Serena Simpson's Blog

Hello Dear Readers,

I’m launching a paranormal romance Kickstarter to bring you a collector’s edition of my newest book—complete with a gorgeous foil hardcover you’ll want to display forever. My original goal was to launch in October 2025. So… what happened?

The short answer: I wanted it to be perfect for you.

The Challenge of Creating a Foil Hardcover

Did you know when you create a special edition yourself, there are always surprises? My printer was overseas because I knew they could deliver exactly what I wanted—a stunning, high-quality foil cover worthy of this paranormal romance Kickstarter.g

But getting it right wasn’t easy. I spent days, hours—let’s be honest—weeks making sure this was a cover you’d love. Blood, sweat, and tears? Absolutely. But if I’m being even more accurate—frustration, hair-pulling, and yes, a few tears.

Why? Because foil printing requires two separate design layers:

Black layer = the parts you want foiledWhite layer = the areas that remain untouched

This was my first time creating them. I submitted the book to the printer on July 5, 2025. They promised to ship it by July 17. Instead, nothing happened until the 28th—when I got an email saying the file was wrong. Cue more frustration, more hair-pulling, and more tears.

How We Fixed It (Thanks, Chat)

My business partner ChatGPT (yes, that Chat) and I went back to the drawing board. We picked a new cover design—one I hope you’ll love even more than the first—and made sure the foil layers were perfect this time.

Why the paranormal romance Kickstarter Is Now April 2026

After all those setbacks, I decided to move the Kickstarter launch to April 2026. This gives me time to make sure every detail is perfect and to share the journey with you along the way. And since this paranormal romance Kickstarter is my first, I want to build excitement steadily and keep you updated every step.

If  you’d like to see another amazing project in the works, my friend Eliza Gayle’s “Dragon Lords” Kickstarter is going live soon—check it out for more paranormal romance goodness.

Q&A for the Curious

Q: What’s this book about?

A: It’s a paranormal romance with high stakes, deep emotion, and supernatural intrigue—more details coming soon.

Q: How can I be notified when your paranormal romance Kickstarter goes live?

A: The best way is to join my newsletter so you don’t miss updates, early previews, and backer-only perks.

I’m so excited for you to see this special edition when it’s ready. This isn’t just a book—it’s a piece of art you can hold in your hands.

Until next time,

Storyteller,

Serena Simpson

The post Paranormal Romance Kickstarter – coming soon appeared first on Serena Simpson books.

Frightened Mate - Chapter One

Lux shivered as she made her way into the motel room. She’d been hiding for months but still felt like she was being watched. There was a loud sound outside her door that made her jump clutching her heart. She couldn’t take much more of this. She sank onto the bed, giving a shudder. Motels weren’t her favorite, and she swore this one was used by the hour for things she didn’t want to dwell on.

Her phone rang, making her jump again, her heart raced as she struggled to control her breathing. At this rate, she was going to die from a heart attack. She tried to laugh but feared it was true. Once it stopped ringing, she looked at the screen. No one should have her new number. Her parents were deceased; she was an older in life child. There weren’t any brothers or sisters. She was alone. Not that it mattered she could take care of herself, except she couldn’t.

That wasn’t strictly true; she could pay the bills, buy a house, and do whatever needed to be done. At times, those things are thought of as the hard things of life; she didn’t struggle with them. No, her struggle was always with finding someone to love her. Yeah, her and a million others. That didn’t change the fact that it was her struggle.

A year ago, she thought it was all over. Eureka! She found the perfect man. It had seemed that way at first. He was loving and kind, a bit loco saying things like he lived for over three hundred years. She grinned if he wanted to be the original Dracula, who was she to age-shame?

None of that bothered her until some of his friends came around. She wasn’t sure they were really friends, but they were rough. Soon he was drinking and playing music that glorified violence and the defiling of women. The end came when she walked into the house to find coke on the tables and naked underaged girls. Almost all of them were passed out except one. The way he looked at her, smiling as he climbed to his feet, scared her to the core.

Without thinking, she turned and ran. When she stopped, she called in an anonymous tip to the cops about what was happening in that house and then ran again. She’d been running ever since, not from the boyfriend who should have protected her but from that thing. She shook her head; the man’s teeth hadn’t sharpened, and his eyes didn’t change colors. No, she was simply tired. Right, and she hadn’t seen underaged girls passed out with men too old for them and more coke than a five-pound bag of flour.

The phone rang again, and her fingers crawled across the bed, wanting to get to it. She drew her hand back and smacked it. No one has my number, she told herself. Who could be calling? Pictures of the man chasing her made her shiver. He managed to get ahold of every number she switched to. The first time she’d simply called the phone company and gotten a new number. It was the easy way to make her ex realize she never wanted him to contact her again.

When she answered the phone the first time, it wasn’t her ex but the male’s sinister voice that came after her when she ran. She threw the phone down like it burst into flames. The next day he was outside her apartment. That’s when she ran to the police. When they told her there was nothing they could do to help, she wasn’t surprised.

They were so logical about it. She didn’t know the name of the guy stalking her; she didn’t have a picture of him. Just because a random guy showed up in front of her house didn’t mean she was being stalked. It was all so by the book, but she knew better. The better part of her thought that if her skin were lighter or had a family to back her up, they would have listened. Not that it mattered, bitter thoughts didn’t change another’s mind.

She did the logical thing and canceled her phone, switched carriers, and got a new phone. A week later, she got a call from the same sinister voice telling her he was coming for her. There were no texts, and the number came up as unregistered. There was nothing to trace since he hadn’t been on the line long enough. Without realizing it, she was living in fear.

The phone rang again, and she made the quick decision to answer it. If he, the male stalking her, found her, she didn’t want to be surprised. The last time she saw him was when she was leaving her friend’s cousin’s wedding. It had been a close call, one she hadn’t thought she would live through.

She picked the phone up on the last ring. “Hello?”

“Lux? Is that you, Lux?” On the other end of the phone, the woman had a high clear voice that made Lux almost collapse in relief.

“Sena, is that you?”

“Of course it is. I’ve been calling you; I was beginning to think I had the wrong number.”

“How did you get this number?” No one besides her and the phone company knew this number. That thought was enough to make her sad. She used her smartphone to help her stay one step ahead, not for phone calls.

“Oh, you know, it’s in the wind.”

Lux could imagine her friend’s hand waving around as she said that. Sena had always been different. She moved from place to place with the wind. She never knew when Sena would pop up, but she insisted they were friends over the years. Lux had come to depend on her friendship, even if it was sporadic when she saw her.

“Where are you?”

“Unlike you, I’m somewhere safe. You need to leave the motel you’re staying at.”

“And go where?” Wait, how did Sena know she was in a motel?

“There’s a bed and breakfast along Shady Avenue. It’s warded; you’ll be safe there for a few days. When you get there, take the flyer lying on the desk. Lux, call the number, please.”

“Sena, wait, how did…” She hung up on her.

Lux slowly shook her head. Was she ever going to understand her friend? The fact that she had a friend was making her feel a little better. She relaxed on the bed, about to close her eyes when Sena’s warning drummed through her head. Lux jumped up, packing her clothes. Maybe she was being ridiculous, but Sena was different; she knew things. Also, she had never hurt Lux, was there when she needed a friend.

She looked out the window wanting to make sure the coast was clear. A dark car pulled into the lot, circling around the building. She could be wrong, but her heart rate sped up, and she knew that if she didn’t get out of there she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

When the car went around back, she darted out the door keeping her head down with her shoulders dropped as she fast-walked towards the office door to turn in her key.

“I’m checking out,” she told the young girl sitting behind the counter.

The girl looked up, pushing brown hair out of her face. She grinned, popping gum as she woke her computer.

“Name and room number?”

“Jennifer Anderson, room 4.”

The girl stopped to give Lux a once over before she nodded and winked at her. Yeah, she was smart enough to know that Jennifer wasn’t her name.

Lux looked at the door, scared that he, the male looking for her, was going to walk through it.

“You have a balance of 80 dollars.” Lux handed over the keys then pulled out a roll of money peeling off four twenties.”

The girl’s eyes bulged, but Lux didn’t have time for her. She hooked her backpack over her shoulder, looking both ways before she slipped out of the office. She ran toward her car, ducking behind a Jeep, when she saw the black car make another round.

“Please,” she prayed quietly. “Don’t let me have come this far only to die.”

Yeah, there it was, the truth she was actively denying. That male following her didn’t want to get laid; he wanted something much darker. His desires felt like a stain on her soul. He wanted blood, and before it was over, he would want her life.

He parked the car getting out. She moved to her hands and knees, waiting for him to make his move. He walked toward her room which gave her a chance to move in the opposite direction. It seemed paranoid when she decided not to park close to where her room was located. Right now, she was feeling good about it. She crawled, seeing several people who stared at her. When the door to her former room was kicked open, they stopped staring and turned to the man yelling.

She stood running to her car. She got in it and took off, trying not to gun her engine, calling attention to herself.

He was in her rearview mirror, taking it over. By the look on his face, he knew it was her making a getaway. She shook, almost losing control of the wheel. He was coming for her, and when he caught her, she’d wish she had never been born. It took an effort to focus her eyes on the road. Breathe, she told herself as she sped away.

She found the bed and breakfast that Sena told her about. Then pulled up the map and followed it through the city. Her breathing calmed the further she got away from him. What was his name, not that it mattered. If she thought the police would help, she’d try to figure it out. She had no faith in the force.

When she pulled up to the bed and breakfast, an absolute sense of peace stole over her. She pulled around the back to their parking lot.

Peaceful Retreat Bed and Breakfast

She almost laughed out loud. She needed a peaceful retreat. It was funny that this hadn’t popped up on her phone when she was looking for places to stay.

The weight she’d been carrying for a year or more seemed to roll off her shoulders as she walked through the door. There was a young woman with black hair and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen behind the counter, smiling at her.

“Welcome to the Peaceful Retreat.”

Lux wanted to sink into her smile and sleep for days. That wasn’t like her, especially after all the looking over her shoulder.

“Thanks, I need a room. Do you have one?” She bit her lip, hoping that they had a free room.

“We have the perfect room for you. It will give you all the peace and quiet you need.”

Lux found herself nodding as she checked in under her real name. The girl came from around the desk to lead her up the stairs on the far wall. A flyer caught her attention; she grabbed one before she followed her.

“I think this room will be perfect for you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“The natives call me Jenn.”

“Jenn, that’s nice. You look like a Jenn, not that I know what one looks like.”

“No matter, I’m rather fond of the name.” She smiled, and her blue eyes seemed to twinkle.

Lux shook her head, thinking she must be more tired than she realized.

“Thank you,” she told Jenn as she closed the door behind her.

The room was beautiful. It had a sitting room that connected to a bedroom with a king-sized bed. Behind one door was an en suite, and the other had a closet that might not be walk-in, but it was large. She climbed on the high bed and sank into the comfort of the mattress. Her hand opened, allowing the flyer to slip from her fingers. She’d look at it later. Right now all the stress was catching up to her. Her eyes closed, giving her a much-needed reprieve as the stress rolled away and the comforting vibes of the room eased her to sleep.

 

 

Dedication: To women like my mother who make living look easy

Kali looked back at the couch, checking on Skyler to make sure she wasn’t close to the edge before looking back at Darryl. The thought of her baby rolling off the sofa twisted her insides. She couldn’t roll, but that didn’t stop the dread.

“I can get you some dinner,” she hated the fear that tinged her voice.

“Damn straight, you can,” he threw several heavy books on the couch, making the cushions move enough for the baby to shift closer to the edge.

Kali drew a deep breath and started for the couch.

“Touch that bitch, and I’ll and break its neck.”

Kali stopped moving, her muscles turning to stone as she waited, knowing that Darryl was drunk, and drunk meant mean and evil.

“Dinner,” his voice came out low and slithering, reminding her of a snake.

Bile tried to come up, but she held it down. She knew it was bile since she hadn’t been allowed to eat anything for the last two days. Nodding her head and giving a fake smile, she limped into the kitchen. Her leg was dragging behind her, she was grateful it wasn’t broken, or she’d be crawling. Skyler would take the brunt of her punishment if she had to crawl.

She pulled out a thick steak, stuck a potato in the microwave and started a vegetable while the steak cooked. She licked her lips, wishing she could have a bite if Darryl even smelled a hint of food on her breath Skyler would die.

How could she have brought her precious girl home to a house like this? She didn’t have a choice, that’s how. The government said they would help her, but those same people didn’t want to get involved with someone like her. Evil stalked her.

Carefully she picked up the plate she made and carried it out of the kitchen to the dining room that connected to the living room. Darryl was sitting on the edge of the couch, his knife roaming over Skyler’s tender skin. Her hands trembled so severely that she almost dropped the plate.

“I got your dinner,” it took everything in her to pretend that she didn’t see what was happening. The plate was set down on the table as she stood there with her head respectfully bowed.

He came and sat, eating while her stomach was making noises; they both could hear.

“Get naked,” he told her between bites.

She walked into the living room, taking off all her clothes, then she folded them neatly before lying down on the floor.

When he finished eating, he came in and began fondling himself before he kicked her in her ribs. Nothing seemed to get him in the mood, like making her hurt. When hardened, he jerked her legs apart and took care of business.

When he was close, he gave her that look.

“Oh yes, harder, babe, it feels so good.” She channeled her best when Harry met Sally until he finally spilled.

“Clean this up, bitch,” he got up stretching and scratching at his groin.

God, how she prayed he didn’t have anything she could get. Skyler started to cry.

“She’s hungry. I need to feed her.”

“Did you spend my money on that worthless brat’s food?”

“No! I mean I got help, remember I told you about that government program.”

“I got a friend,” he walked past her, kicking her as he stood over the couch. “He said babies give good head. He’ll pay us for letting him shove his dick down her throat. Not only that, but he’s willing to line up some of his friends that like to touch little girls, get that pussy nice and open before she knows what happened.”

He turned to look at her.

“Don’t you think that’s nice of him and think of the money we can make?”

“That’s real nice.”

“Feed it, and we’ll talk about it in the morning.”

She nodded and moved around him, picking up Skyler before she limped into the kitchen.

“It’s going to be okay, baby girl,” she sang in a soft voice feeding her daughter.

Tears flooded her eyes as she cleaned the kitchen, then the dining room and the living room. When she was sure that Darryl was asleep, she dressed Skyler and herself. She filled her diaper bag with as much as she could carry before prying up the floorboard where she kept her hoard of money. Then she crept out of the house.

Her mama sold her to Darryl, and she knew that she couldn’t leave because she wasn’t free. She was a slave the way they used to be a hundred or so years ago. He could do anything with her he liked. He liked to see her get beaten and raped for money. Sometimes he gave her away for free, especially if they hurt her in front of him. It was America.

She was walking, not sure where they could go to find safety. She knew she needed to leave this community and the city. This was America, land of the free, but everyone who lived in this community owned at least one slave. The only reason she still had Skyler was that they came to the notice of some government employees who wanted to make her life better. They came around to check on them for the first six months after birth.

She ducked behind a tree when she thought she saw a headlight behind her.

“I’m telling you I saw someone walking the road. Who would be here if it wasn’t one of our slaves trying to make a run for freedom?” A male voice cut through the place she was hiding.

She shivered and looked down at Skyler, who was trying to screw her face up at the noise. She started rocking her, praying frantically to any deity that may hear that her baby wouldn’t start crying.

“The punishment for running away is the death of a child. Do you think they would try that? After we killed the last baby, no one wants to challenge us anymore.”

They gave the baby to a wild animal that tore him apart.

“You’re right, who would be that stupid?”

She waited as the car began to drift down the street. Skyler took in a deep breath, her mouth opening wide. It was the excessive barking that started close by that drowned out the sound of her crying. The car’s engine turned over, and it was gone. Kali stopped her crying and hurried in the other direction. They didn’t have time to waste. When they were away, she would fall, but not while her precious child depended on her.

She knew where she was going now. The walk was long, several hours, but when they entered the bus station, she plastered a smile on her face. If her leg wasn’t dragging behind her, she would have been here much sooner. There were three windows operated by two women and a man. She waited until the man was free before walking up to him.

She didn’t think he would notice her. Most men looked for the women they found attractive and ignored the others unless they had a buddy with them. Then they felt free to talk about the woman loudly.

“Silver Springs.” It seemed far enough away.

He stopped, his eyes scanning her. It was a look that started at the crown of her head and traveled down to her feet. Then he raised his eyes and looked at the small bundle in her arms. She almost went to the bathroom on herself, wondering if he were part of the community, and she didn’t know it.

“You don’t want to go there.” He lowered his head before punching in something on the screen that she couldn’t see. “You’re in luck. This bus should have left an hour ago, but it got a flat. There’s one seat left; it belongs to you and your gorgeous baby. She’s going to be one talented young woman when she gets older.”

He looked at her, and his eyes sparkled. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. She was so tired she was seeing things.

“Hurry, you don’t want to miss your bus. Also, there is a table of food by the loading platform, make sure you grab something to eat, it’s for anyone taking that particular bus.” He handed her the ticket then rushed her along before she realized it. She found herself doing a limp-run to make the bus in time.

When she got there, they were doing their last call for boarding. She gave the attendant her ticket.

“Wait, you can’t board.”

The bile that was tearing up inside came back in full force.

“Where’s your food?”

“What?”

“Food,” the woman pointed to the table. “We’ll be making up time; the first rest stop won’t be happening. Hurry!”

Kali made her way to the table, picking up as much as possible only to find they had some insulated bags. She stopped when she realized there was food there for Skylar. She had to be dreaming; one quick look showed the attendant was pointing to her watch. So be it. If they died, they died together. She took all she could and climbed the steps to the bus. The empty seat appeared to be a two-seater. She sat, placing the food by her side before slumping down and curling up around her baby.

She watched as they pulled out of the loading area. Her face was plastered to the window, scared that Darryl or someone else from the community would stop the bus and pull her off. A soft sigh left her when the bus was away from the station. Still, she held herself stiffly until they hit the highway. When she saw the sign, you are now leaving Devonshire, Pa. Her body relaxed.

Had she done it? Was she free? More importantly, was her child free? One step at a time. Maybe she could give Skyler to someone that would love and keep her safe. She hugged her little body closer. The thought of giving her up ripped her in two. It was better than seeing her child raped.

Skyler gave a real cry, and she opened one of those ready-made bottles that were the correct proportions that you got in the hospital. Her daughter sucked it up like it was manna from heaven. When she was fed and changed, a woman stood over Kali.

“Hi,” the woman smiled at her with a twinkle in her eyes that Kali remembered seeing, but where. “I noticed you forget your carrier. I usually don’t have a spare, but this is your lucky day.”

“I couldn’t,” she tripped over her words. No one had ever given her anything.

“Sure, you can. We’re the same, well almost the same. There was a time I needed help. Do you know how to put this on?”

Kali nodded, no. She had no idea. What’s worse, she couldn’t think straight with the woman towering over her.

“Let me help you.” She showed her how to put in on, so Skyler would be snug, and she would have her hands for simple things like carrying packages or eating. “There you go. Now that beautiful baby can sleep in peace, and you can sleep without worrying about dropping her.” The woman gave her a smile and a small wave before disappearing down the aisle of the bus.

“Oh,” she called back. “Make sure you eat.”

Food? She was almost afraid to eat. It felt like if she did, Darryl would somehow pop up on the bus to beat her. With more trepidation than food called for, she took out a thermos with soup. The thought of eating eat something in a thermos packed by someone she didn’t know. Unfortunately, she didn’t think her stomach would accept anything else. She took the first sip of soup, waiting for a horrible death. Instead, a tasty broth with a sliver of vegetables and meat in it soothed her hunger. The heat settled in her stomach. Soon she was done, and her eyes closed. It was the first time she slept without fear since she been a child.

A

liya walked into the diner and immediately tripped. Why were there so many people standing in line to place an order? Sparks flicked on the end of her fingers and she clenched her hand trying to keep that to herself. And yep, she tripped again over some biker’s legs.

She peaked up he wasn’t a happy biker. His big beefy hands reached for her making her flinch.

“Leave the lady alone.” A man with the voice of a god stepped from behind the counter and caught her when she tripped a third time.

Well, that was different. Someone coming to her rescue. The smell of food distracted from the male for a minute. Then his scent brought her eyes back to focus on him. She licked her bottom lip nervous about being so close to food she couldn’t afford and a male that was making her dizzy with his intoxicating scent.

“Hi, I’m Julian.” The whole line of hungry patrons groaned.

“You’re supposed to be cooking not flirting with chicks who can’t even stand on their own two feet.” One angry customer yelled from the back.

She could stand on her feet it was just that she was starving. All right she might be a tad clumsy on top of that but there was no need for them to yell about it.

Maybe she should say something. What did you say when the male holding you had thick black hair that brushed his collar and green eyes that were more beautiful than the vast ocean waves of a sea of untouched new grass? Nothing, you just stared and enjoyed it while it lasted.

“What’s your name nymph?”

Aliya looked down she was a solid fourteen. No one confused her with a nymph. It was too bad he was going blind since he was so hot.

“My name is Aliya.”

“Have you eaten Aliya?”

“Not today.” Or the day before or the day before that, but she’d keep that to herself.

“Then we’ll have to rectify that.”

“She can go to the end of the line like everyone else.” The biker called out shooting visual daggers at her.

The others behind him were agreeing, and some were calling out things that made her feel like a lump of coal.

She needed to get out of here before things got out of control.

“I can shut this line down and Aliya will be the only one eating.”

Everyone got silent and watched her instead. Julian made sure she was steady and then escorted her to a seat at the bar. The person sitting there graciously allowed her to sit.

She smiled a thank you and sat because her head was woozy, and she was about to fall on someone again.

This place was truly a hole in the wall. So why did it have so many people waiting for food? The tables were all filled, the ones standing would have to eat outside or in their cars. In the biker’s case, he’d have to eat on his bike.

“Who wants fries?” Julian’s deep voice rang out. Every hand there went up in the air.

She glanced at the menu there only seemed to be a few things on it.

“How many of you want chicken sandwiches. Six hands shot up in the air.

“The rest of you want burgers?” They nodded, and Julian went to work. “What do you want little Aliya?”

He could be good for her ego if only he had been around years ago.

“How much is a hamburger?”

“Ah, come on man. The chick doesn’t even have money.” She looked back at the same biker. If he was ever in trouble, he could forget about her helping him.

“One more comment and there won’t be any food for you for the rest of the week.”

The biker bit his bottom lip looking contrite. How could such a big man look like a child?

“Julian, you know I didn’t mean anything. I’m just hungry.”

He gave a grunt and then started making sandwiches and packing up fries.

“Chickens up.” He handed the food over to the female at the register who started ringing them up.

He turned, dropped more fries and started on the burgers. It took him forty-five minutes to clear the place, but he did it. Finally, he set a plate of fries and a burger before her.

“Eat before you pass out.”

She really couldn’t afford the meal, but she was too smart to tell him. She picked up the burger and groaned it tasted so good. No wonder there was a line out the door. It could be that she was so hungry that the burger tasted like the food of the gods. She didn’t think so. Full or hungry she’d drool over how this tasted. Looking around she pulled the plate closer to her and hunched down over it.

“No one will take your food.”

She nodded but couldn’t stop herself from protecting what little she had.

She picked up a French fry and had to fight the urge to stuff them all in her mouth.  When her plate was empty, she looked up and into Julian’s green eyes.

“Thank you. I can wash dishes or sweep the floor. Whatever you need done.”

“It’s paid for.” The woman at the cash register called over to her.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t like seeing you hungry.”

She gave him a slow smile and slid to the edge of the stool she was sitting on. The last time she had taken something was how she ended up in this mess. The heat of her hands made her self-conscious. She curled her hands into a ball hoping he wouldn’t see the current playing around her fingertips.

“Hang on, I’ll walk out with you. We’re done for the day. Hattie, I’m going to be gone for a while.”

“Thanks, Julian for all you’ve done. I’ll be happy if you decide to come back. It was nice meeting you Aliya,” she walked away to turn off the lights.

“Hattie owns this place. I help her cook sometimes.”

“Be thankful you have a job.” She bit her tongue not meaning to say that.

“Where’s your job?”

“Gone, like smoke leaving through a window.”

“Sounds like an interesting story. You can stop doing that.”

“What?”

“Trying to hide the current dancing around your fingertips.”

She got off the stool and made her way to the door. “Thanks for dinner.” She opened the door and walked out.

There was still electricity playing around her fingertips. She stopped so she could concentrate. The current put itself out. This way she might be able to flag down a ride. She had no idea of where she was going. The desire to get away, to run as far and fast as possible is what drove her.

Pictures of her own cabin in the woods made her smile. Someplace safe where she could live out the rest of her life.

Darkness had fallen completely before she saw a pair of headlights coming toward her. She stuck out her thumb, hoping that was how it was still done.

An eighteen-wheeler pulled up next to her. The door opened, and a friendly face looked out.

“Hi, you need a ride?”

“I do.” She gave him a large friendly smile before patting her back pocket. “Darn, I left my wallet at the diner back a-ways. I’m going to have to go get it.”

“I’ll turn around and take you.”

“That’s too much to ask of you.”

“I insist, climb up here.”

The loud purr of a bike engine caught her attention. It stopped on the other side of her trapping her between the two vehicles.

“I know you’re mad at me, but did you really have to run out?”

She turned to see Julian’s green eyes and his drop-dead smile. She cast a nervous look at the man in the cab of the truck.

“Sorry, my guy and I got into a bit of a shouting match. I got pissed and started walking. Thanks for the offer of a ride.”

“A pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be on your own.”

“Aww, that’s what my guy says. You’re right.” She dropped a kiss on the side of Julian’s mouth and hoped she didn’t explode from need. He handed her an extra helmet and a leather jacket. When she was hugging him tightly, he pulled off turning in the opposite direction.

She didn’t know where they were going, but anywhere away from the man in the truck would be an improvement. There was something about his friendly face that sent chills down her back.

Her eyes wanted to drift close while her grip tried to loosen. She needed to lay down soon.

“Stay awake Aliya. We’re almost there.” Julian’s voice echoed in the helmet. She tightened her grip and tried to focus on the road. When a small cabin came into view. He parked the bike and helped her off.

“You need sleep and then we will talk.”

She wanted to argue, but she was running on fumes. The first meal she had eaten in days was sapping the little strength she had left to digest it. He had already seen the current. What more did she have to hide?

He took her into the cabin leading her to a bedroom. Aliya did the one thing she knew not to do. She trusted someone. Kicking off her shoes she climbed in bed hoping it was all a horrible dream.

 

 

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Caden the fourth book in The Wolves Den is live. The Kur’iks are finding trouble around every corner. The human females they are falling in love with are covered in it. Sage is no different. She’s on the run from an ex-boyfriend that wants to sacrifice her. He believes that when he kills her, he will ascend to become a god over the human race. They are running out of time, the day for her sacrifice is fast approaching. Can they stop the ex while figuring out who’s behind what’s been happening?

Sage is beginning to believe her life will be ending soon. Caden refuses to entertain the thought. He has one plan, kill everyone who stands between him and his mate. If anything happens to Sage it will be a blood bath.

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On my birthday, last year my daughter gave me a box of prompts. Recently she told me I hadn’t been doing them, so I decided to do a few and put them on my website. They will be very short stories. I will post the prompt then the story. Tell me what you would have done with the same prompt

Prompt: You get to create a dream (or a nightmare) and give it to someone. What do you create and whom do you give it to?

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Sometimes there is nothing scarier than a snake. The original animal that tempted Eve and turned our lives into a living nightmare except that man seems to have made peace with the snake.

He could have done anything to me, embarrass me, show nudes of me around. He could hurt my heart or cheated on me, and I would have taken it with all the stoicism that I take every other insult that was dealt out to me. Why? Because I was made that way.

Be gracious Thea they say to me. Forgive Thea I’ve been told more than once. Vengeance is mine they quote to me almost every day. In the end, I smile, I give a royal wave because I am royalty and I go on to rule my kingdom with very few battles. I know how to bite my lip. I know how to handle a nasty word or comment. Kill them with kindness my mother would say to me, then she taught me how to do exactly that. I can cut you down while I am smiling and make you wonder where the blood is coming from.

Never once have I regretted the abilities I learned at her hand until him. He came with his pretty eyes that sparkled aqua, I had never seen anything like that before. He wasn’t buff, but he was pretty, and his smile captured my heart. His beautiful words made my head spin with the possibilities of the future.

Everyone around me could see him for what he was but I couldn’t. I was the next Queen, ruler over everything I see, and he was vying to be my consort. I could see the world laid out at our feet and my heart would race with possibilities. He would come to the royal dinners to eat and then dance with me in the moonlight. The kingdom would know such joy with him united at my side.

I defied the world for him the day I made him my consort only to find out several months later that he was cheating on me. I kept the pain inside and took it as the next queen should with my head held high and dignity on my side.

There was no more joy for me until my hand touched my abdomen that held a new life, the next queen. I would not, could not hate him because of the gift he had given to me.

The day she was born was the day I lost my heart. Her beautiful eyes were bronze, and they glowed as she looked at me, and I knew that I would do anything for her.

Life settled down, and I was set to endure a loveless union and raise my child until the day I rounded the staircase to find him abusing the one thing I loved in this world. The fear I felt almost tore me apart but I remember my lessons, and with a smile, I rescued my child. I couldn’t sleep that night as anger boiled hot in my belly taking me over. I knew I should ignore it do what I had always done but he made a fatal mistake he touched the one thing that was mine.

The next night I began to plan. The power that I inherited had always been used for good to better the kingdom but no more. I couldn’t channel my power into the Earth because there was nothing but bitterness and hatred in my heart.

I reached out calling on the snake I watched as it slithered across the garden. Without a care in the world, I reached down and enhanced it. I took the poison that it would use to kill and twisted it until it met my needs.

I enhanced it and watched as it not only became bigger and slyer until it was ready to carry out my orders. With sadness and joy I sterilized it so that it would never pass on the brand of evil it was becoming, then I set it lose.

It followed my consort every day until it found a way to sink its fangs deep into his leg. Then the snake did that five more times until it died clinging to his upper thigh. The first night I heard him scream I smiled and turned over in my bed to sleep peacefully.

Royal healers were brought in for my consort, and I didn’t protest I simply watched them as each shook his head in confusion. His eyes no longer sparkled and his smile was long gone. He began to rant at meals that I was the cause. Of course, he was right, but I chose not to tell him so.

Soon he began to scratch at himself and talk about the snakes that slithered over him. He saw them in his dreams they spoke to him about the pain of abuse and the of retribution. No longer did he cheat on me not that I cared. All I cared about was my child.

A rumor started that anyone that dare to lay a hand on mine would suffer a fate worse than death. Now he resides in the royal dungeons unable to do anything but call my name and ask for forgiveness. I still believe deserves what he got and to heal him would be foolhardy.

Today my child placed her arms around me and kissed me on my cheek. Was it worth it? Yes. I give a warning to my next consort, you take your life in your hands if you mess with mine.

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Sex, Heat and Hunger: Part 2

The Dark and Damaged Hearts Series Book 4

Whitley Cox

Release Day April 29th 2017

Blurb

From handshake to obsession…

Emma Everly only ever dreamed of meeting a man like millionaire project developer James Shaw. She never imaged she would fall in love with him, a man so intense, so dominating he radiates power and control no matter where he goes. What begins as a sex-only arrangement for pleasure becomes a heated, hungry, all-consuming obsession. James claims the keys to her heart and her mind, opening them to the wilder side of sex and bondage. But her painful history with relationships gets in the way of accepting that he finds her beautiful and worthy of love.

James is devoted to caring for Emma’s every need, but his past haunts him, too. Guarded and evasive, he avoids Emma’s questions, unwilling to divulge his secrets. She knows the only way to truly earn James’ trust and get him to open his heart is to show him just how committed she is. Despite her lingering fears and people determined to tear them apart, can she go all-in and give herself entirely to him, body and soul?

Excerpt

Turning around and taking me in his arms, he kissed me soundly, his tongue wasting no time with formalities and wedging its way between my lips, savouring me, tasting me. I tasted him in return, whimpering slightly as the rush of need ran rampant through me. I wilted against him and let his big hands cradle my back, arching me against him so I could feel just how much me missed me.

“Hi,” I managed to say after I caught my breath, James’ cobalt eyes twinkling with love. I ran my hands up and into his hair, pulling ever so slightly on the dark silky strands.

He growled low and manly. “God, I missed you.” His lips against my neck, peppered kisses up one side and down the other.

“I missed you too.” I put the grocery bag up on the counter and went over to peek inside the oven; it was chicken parmesan —yum. “I thought we were just going to take my parents out for dinner tonight, and then maybe eat in tomorrow night. You said you had to work late.”

He lifted one sexy shoulder. “Yeah, I know, but I worked so much over the last three days that I’m just drained, and I want to make a good impression on your folks. And I’m dying to fuck you. Serious blue-balls here.” He pinned me against the counter with his hard body. “It’s been a long hard week. Very hard, if you get my drift. And you smell so damn good.” He thrust his hips into mine, deftly rotating them, my eyes closed from the delicious friction against my clit. Even with layers of clothes between us, the man drove me wild, made me swoon, made me yearn to yield to him. “Do we have time for a quickie before they get here?” He wiggled his eyebrows and then tilted his head down to nip at my neck.

“Probably not.” I pouted. “They’ll be here any minute. Are you nervous?” I reluctantly pushed out of his grasp and started putting the groceries away in the fridge.

“No. Well, maybe a little. I haven’t really done the whole ‘meet the parents’ thing before, and I really want them to like me. I’m kind of in love with their daughter, you know? Besotted in fact.” I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. “Oh yeah…” He nodded. “I bought a Word of the Day Calendar, I need to keep up with your verbose loquacity, and today’s word was besotted.”

He poured a glass of Zinfandel and handed it to me as I giggled at his use of the new word, his playful grin making my knees weak and my core tighten in need.

“I know.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my toes, so I was eye level with his mouth. “They’ll love you, don’t worry. And I’m besotted with you too.”

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. I looked at the clock on the microwave, it said six thirty —show time!

About the Author

Whitley Cox is an English Major turned Psych Major, who after all was said and done came out with a B.A. in Psychology, and then subsequently moved to Indonesia to teach English. But after finding out that the school was not on the up and up (when Immigration came to scope out the teachers she was forced to hide in a closet because the school had not actually purchased a work permit for her), she broke her contract and took off traveling. Only to then return home and start working with children on the Autism spectrum as an intervention therapist, and begin writing her first book.

A West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have a spirited toddler and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn’t end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes, and it’s not quite wine o’clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.

A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage and role playing, these books have everything we need to satisfy the curious kink in all of us.

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https://play.google.com/store/books/d...

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Writer woke up to her alarm clock going off. The comfort of her bed called to her even as she tried to make herself move. She reached out and hit the snooze button. Didn’t she deserve another nine minutes of sleep?

The alarm sounded again much too soon. She turned it off this time, darn annoying alarm. She’d get up in fifteen minutes which turned into three hours.

Athen was on the other side of the city waking up when her alarm clock started making soothing sounds of the ocean. She opened one eye and knew something wasn’t right. Not thinking about it, she hit the snooze button. Her life was in a death spiral she couldn’t afford to procrastinate. Once again, the alarm went off and she pulled herself out of bed.

She stumbled to the bathroom and looked for her smile, but it was missing. She shrugged her shoulders honestly she wasn’t smiling most mornings. So instead she looked for the sheer determination that was always on her face. The look that said she was going to kick the world in its balls today and it didn’t matter how she felt.

That look wasn’t their either. Brush teeth and get coffee she thought to herself. This was the first day in almost thirty years she didn’t have any place to be. She did need to search the net for job openings and put in applications. Once her teeth were brushed, she stumbled downstairs. Coffee she kept repeating like she was a zombie in search of brains.

Aww, the first cup. She took a sip waiting for the goodness of caffeine to kick in and jump start her engine. It wasn’t even eight yet; she could afford to sit in her recliner before she hiked back up the steps and sat down at her computer. One more sip of coffee before she sat it down and closed her eyes. Several hours later she would awaken.

Writer crawled out of bed with her eyes red and the weight of the world on her shoulders. She screamed at herself as she made her way to the bathroom. You’re lazy writer she told herself. You’re pitiful, an empty waste of space. Her head dropped acknowledging that maybe she was a mistake.

Way to make yourself feel good. She shrugged the truth was always better than a lie. Instead, she forced herself to take a shower because that would make her feel better. How could she be this tired? Because you’re lazy, a helpful mental voice told her. Oh yeah, how could she have forgotten so soon? Shower done she went downstairs for a cup of tea. Tea sweet tea she sang in her head. Maybe I’ll make food too. Since she couldn’t remember the last time she ate the thought of food was almost appealing.

She sat down with food and tea in hand turning on the news while she ate. Maybe the sound of the television would keep her awake long enough to finish her meal.

Athen woke with a start cursing herself for her procrastination. That’s not how the world works she told herself. You must work hard every day to get ahead. You’re a woman she told herself someone is always watching you expecting you not to measure up. Cold cup of coffee in hand she poured it down the sink and pulled the stairs until she made it to her room. She plopped in front of the computer and tried to focus on the screen.

Forty minutes later she gave up if she didn’t lay down soon she was going to fall asleep in her chair. It had happened to her more than once when she was working. The embarrassment, the shame of falling asleep at work still haunted her. Of course, she didn’t deserve a raise or promotion. Although her boss told her all the time that she did three times the work as the others, the others weren’t lazy they simply did enough to get by. It was what was expected so she ended up taking up the slack.

It didn’t matter she told herself, all that mattered was getting a new job. The early grave waiting for her was simply her destination.

Writer made herself go upstairs and sit at her desk. She opened her manuscript and started working on the new novel that she was in love with. Her eyes kept closing, and she swayed in the chair, but she didn’t stop. Today she wouldn’t disappoint herself. Today she would make good on all her promises and become what she was always meant to be.

When she almost fell out of the chair, she closed her computer and dragged herself back to bed.

Two individuals totally different both of them suffering from the sin of procrastination or was it something different?

The world revolves around us so fast that at times we don’t have time to think. Could their procrastination be tiredness? Could their tiredness be an extreme exhaustion? The kind that causes car accidents and death because we’re so busy keeping up and doing what’s expected of us that we forget to take care of ourselves year after year.

Decide for yourself. All I know is it took me over a year to recover from the exhaustion of my life, and at times I still have to be careful. Happy reading, happy life.

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Jessie lived in a world of fear, but that didn’t stop her from pretending nothing was wrong. She may have pretended her whole life until her mother threatened her daughter Mia. Now everything was changing, and she’s running to save Mia’s life. She wanted to leave the city, leave the country but her feet took her to the only place she had a chance at survival, Cole’s arms.

 

Cole knew that wanting love or a family was a death wish. He was no longer a pawn in the hands of the controllers, but freedom was something he hadn’t embraced. It took Jessie and Mia walking into The Wolves Den to shock his heart back to life. Now he wanted that family with them, and he would do anything it took to get that chance.

 

Cole was coming face to face with the desire o his heart. In order to win Jessie’s love, he would have to be honest with her and hope she could handle the truth. Jessie was keeping secrets of her own. How could Cole love her if he knew the truth?

 

While they worked out their future Mia was changing into something Jessie might not recognize, and the cold hand of death was reaching out for her.

 

If Mia were going to survive, Cole and Jessie would have to work together to keep her alive. Now they would have to realize that their love was big enough for them all.

 

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