It's Friday...

And I'm doing a little self promotion today. Monday evening, June 14th, STONE COLD, first book in The Stonegars series, releases at Liquid Silver Books so I'm throwing out a teaser. I'm not a professional at videos but I usually have one *grins* Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUxHkf9BG_E

Here's the blurb:

Hard as hell—all the time—that’s Erac Dane.

From a mythical race of statues sculpted using fragments stolen from Stonehenge, he is cursed and has been trapped in his stony shell for twenty-five years. In a constant state of arousal, Erac watches and hears others have the woman he desires more than freedom. The clock strikes midnight and the curse ends—Erac vows to have what he wants.

Vena Waring’s never been happy with her choice of men. She thought Jason was the one, until he cheated on her. Now that he’s back in her life, can Jason accept what she is? Most of all can he accept the virile, rock-hard man who takes her to new heights, and wants to take Jason along for the ride?

EXCERPT

No, Erac could never love her.

His thighs were thick and comfortable under her. Sometimes when she wriggled her butt to get comfortable, an electric shock went straight through to her core. Lately, it happened a lot. It embarrassed her how nice the bulge between his legs felt nestled against her ass. Yeah, I'm not getting enough sex. What the hell was wrong with her?

Relaxed and all cried out, she dozed off, but not before she whispered, "You always make me feel good."

* * *

Vena's eyes flew open and her head snapped up at a strange sound. It was dark with moonlight filtering through the oak trees that dotted the back yard. Damn, how long had she sat there sleeping?

Standing slowly, she stretched, letting her eyes adjust as she peered around. What time is it?

A twig snapped on the side of the house. Movement caught her eye and she turned in its direction. Holding her breath, she watched a dark figure emerge from the shadows.

"Hey, babe."

Hell, it was Jason.

"Damn it, jerk, you scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?"

"Why are you standing out here in the dark? It's damn near midnight. Guess that's why you didn't hear me ring at the front door. Where's the staff?"

"I gave them the night off." She ran a hand through her short hair and focused on the man in front of her. "I told you to stay away." As she walked across the yard toward the back door, the motion light flared bright and Vena flipped the switch so it remained lit. She returned to stand by the large tree.

Jason was gorgeous. His blond hair, always perfectly styled and in place, was mussed tonight. The black tee he wore stretched across his chest revealing taut muscles. He was a big man whose thighs were strong and hard. Jason worked out regularly and it showed. His over six foot frame was athletically toned and he turned many a female head when they were out together. Some men stole a second look too.

But tonight he was a mess.

"Why are you here?"

"Honey, don't." He stepped closer and she noticed he carried a plastic shopping bag. "I came over to talk, to tell you I'm sorry."

"God, what is it with you, with us? There's nothing left between us, Jason. Go home." Vena knew she didn't mean it. What was wrong with them, with her? He did satisfy her, she just wanted more of...of what?

"You don't mean that." He sat the bag down and reached in to pull out what appeared to be a ready-to-roast turkey. "Look what I bought. It's the only one I could find on such short notice that wasn't frozen." He placed the dripping package back in the bag.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?"

He stepped closer and grabbed her shoulders. "We haven't made love in a long time and I know you want me, Vena, you always want me."

His eyes darkened. It probably crossed Jason's mind to tell her she wanted him in that way too much and too often. After all, it's what sent him away.

"Damn it, I can't leave you alone, I can't stay away from you. It's like..."

His words drifted off and she smelled the alcohol on his breath. That explained everything.

"I'm calling the cops." She took her phone out, flipped it open and started to dial 9-1-1. Before she finished, he snatched it from her, slammed it shut, and hurled it across the yard.

"I need you." He shoved her into the tree and began feeling her breasts with rough hands.

"Jason," she pleaded. Vena wasn't sure what she begged for. She needed him bad but she wanted to talk, try to figure this out.

Pinned with her back against the large trunk, she jumped at the sound of a loud crash behind the tree. Jason, intent on freeing her breast, didn't seem to hear the heavy footsteps or the rustle of the shopping bag. Vena saw it coming from the corner of her eye. It slammed into Jason's head sending beads of bloody water onto her face and in her eyes, blinding her for a moment.

Jason slid into a heap on the ground.

She swiped at her face with her forearm and when she could open her eyes again, standing before her was a bare ass, naked man.

Holy crap!

It was...

Vena could tell by the length of his hair, the breadth of his shoulders, and the cut of his muscled stomach. His penis, normally just a bulge between his thighs, bobbed in the air. She stumbled back in disbelief.

Stepping over Jason, he caught her by the wrist, kept her from falling on her butt. Gray eyes stared, his chest heaved up and down.

"I...I..." His voice creaked like an unused, rusty door.

"Who the hell are you?" Deep in the recesses of her mind, in her heart Vena knew the answer before she even asked. She needed to hear him say it. Amazed at her calm, she gazed down his body, her eyes coming to rest on his thick cock. As they swept upward, she took in a myriad of lacerations, some fresh, crisscrossing his chest. By the time she reached his face, her breath came in rapid puffs.

"Erac," he croaked.

"This can't be happening." Her head shook back and forth, denying what she saw.

His hands moved to her shoulders and he drew her against his hard body, held her tight. He whispered, "Mine."

Surreal, everything moved in slow motion. It dawned on her she may have gone crazy. If lucky, she was still asleep.

"No one will ever hurt you again." His words came out harsh and strained. "I promise."

Unbelievable.

Behind him, Jason groaned. Thank God he was alive.

"A freaking statue just cold-cocked a man in my back yard with a fucking turkey." She glared up at him. "Tell me I'm dreaming."

Thunder rolled overhead and she looked up just in time to see a bolt of lightning streak toward them. It slammed into the tree and split it dead center, sending a shower of sparks in every direction. Erac snatched her behind him.

"What the fuck is happening?" Vena screamed above the crackle of flames. The smoke cleared and a shadowy figure emerged.

"Hello, daughter."

Oh shit!

As a prize, any of my backlist is available in PDF--your choice--so don't forget to leave a way to contact you!

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out.-© J. Hali Steele