Sometimes a monster really is hiding under the bed.
Welcome to another offering for Frisky Friday, where we hope you're getting as excited about the weekend as we are. This week, I'm sharing an excerpt from my 1st book, Mortal Illusions. A vampire romance published by New Concepts Publishing, Mortal Illusions is currently the first in a series of 3 books. Its sequel, Fatal Desire, is currently under production.
This snippet occurs at the beginning of Chapter 6. Germaine St. Justine and Claire Daniels are both attending the opening night festivities of Germaine's newest musical "Dracula." Claire's mother died the day before, and Germaine dedicated their opening night performance to her. Though Claire is grateful for Germaine's support, she has grown more and more convinced he is really a vampire and was once her mother's lover. So, when she begins making wild accusations Germaine is really a vampire, he suggests their backstage doctor sedate her enough to calm her down so she can complete her performance. Claire is furious with him for avoiding her questions and overriding her wishes in the matter, but attends the party anyway, since she doesn't want to do anything that might ruin the night her mother had most wanted to see. Claire's Broadway debut. However, the man who seeks to marry her, Harry Collins, is worried about her stability, and seeks out St. Justine for help.
.
.
“Then you'll talk to her?”
Germaine agreed, but it wasn't the
idea of talking to Ms. Daniels that appealed to him. It was the prospect of ousting from her
lovely head the corruptive notion that vampires really existed. Something he should have done days ago. Bolstering his resolve with a stockpile of
rationalizations, Germaine clamped his teeth together and strode across the
room to Claire. Offering a curt nod to
the group of well-wishers surrounding her, he placed one hand at her trim waist
while he deftly plucked the champagne flute from her unsteady fingers with the
other.
Gasping in outrage, she tried to twist
free of his grasp to retrieve her drink, but he held her firm. “I wasn't done with that,” she hissed in
protest.
“Yes, you were.” He gave a slight bow to her admirers. “Forgive me, but I have some important
matters to discuss with my leading lady.”
His arm still firmly in place, Germaine escorted a furious, red-faced
Claire over to the buffet table where he handed her glass to a nearby waiter,
then lightly squeezed her waist in warning when she attempted to snatch it
back.
When she dug her nails into his
hand, he loosened his grasp and she slipped free. “I have no intention of discussing anything
with you--ever again,” she informed him in a low growl.
“Good. I didn't feel like talking anyway.” He thrust a plate into her hands. “You may pick what you like, but fill your
plate. And if you try to walk away
again, I'll really embarrass you.”
Though Germaine is concerned about Claire, he's more worried by the notion she has figured out the truth about him. Vampires do exist, and walk among us, but if an uninitiated human suspects, the vampire is supposed to clear the mortal's mind of such foolishness. Germaine finds such tactics distasteful, but he may not have a choice in Claire's case. They are too closely connected.
M/F, Contemporary vampire romance in a society based on D/s.
Read the first three chapters at: Mortal Illusions
Buy the book at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.
Enjoyed this Kathryn. Banishing thoughts of vampires from the mind...Interesting.
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Roz