stopped when she realized not only was she making a decision without discussing it with Arand, she was also spending his money. Not like she had enough money sitting around to buy it.
She glanced up to find Arand watching her, an indulgent expression on his face. “Whatever makes you happy,” he reminded her.
Roric spoke as he wrapped his arm around Aimee. “We’ll get together and discuss it tomorrow.” He went to Mordecai and held out his hand. “Thank you, my brother.”
Arand set her back in her chair and Marko did the same with Kellsie. Then all the warriors went to Mordecai and they wrapped their arms around one another. It reminded Sabrina of a football huddle. She glanced at the women and shrugged. What the hell. The women stood and came together in a huddle of their own, even Jessica and Tilly.
“Go team,” Sabrina called, and they laughed.
Arand wrapped his strong arm around Sabrina’s waist and pulled her from the pack of hugging women. “Guess this means we’re leaving.” Her friends, old and new, all laughed as Arand hurried her from the café.
The night was cool, but she didn’t mind it much. That was one thing she had noticed over the past few days, she didn’t seem to notice the heat or cold as much as she used to. She was still learning what being immortal meant for her, but so far so good.
Arand scooped her into his arms again, never breaking stride. The man did like to carry her. She knew it was a result of how close they’d both come to death and figured it would ease up in a decade or so.
“I love you.” His deep voice was filled with emotion so intense it brought tears to her eyes.
“I love you too.” She twined her arms around Arand’s neck and buried her face against his throat. He gave a rumbling growl and she knew her wolf was happy.
About the Author
N.J. Walters has always been a voracious reader of romance novels and decided one day that she could write one as well. The contemporary story, Discovering Dani, was the very first novel she wrote while living in a little town much like the one Dani O’Rourke lives in, though all other similarities to Dani’s life pretty much end there. Then she wrote another one that followed up on Dani’s friends and neighbors. But she didn’t consider herself a “real” writer yet.
Just a few years later N. J. had a mid-life crisis at a fairly young age, gave notice after ten years at her job on a Friday and received a tentative acceptance for her first published novel (an erotic romance) from a publisher on the following Sunday.
Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement and support she gave up the job of selling books for the more pleasurable job of writing them. She now spends her days writing novels of her own. Werewolves, vampires, time-travelers, seductive handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to do it. And some days she actually feels like a “real” writer.
N.J. enjoys hearing from readers, and she can be reached at njwalters22@yahoo.ca. You can check out her web site at www.njwalters.com.
Look for these titles by N.J. Walters
Now Available:
Jamesville
Discovering Dani
The Way Home
The Return of Patrick O’Rourke
The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke
A Legal Affair
By the Book
Past Promises
Legacy
Alexandra’s Legacy
Isaiah’s Haven
Legacy Found
Quinn’s Quest
Finding Chrissten
Damek’s Redemption
Spells, Secrets and Seduction
A Touch of Magick
Dreams of Seduction
Love in Flames
Hades’ Carnival
Night of the Tiger
Mark of the Bear
Pride of the Lion
Coming Soon:
Craig’s Heart
Hades’ Carnival, Book 3
Araminta Davenport has arrived. After giving up her librarian job to be a full-time writer, all those lonely nights alone with her cat and her keyboard have paid off. She’s been invited to participate in one of the biggest reader appreciation weekends—as a professional author.
She can’t imagine her life getting any more exciting than that…until she accidentally releases a sexy, shapeshifting, immortal warrior from a five-thousand-year-old curse.
Finally free of his carousel prison, lion shifter Leander is determined not to let Hades lure him to the dark side in a quest for world domination. Nor will he give the delectable Araminta up to the clutches of the dark one. If they can survive twenty-four hours—and somehow resist losing themselves completely in the sexual haze threatening to swallow them up—the curse will be permanently broken.
But the clock is ticking, the heat is rising…and only the ultimate sacrifice will save them both.
Warning: This book contains one shy writer who is learning how to cut loose, and a warrior who’s been cut loose and he’s ready to roar. Stir in enough hot sex to make Hell itself seem like the Arctic, and you have a recipe for one wild ride.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Pride of the Lion:
“This isn’t real.” Araminta sat back on the bed with a heavy thump, her hands twisted in the sheet covering her. She was losing her mind. There was no other logical explanation for what was happening. The lion was massive, much larger than a normal one. He looked as though he could eat her with one gulp.
He prowled toward her and she held out her shaking hand. “Nice kitty.” She should call hotel security. But what would she say? I have a lion in my room. They’d send for the men in white coats. She tried to swallow around the lump in her throat but couldn’t. The lion stopped in front of her, his face level with hers.
She could hear his heavy breathing, feel the warm puff against her skin. His teeth appeared even sharper this close up. His long golden tail with a black tuft on the end swished lazily behind him.
“I must be going crazy.” The words came out in a breathy rush, and she sucked in a lungful of air. Her heart raced and her stomach was in knots.
There was no other explanation for having a sexy stranger in her bed, one who could shift into a lion. “I’ve been doing too much research and writing. Maybe I’ve had a mental breakdown.” The words tripped out, one after another. She always talked to herself when she was nervous, and the fact she was on the verge of being eaten by a large lion was no reason to stop. In a weird way, it calmed and grounded her.
The lion grumbled and caught the edge of her sheet between its teeth. She clung to the thin fabric, refusing to let her only covering go. “Hey, let go. That’s mine.” And why was she arguing with a full-grown male lion? She’d truly lost her mind.
Leander growled again, but this time he sounded as though he meant business. The fabric ripped and she released it, afraid he might decide to chomp on her next if she didn’t. She pushed herself back onto the bed, but he caught her forearm in his powerful jaws. He didn’t hurt her, his teeth touching her skin but not digging in. She froze, afraid to do anything that might upset him further.